Bleacher Report - Articles by Evan Porter

Know Your Baltimore Ravens Coaching Staff

Evan Porter — Tue, 19 May 2009 15:51:47 -0400

Head Coach—John Harbaugh

Former Philadelphia Eagles special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach John Harbaugh was hired as Head Coach of the Baltimore Ravens on January 19, 2008. He beat out several other candidates interviewing for the job, including the recently fired Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan.

Initial response to Harbaugh's signing was mixed, as fans in Baltimore wondered if he had enough experience to lead a pro football team. Although Harbaugh achieved a wealth of success as the Eagles' special teams coordinator, he had no previous head coaching experience at the professional level.

Fan favorite Rex Ryan had been considered the likeliest choice for the position, but Harbaugh won over Ravens management with his charisma, winning attitude, and leadership potential. It didn't take Baltimore fans long to see why he was the right man for the job.

What Harbaugh lacked in experience, he made up for by surrounding himself with one of the top coaching staffs in the league. His first moves were to resign Rex Ryan as defensive coordinator and bring in Cam Cameron to run the offense.

Despite entering the season inexperienced, with a rookie quarterback, and a young, shaky offensive line, John Harbaugh led the Ravens to an 11-5 regular season record. Harbaugh led the team on a marvelous post season run that ended in a heart breaking loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship game.

Former Head Coach: Brian Billick

Led the Ravens to five winning seasons, one Super Bowl victory in the team's only Super Bowl appearance, four total playoff appearances, and a 5-3 playoff record

Offensive Coordinator—Cam Cameron

One of Harbaugh's toughest choices upon taking on the head coaching position was finding someone to run the offense.

Under Brian Billick, the offense coordinator position had been a revolving door of coaches including Jim Fassel, Rick Neuheisel, Matt Cavanaugh, and even Billick himself. None of these men were able to find any consistent success on the offensive side of the ball.

Enter Cam Cameron, coming off a disastrous head coaching stay with the Miami Dolphins in which his team finished 1-15 in 2007. Despite his failure as a head coach, Cameron had an illustrious track record as offensive coordinator of the San Diego Chargers (2002-2006).

During this time, the offense broke numerous team and league records, and sent multiple players to the Pro Bowl including quarterbacks Drew Brees and Philip Rivers, running back Ladainian Tomlinson, and tight end Antonio Gates.

As offensive coordinator of the Ravens in 2008, Cam Cameron led the unit to finish 18th in the league in total offense. Cameron played to the strengths of the Ravens, choosing to run the ball early and often.

However, at times he showed flashes of his more innovative side, making use of the Wildcat formation and various reverses and trick plays.

Cameron was also integral in the development of rookie quarterback Joe Flacco.

Former offensive coordinator: Brian Billick

Unit finished 22nd in 2007, 17th in 2006, 24th in 2005, 31st in 2004, 21st in 2003, 26th in 2002, 14th in 2001, 16th in 2000, 24th in 1999 in total offense

Defensive Coordinator—Greg Mattison

Following one of the Ravens best defensive efforts to date, coordinator Rex Ryan was offered a head coaching position by the New York Jets in 2009. Head coach John Harbaugh was faced with another large set of shoes to fill.

The decision was made to promote from in-house. The Ravens defensive assistants were all familiar with Rex Ryan's trademark scheme, one involving bizarre personnel packages, odd formations, and exotic zone blitzes.

Greg Mattison, who in 2008 served as the Ravens linebackers coach, was chosen to take over for the departed Ryan on January 26, 2009. He beat out the likes of defensive assistant Vic Fangio and defensive line coach Clarence Brooks.

Mattison is best known for his accomplishments at the collegiate level. He served as defensive coordinator of the University of Florida, Notre Dame, and Michigan. He has 37 years of coaching experience under his belt.

Former defensive coordinator: Rex Ryan

Unit finished second in 2008, sixth in 2007, first in 2006, and fifth in 2005 in total defense.

Special Teams Coordinator—Jerry Rosburg

Head coach John Harbaugh spent the majority of his career as a special teams coordinator, and rightfully places an emphasis on strong special teams play.

