Maybe you'll just go the way of Rick Maese, another moron who used to work for this paper so I won't have to read your garbage anymore. The reason fans are going after Mattison is because of his desire to play for a base defense. HE STATED THESE DESIRES IN THE OFFSEASON. These are not unjustified criticisms of Mattison. When he said he wanted to play from base defense more often he implied that he was not going to blitz as often. I saw with my own two eyes the lack of blitzing he did on the third downs before the Ravens went down 17-0. All of sudden once the Ravens got into their 17-0 hole, they blitzed relentlessly on third down and guess what, the Bengals didnt score the rest of the game. Mattison should go back to college where he belongs. The talent is on this team to play at least top ten defense. When that happens and the team isn't playing up to the talent level, the finger should be pointed squarely on the coach. Go chill with Peter Schmuck in the coach's apologist room at the Sun...

Kevin,

Better get ready for some instability. Face it, Harbaugh did his best Joe Altobelli impersonation last year, but unlike Joe, he didn't win the championship with his predecessor's guys. Harbaugh is bringing in his guys, the Mighty Men, like Foxworth, LJ Smith, Haushcka, Mattison. Nice fellas, love to have them as neighbors, but you have to have an edge to play football. Sprinkle in some good character guys to do your public appearances. Face it, Harbaugh was the second choice and his lack of expertise and collegiate crap isn't flying. You think Ray Lewis wants a Mighty Man varsity jacket? How about a goofy arm and hamer patch for showing up at the off season workouts? The Harbs Honeymoon is over!

Once again, JAS, no actual soloutions presented, just rage. I'll be sure to pass along your warm feelings for Mr. Maese (who now works at the Washington Post) and Mr. Schmuck. This coaches' apologist room sounds great, though. I hope I can get a key. I bet they have big cushy chairs and tasty, but sensible meals for Ralph Friedgen supporters.

Guru, appreciate the more rational argument, and probably agree with some of it (professional players do not buy into collegiate tactics), but it still doesn't make sense to fire coaches in mid-season if you don't have an alternative.

If you disagree, present me with an alternative.

By the way, we're having some much-needed maintenence done on our blog servers tonight, so be patient if your comments don't get approved right away. All non-libelous outrage will get a voice eventualy.

well said Kevin. The only problem I see is that Mattison had to have some sort of say in who he liked on his defense. I'm sure he weighed in when Fox and Carr were mentioned, right? I'm sure the decision didn't just come from him, but Ozzie has to ask the guy who is running the def who he likes in his scheme. Maybe Ozzie is to blame (as many of fans mention, I for one do NOT think he should retire as some fans think), maybe Harbs is to blame, maybe its Ray Lewis to blame (it's his D after all)....but to me in the end it does come down to intensity, willingness, and utilization. Intensity is something that I don't think the coaching staff is instilling. Granted I'm not in the locker room, but it really seemed like the D really didn't want to play on Sunday. I also don't think Reed is being utilized like he should be...I think he should be allowed to roam and move where he feels he is in the best position to make a play...Landry has something to do with that. This season is a wake up call, like it was mentioned before, maybe last year was a fluke...either way some changes should/will be made in the offseason, but for now we should worry about righting the ship.

Oh and is anyone going to mention the way the corners play so far back on a 3rd and short??? I don't know how many times I see Fox or Fabe playing 5-6 yards off the line when it is a 3rd and 3...a quick bubble screen (I believe that is the name) to the WR and boom first down...

Kevin,

While I do not always agree with you, I enjoy your writing and the banter you encourage. I don't see Mattison fired in season, but if this team finishes under .500, Mattison will be the first axe to drop this offseason. Oh, they'll do their Ravens' spin and say "he retired", but we'll know the truth. That will be the beginning of the end for Harbaugh, who truly seems like a nice guy, just in over his head. Say what you will about Billick, but he was a master of mind games - with his players, with you guys in the media (probably why your brethern still take jabs at him), with the opposition. Harbs seems like he reads of cue cards. Is he related to Al Gore?!?

I have said this on a number of occasions, but it's not about Mattison. It is about the players making plays. On the first drive, they had a 3rd and 10 and threw a pass to Ocho and we miss the tackle and he gets the first. Players were in the right place to make the play. They go on to score. Next drive we force a fumble but it is called back for PI. Then Washington and Foxworth have good coverage and Washington flat out drops the int. Again, the players were in the right spot but could not make the play. Then they go deep and we get called for a tickey tack PI call. Not the DC's fault. On their last scoring drive, the refs blew an obvious holding call on 3rd and 10 that would have made it 3rd and 20. So it's not about the scheme. It is just about the guys making (or in our case not making) plays. Blaming the coordinator is pointless because what else can he do but put the guys in the position to make plays.

Kevin's logic is sound - because what would the Ravens do? At the end of the day though, I have just concluded from my layman's point of view that the Bengals were better.

And for all the crying about the defense, if the offense had showed up in the first half, it may have been a different game. The Bengals scored 17 points in this game, not 40. The Ravens offense needs to be able to step up and win when the D is not at its best. To date, they have not.

All I can say is I'd like to buy Special Team Guru a beer. The guy should get the 2009 award for Most Level-Headed, Rational and Informed Blog Commentator. Thank you for adding some sensibility to the cesspool of misinformation that now passes for sports journalism.

KVV -- way to insult your readers.

Just because someone does not have a "solution" does not mean they aren't correct in their assessment of the problem.

Mattison is -- right now -- a part of the problem. His defenses are woefully vanilla and predictable. Opposing QB's are getting easy pre-snap reads, and carving the defense up as a result.

Further, Mattison himself has said his plan was to play a more "vanilla" defense. In other words, he KNOWINGLY took away a strength of the defensive unit, thought it was a good thing, and told the world he was going to do it.

That's dumb. That's indefensibly dumb.

The problem with Mattison is a systemic problem. I don't think he is necessarily to blame for everything, as I think he (like Hauschka) was put in a position to fail.

Why do I say it's a "systemic problem"? Well, I think John Harbaugh has shown -- several times -- a serious lack of judgment. Choosing his dad's golfing buddy, a man who has had very little real NFL experience, to take over an aging defense on a team with high expectations was not the right call. If this had been a team in rebuilding mode, then fine: bring in a guy to "grow" with the team. But this was not a "growth position".

This was a defensive unit that had similar problems last year, but those problems were mitigated by a defensive coordinator who was a) far more familiar with the personnel, and b) experienced at the NFL defensive game. This was not a time to gamble on an NFL newbie, and hope he got it right.

You are right: Mattison will not be fired any time soon. This franchise cannot afford the resulting instability. Mattison is here to stay for at least this season and all of next season, and we can only hope he learns and adapts.

This defense is on the precipice of total collapse. They may be in the bottom third of the league this time next year. In fact, I think that's practically guaranteed unless several things happen. We have to hope Mattison grows into the role. We have to hope Ozzie finds some talent in the draft/market to replenish the secondary and the defensive line, and we have to hope Ray and Ed return and play at least as well as they are playing this year.

Without ALL THREE of those things happening, this defense will continue to struggle in the next few seasons. And it will be a shame to waste Flacco's prime years by constantly losing games due to defensive collapses.

Just because I don't have a solution to the problem does not mean I'm wrong, or delusional.

I agree that you can't fire Mattison midseason

But...

Dave commented, saying "it comes down to intensity, willingness, and utilization"...and I don't think Mattison can instill this in our D, I feel like he doesn't understand the talent on the team and players aren't motivated to play for him. You can't play a vanilla D with the guys on our team. If things don't improve, he'll be gone come offseason.

You're right, much better to ignore an obvious problem. It doesn't matter if any of us know of a specific alternative at the moment. We don't get paid to find the alternative...that is the job of the GM and head coach. The fact is, there are better alternatives out there (whoever they are) because Mattison is very obviously in over his head. Anybody who has watched this defense this year knows how flawed the entire system is. You're fooling yourself if you think next year would be better.

My problem with mattison is that look like an harbaugh mafia, hiring people he known from college or people who had working with his dad or his brother...
Even if this guy is old, no way he's got the energy to boost our defensive squad and i think that's the only difference beetween he and rex...i'm sure mattison has got a huge football IQ but when it come down to coach an already established , quite legendary defense, no matter your football IQ, you need to show the guys you've got bigger balls than them, bigger gut, bigger heart! Mattison is an old old man...
And to replace him! no need to looks elsewhere! we've got clarence brooks who got one of the best defensive curiculum vitae i have ever read(ravens and mimai era!!!), he's got the gut, he's got the energy, he's got the respect of everybody in the locker room! and we also have vic fangio, i also think this guy has a huge curiculum vitae, i'm sure he was a lot from our defense last year he has done tremendous job over the year with carolina houston (even with the colts) and their are not old men with no disrespect for mattison... so cutt the C...
We had guy at the beggining of the season to fill rex departure, but harbaugh wanted one of his own, probably not the right one...another ed reed and lewis year wasted by a poor decision...at this point, the window looks definetely closed.

