Tag: John Harbaugh

Patrick Queen wants prosperity not pity, Ravens flock or Ravens fluke?

It’s seeming as if Pittsburgh Steelers LB Patrick Queen made the right decision to leave the Baltimore Ravens.

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen wants to win, not continuously come up short in the biggest games of his NFL career.

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Queen and his Steelers defeated the Baltimore Ravens 18-16 Sunday, but the countless mistakes made by his former team hints towards a lack of discipline Queen experienced long before his departure.  

Queen accepted a very bitter defeat versus the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship this past January. Sure, Queen did begin taking jabs at the city of Baltimore earlier this spring. Still, his underlying grief after a 13-4  regular season record and No. 1 AFC seed could not be tastefully conveyed.

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Queen was emphatic for the Baltimore Ravens last season, playing under defensive coordinator Zachary Orr and alongside all-pro Roquan Smith in a situation that appeared to be the best thing that could have ever happened to him. However, Ravens’ fans continue to see mediocrity emerge, especially within the Lamar Jackson-led Ravens’ offense.

Of course, Queen was prepared to school his teammates on the Steelers’ defense about the play tendencies of Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken. Moreover, not only did Queen help the Steelers hold the Ravens to just two touchdowns, but he forced a huge fumble in the second quarter to stall a Ravens late first-half drive.

For Queen, things could’ve been so simple. Had the Ravens focused in last season, they may have retained Queen, won the Super Bowl, and taken a ride into glory. Instead, they’ll recalibrate and have to sober into the reality that they may have to clinch a playoff berth as a wild-card team this season. That is unless the Steelers tumble backward.

Harbaugh Bowl, or “Harbowl” should be a major battle of wits

Every football game is a fierce battle of wits, but it takes on added and deeper level when it’s brother versus brother.

The second-ever Harbaugh Bowl, which we can call the “Harbowl” (as portmanteaus are all the rage these days), will soon be upon us.

Monday night, John Harbaugh and his Baltimore Ravens will be on the opposite side of the country, in Los Angeles, where they’ll take on his brother Jim’s Chargers. 

Harbowl I occurred in Super Bowl XLVII, in 2013 when John’s Ravens beat Jim’s San Francisco 49ers 34-31. Meetings between the Harbaugh siblings are rare, and that’s what makes them all the more special. 

Every football game is a fierce battle of wits, but it takes on an added and deeper level when it’s brother versus brother. Each man probably thinks that he knows all that there is to know about his opponent.

I also realize that the man on the opposite sideline almost certainly feels the same way about him.  It’s somewhat reminiscent of a famous Sir Winston Churchill quote about warfare:

“Always remember, however sure you are that you could easily win, that there would not be a war if the other man did not think he also had a chance.”

And the Harbaugh brothers are two intellectuals who have, in the past, provided articulate public commentary on social matters transcending football.

At 2017 Big Ten Media Day, Jim discussed his plans to take his Michigan Wolverines squad on an upcoming trip to Paris and Normandy. He did so by referencing the Rome trip he took his team on the previous year.

“I think it was A+ on all levels,” Jim Harbaugh told The Sports Bank, regarding his voyage to the eternal city. He added that the trip was also a chance to “make the world your classroom.”

I can’t think of a better endorsement for the concept of travel than that.

As for John, back in September 2020, when NFL players were protesting police brutality and racial injustice in the legal system during the playing of the national anthem, he gave a very passionate take.

“I don’t know how you can criticize someone for being passionate and for believing in something important to them,” Harbaugh said in an interview with NBC Sports.

“They want America to be great, and to realize the ideals we were founded on.”

John Harbaugh seemed to understand the Black Lives Matter movement better than most other NFL head coaches.

These are two thoughtful guys, so we should expect a very heady game.

 

Ravens HC John Harbaugh weighs in on Justin Tucker’s struggles in 2024

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh weighed in on kicker Justin Tucker

The Baltimore Ravens lost a heartbreaker to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 11 by the final score of 18-16. Baltimore couldn’t convert on a two-point conversion to tie the contest, resulting in defeat.

One of the many reasons Baltimore wasn’t about to come out on top was kicker Justin Tucker’s two massive misses on field goals. The legendary kicker has struggled all season, and head coach John Harbaugh said that Tucker needs to make his kicks and kick straight.

