Tag: Ozzie Newsome

5 things to know about new Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz

Let’s get to know the new Chargers general manager.

After an extensive process, the Chargers have hired Joe Hortiz to fill their general manager vacancy.

Let’s get to know the new GM.

1. Ravens lifer

Hortiz has been with the Ravens since 1998. He’s had his fingerprints all over modern Baltimore drafts and scouting. Hortiz started as a scout and eventually received a promotion to become Baltimore’s Director of College Scouting 11 years later. Eventually, he’d moved up the chain to Director of Player Personnel, his current title.

2. A rather obvious connection

While there’s no direct link from Harbaugh to Hortiz that compares to some of the other general manager candidates, he’s worked with his brother, John, in Baltimore for a decade and a half. He’s a student of former Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome, the architect of the modern Ravens that we’ve seen outsmart the league time and time again over the past 20 years.

3. A chance to be the main guy

Hortiz could be considered overqualified compared to some other GM candidates. He’s spent three decades in one spot in various roles as he’s risen up the chain. Eric DeCosta ultimately got the promotion from assistant GM to lead man once Newsome retired. Hortiz’s best chance to run his own front office was always to look externally. Now, he’ll have the chance to be Jim Harbaugh’s top confidant and collaborator as Chargers’ general manager.

4. Some coaching experience

Hortiz also has coaching experience, albeit brief. He was a graduate assistant at Auburn for three years under then-head coach Terry Bowden.

5. Master scouter who has learned the ways

Hortiz’s skillset is, without a doubt, his decades of college scouting and draft experience. Baltimore has consistently been a draft enigma in their team construction. Whether it was Newsome or DeCosta, the Ravens have been a versatile draft team in their approach. The draft always tends to be where the Ravens are built more than other teams. They also pursue free agency and other moves, of course, but Baltimore wouldn’t exist in their current organizational form over the last two decades without success in spring’s primetime event.

Hortiz seems like a savvy, experienced choice for GM, who will have a chance to work with one of the best culture builders in Harbaugh. It represents what could be the most rock-solid foundation the Chargers have had for their team in quite some time. Outside-the-box thinking and consistent hits in scouting/draft are what this team will need going forward.

Instant analysis of Chargers hiring Joe Hortiz as general manager

What the hiring of Joe Hortiz means for the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Chargers are going for a synergistic approach regarding their quarterback, head coach, and general manager.

Los Angeles already had Justin Herbert on the roster and hired Jim Harbaugh as head coach last week. On Monday, the team announced they’d added another J.H. to the organization chart, hiring Ravens director of player personnel Joe Hortiz as general manager.

Those reading the tea leaves likely saw this coming. Ed Dodds and Ian Cunningham, considered the favorites at the beginning of the search, were phased out for finalists Brandon Brown and Hortiz. But Brown was spotted in Frisco, TX, interviewing players with the Giants as recently as Sunday, suggesting that the Chargers may have informed him they were moving in a different direction. That same day, Ravens reporter Jeff Zrebiec noted that Hortiz and Harbaugh had a discussion on the sidelines before Baltimore’s AFC Championship loss to Kansas City.

Hortiz has worked in Baltimore since 1998, when he began his career as an area scout. He was promoted to national scout in 2006, director of college scouting in 2009, and director of player personnel in 2019. Widely regarded as one of the best eyes for talent in the college ranks, the Delaware native was the runner-up in the Giants general manager search that concluded with the hire of Joe Schoen in 2022.

During his career under legendary GM Ozzie Newsome and his successor, current Baltimore general manager Eric DeCosta, the Ravens have consistently drafted well, especially at the top. Ed Reed and Terrell Suggs were back-to-back first-round picks in 2002 and 2003. 2006 first-rounder Haloti Ngata and sixth-rounder Sam Koch lasted 25 seasons in Baltimore. The Ravens also found mid-round talent like Marshal Yanda, Pernell McPhee, Tyrod Taylor, Ryan Jensen, Kyle Juszczyk, Za’Darius Smith, Darren Waller, Matt Judon, Chuck Clark, Mark Andrews, Zach Sieler, and Isaiah Likely throughout Hortiz’s tenure.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh, Jim’s older brother, also named Hortiz as one of the reasons the organization traded for All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith last season:

“Our scouts do a great job. I think of [director of player personnel] Joe Hortiz going back and scouting Roquan [Smith] back at Georgia. Those are all in the reports. You knew what kind of a guy you were getting, for sure.”

With the Chargers, Hortiz will likely remain in a similar role as he had in Baltimore, but with a wieldier title and hefty pay raise. Jim Harbaugh will probably serve as de facto general manager, maintaining the final say over personnel, while Hortiz will be the “second-in-command.” The familiarity with the Harbaugh family from working with John in Baltimore for over a decade was undoubtedly an attractive aspect of Hortiz’s candidacy, especially if he signed off on ceding some of the control typical of an NFL GM.

Regardless of title or role behind the curtain, Hortiz’s background as a proven talent evaluator with experience around some of the best front-office personnel in the history of the game is impossible to ignore. Even if his job as general manager is to take a deep dive into the college ranks every season and help Harbaugh build his vision for the roster through the draft, adding the 48-year-old Auburn grad should be seen as a tremendous victory for the Chargers.

Ravens HC John Harbaugh comments on development of Dolphins DE Zach Sieler

John Harbaugh has high praise for Miami Dolphins DE Zach Sieler

While speaking to the media on the Friday ahead of the Baltimore Ravens game against the Miami Dolphins with the AFC’s No. 1 seed on the line, Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh was asked about the development of 2018 Baltimore draft pick and current Dolphins defensive end Zach Sieler.