I disagree. The Ravens' defense has far too much veteran leadership to crumble under a mid-season coaching change. I know Billick was fired in the offseason, but the motivation it created is undeniable and I believe that this would be a much needed wake up call for the whole team.

The relationship was doomed from the start. An old college coach with little pro experience trying to coach a boisterous group of outspoken and supremely talented professionals that are accustomed to an aggressive style. This team has one of a kind athleticism, and is built to blitz. He put training wheels on a Corvette!!!! I'd prefer a younger, energetic kind of coach who can relate to and motivate the players.

Sorry I don't have any names or solutions, but that's Ozzie's job. My job is to criticize the decisions of those running our team who are far more knowledgeable of the subject than I.

Ok, first off we haven't pined for Harrison ever, only been thinking LeBeau made better use of him than we though, however we can pine over Ryan. This guy MADE our defense the way it was to be respected after our Super Bowl. He put us in more games than we ever had a shot to be in by being a genius on schemes and recognizing player abilities and managing the angles better than any other in the league. We have so much potential and ray and reed play to their potential however they have lost a small step. But tell me ray didn't save our game in SD, or Ed didn't have BOTH turnovers against Cinci, one for HALF our points at HOME! when our offense only put up one more because of a breakout player. We need ONE deangelo hall/Nnamdi Asomugha and ONE big play receiver away from being totally complete. Trust in Ozzie Trust in our players. Trust in our coaches. We made it to AFC championship last year under 1 less coach and opened OFFENSIVE power for first time ever and when we complained they went conservative. STOP AND CHEER! We're STILL IN THIS! LETS GO RAVENS! don''t be PHILLY fans. (Worst fan base in all of football)

Kevin, I agree with you. Let's remember that this team could easily be 6-1 right now, and not including this last game at Cincy, the Ravens have been the victim of some horrible officiating. Where have you people been the last 10 years....we actually now have a very good offense, and the defense was always strong against the run, and a bit suspect in the secondary. If some of you want to fire coaches and players mid-season, then move 30 miles South and go to Fedex field on Sundays. Calm down people.....Ravens will play angry and will be in the playoffs......you can bet on it.

In response to Dave (post 4), sure coaches are there to motivate among a myriad of other responsibilities, but I can't buy into your argument that it is their fault for not instilling intensity into their team. These are professional athletes whose job is to get physically and emotionally ready on Sunday. Besides, they have a few emotional and intense leaders to assist in that area. The reason they didn't seem intense, was because right now they aren't as good as the Bengals and the Steelers. Sunday was physical domination by the Bengals, and all the intensity in the world wasn't going to beat them that day.

I will agree with those who have questioned how schematically it appeared that no adjustments were made by our staff. On the other hand, Harbaugh admitted in his post game interview that the Bengals went away from their tendencies and operated differently than in the first game.

I agree,Kevin,that firing Mattison at any point this season is pointless.Plug in some younger potential,rejuvenate the spirit of this group is the best you can hope for the rest of the season.I've preached from game one that the offense had to win the games for us this year and now they look ordinary again.Cam can be the next Rex Ryan if he becomes innovative,creative with play calling DURING the close games.You know,have the Ravens ever thrown out of a wildcat formation? Troy Smith can sling the ball as a #2.McClain is a train softening up the defense.Washington and Heap look like they're healthy.Some Ravens fans need to practice the anger management plan in their football lives;probably the younger crowd.

Max, this is the way I've felt all season. Like Billick, he tries to make the personnel fit the scheme instead of the personnel fit the scheme. T.Suggs is not used to being a pure defensive end. Ray Lewis's strength is not as a pass rusher etc. etc.

hey coach dont be romantic with some stupid players like foxworth,hauschka,chris carr and the most stupid defense cordinator. no body wants them in baltimore no body. if u dont do nothing you will be the next coach.

I agree that Mattison should not go at mid-season for all the reasons stated, but unless he has some kind of Defensive revelation, he needs to go after this season. Since when is a consistent 3-man pass rush an effective defensive scheme? All they do is double-team our guys. Our pass defense is so pathetic that our only hope is to force the opposing QB to make mistakes. We have other issues....PENALTIES!! We continue to self-destruct every week. When will Harbs get control of this team?? How about our shopping list for next year?....well another time.

It's amazing to me that so many of these so-called "fans" turn on the team when things get tough. So if we take the advice of these "experts", we'd have a new head coach, new DC, and new GM. When our CB's play 10 yards off the ball, turn and run down the field when the WR gets close to them, then fall down on 3 of the first 5 completions of the game, my first thought isn't "fire Mattison". I agree with KVV, it's the personnel. Yes, there are some plays that Mattison calls that I don't like, but it was the same with Ryan. Neither of them are perfect, but Ravens fans have elevated Rex to God status. Pryce is nearing the end, Ray can no longer cover, Gregg won't be 100% for another year, and our secondary is horrible. Also, it's obvious Suggs missing camp has had an effect, we're missing our 2nd best defensive player in Scott, and Reed seems to not be 100%. How can all of that be Mattison's fault?!?!?

It's going to take somebody with some courage to call out the NFL cabal for referee biased against Ravens, which has been happening for years now. Bioscotti, show your stuff, call a press conference. If you tolerate an uneven playing field, they will continue to give you one. Let's see what you're really made of.

Hi Kevin,

That was a very pragmatic and sensible evaluation of the situation with Mattison.

However I do submit that it is very possible that the subtle issue of trust and confidence by the defensive players in the defensive coordinator may not be at the same level this year as it was withe Rex Ryan. That intangible may be at work in addition to other factors such as age and injuries. The players appear to be more tentative than they were under Rex. But that's just me.

Players don't forget how to tackle once they get in position and this year's performance by some of the same linebackers and defensive backs has been pitiful compared to last year. I don't blame that on age but on coaching.

So, my response is that the Ravens should not and will not fire Mattison until after the season for all of the reasons you gave.

It is my opinion though that Rex Ryan would be demanding more and getting more from the present group of defensive personnel. The defense just does not look the same.

I predict that Mattison will get fired in the offseason.

All of you folks should be the coach. Get your heads out of your behinds. The team is going through some changes and you loser fans can't deal with a team that is not fulfilling its potential. It is not your potential, it is the teams potential. I think it is a good idea to not scold players as you losers do, instead taking a more subtle approach. No of you losers have played the game nore coached the game, so its amazing how you seem to have the answers. I player DIV2 ball, if was not that good to reach the NFL level, so I try to watch how I criticize others when I don't measure up, and I played the game, just not good for NFL. So we fans again, have to hold back on the comments. The players on this team are playing according to how the coaches want them to play. I posted earlier that when things go well you losers are all hyped. But when things go wrong, you are quick to criticize and want to fire coaches and players. Do you really support this team, or is this something for the weekend? By the way, you don't get players to appreciate fans by talking them down like this. The real deal, none of you losers can hold the players jock. SO get a life.

Here goes............The defensive football minds for the Ravens are not as good as last year , period...........The players know this and simply have no respect for the overall coaching on this team including Harbaugh...................The personel brought in by this staff also lends to this conclusion , hence the total lack of consistency this year................This year is lost but there will be 'gut feelings' by Mr. Bisciotti in the off season , you can bet on it..................

Are you related to Mattison or Harbaugh? First, you are a team built for a 3-4 not a 4-3. Second, you don't have a shut down corner, much less a corner that can't keep from falling down.

The fact is, Mattison got his job on who he knows, not what he knows. Thus firing him mid season isn't as bad an idea as you think. The NFL is full of stories where a coordinator was canned and the team turned it around. Fassel here, the Chargers have done it, Wade Phillips took over the D in Dallas.

Go do your home work before posting the War & Peace of blogs on a defensive coach who is clearly in over his head.

No coach/coordinator should be fired in the middle of the season (or right before it, for that matter). Wait until the end of the season and hire Del Rio if he is available.

Mattison is not going anywhere. He is here to stay for the next two years. I wish the Ravens brought back Mike Nolan. He really turned the Denver defence around in his first year and they don't have the playmakers that the Ravens have.

Hi Mr. King,

This is a blog and it is about opionions, including yours. I noted that you called the fans "Losers" 5 times in your post.

Although I don't agree with all of the opinions expressed here, it is their right to express them freely.

You are also making an assumption that none of the people who who post here have played the game at a level above High school, and I think you are being quite judgemental with that assumption.

Alright Kevin,

Cut the BS! How many defensive coordinators have the Ravens had throughout their successful defensive years. How many of these years did they have problems adjusting to a new defensive coordinator? None. Did they miss a beat? No. Well, they haven't just lost a beat as a defense, they have no heartbeat. They're awful. How can you not put that on Mattison? Ultimately the blame lies with Harbaugh. He was the one who hired him as a personal favor because he knew him. Why couldn't they reach out to Mike Nolan when they knew he was available? It takes no brain surgeon to watch the Ravens defense and see that the problem is defensive schemes. The Ravens offense needs to be as good as the Colts in order for us to make the playoffs, and that won't happen for at least 2-3 more years as Flacco matures and we draft the next Reggie Wayne. Ya ... get ready for a half-decade of the repeat of the Kyle Bowler ERA, but this time because of the defense.