Jerry Rosburg was hired by John Harbaugh as the special teams coordinator on January 30, 2008 after successful stays as the special teams coordinator with the Atlanta Falcons and Cleveland Browns.

The Baltimore Ravens finished 18th in punt return average and 31st in kick return average in 2008.

During the offseason, Rosburg and Harbaugh worked with Ozzie Newsome to bring in dual threat talents. Cornerback Chris Carr was signed via free agency and cornerback Ladarius Webb was picked in the third round of the 2009 NFL draft.

The team hopes that both players can contribute to the special teams unit as return men and help improve on the unit's 2008 performance.

Rosburg also holds the title of Assistant Head Coach.

Quarterbacks Coach—Hue Jackson

Molding a young quarterback is as delicate and fragile a process as there is in football. It requires patience and experience, as one misstep can lead to a $30 million failed experiment.

In 2008, coach John Harbaugh placed the development of rookie Joe Flacco in the hands of Hue Jackson. Jackson previously headed the offense of the Atlanta Falcons and worked closely with Michael Vick and his understudies.

When Kyle Boller and Troy Smith went down prior to the start of the 2008 season, Joe Flacco was thrust into the starting position. Jackson was no stranger to this, as he helped tutor Joey Harrington and Byron Leftwich when Michael Vick was lost for the 2007 season in Atlanta.

Under Hue Jackson's watchful eye, Joe Flacco progressed valiantly throughout the 2008 season. By week six of his first NFL season, Flacco had thrown only one touchdown and seven interceptions. After a brilliant turnaround game against Miami in week seven, he finished the season with 2971 yards, 14 TDs, 12 INTS, and an 80.3 QB rating.

Joe Flacco won the Diet Pepsi Rookie of the Year Award at the end of the 2008 season.

One-on-One with Mark Clayton of the Baltimore Ravens

Evan Porter — Mon, 18 May 2009 14:36:33 -0400

Mark Clayton - WR, Baltimore Ravens

Former Oklahoma Sooner
5' 10", 190 pounds
Round One/Pick 22 - 2005 NFL Draft
2008 Stats - 41 rec, 695 yds, three receiving TDs, one rushing TD, one passing TD

1. You've had the benefit of learning from one of the best veteran receivers in the game in Derrick Mason. What has he been able to teach you specifically? Who are other current NFL receivers that you try to watch and learn from?

2. You've been in the league long enough to have played against almost every team in the NFL. You've lined up opposite the likes of Champ Bailey, Nnamdi Asomugha, and pretty much every other elite corner in the game. Who is the toughest defensive back you've ever faced, and why?

3. You've put together a pretty impressive highlight reel so far in your young career. You're especially famous for your ability to make defenders miss and pick up extra yards after the catch. Do you have a favorite moment from your football career or a specific play that you love to rewatch on film?

4. In 2008 you threw your first NFL touchdown pass, a 32-yarder to Derrick Mason. With your unique skillset, is the Wildcat (or the "Suggs Package") something that you'd like to become even more involved in in 2009?

5. You've spent time with a few different QBs while in Baltimore.You've caught passes from Steve McNair, Kyle Boller, Troy Smith, and most recently, Joe Flacco. When Joe first arrived at camp last year, what were your first impressions of him, and how has he progressed since then?

6. I've heard you're a Madden junkie. What do you think about your player attributes? (Last time I checked, you had a speed of 92). If you were in charge of that aspect of the game, how would you change your ratings?

7. In 2008, you proved you had the ability to catch passes, run out of the backfield, and even throw to receivers. If you could play any other position on the field for one game, what would it be?

8. Despite the success your team enjoyed last year, there were a lot of changes going on, on and off the field. How has working with John Harbaugh and Cam Cameron been different than working with the old coaching staff?

9. You grew up in Texas, no doubt one of the best places to fall in love with football. What was your favorite team growing up, and what players did you idolize?

10. Coming into the 2005 draft, you were one of the most highly touted prospects at wide receiver. When all was said and done, you ended up being draft 22nd overall, behind the likes of Braylon Edwards, Troy Williamson, Mike Williams, and Matt Jones. Do you have any advice for top college prospects entering the draft this year? Looking back at that class of receivers, how do you think you've measured up so far?

