Baltimore Ravens: A Review of Their Big Coaching Moves

After a stellar season on defense and an average season on offense, the Ravens were expected to shake up their coaching staff.

On one hand, Chuck Pagano was mentioned regularly as a head coaching candidate throughout the Ravens' strong defensive season. Unsurprisingly, Pagano jumped at the chance to coach the tumultuous Indianapolis Colts.

Luckily, the Ravens had a solid defensive coordinator in-house. Dean Pees was the defensive coordinator in New England from 2005 to 2009, and the Ravens' defense expects more of the same with Pees at the helm.

On the other hand, Cam Cameron was unsure of his status with the Ravens after an average offensive season. With his contract expiring, Cameron was on the hot seat. The Ravens, as loyal as ever, decided to retain their embattled offensive coordinator.

They did, however, have one caveat. The Ravens were seeking a quality quarterbacks coach to help with Joe Flacco's development. Enter Jim Caldwell, who was signed today to help Flacco turn the corner from good to great.

All in all, NFL coaching staffs are often fluid, but this year, the Ravens find themselves making some bigger moves than usual. These moves could be the difference in making a solid team an elite team.

Chuck Pagano Heads to Indy, Dean Pees Takes over

The Ravens wanted to keep Chuck Pagano very badly, but he jumped at the chance to be a head coach.

Under Pagano, the Ravens found a renewed swagged on defense, and their pass rush improved greatly with Pagano's aggressive schemes.

Most impressively, Pagano helped turn a struggling secondary into one of the best units in the NFL.

His presence will be missed, but Dean Pees is a more than adequate replacement. The Patriots were a very solid defense under Pees, and Pees also helped the Ravens' linebackers maintain their elite level.

What Pees brings to the table is a similar mentality to Pagano, familiarity with the players and a strong knowledge of the 3-4 defense. The Ravens' defense shouldn't miss a beat under Dean Pees.

The Ravens Retain Cam Cameron

Cam Cameron is almost certainly the most divisive figure on the Ravens. On one hand, the Ravens' offense has been the best its ever been under Cameron. On the other hand, it really hasn't gotten better since 2009.

After a heart-breaking loss to the New England Patriots due in part to a Lee Evans drop and a poor performance from the offensive line, Cameron did not expect to be retained. 

The Ravens, as usual, were loyal to their embattled coordinator, stating that they will retain him. What does that mean for the Ravens?

It means the Ravens will continue to have one of the simplest offensive schemes in the NFL. The Ravens have three go-to plays: inside runs with Ray Rice, out routes and go routes.

Obviously, the Ravens' offense is slightly more complex than that, but it still is an incredibly simple scheme compared to other teams. If opponents figure out how to stop those three plays, they have a very good chance of winning the game.

On the other hand, what the Ravens do choose to do, they usually do very well. They are disciplined and physical on offense, and they usually at least keep the Ravens in the game.

Fans were not happy with the retaining of Cameron, and any expectations of great improvements should be tempered. The Ravens offense will be more of the same with Cameron still calling plays.

Jim Caldwell Hired as Quarterbacks Coach

The Ravens traded coaches with the Colts today, hiring their former head coach to guide Joe Flacco.

Flacco had his best season as a pro in 2010 with Jim Zorn as his quarterbacks coach. Flacco clearly does better with a close relationship with a quarterbacks coach, as he struggled without a position coach in 2011.

Jim Caldwell is already a very established quarterbacks coach, having coached Peyton Manning through his best years.

Some Ravens' fans are concerned, though, that Caldwell never really had to work to get results out of Peyton Manning. They rightfully point out that Flacco is not the same caliber quarterback as Manning, who was already a star when Caldwell was hired.

After years as the quarterbacks coach and assistant head coach, Caldwell was hired as Tony Dungy's replacement as head coach. He was not a successful, despite having a winning record and a super bowl appearance under his belt, having lost his team in 2011.

Further, Caldwell's lack of emotion did not always sit well with Colts fans. This coolness, though, should mesh well with Joe Flacco's demeanor, and the two should be come close allies.

If Jim Caldwell can improve Flacco's play significantly, the Ravens are a Super Bowl-caliber team. It's a tall task, but Caldwell might just be up to it.