Mattison should never have been promoted in the first place. Why they did not give the job to Vic Fangio, a guy that knows personnel & schemes better is beyond me. It like replacing Stover was a teriible mistake, and has cost the Ravens at least 2 games to this point.

I agree with you in regards to replacing Mattison now. Let the season play out and evaluate him in January.

I agree that firing Mattison would cause more problems. Not only is there no one to replace him, but even if there was, how long would it take for the defense to learn an entirely new scheme? The problem is not the coordinator, but the players who are not producing the results we all want and are accustomed to.

The problem is a personnel issue. We have an aging defensive line, who can no longer pressure the quarterback. We have corners who are small and afraid to tackle. We have two safties who still favor their neck injuries over making a big hit. A once dominant linebacking core that is aging and trying to fill a spot of a veteran who was in his prime, Bart Scott.

As I have said before, if the players are not getting the job done, it may be time to see what the younger players have to offer. How much worse can they do? Take out Pryce, Gregg, Landry, and Washington or Foxworth (take your pick). Replace them with Kruger, Bannan, Zbikowski, Nakamura, Webb and move Ed Reed to CB and see if he can stop the opposing team's number one receiver. There are just too many weak links on the defense right now, weather it is due to age, injury, lack of productivity, etc. The last 4 years in the NFL Draft, the Ravens have not taken a single defensive player. The team has built around its offensive, taking offensive line such as Grubbs, Oher, Clayton, Flacco, etc.

The next off season will determine where the team is headed. I believe all 4 wide receivers are free agents after this year (Mason, Clayton, Washington, Williams). I suspect the team will go after a legitimate number one receiver to help out Flacco. I also expect the team to draft mostly on the defensive side of the ball to help fill in the gaps and fill in the holes of the aging veterans on the team.

It makes me sick to my stomach watching Chris Carr try to blitz. If you look at him on the film, it seems that 9 out of 10 times he shows it way too early and he is picked up. By far, I would say he was the most disappointing off season acquisition this year. Even on punt returns, he is pretty worthless. Let Webb takeover full duty for him.

With all that said, I think the Ravens defense may be in rebuilding mode after this season. I would fully expect Mattison back, as you can't blame him for the players he has. It is a big drop off that most of us are not used to. But in reality, there had to come a time when the defense was going to face some setbacks. I just think no one expected it to come this season when the offense appears to be going in the right direction.

Kevin, enjoy your articles, but in this case you need to listen to your colleague, Mike Preston. He said:

"Speaking of cornerbacks, the Ravens' play with terrible technique.

Instead of holding ground and backpedaling 10 to 12 yards, Ravens cornerbacks have already turned their hips and are running beside receivers 5 or 6 yards downfield."

Kevin, that is on the coaches. They get paid to make sure our players don't get sloppy and are fundementally sound. They are not doing their job and deserve to be fired.

Is the Sun hiring sports writers directly out of grade school now? I know times are tough at the Sun, but who the hey is this Valkenberg?

In 6 months the entire Ravens defense suddenly got old? Are you serving as a part time PR rep for the Ravens coaching staff?

This team was third in overall defense last year and this year, well, who knows where they will end up. If they make the top 20 they will be fortunate.

The player turnover rate from last year on defense is about 12%. We have essentially the same defensive personnel, same strengths and weaknesses as last year. What we don’t have is a defensive coordinator who can analyze the defensive strengths and weaknesses of this team and game plan accordingly. The defense occasionally looks stout, but most of the time they have more holes then imported Swiss cheese.

And your going to attempt to blame this massive fall off in defensive effectiveness on age? Ray still looks good, Reed stills got it and they are the two oldest players on defense. Would you care to mention specifically the players who look old and can’t play anymore?

Mattison is not the entire problem, but he’s at least half the problem. The bad news is that Mattison is Harbaugh’s choice and Harbaugh is loyal and will go down in flames his self before he would terminate Mattision. Ever notice how Harbaugh goes out of his way to defend Mattison without mentioning his name? Were stuck with this guy, Harbaugh is not going to fire him unless his hand is forced by Biscotti, and if that happens Harbaugh will be gone soon after.

It was a bad hire and you can generate false and misleading blogs all you want defending him and it will never change the fact that Mattison is not up to the job. Our record at the end of the season will reflect that.

The basic premise seems flawed. Billick fired the OC a few years back, mid-season, and that not only turned the team around but got him a fancy new contract.

If something is the right thing to do, better to do it today than wait.

Mattison's resume speaks for itself, 1 year nfl experience. He was never qualified. He does not have that knowledge built up compared to many other candidates who has been in league last 10 years studying film of players in the NFL and their tendencies. Right now, I agree there is not much you can do. Harbaugh has proved he is not a better coach than Billick IMO, and in many cases already has shown he is more incompetent. People make mistakes but what Harbs has done is catastrophic, he basically ruined the identity of Ravens style defense and football.

If Billick remained the coach, and brought in Cam to oversee the O (not sure but I thought he mentioned he was on a plane to FL to court Cam the day he got the ax), the Ravens would have had the same success last year. And if Billick was the coach this year, we would have had the same record or better because I have little doubt Billick would have went out and hired a competent D-coor (like Nolan) with NFL experience to compensate for the players lost in free agency and maybe had a voice in free agent players we picked up because Oz and his staff dropped the ball on the acquisitions.

But ultimately Bisciotti is the blame because he should have hired Ryan, he was the "true" Raven to head coach this team.

"Mattison is not going anywhere. He is here to stay for the next two years. I wish the Ravens brought back Mike Nolan. He really turned the Denver defence around in his first year and they don't have the playmakers that the Ravens have"

Excellent point. Nolan, who CAN coach at the NFL level has taken a horrendous defensive unit in Denver and completely turned them around, while Mattison has taken a good defensive unit and made them horrendous. Coaching makes a tremendous difference, for good and for bad.

i bet ravens fans now understand why the falcons did not resign foxworth. i know a good pass rush can help the secondary but come on there not gonna get to the qb on every down .therefore the secondary has got to make some plays.

i bet ravens fans now understand why the falcons did not resign foxworth. i know a good pass rush can help the secondary but come on there not gonna get to the qb on every down .therefore the secondary has got to make some plays.

Well, the least thing that should be done is to fire his son, Bryan. He is on the practice squad wasting space. He is only there because of daddy. If the Ravens get rid of Bryan, maybe some of the fans will not be so mad. You do';t really need to plan for an alternative for a practice squad player.

Coaching is overrated. Players make plays and from what I see we have players in position to make plays but just can't. I didn't believe it when it happened but players like AD, Bart and Jimmy Leonard seemed to MAKE plays in our defense. None of our so called playmakers, minus ed reed, who many of you say should RETIRE because of his neck injury still make plays on this Defense. Is mattison the top d coordinator in the league probably not, but IF Ray has bought into what he's selling, which it appears he has, then the two of them make up a formidle coaching staff. The ravens with Ryan, Nolan, Del Rio, Lewis have always SUFFERED against the PASS! Remember they gave up 17 points to Cincy. Schemes did not cost them that game, players effort cost them that game. PLAYERS NOT TACKLING and missing plays to get the bengals off the field! This doesn't even mention the TERRIBLE play of our OFFENSE in this game.

I for one say sit down, relax and hope the Ravens can figure out how to win 2 out of there next 3 games. If they can do that we are still in a good position to make the Playoffs! Especially with a cincy win this weekend!

For all the headhunters out there, the redskins need some more fans so head on down 95 the danny would love to have some more idiots show up or better yet you can exchange your madden 2010 strategies with him on running a pro team.

GO RAVENS!

No one seriously believes that Mattison was the most qualified person available to be our defensive coordinator with his total of one year NFL coaching experience. Obvious nepotism on Harbaugh's part got Mattison hired. Too late to fire him this season as the damage is done. I am curious in the upcoming offseason if Harbaugh has the cojones to now fire his dad's friend and get a quaified coordinator.

Lou

The collective memory of the fans is too short, and the emotions are just that, emotions...

If Clayton wouldn't have dropped a pass on the 7 and if Haushka would have made a field goal, we could easily be 6-2 and everyone would be in la-la-land. While the defense blew the last Cincy drive at home, let's not forget that even in that game our offense was LAME. That game should have been a win, and we could have been 7-1.

Likewise... if our OFFENSE could have done their job Sunday, and scored even 18 points, we would have won and would have been 8-0. Holding Carson Palmer to only 17 points is not some horrible effort on D.

So while I'm flipping out like everyone else about the defensive penalties, I don't think we should pour it on too thick against Mattison and the D when clearly we can spread our disappointment around and can blame our losses on offense and special teams just as easily.

