The Baltimore Ravens coaching carousel continues to turn, churning out new names to replace the recently departed as the team attempts to bring together the right chemistry of leaders to take the Ravens past the level of success they enjoyed under head coach John Harbaugh's tenure. The team has made the playoffs all three years under Harbaugh and to many that is the baseline of success, but most fans, players and coaches here would say the expectations have been raised but not met.
The most recent addition is Teryl Austin, formerly the Defensive Backs coach at the University of Florida, where his units were consistently among the nation's elite in terms of interceptions under his leadership. The carousel started off just after the Ravens 31-24 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, when offensive line coach, John Matsko, was relieved of his duties and replaced by assistant Andy Moeller. Then Defensive Coordinator Greg Mattison resigned to take the same position at the University of Michigan, to be replaced by Linebackers Coach Chuck Pagano. Recently, QB Coach Jim Zorn was let go and his duties will now be assumed by Offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron. One would think that Cameron has enough on his plate to improve upon than to add the responsibility of improving QB Joe Flacco's performance in pressure situations. Offensive Assistant Craig Ver Steeg will also have a hand in furthering Flacco's development.
Let's hope that these changes install the type of instincts and cohesiveness that the ownership has looked for as the team has been poised and ready to return to the Super Bowl stage as their fans have expected and craved for the past three years.