11. As a top draft pick and a highly decorated college player, your fans and teammates expect a lot out of you. There's no doubt that your best football is still in front of you, but in what areas do you feel you need to improve? What do you need to do to become a better receiver and a better teammate?

12. You're still a young guy and chances are you've got a ton of football ahead of you. Besides winning a Super Bowl, what are your individual career goals? What do you want to have accomplished by the time you retire?

Personnel Additions Will Expand Baltimore Ravens Playbook in 2009

Evan Porter — Sat, 16 May 2009 17:00:25 -0400

The Ravens haven't had the most exciting offseason. Their most publicized move was the dramatic resigning of Ray Lewis, and they failed to create a splash with their draft (as usual).

Ozzie Newsome and the rest of the Baltimore personnel evaluators, however, are among the best at what they do for a reason. A series of low key personnel moves should give the Ravens plenty of opportunities to expand their playbook in 2009, and help them build on their success from last year.

Addition of Michael Oher

The Ravens traded up in this year's draft to take offensive tackle Michael Oher at pick 23. With the retirement of Willie Anderson, it's likely that Oher will step in immediately at right tackle.

The addition of center Matt Birk, the return of Marshal Yanda, and another year of experience under the young line's belt will make this an improved unit in 2009.

The game of football is won and lost in the trenches, and improving the offensive line improves nearly every facet of the offense as a whole.

The running game will be more effective, Joe Flacco will have more time to throw and will take fewer sacks. In turn, receivers will have more success getting open and making plays.

Securing the tackle spot on both sides of Joe Flacco should help relieve the tight ends of blocking duties, allowing them to run routes and contribute more to the passing game in 2009.

In 2008, the Ravens made use of a formation known as the unbalanced line. The set involves stacking an extra offensive lineman on one side of the center, making that side "heavy."

Plays running out of the unbalanced line require talented and versatile offensive lineman. Michael Oher fits the bill perfectly, as Ravens coaches believe he has the ability to play on both sides of the line.

Michael Oher also possesses the athleticism necessary to contribute to the Wildcat package. The Ravens used this formation sparingly, but had some success snapping the ball directly to Troy Smith. Oher should allow Cam Cameron to develop and expand this package in 2009.

Addition of L.J. Smith

It wasn't long ago that Todd Heap was considered an elite tight end. He was consistently posting top five numbers, despite an anemic offense and shaky quarterback play.

In 2008, when the Ravens finally found some stability at quarterback and brought in one of the most talented and innovate offensive coordinators in the league, Heap strangely saw his statistics plummet.

It's arguable whether or not Todd Heap is the same player that he used to be. At 29 years old, he's entering his 8th season as an NFL player, and there's no doubt that the years have taken a toll on his body.

He's struggled with injuries throughout his career, and it's unclear if he can still play at an elite level. Heap dropped passes in 2008 that he would have caught easily in 2005 and 2006.

While Heap may not be the player he once was, wear and tear on his body is not the only explanation for his performance last year.

With a young and relatively inexperienced offensive line protecting a rookie quarterback, Cam Cameron chose to keep Todd Heap in as an extra blocker. Rather than running routes down the middle of the field, he was often used to help pick up blitzes and keep Joe Flacco out of the dirt.

This offseason, the Ravens brought in L.J Smith, the former Eagles tight end, and his presence should have an immediate impact on the offense. As a solid receiver and blocker, he should be able to spell Todd Heap in any situation.

The two could also provide a dangerous receiving threat when on the field together.

One way or another, the duo should help provide quarterback Joe Flacco with a couple of big targets to look for in the red zone.

Return of Demetrius Williams

Amidst all of the clamor in Baltimore for a premier wide receiver, one of the Ravens favorite young talents has gone unnoticed. Demetrius Williams, although plagued by injury problems over the last three seasons, has shown flashes of being the deep threat Joe Flacco and Cam Cameron desperately need.

His career statistics are unimpressive. 55 receptions in three seasons and 3 touchdowns. The upside is that he has averaged over 15 yards a catch and scored 2 touchdowns of 70+ yards, despite severely limited playing time.