I don't post to these blogs often, but I feel forced to say something. Anybody calling for the head of Newsome and/or Harbaugh are complete idiots. If you think Newsome is doing a bad job, just watch and see how long he would be unemployed if we fired him and he still wanted to be a GM. He has given us the personnel to compete at a high level year in and year out. And Harbaugh has been a superb coach as well. How could any right-minded person want to fire the defensive coordinator after 8 games???The Skins would kill to have the kind of organizational personnel and stability that we have.

Louie, that's not fair. I was hired out of middle school, for starters. Maese and I were signed as 7th graders. You should have seen our kickball team. It was epic.

Also, it's true. Greg Mattison is my uncle. Sorry I failed to disclose that!

I understand why, for some of you, this absolutely HAS to be Mattison's fault, because the alternative is very, very scary. And instead of coming to terms with the fact that some of the Ravens icons might be getting old and losing a step, it's much easier to blame the new guy with gray hair. As I've conceded already, it might be his fault. But if you think there is a magic wand that can fix things RIGHT NOW you're in denial. How does a new coordinator plug in a new defense in five days?

It's a good thing to express your passion. Heck, your passion for Ravens news helps pay my salary. But be able to step back from it too and ask: How does this help the situation? If Mattison gets canned at season's end, so be it. But right now, it's not going to be the magic fix.

Reporting from the coaches' apologist room.

The comments are very interesting. I'm just curious, how come none of you were interviewed by the team for the job? I mean, if you had such a good football mind, do you really think they would ignore that?

Ozzie and Mattison are there for a reason that you are not: they are smarter at football than you are.

Really Kevin? I think you are delusional to think that Mattison should stick around. Just because there is not another viable option on the horizon doesn't mean that Mattison should retain his job. In the past the Ravens had groomed their defensive coaches from within - Del Rio was being groomed to replace Marvin Lewis, then it was Mike Nolan, then Rex Ryan. To bring in Mattison who had NEVER been in the NFL to coach men instead of the boys he's used to coaching is a joke. He was terrible at Notre Dame and the only reason he did well in Florida is because he had the best atheletes in college football, not because he was a defensive mastermind. Most of the people commenting on your article have hit all the points that we all collectively as Raven lovers know - he loves the base packages, he didn't blitz enough in the beginning against Cinci and we coughed up 17 points, they are worse at tackling then they ever have been etc. There is a reason Pittsburgh is good every year, not only do they draft well (like we do) they are also well coached (by Lebeau). So instead of blaming the same players who led us to be the #2 defense in the league (Frank Walker played corner the second half of last season, remember??) think of why the players are not playing well! And to the people that are saying that Ray and Pryce are showing their age, maybe you guys need to watch game film to see how aggressive Ray is and how many times Pryce gets double teamed/held!!!

It's not a new defense, it's the one we used just last year. Making a change now could not possibly hurt because right now we are really at rock bottom. The defense just looks completley confused and out of place. There's is absolutely no confidence at all. The players need to make plays, but they can't do that when they are chasing the other teams players from behind because they are put into a position they shouldn't be in. What do i know though, I'm just an idiot and dislusional. The people from the Baltimore Sun are obviously much "better qualified"to make those judgements.

Greg, no one said the folks at the Baltimore Sun were "better qualified" than you to offer commentary on this situation. I don't see the words "better qualified" anywhere in my post. Are they written in invisible ink? Does someone have a decoder ring I'm not privy too? I'm afraid I'm going to direct you to one of my favorite niche blogs, The Blog of Unnecessary Quotation Marks. I hope you "enjoy" it.

http://www.unnecessaryquotes.com/

Mr. King,

I played Division I football for Wake Forest. Does this give me more right to comment than you? I've never heard of such a ridiculous statement in my life. Do you think Bobby Beathard is a smart football mind? He didn't play college football. What does playing football have to do with analyzing it? Your condescending comments to the others on this post are an insult to your own intelligence. GO DEMON DEACONS!

Kevin. You are way off base here. Mattison is clearly over his skis as an NFL DC. He is trying to do something that does not fit his players and is clearly not working. I am not advocating firing him mid season but if he does not get this turned around soon he should not be retained in the off season. It was clearly a mistake naming him as the DC. If you can't see that well then I have no respect for you football knowledge. And by the way Manning and Ben have not carved up the Ravens defense yet. That is sure to come.

Hey Kevin, I like how you say: "There is a chance that Mattison isn't the right guy for the job. I don't think I posses enough football acumen to say one way or another.". You just admitted that you "don't have the football acumen" to have a say on this issue, yet you write a book how the team should keep him!

I do have the acumen I'll tell it like it is:
It's Steve's fault 1st of all for not hiring Rex as the next HC and going outside the team to hire a Special Teams coach with little NFL experience.

This is John's coaching staff, and John is putting his team together (re: Haushka, Carr, Foxworth) by getting approval from his Coordinators.

If John doesn't win, Steve will determine who is responsible and decide what needs to change. The Ravens are, after all, Steve's team.

I haven't posted on your article today but I must say Kevin you seem like a jerk. Your "middle school" sarcasm isn't funny and I think it's ironic that you insult the very people that read the Sun or use it's website that allow you to have a job. Many Baltimore Sun sports writers were laid off, fortunately for you, you haven't. You insult people for having their own opinions but yet your article is an opinion, not fact. I've only read about 4 of your articles so far and all of them have been opinion based not factual. The same way you have an opinion, the people here have an opinion.

Insulting people on here isn't going to do anything good for yourself or them. I may not agree with a lot of things said here from both fans and yourself but they are entitled to their own opinion's as are you. The only difference between them and you is that you write for the Baltimore Sun while they post it on message boards. No need to insult the people on here regardless of their opinions.

No need to "bite the hand that feeds you." In any job we do for a living (including my own) if you insult the customers you won't have a job for very long. Maybe your trying to make a name for yourself by being this way but it takes away from what you write in the article when your bickering with Ravens fans with sarcastic remarks and insulting comments. However, I think it takes away from your article and your credibility. Just my 2 cents.

In reading over the comments it seems you have been provided with a legitimate answer for making the team better "RIGHT NOW". (were those unnecessary?)

Qualified candidates - Fangio and Brooks. Promote from within. It doesn't take a whole new system but it does take a new attitude.

Firing labor for there lack of productivity and accountability is a tactic that has been known to motivate in the past.

Ferg, you have it exactly backwards...there was only one person being insulting, and that was JAS. Not only did he not offer a solution, he didn't really offer much of any diagnosis of the problem, because he was too busy looking to take potshots at the KVV. Now, I'm no big an of the sports media, but JAS was out of line. He offered nothing of substance to the discussion. If he had approached things, ferg, as calmly as you did, there wouldn't have been a problem. But he chose to be a jerk, and KVV rightfully defended himself. Or don't you think writers shouldn't be allowed to do that? That they, like the athletes, should jsut quietly take whatever abuse readers and fans feel like heaping upon them, regardless of whether or not it is justified?

We missed the boat on Capers and Nolan this year... Foxworth had success in a different system then the Raven's play in. Walker and Carr are far from what you would want in a nickel corner, I wouldn't even want them starting on special teams if I had the choice. We are getting older at the wrong positions and are bringing in below average players from "hot" teams the year before (Walker from GB two years ago, Carr from Titans last year). I expected Kruger to at least be active. Gooden couldn't tie Scott's laces, which isn't his fault, but our mgmt's fault for not doing something about it. There have been too many mistakes on the personel side to turn this defense around this year. We need to go out and pay for a CB in free agency this year... the thing is... their isn't going to be a top tier CB in the free agent pool. We are damn sure not trading for one and trying to bring in a rookie would totally nullify our chances of "winning now". I personally thought the Ravens missed the boat on D. Hall last year. Perfect opp. to take a chance on a rough around the edges guy and see what he can do. Obviously, the stuff he has done in the past wouldn't be tolerated in the Raven's organization. Take a chance for once. I hate the words "high character". This isn't college, its the NFL, we have the leadership in the locker room to deflect anyone's negative attitude, so why not take a chance. I am all for building through the draft, but you have to take a chance at some point. Defensively we are going to be in bad shape for a long time to come.

Rey Mal. is making strong contributions, Mike Wallace is eating CB's hearts, and ... Ladarius Webb can barely get reps at nickel when we have two ghosts trying to fill that position right now. Let Webb make mistakes and learn from them, its not like the other CB's don't make enough already.

To sum it up: Drafting of late has been somewhat poor, free agent signings have been horrendous (besides Matt Birk), and Matti was the wrong person for the job.

When I say drafting was poor, I mean from a defensive stand point. Name one player that is not a first round pick that has been at least consistant or improving YOY... there isn't one.

Kevin

I agree that it is not his fault that the team arm tackles, misses assignments, being caught out of position, etc...

It is tough to say that "he can coach them up" because this defense is full of aging veterns who would tune him out fairly quickly.

