Ravens making moves
Just because the Ravens are done playing games doesn't mean they're done making moves.
In the last 24 hours, the Ravens have chosen a new defensive coordinator, promoted two other coaches, and lost a key member of their front office.
Yesterday, the Browns announced that they have brought on Ravens director of pro personnel George Kokinis to be their GM. Kokinis will join new Cleveland head coach Eric Mangini in an attempt to bring the Browns back from their 4-12 showing this season.
Today, head coach John Harbaugh announced the Ravens filled the Rex Ryan-void by choosing Greg Mattison as their new defensive coordinator. Mattison had been Baltimore's linebackers coach this last season, which was his first year coaching at the NFL level after 36 years in the high school and college ranks.
Additionally, Harbaugh said Vic Fangio has been promoted to linebackers coach, and special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg has taken on the title of assistant head coach. Fangio had served as the special assistant to the head coach this season.
I'll try and provide more on these moves later; I'm down in Tampa for coverage of the Super Bowl, so check back throughout the week for blogs and tons of interviews.
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Categories (click for archive)Dan Kolko | Ravens News |
While I really like this move because of Harbaugh's past association with Mattison, it really is all about the players. If we continue to draft well defensively and continue to sign and re-sign our key players that fit into our system, whomever is running our defense will always be heralded. In my opinion, because of Mattison's age, he should stick around for a while in this capacity. It seems as though teams are now gearing towards hiring coaches of a younger age to run their teams, i.e. Raheem Morris, Josh McDaniels, Tomlin, so Mattison most likely will not be considered for any head coaching opportunities in the coming offseasons. He and Harbaugh can work together for a long time, if, of course, our team continues to improve. Any word on what Mattison's ideas are? Will we continue to run the 3-4?
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Josh,
Mattison didn't get into tons of specifics today, but he did say that he plans on keeping the defensive packages the same for the most part. The Ravens run a 3-4, but they utilize a 4-3 in some cases. Expect that to remain in place as we go forward.
-Dan