Ravens coach John Harbaugh lined a number of materials at Monday’s season-ending information convention, however most significantly he addressed the workforce’s accidents in 2021 and the way they plan to take a tough have a look at why it occurred, columnist Mike Preston writes.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh lined a number of materials at Monday’s season-ending information convention, from speaking about his new defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald to bettering on large offensive performs and quarterback Lamar Jackson’s ankle damage.
He additionally mentioned Greg Roman will return as offensive coordinator in 2022, which can irritate a number of Ravens followers, however that was anticipated with the workforce having invested a lot in Jackson and the run-dominated offense and utilizing first-round draft picks on broad receivers Rashod Bateman and Marquise Brown.
However a very powerful information from Harbaugh was that the workforce has already began trying into the workforce’s medical state of affairs and why there was such an intensive damage checklist this previous season. They’ll look into their offseason coaching and conditioning program.
That’s accountability, not lip service.
Lip service was what we acquired through the season when the Ravens stored saying the accidents had been reciprocal or a matter of unhealthy luck from yr to yr. However because the season progressed and the accidents mounted, proprietor Steve Bisciotti was going to ensure the Ravens examine procedures and make mandatory adjustments.
So, when Bisciotti, Harbaugh and basic supervisor Eric DeCosta met final week with different front-office executives like Dick Cass and Ozzie Newsome, there was going to be a mandate.
“This yr, we simply acquired smashed with them,” mentioned Harbaugh of the accidents. “You'll be able to say it’s unhealthy luck. You'll be able to say it’s a fluke. I get that, however I don’t really feel like we've the posh to reside there. That’s not one thing that we are able to say that that’s it. We now have to show over each stone. We now have to have a look at each doable avenue to do the most effective we are able to to ensure this doesn’t occur once more. That’s what we plan on doing. I had a gathering two weeks in the past with our efficiency individuals.
“We sat in there for 4 hours and went over each side of what we’re doing and what we are able to do on the soccer facet to attempt to enhance that, from follow schedules, from coaching camp schedules, from OTAs, from how we practice, from how we situation, even how we do our workforce — all of our modeling by way of hundreds and issues like that in our workforce intervals and in our particular person intervals. I’ve talked to a number of our gamers about that, as a result of in some methods you don’t change for change’s sake, however generally you must make adjustments in the best way you do issues.”
If the Ravens had merely accepted the mounting accidents as circumstance, it might need put them again in an analogous place subsequent yr. In 2021, they misplaced beginning working backs J.Ok. Dobbins (knee), Gus Edwards (knee) and cornerback Marcus Peters (ankle) to season-ending accidents earlier than Week 1. Throughout the season, accidents compelled cornerback Marlon Humphrey (pectoral), security DeShon Elliott (pectoral/bicep) and Jackson (ankle) to overlook in depth time.
However a few of these accidents simply didn’t occur on the sphere this season. Some gamers, like left offensive sort out Ronnie Stanley (ankle) and tight finish Nick Boyle (knee), had been cleared to play however neither lasted greater than 5 video games. Within the case of Stanley, he performed in solely the season opener earlier than the ankle damage he suffered final November compelled him to the sideline once more.
Harbaugh refused to make use of accidents as an excuse, and he shouldn’t have. The Ravens had been 8-3 and nonetheless had an opportunity to make the playoffs till the regular-season finale loss to Pittsburgh. However it’s arduous to have an influence working sport with out one of many league’s greatest offensive tackles and the highest run-blocking tight finish.
“I do imagine that as a corporation, we’re going to do the whole lot that we are able to to be sure that our rehab operation is leading edge and is on the highest degree,” mentioned Harbaugh. “That’s one other piece of that factor; I talked about turning over each stone, that’s one other stone that’s being turned over. That’s extra on the opposite facet with the opposite facet of the constructing, however that’s an enormous a part of it, additionally.”
Harbaugh additionally just lately met with coach Steve Saunders concerning the workforce’s energy and conditioning program. That could be a robust state of affairs for Harbaugh as a result of he and Saunders are good associates. Privately, some gamers have complained that the offseason coaching is an excessive amount of and irritating, whereas others choose the exercises.
With so many gamers on the roster, it’s arduous to discover a frequent floor. Due to accidents, the Ravens had 75 gamers take part in not less than one sport and 47 starters. Like most of his teaching employees, Harbaugh expects Saunders to return subsequent season.
“We attempt to make it as individualized as we are able to, and I feel that’s between coaches and gamers to grasp what they’re on the lookout for,” mentioned Harbaugh. “There are at all times guys that like sure issues, there are guys that don’t like sure issues, and I feel it’s incumbent upon us to grasp what these issues are as a result of these guys are execs. You might have guys who practice within the offseason. Some do higher than others — you perceive who these guys are. Some are actually good at what they do, they usually perceive themselves rather well.”
Adjustments will likely be made in a roundabout way or some type going into subsequent season. Coming into 2021, the Ravens had been anticipated to be critical challengers for not less than a doable AFC championship and possibly a Tremendous Bowl title. Quite a few issues modified. The passing sport regressed. The offensive line couldn’t go block. The go rush was inconsistent. The protection couldn’t make stops in crunch time.
That’s an extended checklist, however the Ravens might repair a number of them if they'll efficiently rehabilitate injured gamers like Stanley, Dobbins, Edwards and Boyle. Their NFL-worst go protection ought to enhance if they'll get Elliott, Peters and Humphrey again on the sphere, which suggests they may be capable of get off the sphere late within the fourth quarter.
As a lot as Harbaugh talked about deficiencies Monday, the Ravens have already made progress.
They had been damaged final yr, and they're making an attempt to ensure it doesn’t occur once more.
Accountability is the start of fixing issues.