I think he should be able to stick around more than one season, but this is a crazy age of football. "What did you do yesterday..." GM's and head coaches are fired after one or two season and teams are firing coordinators before the season starts. This being said....

He is gone after this season. You cannot fire the players and therefore, the ax must fall on someone and Mattison will be the "fall guy". It is not his fault, but someone has to take the blame for a team that was 3-0 and look like Superbowl contenders before October.

I say again. Why don't we hire some of you loser, fake "fans" and let you play and coach the team. I think you loser fans could do better than the players on the field- really!! I mean you loser fans have all of the answers, to the point that I'd want to get coaching from you. REALLY!!!
Come on losers. This team will do what it has to do, not because of what you idiots comment on, but because coaches coach, players play, GMs gm, owners own, etc. You get the picture? Be a fan and be a little more kinder to the team. You do know that most smart players don't read this crap, therefore your baseless comments go nowhere? Maybe you get a kick out of hearing yourself? Its tough to see our team lose, but I think I'd rather be positive about the team rather than curse them out and call them crappy. This is the team that many of you losers talked about before the 2001 championship, then as soon as they won, you were all RAVEN FANS. But I go back to my first comment- you loser fans that don't like the RAVENS should quit your jobs and become players and coaches. You know why- You losers can do a much better job. REALLY!!!

Mattison must go. His lack of pass rush is the main reason our average at best corners are getting torched. Harbs & Ozzie are to blame also for not bringing in at least one veteran coordinator to interview for Ryans spot. Gregg must sit, he's getting manhandled every game. Webb needs to start,then Washington can take over for Carr.

Kevin, you are right, Mattison probably should not be fired-RIGHT NOW. The chances of truly getting the right guy for the job in mid-season are nil. And since Rex took defensive coaches with him, there's nobody on the staff who probably should be the replacement. But make no mistake-HE SHOULD BE FIRED. As stated in the comments, he CLEARLY stated that playing a BASE DEFENSE was what he wanted to do more. I don't know if you've ever played a sport, coached pee-wee, or higher, but if you have a team that clearly does something well, say, oh I dunno, BLITZING, you don't come in and implement a different scheme. That is POOR COACHING. Period. I have yet to see you, or anyone else adequately defend this fact. Coaching is adapting your scheme to the personnel, not the other way around. So if he were BLITZING, so what if Ed Reed and Ray are getting older, then you can reasonably say the slippage is age and personnel because you haven't changed what they've done well FOR TEN FREAKIN YEARS!!! That in and of itself makes him a poor coach. The fact that he is wholly inexperienced to be in the position he is in is a whole other argument. This team wasted the prime years of a great defense with a poor offensive coaching staff. The team will waste the prime years of a franchise quarterback if it doesn't get rid of this un-qualified defensive coach. Period.

I don't know if Mattison is the best guy for the job or not. I do know he isn't blitzing as much and that is exposing a very weak secondary. However, it's not his fault the secondary sucks. That falls on Ozzie. After the miserable years they had last year why did he keep Frank Walker and Samari Rolle around? Why did he spend so much on Foxworth, when he so clearly is overmatched by big WR? Why did he get a guy like Carr who is a special teams and DB bust? Why do they overrate Landry so much? He wasn't that great before he got injured last year. What bothers me more, is that he is standing pat. Why didn't he puruse Ty Law like Denver did? Why isn't he scouring other teams practice squads for a decent CB? Why hasn't Frank Walker been cut yet? There are some serious problems with the D and Mattison isn't helping, but most of the blame has to rest on Ozzie's shoulders on this one, and it seems like at this point he has fallen asleep at the wheel. Very troubling!!

News flash. The defense held Cincy to only 17 points! Our offense is to blame for this loss.

The D played GREAT against Denver, and average against a very good Cincy offense. If we won the game 20-17, no one this week would be talking about Mattison's future. In fact, the story would that the D is turning around with a dominant showing against Denver followed by a very strong win on the road against a talented Cincy team.

i do agree that the gameplan is holding the D back from its true ability., especially in the first half. Seems that after halftime adjustments, its like a whole new D but at that point it was too late. The Cincy and Minn game displayed a poorly executed defensive game plan in the first half, followed by nearly lights-out D in the second half. I think Mattison will adjust our game plans to something more aggressive but not quite to the degree of Rex Ryan.

Kevin,

The point is not whether he should be fired in season. Its WHY he was hired in the first place. When the hire was announced, not one columnist said anything to at least raise the question. It was as if we just hired an experienced DC.

I know its nothing we can do about it now. However, true Raven fans no what the problem is.

Kevin,

I agree with you that getting rid of Mattison now is just dumb. However I do believe at the end of the season changes need to be made on the defensive coaching staff and not just Mattison.

But I kind of have a different take on this whole thing and it has to do with the brain drain the Ravens have suffered over the years.

We all know about guys like Marvin Leiws, Mike Nolan, Jack Del Rio and of course Rex Ryan among others. ut no one is talking about what happened when Rex left. The Ravens allowed him to take LB coach Mike Pettine. Mike was Rex's right hand man here in Baltimore. He knows Rex's system and has a terrific track record with our LB's.

With all the brain drain gong on I was really shocked that the Ravens allowed him to leave and even furhermore to prevent him from leaving why wasn't he offered the D coordinator position here? It seems like he would have been next in line not a one year coach with a lot of college expierience.

I think when all is said and done Mattison will be replaced. In some ways I'm hoping the Jags fire Del Rio and perhaps he comes here to help rebuild the defense. Other defensive coaches that should go include Mark Carrier and Chuck Pagano both are coaching the secondary. The DB's use horrible technique, they tackle poorly and their reads are equally poor.

So what do you think Kevin?!

When is the last time the Ravens used a 1st rd pick on a defensive player? Ngata? Face it, the offense was the problem and Ozzie addressed it through the draft, and now has one of the best young O-lines in the league (2 1st rders, plus Gaither who would have been) The defense is getting old and needs some new stars. Relax, the coaches are fine, and there isn't a GM in the league with a better track record than Ozzie when it comes to 1st rd picks

One suggesttion, BLITZ!!!!!

There are a lot of ravens fans here that are beginning to sound like steelers fans. That is purely emotional and completely delusional. While they have a great team, they often spout the dumbest crap you'll ever see on a fan blog. If you think firing any coach mid-season is a good idea, you know a lot about being a fan and nothing about how to run a successful organization. Thank the lord the front office is smart enough to not let the lunatics run the asylum.

I haven't posted on your article today but I must say Kevin you seem like a jerk. Your "middle school" sarcasm isn't funny and I think it's ironic that you insult the very people that read the Sun or use it's website that allow you to have a job. Many Baltimore Sun sports writers were laid off, fortunately for you, you haven't. You insult people for having their own opinions but yet your article is an opinion, not fact. I've only read about 4 of your articles so far and all of them have been opinion based not factual. The same way you have an opinion, the people here have an opinion.

Bmoresportsfan28, few things ring more hollow to me than the claim that I'm just trying to make a name for myself. Have you seen my last name? It's 13 friggen letters long. Look, what I hope we're doing is all in the spirit of good debate. This is the internet for pete's sake. I'd much rather engage readers than ignore them. Wouldn't you rather know you're not just shouting into the wind?

One of the main differences between me and someone writing on a message board is that my name is attached to everything I write. I'm not hiding behind something. If you intellectually wipe the floor with me and my argument, guess what? I'll approve those comments. Maybe the Ravens should promote someone from within. That's a more reasonable take. As for the reason why no one questioned Harbaugh when Mattison was hired, I think at that point, the head coach had earned the benefit of the doubt. He went 11-5 and went to the AFC Championship as a first year head coach with a rookie quarterback. Can anyone really claim with a straight face they felt, even then, the head coach was "in over his head?" (I believe that's proper use of quote marks. I think I saw that somewhere.) Once again, I'll point out that the first time Mike Preston dared write anything about how Harbaugh needed to prove he could weather difficult times, a ton of people went bonkers, throwing their usual insults at him.

C'mon, this has been fun, hasn't it? There's few things lamer in my business than a reporter who nods like a bobblehead at everything the fans say! Fire the coach! Give him a raise! Play the back-up quarterback! Sign 10 new players! Trade for the No. 1 pick!

I think my favorite quote from Season 5 of The Wire was when editor Gus Haynes says, "You know what a healthy newsroom is? It's a magical place where people argue about about everything, all the time."

Kevin,

You haven't acknowledged a very relevant point that has been mentioned more than once in these comments.

What about when Billick stripped Cavanaugh of playcalling duties mid-season? That seemed to work fairly well. While we didn't get the explosive '98 Vikings offense that we expected Billick to bring, we did produce significantly more points for the rest of that season.

What about Harbaugh calling the plays with input from say Ed Reed and Ray Lewis? Those guys are just as shrewd students of the game as anyone. The point is that we should be auditioning any solution that appears feasible because the entire identity of the team is at risk right now.