The Anquan Boldin deal appears to be ancient history at this point. The Ravens aren't interested in Plaxico Burress and his legal problems, and the Browns would never trade Braylon Edwards to a division rival. If and when the Ravens decide to pursue a high profile receiver is uncertain.

For now, though, coach John Harbaugh is more than happy with Derrick Mason, Mark Clayton, and a healthy Demetrius Williams.

Having a reliable third receiver will allow Cam Cameron to open sections of the playbook that remained tucked away throughout the entire 2008 season.

Besides Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton, Demetrius Williams was the only other Ravens receiver to catch more than one ball last year, and he only played 6 games.

Lining up in 3 or 4 wide receiver sets will open up room for the running backs to make plays, and may allow tight ends Todd Heap and L.J. Smith to take advantage of favorable matchups over the middle.

Demetrius Williams and Mark Clayton should find more room to operate out of these sets if Mason continues to receive double coverage in 2009.

Addition of Domonique Foxworth, Chris Carr, Ladarius Webb

The defensive unit has always been the anchor of the Ravens as a team. Ray Lewis and company consistently finish out seasons among the top 5 defenses in the league, often leading the league in turnovers and defensive touchdowns.

While Ray Lewis has essentially agreed to finish his career as a Raven, there is little doubt that the unit will be formidable once again, but this offseason has seen a bevy of changes on the defensive side of the ball.

Key departures include lineback Bart Scott (Jets), safety Jim Leonhard (Jets), cornerback Chris McAlister (free agent), and defensive coordinator Rex Ryan (head coach of the Jets). That's a lot of talent to lose in one year, though the Ravens have made every effort to minimize the losses.

Linebackers coach Gret Mattison has been promoted to Defensive Coordinator, and he is intimately familiar with Rex Ryan's defensive scheme.

Cornerbacks Domonique Foxworth, Chris Carr, and Ladarius Webb have been added to provide depth to a thin defensive backfield.

With Fabian Washington showing last season that he has the tools to be a starting corner, and the return of veteran Samari Rolle, the Ravens are ready to begin the season in good shape at the corner position. If even one of the three young talents signed this offseason can provide solid coverage skills and contribute to the defense, Greg Mattison should be able to utilize a variety of defensive packages.

Coverage in 2008 was a glaring weakness on the Ravens' defense (see week 6 @ Indianapolis and the AFC Championship @ Pittsburgh). The secondary's inability to lock down receivers hindered the effectiveness of the blitz. They finished with 34 sacks (11th in the NFL), down from the whopping 60 sacks the same unit posted in 2006 (2nd in the NFL).

With a solid coverage unit behind the likes of Terrell Suggs, Haloti Ngata, and rookie Paul Kruger, the Ravens should have more success utilizing their infamous exotic blitz packages.

Ravens Need Receiver, Fans Need Patience

Evan Porter — Tue, 12 May 2009 14:16:45 -0400

For years, Baltimore fans have been saying the same thing: "We need a quarterback."

Now that Joe Flacco has donned his purple armor and swept the town off its feet, Ravens fans have been toying around with a new cliché: "We need a receiver."

The receiver horse is so dead in this town, I'm pretty sure beating it is more a job for the Ghostbusters than for sports writers, but it's an issue that remains unsolved.

There is no doubt that the Ravens are in desperate need of a talented wide out. Derrick Mason is an amazing player, but he can't play forever.

Mark Clayton can be dangerous, but he lacks the consistency to be a No. 1.

Demetrius Williams has potential but can't stay healthy.

Marcus Smith can't seem to make the jump from training camp to full games.

Joe Flacco has the tools to put the ball wherever he wants, the Ravens just need to make sure someone in a purple jersey is there to catch it, and I don't mean a Viking's cornerback.

The AFC Championship game exposed the lack of receiver depth of the Ravens' roster. Instead of pounding the ball like everyone expected them to, Cam Cameron came out with a battery of play action passes.

The Steelers were fooled, the only problem was that none of the Ravens' receivers could get open. All they had to do was blanket Mason, put a corner on Clayton, and sit back in coverage. Flacco had no one to throw to, and the game plan fell apart.

Ravens receivers finished with a combined total of five catches.

Back in Baltimore, the chants began: "We need a receiver! We need a receiver!"

