I know, I know. I was a Martyball guy. I screamed from the mountaintop that this team needed discipline, and Marty was the guy to give it to them. After letting the John Harbaugh hire marinate for a few days though, I've changed my tune (I, like the owner, have the right to change my mind).
With this Harbaugh signing, Steve Bisciotti is really sticking his neck on the line. Marty would have been the SAFE hire. You know he'd bring the team regular season success, but you are also aware of his postseason failures. John Harbaugh is a hire that sort of follows in the mold of the Pittsburgh Steelers model. Mike Tomlin is only their franchise's 3rd coach in thirty plus seasons. When Brian Billick was fired, Steve Bisciotti said he was looking for the "next hall of fame coach". What he also was saying was that he was looking for a long term answer. He doesn't want to be looking for a coach every few years and with Marty there was a limited shelf life. John Harbaugh succeeds and he's our coach for probably the next ten seasons.
I think all the talk out there comparing Bisciotti and Peter Angelos is completely unwarranted. If anything, I think Bisciotti almost kept Billick for the wrong reasons because he didn’t want to be seen as a meddler. To me, Harbaugh is an even better fit than Jason Garrett as well (plus if the guy doesn't want to be here, then screw him). Harbaugh has a confidence and intensity about him that fits with this team and this town. Garrett to me seems to be much more cerebral. Plus, people don't seem to realize that Harbaugh has been an NFL coach for 10 seasons while Garrett is finishing his third.
People also fail to realize that in Romo's breakout season of 2006, Tony Sparano was calling the plays for Bill Parcells while Garrett was still the QB coach in Miami. Garrett didn't create Tony Romo. Looking through the history of the league, a lot of successful head coaches got their starts coaching special teams (Marv Levy, Dick Vermeil, Mike Ditka, and Bill Cowher to name a few), and just because a guy has never been a coordinator, doesn’t mean he wont be a good head coach (Andy Reid was the QB coach for the Packers and he's worked out ok, Mike McCarthy had one season as SF's OC--the team finished dead last in offense--he got the Packers job and that has worked out).
Most importantly to me as a Baltimorean, when Harbaugh has success, he's our guy!!! He hasn't done it anywhere before. He's no retread. His story begins here, and when people think back to John Harbaugh they will think Baltimore.
With this Harbaugh signing, Steve Bisciotti is really sticking his neck on the line. Marty would have been the SAFE hire. You know he'd bring the team regular season success, but you are also aware of his postseason failures. John Harbaugh is a hire that sort of follows in the mold of the Pittsburgh Steelers model. Mike Tomlin is only their franchise's 3rd coach in thirty plus seasons. When Brian Billick was fired, Steve Bisciotti said he was looking for the "next hall of fame coach". What he also was saying was that he was looking for a long term answer. He doesn't want to be looking for a coach every few years and with Marty there was a limited shelf life. John Harbaugh succeeds and he's our coach for probably the next ten seasons.
I think all the talk out there comparing Bisciotti and Peter Angelos is completely unwarranted. If anything, I think Bisciotti almost kept Billick for the wrong reasons because he didn’t want to be seen as a meddler. To me, Harbaugh is an even better fit than Jason Garrett as well (plus if the guy doesn't want to be here, then screw him). Harbaugh has a confidence and intensity about him that fits with this team and this town. Garrett to me seems to be much more cerebral. Plus, people don't seem to realize that Harbaugh has been an NFL coach for 10 seasons while Garrett is finishing his third.
People also fail to realize that in Romo's breakout season of 2006, Tony Sparano was calling the plays for Bill Parcells while Garrett was still the QB coach in Miami. Garrett didn't create Tony Romo. Looking through the history of the league, a lot of successful head coaches got their starts coaching special teams (Marv Levy, Dick Vermeil, Mike Ditka, and Bill Cowher to name a few), and just because a guy has never been a coordinator, doesn’t mean he wont be a good head coach (Andy Reid was the QB coach for the Packers and he's worked out ok, Mike McCarthy had one season as SF's OC--the team finished dead last in offense--he got the Packers job and that has worked out).
Most importantly to me as a Baltimorean, when Harbaugh has success, he's our guy!!! He hasn't done it anywhere before. He's no retread. His story begins here, and when people think back to John Harbaugh they will think Baltimore.