There is nothing wrong with the defenses or schemes. The one criticism I had of earlier games was that we did not do a very good job of moving around and disguising defenses. We have improved on this lately.

Greg's issue and maybe Harb's too is that a coach's main job is to put a motivated, well prepared team on the field. A coach needs to know the personality of his players, treat each different, and push his buttons however he has to to get that player to play game in and game out at the highest possible level.

Greg, Cam, and Harbs may be providing great game plans for the players. But they are not mentally preparing the team to perform at a level where they can be the best Ravens they can be.

There's no way Mattison should be fired right now, that's just a flat-out bad decision that would bring a lot of instability to the team. It's unfair to blame it all on him, but I do think he's part of the problem. He runs a very conservative defense and we just don't have the players for that. Now it's not his fault that Washington has stunk this season or Foxworth has been very inconsistent, but his approach is doing more to expose the problem. I'd give him the rest of the season to see what happens, if it looks like nothing's changed than I wouldn't necessarily be opposed to a change at DC. Personally, I'd rather we see Webb start at corner over Fabian and than see what kind of impact that makes on the secondary and the defense as a whole.

@CharlesKing , your the only loser on here that's posting comments, why do we have to sit here and watch a team that before October could have been on their way to the SB , but instead we have an ineffective defense who's corner's sit back 5-6 yards off the ball on third downs, what ever happen to checking the reciever at the line , that come from coaching so don't piss down our leg and tell us it's raining , bad coaching is the problem period , and Ozzie and the coaching staff made the mistake of not picking up good physical players that would know how to paly like a Raven , instead we get these soft DB'S that act like their scared to tackle someone , and then we turn around and make the mistake of not trading up for a top WR , ANDYOU ARE SITTING THERE TALKING ABOUT DON'T COMPLAIN , TOO LATE FOR THAT BECAUSE OUR TEAM HAS BEEN TAKING A BEATING AND I MEAN A BEAT DOWN , AND YES BLAME IT ON THE COACHES AND OZZIE , BECAUSE LIKE IT OR NOT HARBAUGH AND MATTISON ARE BEING OUT COACHED PERIOD , AND I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF WE LOSE TO CLEVLAND ON MONDAY NIGHT........

This would be a mute point if the offensive would have done their average job.

Mr. King,

I promise to be a "little more kinder" to the Ravens. For God sakes, find out what Division 2 college this guy went to and steer your kids AWAY from it.

Keith, actually, if you read the title of the blog, I'd say that KVV started the insulting by calling fans "delusional." It doesn't surprise me, after reading the title and tone of the blog, that someone would call KVV a "moron."

Mr. King, you are certainly entitled to be positive about the Ravens right now, but surely you understand why others may be frustrated. And I absolutely can't stand people who use the argument that a person had to have played or coached football at an advanced level to have legitimate concerns about a team. In analogy, your position just wiped out the points of every political commentator in every major newspaper, as they obviously are unqualified to comment on the President or Congress unless they served those offices.

Finally, as a Ravens fan in NJ, I can say that Harbaugh shows many traits he picked up in the Eagles system. One is the belief that players are of limited value after a certain age (see Brian Dawkins and Matt Stover) and not worth resigning. Another is full delegation of defensive responsibility to the DC (e.g. Jim Johnson). That's why the fate of the defense lies totally in Mattison's hands.

I agree that firing Mattison is not the cure all, especially in mid-season.

Firing him or wheather he should have been hired in the first place are two different arguments that seem to get mixed up by most posters.

He got the job and removing him now doesn't do much. To me it's the same situation as cutting Hauschaka after two misses. You took the time to make your decision and you live with the consequences. True assessment of his job will come at season's end.

However at the midway point he's schemed a fairly basic defense and when you couple that with the advanced age and underperformance of some players it's a recipe for disaster. Mattison is only a part of the problem not all of it.

The part I continue to have trouble with is that some fans think that this team is still filled with All-Pros on the defense and he's not using them correctly. Kelly Gregg isn't the same, Trevor Pryce will retire next season, they haven't properly replaced Bart Scott, Landry has been cautious, Ed Reed is year to year with his nerve issues and sometimes plays soft as a result. Foxworth, Washington, and Carr have been terrible in their ability to cover. What does any of this have to do with Mattison?

But here's my last point. I know there is plenty of season left but don't be surprised if at end we don't see a big turnover in players (McGahee, Heap, Gregg, Pryce, Mason) all could be gone. These players have served the franchise well in different capacities but it's time to upgrade or get younger. The Ravens have always been a franchise to sign their players to two contracts and that second contract when players are in their 30's can always be a risk and as you said speed and talent can disappear quickly.

It could be time for some turnover and some fresh blood.

Ok not an expert but I can't believe that the whole defense just aged overnight as some are suggesting. I dont think you can find many exaples of dropoffs happening this quickly in the league with basically the same players (that arent affected by injury or massive turnover). I just dont think anyone raised an eyebrow before because of the great transitions in the past between d coordinators in Bmore.

I think much of the problems in the past were masked by superior coaching. Many of the problems faced by many NFL teams currently are because of so much coaching turnover and new guys learning on the job.

I dont think picking Mattison was wise when the Raven's were on the way up. I run a successful business and I dont think anyone would hire someone to replace me with lesser credentials or pedigree. It would be problematic as far keeping morale up and needing someone with the skills sets to keep the business afloat and producing at the same high level. I am pretty sure you can find a one off here or there but it's pretty much standard practice to get the best candidate available.

You hire the best person for the job and clearly it's Harbaughs right to pick who he wants but Mattison wasnt the most accomplished coach for the job for a SuperBowl run. Harbs made a great pick with selecting Cam but Mattison was suspect.

I agree with the Boller comparison to Mattison that someone made. We wasted several yearsnon Boller during a time when we were pursuing another Superbowl run when it was clear this guy wasn't ready and to this day I can't believe we made him a first rounder. I know some people didnt think Flaccco was a first rounder either but Boller had baggage during the draft (no one thought he was accurate even back then other than Billick).

So the choice is either we wait and hope Boller er I mean Mattison can grow into a good coach or we decide we have seen enough and get someone who has a nfl resume who we know who can coach at the end of the year if we think the window is still open.

The other fascinating thing about these post (and I will ignore the just completely off the wall post) is that the media(not the writers or radio host) and the access to information itself has changed and fans have just as much access to games and film that the writers/radio hosts.

I truly believe most of them think they have way more knowledgeable than every fan (they do probably for the casual reader/listener). Its funny because when you listen to the National media they often rail on how bad the local guys are on reporting and getting it right. I don't think I know it all trust me but writers have to remember this ain't the 50's and there is so much more access to sports they shouldnt assume they are the experts and everyone else is just slow. They are just the guys who chose to pursue journalism/english rather than another profession. I think in the old days the gap was probably wider with the writers having way more access and local knowledge. Local Beat guys on the radio and TV just remember national guys like Randy Cross call local writer/radio idiots because he(sorry to use him as an example) thinks he is better or has more pedigree because he is an ex player or on a national stage and I think thats crazy also but you local guys shouldnt do the same things to your fans or fans of the game.

i agree with kevin 100%...the 2009
personnel have the same names but they are not the same players...one
year in the nfl does make a difference. the team caught many by
surprise last season..that resulted
in wins...there are no surprises this
year. the talent is just not there
for either the defense or offense
the top positions needed to be a
constant winner...wide receivers,
pass rushers, defensive backs are
the weakness of the ravens...if
lombardi were the defensive team
coach i do not think the results would have been any better.

Kevin- I agree with some of this but let me point out a few key things. 1. T Sizzle has been reduced to a defensive end period. He is not 1 dimensional Mattison has taken a star and turned him into an average Joe. Maybe Suggs was out of shape early on after the heel thing, but not now. 2. Runing a 4-3 is not effective, every team knows the pressure is comming from the ends with this scheme, there is no surprise factor. If you watch the tape at the beginning of the Denver masacre you will see some "Rex like" schemes, and watch how fast Denver was punting the ball away, also the corners actually looked decent as a result. 3. I know the secondary is weak but rex had fabian last year and he never got beat like this, makes me think there are other factors involved. I know samari was healthy, but that was the other side of the field. Just pointing out some things that the coaching staff may want to look at and address

SOME PLAYERS THAT WE HAVE TO PUT IN THE TRASH CAN. RIGHT NOW.
GARBAGE NUMBER 1.Domonique Foxworth.
GARBAGE NUMBER 2chris carr.
GARBAGE NUMBER 3Frank Walker.
AND THE MOST STUPID GARBAGE
Greg Mattison. U FIRE ASS HOLE.