Well, the NFL Draft has come and gone, and once again, we learned that Ozzie Newsome will not "draft for need." He and his staff are going to select the best player available, period.

You won't find them reaching for Darrius Heyward-Bey at pick No. 7 like that other "R" team.

You won't even find them taking Hakeem Nicks or Kenny Britt if they don't feel strongly that they are the best possible picks.

The policy is a double-edged sword, in many ways.

The smart, safe drafting procedures the Ravens have been implementing for years are one of the biggest reasons the team has been able to avoid back-to-back losing seasons. The lack of flash and pizazz can be frustrating from a fan's perspective, however.

Fans wanted them to mortgage their future in a trade for Anquan Boldin, or perhaps trade away next year's first rounder for the rights to draft Crabtree. They want the big names, the flashy skill players, and the excitement. There's nothing wrong with that, but it's not the Raven way.

The Raven way is to draft an extraordinarily talented tackle to anchor the offensive line for years to come (Michael Oher). The Raven way is to develop undrafted talent, like Bart Scott, into Pro Bowl talent. The Raven way is to win with defense. The Raven way is to plan for the future.

Ravens fans just need to be patient. They're going to find a receiver sooner or later, and in the meantime, you can expect them to be a competitive team.

Mason, Clayton, and Williams will get the job done until Ozzie Newsome finds his guy. It could be this offseason, next year's draft, or even after that.

One thing that you can trust, though, is that when they do decide to shell out the big bucks on a receiver, he's going to be good.

Baltimore Ravens Must Continue to Grow in 2009

Evan Porter — Tue, 12 May 2009 13:35:55 -0400

11-5, 5-11, 13-3, 6-10, 9-7. Those aren't the store hours at your local post office, those are the Ravens' win-loss records over the past five years. You could find more consistency on Kristy Alley's bathroom scale.

While the Ravens are generally regarded as one of the better run franchises in the league, it's no secret that they have had trouble posting a winning record two seasons in a row.

This flip-floppy pattern goes all the way back to Baltimore's Super Bowl win in 2000. They finished 10-6 the next year, but in 2002 they posted an unimpressive 7-9.

The history of the team would seem to indicate that Joe Flacco & Co.'s encore to their phenomenal 2008 campaign will be a disappointment.

On top of that, if you take into account the "sophomore slump," for young QBs, and the fact that Cleveland and Cincinnati should be more competitive this year (they certainly can't get much worse), things start to look worrisome for the Ravens. Fortunately for Baltimore fans, the numbers don't tell the whole story.

For everyone that hasn't noticed, the Ravens are under new management. There's a new sheriff in town and his name is John Harbaugh. He's more than just a new heartthrob for the women in Baltimore to go nuts for. Turns out he's a damn good coach.

Club Billick is a thing of the past. Harbaugh runs a tough camp, and he expects a lot from his players. He's instilled a discipline that hasn't been present in that locker room for years. What's more, he's surrounded himself with fantastic assistant coaches, and he lets them do the job that they were hired to do.

This isn't your father's Ravens. The team is getting younger, tougher, faster, and more explosive.

In 2009, the Ravens need to do more of what made them so successful this past year. They need to take the reigns off of Joe Flacco, let him heave the ball down field. We need to see more of the Wildcat with Troy Smith and more of the "Mansion" package with Le'Ron McClain.

They've got to find a way to stay ferocious on defense without Rex Ryan there to call the shots.

While I highly doubt you'll see the Ravens drop below .500 this year, I'm not so sure you're going to see them go undefeated either. While there is a strong young nucleus and a bevy of talented veterans, this isn't a perfect team.

The Ravens need to see more growth from young receivers Mark Clayton, Demetrius Williams, and Marcus Smith. They've got to get more production out of their pass rushers. They need one of their young linebackers to step up and fill Bart Scott's shoes. They've got to prepare Joe Flacco for teams that will be game planning for him this year.

With youth and change comes a certain amount of growing pains. This team isn't quite ready to challenge the Steelers for the division title, but they will be a force in the AFC. With a strong showing this year, the Ravens may be one step closer to joining the ranks of the NFL's elite.

Early Prediction: 10-6, second in the AFC North