“‘Tuck’ [Justin Tucker] needs to make kicks. He knows that; that’s important. He makes them in practice, and he made the long one later, which was good to see – which means he’s still very capable. Kick them straight, [and] we’ll be good.”

Tucker’s struggles have been uncharacteristic, with all his kicks missing wide left. Baltimore needs Tucker to be the best version of himself, as missed kicks mean even more in postseason action.

John Harbaugh on Ravens lack of discipline: ‘We have to cut down on the penalties’

John Harbaugh discussed the fact that the Baltimore Ravens need to cut down on penalties

The Baltimore Ravens lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers by the final score of 18-16 in Week 11. It was a tough road divisional game for Baltimore, but despite the loss, it felt like a game that the Ravens could have easily won had they been more on top of things and executed at a higher level.

In the contest, Baltimore racked up 80 total penalties through 10 weeks, the most in the NFL. They added 12 more to their total on Sunday, and after the game, head coach John Harbaugh made it clear that the number of penalties the team is committing is unacceptable.

“It’s definitely something we have to do. We have to cut down on the penalties – that is very important. We’ve done it before on offense. We haven’t had some of those in some of our big offensive games. Today that was a big problem.”

If the Ravens genuinely want to win a Super Bowl, they must be a more disciplined football team moving forward. That responsibility is on both the players and the coaches, as both have not been up to par regarding being ready for game day mostly all season long.

Mike Tomlin keeps outsmarting John Harbaugh, Steelers lead AFC North

Baltimore Ravens HC John Harbaugh has gotten far too comfortable allowing the Pittsburgh Steelers HC Mike Tomlin to walk over his team.

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh never seems to outsmart Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, especially when it matters most.

Unlike Harbaugh, Tomlin doesn’t like finesse and beauty. He leads a rugged football team, led by his powerful defense and offensive ground attack. On Sunday, Tomlin stuck to his guns, and his team forced three turnovers on the Ravens in the pivotal week 11 win.

 

Even with Baltimore ranking No. 1 in rush defense, Tomlin still ran the ball 34 times, using a committee of players to forward his attack. Tomlin even dispatched wide receiver Cordelle Patterson and reserve quarterback Justin Fields to cap off the 18-16 victory.

Harbaugh not only allowed offensive coordinator Todd Monken to neglect running back Derrick Henry from the game plan, but he also opted out of an opportunity for the onside kick with the team down two points with under 2:00 minutes to go. The most embarrassing moment in the game was the broadcast zooming in on Harbaugh as he called the aimless final timeout with under a minute to go, not realizing the Steelers had converted on 3rd and 1.

Impulsivity isn’t the leading factor compelling Ravens’ fans to scrutinize Harbaugh. Instead, Harbaugh’s unseemly contentment with coming up just short and his postured composure after losing critical games for the franchise.

Todd Monken sat on the wall & Monken did make the Ravens fall

Of course the Pittsburgh Steelers were ready for Baltimore Ravens OC Todd Monken and his very predictable pass attack in NFL week 11.

In NFL week 11, the Pittsburgh Steelers were ready for Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken and his predictable pass attack.

Quarterback Lamar Jackson finished week 11 with just 207 passing yards and completed only 16 of his 33 pass attempts. More incompletions than completions are always a recipe for disaster, but what’s more incomplete is the explanation as to why running back Derrick Henry only received 13 carries on the ground in Sunday’s 18-16 loss.

Monken continues to get into big games just to abandon his strongest player, Henry, who leads the NFL in rushing yards. Henry continues to lurk in the shadows behind Monken, who wants badly to make the Ravens a pass-first offense.

The Ravens’ defense held its ground, granting the team another opportunity with a fourth-quarter interception by defensive back Marlon Humphrey. Still, the Ravens’ offense got stifled in the red zone when Monken called a quarterback sweep from the two-yard line as if the Steelers were going just to let Jackson walk in. 

What about Henry? Why wouldn’t Monken hand the ball to a man ranking No. 1 in the NFL in rushing yards? Ravens fans have been asking these same questions since the team squandered the AFC Championship in January. The saga continues, and thanks to Sunday’s loss, the Ravens are now two games behind the Steelers in the AFC North.

Can Roquan Smith show Steelers’ Russell Wilson who’s truly dangerous in NFL Week 11?