In Mattison's defense. He did not pick the guys on the roster for defense. I don't think any could do much with this bunch. Next year you have to get rid of Foxworth and Washington. Also may have to get rid of Landry. You have to totally rebuild your secondary. Yeah they paid too much for Foxworth. But I think it's important to admit your mistake and move on. Why would you give a guy who has been around for five years and proven nothing so much money. Bad call Ozzy! Among Many

really? Well this defensive coordinator has all the personnel on defensive all the pro bowl studs any D coordinator can ask for. He even has the fastest CB's in the league. The players are just not playing for him because his scheme and play calling sucks. He single handidly sucked the life, swagger, fun, and unpredictability out of this defense. They look like they are on their heels on every down. Everyones running the ball on us now when before they used to light us up only for 150-200 max in the air. Now any any given night ESPN can report another record/breakout game for any given QB. So how dare you say we are delusional ? We're not hopeless romantics if anything we're realists and you are the delusional one for a second there I thought you might have a point there when I read the article title but WRONG! WRONG ! WRONG!

Songood and special team guru, admit you are losers!! Just go ahead. I'm ok with who I am now. What a lot you loser comments are taking out your own inadequacies on the players and the coaches, because you can't control them. This team has done what it had to do long before any of us were here, and they will continue to. As I stated, I hate to see the team lose, but is it worth name calling the players? I appreciate the players, because I can't do what they do. Neither can any of you losers who continue to talk them down. If you could be running back, corner back, qb or linebacker, you butt would be on the field. Don't give any excuses about you hurt your leg or the coach didn't like you. The fact of the matter is that fans think they have a right to players because you pay. Well, don't pay. Stay home-change the tv channel to another team. I'm a RAVEN fan, love them and will support them until the end. I will not call the players out, as I keep that to myself. You will never hear me call out a player. I may say that the whole team has work to do, but will not take pot shots at players. I have to admit, I were a player, I would not have interest in smiling with fans, where these comments continue to evolve. Do you think the players want to lose-loser "special teams gook" and loser "songood." Matter of fact, I see you took it hard to be called a loser, didn't you? Call me what you want "I'm a man, I'm 40." :) Be kinder and gentler to your RAVENs and maybe, jsut maybe they know that fans support them. When I played D2, it felt good knowing I had supportive fans. We never had fans boo us, nor had crazies talking down players. You might learn from that. I bet the RAVENS win monday-they are tired and want to prove it. Your or my comments will not make it so.

I haven't posted on your article today but I must say Kevin you seem like a jerk. Your "middle school" sarcasm isn't funny and I think it's ironic that you insult the very people that read the Sun or use it's website that allow you to have a job. Many Baltimore Sun sports writers were laid off, fortunately for you, you haven't. You insult people for having their own opinions but yet your article is an opinion, not fact. I've only read about 4 of your articles so far and all of them have been opinion based not factual. The same way you have an opinion, the people here have an opinion.

Bmoresportsfan28, few things ring more hollow to me than the claim that I'm just trying to make a name for myself. Have you seen my last name? It's 13 friggen letters long. Look, what I hope we're doing is all in the spirit of good debate. This is the internet for pete's sake. I'd much rather engage readers than ignore them. Wouldn't you rather know you're not just shouting into the wind?

One of the main differences between me and someone writing on a message board is that my name is attached to everything I write. I'm not hiding behind something. If you intellectually wipe the floor with me and my argument, guess what? I'll approve those comments. Maybe the Ravens should promote someone from within. That's a more reasonable take. As for the reason why no one questioned Harbaugh when Mattison was hired, I think at that point, the head coach had earned the benefit of the doubt. He went 11-5 and went to the AFC Championship as a first year head coach with a rookie quarterback. Can anyone really claim with a straight face they felt, even then, the head coach was "in over his head?" (I believe that's proper use of quote marks. I think I saw that somewhere.) Once again, I'll point out that the first time Mike Preston dared write anything about how Harbaugh needed to prove he could weather difficult times, a ton of people went bonkers, throwing their usual insults at him.

C'mon, this has been fun, hasn't it? There's few things lamer in my business than a reporter who nods like a bobblehead at everything the fans say! Fire the coach! Give him a raise! Play the back-up quarterback! Sign 10 new players! Trade for the No. 1 pick!

I think my favorite quote from Season 5 of The Wire was when editor Gus Haynes says, "You know what a healthy newsroom is? It's a magical place where people argue about about everything, all the time."

There is no shame in disagreeing. I don't even mind when someone calls me a moron. (Hint: Sometimes I am one!) But don't be afraid to have a little fun too.

actually, i think ray calling the plays is a fine idea. can't be any worse than the status quo. as far as fans venting anger without solutions, kevin, know that fans don't provide solutions, they voice expectations. so get off your high horse with the provide a solution or shut-up attitude. if you want to cite biscotti as a paragon of world class people management (which he is), he'd be the first to tell you he had no solutions when he fired billick and hired harbaugh. but what he made known to all were his expectations, knowing the people he hired could meet those expectations. ravens fans have done no less and as paying customers have every right to let their expectations be known, aware that the team is capable of much more than they've demonstrated till now.

Dear Mr. King,

Apparently you take the comments by the fans on the board far too seriously. Perhaps they are slightly too intellectual for you to parry. I can tell your posts that you are an angry and frustrated person because you don't debate the points that the posters have raised you just ridicule and call them names. That is not my definition of a "man"

By the way, I am 63 and played Division One football at Maryland back in the 60's.

Sometimes people say things that they can't take back. Your demeaning comments on this blog tell me that you have nothing more to offer than poorly written thug rants.

Kevin,

By the way I would like to congratulate you on posting one of the most controversial and challenging blogs that I have seen so far from any of the "Insiders". Also you are not afraid to mix it up with the posters and go toe to toe without claiming that your integrity is being challenged when someone disagrees with you.

You obviously are not too self important. In your position you can dish it out but you must be able to take it too, because the fans in this town know their sports.

Good luck, keep it going and I think we are going to have a lot of fun and interesting discussions. I am looking forward to it.

That's what is supposed to be all about.

Good job.

After all, it's all in fun.

In response to Charles King...

"All of you folks should be the coach. Get your heads out of your behinds. The team is going through some changes and you loser fans can't deal with a team that is not fulfilling its potential."

That’s correct. We love this team and to see it underachieve is frustrating.

"It is not your potential, it is the teams potential."

Again, that’s correct. We follow this team with great passion and they are not reaching their potential (which I must add is one of the jobs of a coach). What’s your point?

"I think it is a good idea to not scold players as you losers do, instead taking a more subtle approach. No of you losers have played the game nore coached the game, so its amazing how you seem to have the answers."

You are making a baseless generalization about what level of football anyone on this site has been associated with. This is a blog you moron, you give your opinion.

"I player DIV2 ball, if was not that good to reach the NFL level, so I try to watch how I criticize others when I don't measure up, and I played the game, just not good for NFL. So we fans again, have to hold back on the comments."

Uh… English please, I don’t understand caveman.

"The players on this team are playing according to how the coaches want them to play."

So you’re saying it’s the coach’s fault. I agree to some extent.

"I posted earlier that when things go well you losers are all hyped. But when things go wrong, you are quick to criticize and want to fire coaches and players."

Not everyone reacts in the manner in which you have so eloquently described. Many fans have been consistent in their criticism, and some of their points have merit.

"Do you really support this team, or is this something for the weekend? By the way, you don't get players to appreciate fans by talking them down like this. The real deal, none of you losers can hold the players jock. SO get a life."

The players and coaches on this team should be held accountable just like the rest of us. Now please step away from the computer, I am sure the librarian would like for other tax paying citizens to get a chance to use it.

My, my crankiness from all corners today!
Agreed, to jettison Mattison now would if anything make matters worse ; there is no heir apparent, nor should we necessarily seek one from the current within. Yes, Rex is gone, but somebody help me understand where Mattison and the D coaches were last year when game planning defense?? Do they know nothing about what worked in years past with this personnel? Yes, there is inevitable decline for older stars like Pryce, Lewis, & Reed. Gregg, Landry, and [again] Reed have not returned from injury as hoped. But we were getting it done with a not substantially more talented secondary. I just can't believe Bart Scott and Jim Leonhard are the difference from last year. I think Mattison is wrong to try to redeploy personnel to base schemes that take them away from roles they were acquired/groomed to play in 3-4. Ngata, Greg & the other DTs are massive run-stuffers who help keep blockers off our LBs who deliver QB pressure w/ tutti frutti ( not vanilla) blitzes. Yeah - Scott contributed to that, but all our LBs are selected for that . Hell , let's put Suggs consistently in a 2 pt stance back at LB and maybe he'll start trying again! Mattison schemes against prototype. No amount of jabbering about fundamentals and "mighty man- to-nighty man. talks are gonna change the very skill sets on which our DL and LBs were acquired/groomed throughout Rex' era and even before. That's college coach thinking. With what we've got on roster now, a 3-4 defense is going to get more pash rush, which is the only way to help the secondary this year. I seem to remember it having some good days against the run as well not so very long ago,.

C.King makes some good points that I agree with but his style of presentation could probably use some coaching from somebody in a Drama dept.