Pittsburgh Steelers QB Russell Wilson goes by @dangerusswilson online but Baltimore Ravens LB Roquan Smith may have a rebuttal in week 11.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson goes by the tag @dangerusswilson on social media. Perhaps Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith will be looking to challenge that alias today.

Smith will be responsible for watching Wilson’s pre-snap reads and maneuvers in week 11. The Ravens’ defense must keep Wilson contained inside the pocket, which may allow the Ravens to tally up some sacks this afternoon.

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Smith is his team’s leading tackler, playing middle linebacker exceptionally well. Not only will Smith need to hawk Wilson Sunday afternoon, but he will also need to account for the Steelers’ play-action scheme with running back Najee Harris.

Quite frankly, in the upcoming war this afternoon, the question for the Ravens’ defense will be whether or not they can get off the field, especially on third downs. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin will want to keep the ball away from the Ravens’ offense as much as possible, so the Ravens’ defense needs to step up and stall drives.

Smith plays with tenacious intensity, and if he gets the chance to prove just how dangerous he can be this afternoon,  Game time is 1:00 p.m. ET.

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Ravens vs. Steelers: Derrick Henry and Najee Harris may impact tempo

Both Baltimore Ravens HB Derrick Henry and Pittsburgh Steelers HB Najee Harris rank top ten in rushing attempts for the 2024 season.

Both Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry and Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris rank in the top ten in rush attempts for the 2024 season. Henry ranks No. 1 with 184 attempts while Harris has 157, sitting at No. 8. In their week 11 AFC North divisional matchup, which running back will dictate the pace?

Sunday’s forecast may yield gloomy weather as the Steelers look to remain ahead of their rival in the AFC. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has already expressed a concern with defending the very deep depth chart of the  Ravens offense. So, expect Tomlin to rely on Harris and reserve running back Jaylen Warren to feature numerous carries versus the Ravens’ No. 1 ranked rush defense.

Henry’s usage may actually be more critical for the Ravens if his team wants to prevail on the road. With Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt’s pass-rushing threat, Ravens’ offensive coordinator Todd Monken cannot get pass-happy this weekend. Granted, Henry, a minimum of 19 carries will be important if the Ravens want to dictate the game tempo.

Tomlin never seems to get off schedule, and his determination is clearly expressed in his dedication to Harris and the Steelers ground game. Harris only has 645 total rushing yards compared to Henry’s 1,120, but Tomlin insists on feeding him the ball, knowing that the offense relies on his production. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh must be mindful of the Steelers’ game plan and counter by using Henry to control the game tempo and extend offensive drives.

Could Ravens CB Brandon Stephens make the move back to the safety position?

Baltimore Ravens head coach says Brandon Stephens has a hard job at cornerback and won’t be moving to the safety position

Brandon Stephens has gone from a potential training camp contract extension to allowing the third-most yards in the NFL at the cornerback position through ten games played.

Stephens is a natural safety who has transitioned to the cornerback position. On Monday, head coach John Harbaugh was asked about potential moves in the secondary and Stephens’s potential return to the safety position.

Baltimore has four players with passer ratings under 100 allowed (Roquan Smith, Kyle Hamilton, Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins). Marcus Williams has been a disaster this season, allowing a 158.3 Passer Rating in coverage. Eddie Jackson has struggled, while the two other safeties are rookies who struggle in space.

Marlon Humphrey has talked about a potential move to safety to lengthen his career, and that could be considered.

Are the Ravens set to unveil a three-headed monster at RB position?

John Harbaugh says the Baltimore Ravens will now have “a little bit of a three-headed monster” at running back position with Keaton Mitchell back

The Baltimore Ravens have Derrick Henry plowing towards a potential 2,000-yard season, and they’re set to add another horse to the stable.

After being out since last January, Keaton Mitchell returned to the lineup in Week 9, logging a handful of snaps in the Ravens win over the Bengals. Mitchell’s role will increase, and during his Monday news conference, head coach John Harbaugh hinted at a “three-headed monster” at the running back position.

Derrick Henry has 1,120 rushing yards, while Justice Hill has done most of his damage in the passing game, logging 27 catches for 272 yards and two touchdowns on the season. There’s only so much football to go around, and Mitchell could assume the role of a home run hitter and dual-treat in the passing game.

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