Kevin- You never responded to my sound wisdom... Is this because deep down inside you know that it obviously isn't 100% personnel and more than likely it is the coach here that "fixed a scheme that wasn't broken"??? Well guess what, now it is broken, and we have no one to fix it. We can't fire Mattison mid season, but in the off-season i expect either the scheme to change or the coordinator.... Any insights on that???

Gil, your post is much appreciated. I definitely don't take myself too seriously. I'm more than happy to make fun of myself, as anyone who read my story about attempting to long snap with Matt Katula can see.

Nick, I would definitely concede it's not 100 percent personel, and again, that's from the perspective of a guy who isn't watching 200 hours of game film like these coaches are. I think I was the first person in the Baltimore media to point out how much I disliked Mattison's blitzing patterns. (After the first Cincy game. I'm sure fans were pointing it out before that, but I wrote about it in my 5 Things We Learned after that game.) If this doesn't get fixed, absolutely I think the franchise will make a change in the offseason. If this team misses the playoffs, the head coach has a lot less clout when it comes to picking and chooseing who he wants. But we'll see what happens. Still eight games to go, folks.

Sun writers have a tendency of kissing up to hometown front offices. Sure, it's not Mattisson's fault for the Ravens failures when the offense is scoring 30 ppg and the defense is opening the flood gates. Just like Dave Trembley had nothing to do with a miserable O's performance for the past two years.

Don't believe for one second that Mattison won't lose his job if we lose to the Browns on Monday night. Let's not forget, Brian Billick lost hi job because we lost to Miami, a winless team. The Browns are not that much better than that Miami team. Nobody thought we'd lose to Miami, but it happened. I don't wish our team against the Browns just so I can be right, but I don't think Mattison can turn his failures around and make our D play like a Mike Nolan D.

I have To agree, We Cant Fire Mattison mid season, If anyone recalls when marvin lewis left and mike nolan tooke over for three seasons our defense struggled a bit the first year, only to be settled down the following year and return to dominance. I can be frusterating knowing that the defense has always been excelent, but the Rex Ryans or Tony Dungys or Dick LeBeaus aren't all over the League, there Special, I believe mattison can be a good coach, but dont give him such lofty expectations, same goes with hauschka, matt stover will retire and life will go on. To all these fans who are angered and uspet, THE SEASON IS ONLY HAlF WAY THROUGH! I recall a team in 2000 who couldnt score a touchdown for five full games,What happened? O we only won 11 straight and were recognized as thee most dominating defense ever! True Ravens Fans Will Have Faith. We have Alot of Football Left To Play....GO RAVENS

It is the same old same old. I am so tired of hearing people talking about firing Mattison. Kevin has some legitiment points here. Another point to think about is, our corners don't back pedal. They get their hips turned 5-8 yards down field and when your hips get turned, you get burnt. This is why we lead the league in PI calls. You can blame Chuck Pagano for that. We are gonna have to weather the storm till the end of the season. Mike Preston said it best, our corners are horrible. Our baby cornerbacks can't even walk yet.

I love the banter that we are doing here. In fact, I think some you are thinking about what you are saying. We all can make comments relative to the topic. I called some you folks the names to make a point. You didn't like it dit you? Now think of about if any player reads your comments and how he would feel. I again I stated I'm a RAVEN for life. I hate to see the team lose. I try to be objective about it. The fact that I played D2 really has no consequence, nor does anyone that played the game at NFL level. The fact of the matter is that this is the RAVENs team now. Some of you can't handle losing. This is the time when real men are made, whent things are not going well. Your contentions of firing this guy and firing the coaches are ill-though out comments. Losers, real losers think about firing someone when they are not doing something right. Good and effective leaders belive in building and training. Then and only after you have done due diligence, you consider getting rid of someone. So just as some of you call the players names and want to kick them out, I call you the same. Take some time and read your own baseless comments- CRZA, Gil and Dan R. In fact, some of your comments here are borderline racist as you used the word caveman. Think about what you do, as it sends another message that you have some issues with certain people. Think about where most of cour comments are addressed as well. Think about it. Losers.

Kevin,
let me start of saying, I like your posts, and enjoy reading them. Mattison got the job because he's harbs boy imo. He should be dismissed, and the job should go to the guy who should have gotten it in the first place, Clarence Brooks. He knows how to coach like a Raven, and the players respect him. I still like Harbs, but he's starting to annoy me. I'm really sick of the penalties, I thought Harbs was supposed to fix that ?

Well I'm not sure just who is really delusional. When something stops working basic trouble shooting starts. Electronics, teams, life; the first question is what's changed.

Well lets see, first Biscotti hired an unproven clean cut, well spoken, say all the right things, use all these silly slogans, yada, yada, button down collar guy; because his main focus was "IMAGE" - enter Harbaugh. He rode Billick's and Rex's team to the playoffs. Then Rex left.

Harbaugh had the mindset that now we have an offense (Credit Ossie and Cam for that) defense is not so important, the moron even said it OUT LOUD. Then good ole nepotism got another untested guy the defensive coordinator job.

Everyone drank the kool aid and just assumed the Defense would well be the same ole Baltimore Defense.

I'm sure Harbaugh and Mattison are really nice guys what they are not - is Baltimore Ravens coaches. This is a blue collar, get dirty, play hard smash mouth City.

Harbaugh, and Mattison have made to many poor decisions and they keep on with the same ole we have to fix this and that and nothing gets fixed. Their delusion is if we say it enough it will just happen, it hasn't!!

Yep delusional is the correct word it's just being directed at the wrong group.

Someone please tell Mattison that it wasn't broken and he sure is not the guy to fix it. Also pass along to Harbaugh, defense IS important.

Oh yeah special teams - oh never mind...

On most Sundays I'm in church when the game usually starts, so I have to dvr them so I can look at them later and the type of dvr I have is the old school one where you actually need dvd disk to record on. It's a little more expensive this way but it gives me a vantage point that many others don't have. Also, because I don't have cable( as crazy as that might sound) I have nothing else to watch all week but the ravens game reruns. I said all of this to say that it is a mis-statement to say we have bad starting corners. Our corners have been penalizes into playing bad technique. In pre-season and the first two games or so their tech was pretty good although they were still adjusting to playing together. Please recall how they were "flying" all over the field making plays(except for Carr and to a lesser degree Walker) but once the flags started to fly for playing the same kind of defense that was considered ok in the earlier games our guys are having to adjust to what the refs will allow them to do. Let's be fair, how many IC penalities have we been called for that we seen, not only our opponets, but other teams in other games get kudos and praises for playing "perfect" D on. Sunday we watched a DB elbow Mason iin the Head a prevent him from turning around while intercepting the ball; was it a missed call, maybe not but our guys have made the same plays in other games and been called for IC or PI. Later we watched Clayton get tug on the shoulder pads at the goal line before the ball was again picked yet no call.. Last but none the less important we saw Mason double move down the right sideline get IC'd halfway down the field and IC'd in the endzone yet still no flag. What I think we as fans should do is reconize the great effort that our DC is trying to do in light of all the bad flags that our D keeps getting. I know what some of you will say, flags don't cause you to fall down or grab or turn you hips to early. However, I will argure that the position that the refs have put our whole defense in has causeour guuys to have to change their style of play and try to make up for it in speed. In other words, I can't bump & run because I'll get a IC called so I let the reciever run free, turn run with him and hope to make the play on the ball without gettiing to close to the reciever because, God forbid, any part of my uniform touches theirs it's a PI. We seen it too much this year and instead of accepting this truth we blame our DB's and DC for not knowing football. One last thing, we don't hae enough skilled LB's to run a 3-4 so stop calling for it.

Ladies and Gentlemen, The fall of the Bmore Ravens this season all Start with this man call OZZIE NEWSOME.Ozzie Newsome the respected GM years ago now makes some FOOLISH decision nowadays that makes him questionable.It all started during the off-season when OZZIE made a rush decision of filling REX shoe with a garbage called MATTISON. Then selected some garbage again during Free agent like CHRIS CARR and FOXWORTHLESS, and L J SMITH. Furthermore, OZZIE went into this season draft class that have good wide receivers, corners, and safety and never did came out with anything good but 75% bumbs. He also got rid of Matt Stover for bumbs to make the 53 man roster. Ozzie replace CMAC with bumbs, REX with bumbs, STOVER with bumbs and the entire season now is filled with bumbs and Ravens fans are now crying out LOUD. OZZIE, What is going on? Do you have issue drafting quality Recevier or good Corner? I think OZZIES hands and Brian is being Handcuff. Ozzie, Please wake up. Do not like rookie and Pretender Head Coach like Hamburger alter your great decision. Coach Hamburger you replace REX with bumb. You replace CMAC with bumb and you replace STOVER with bumb. I think your job should be on the line. OZZIE you must do a serious job this coming off season and draft. Sorry Ravens ain't going nowhere this 09 season. Hope they can get rid of the bumbs and replace them with energized
CONTENDERS.