“I’m going to tell you straight up – [Zach Sieler’s] exactly the player that I thought he was going to be,” Harbaugh said. He was a [dang] good player when he was here. [He’s] physical, tough, and he’s playing that way but better because he’s been further along in his career. He’s strong. He’s twitchy. He gets off blocks [and] presses the pocket. He’s a very good football player, and he’s everything you want in a football player. He’s tough, and he shows up every day.”

Sieler was drafted by the Ravens in the seventh round with the No. 238 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft — former Baltimore general manager Ozzie Newsome’s final pick before stepping down and handing the reigns over to Eric DeCosta in 2019.

Sieler was waived by the Ravens in December of the 2019 season and was claimed off waivers the following day by Miami. Sieler signed a three-year contract extension in 2020 with the Dolphins and another three-year extension in 2023.

During his time with Miami, Sieler has accumulated 239 total tackles, 18.5 sacks, one interception, three forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, 13 passes defended, and one defensive touchdown.

Does Josh Harris want to model the Commanders after the Ravens?

Josh Harris has a model for what he wants the Commanders to resemble.

Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris has a plan. In just under three weeks, Harris will likely make significant changes to the organization he and his fellow owners purchased for over $6 billion in July.

The Commanders are expected to move on from head coach Ron Rivera and general manager Martin Mayhew upon the season’s conclusion. Harris, who also owns the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and NHL’s New Jersey Devils, has already begun making changes to the organization.

In October, the Commanders hired Eugene Shen to head the organization’s analytics department. Shen reportedly was involved in the compensation for the trades of defensive ends Chase Young and Montez Sweat at the NFL trade deadline.

In a new column from Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, he mentions what he heard about Harris’ intentions at the NFL owners meetings last week and which NFL franchise Harris might want to model the Commanders after.

No surprise, it was the Baltimore Ravens.

Here’s this from Breer:

We’re all learning on the fly about Commanders owner Josh Harris, who was accompanied by one of his limited partners, Mitchell Rales, at this week’s league meetings in Dallas. And one thing I learned down in Texas over the last few days could at least color how the next couple of months go with the new owners and their team — Harris likes how the Commanders’ beltway rivals from Baltimore do business.

Here’s more from Breer on Shen’s hiring and the thought process behind it:

Seven weeks ago, Washington brought Eugene Shen aboard as its new senior vice president of football strategy, poaching him back from the world of finance, a world to which he’d returned in 2022 after serving as the Jaguars’ vice president of football analytics, and the Dolphins’ director of analytics between ’19 and ’22. For five years before that, Shen cut his NFL teeth helping to run analytics for the always innovative, always forward-thinking Ravens, who have gone so far as to build their own proprietary analytics systems.

John Harbaugh gets 150th career win as Ravens head coach

John Harbaugh celebrated his 150th career win in the locker room and by issued game balls to key players in week 4.

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh was exuberant in the locker after Sunday’s victory over Cleveland. The win numbers as Harbaugh’s 150th win as head coach, a prestige reason to celebrate.

A players coach indeed, Harbaugh issued seven total game balls and kept a game-ball of his own for his career accomplishment. With optimism thriving in Baltimore, it’ll be interesting to see how they perform in week 5.

3 Browns players named as best player to wear their respective number

The Browns had three players named as the best players to wear their respective numbers by Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar.

The Cleveland Browns have not had many recent Hall of Famers but will have one in offensive Joe Thomas in a little over a month from now. And he is one former Browns player to make an appearance for Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar as the best player to wear his respective number.

While Thomas is the best player to wear number 73 in NFL history, which other two Browns players cut it for Farrar? We take a look at all three here.

Ron Rivera, Jason Wright among those representing Commanders at GM forum, QB coaching summit

QBs coach Tavita Pritchard and assistant RBs coach Jennifer King are also among those representing Washington.

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In 2021, the NFL created the Ozzie Newsome General Manager Forum in an effort to enhance equal opportunity and diversity. On Thursday, the NFL announced the third annual event, which will take place on June 21 in Los Angeles. The NFL collaborates with the Black College Football Hall of Fame on the event.

NFL owners and front-office personnel lead sessions and panels designed to show prospective candidates how to run an NFL front office.

Washington Commanders team president Jason Wright and senior director of player development Malcolm Bracken will be presenters or panelists for the event.

Additionally, from June 22-23, the Quarterback Coaching Summit will take place, with head coach Ron Rivera, quarterbacks coach Tavita Pritchard and assistant running backs coach Jennifer King on hand as panelists.

From the NFL:

Participants will gain insights and knowledge directly from quarterback coaches, offensive coordinators, head coaches and general managers. The programming will provide a platform to help prepare, educate, and identify quality minority candidates across the league. Both the Forum and the Summit will feature a variety of sessions, including how to build a coaching staff, position coach roles, analytics and how to prepare for interview sessions. There will also be sessions hosted by club ownership, including priorities and the process of selecting a head coach and general manager.

Newsome is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame from his time as a tight end for the Cleveland Browns. After his playing days, Newsome joined the Browns’ front office and, eventually, the Ravens, where he was general manager for 16 years before retiring in 2018. He still works for the Ravens as an executive vice president in personnel. He helped lead Baltimore to two Super Bowl championships during his time as an executive.

Reese’s Senior Bowl honors Ozzie Newsome with custom Browns/Alabama helmet

The Reese’s Senior Bowl has kicked off its festivities by honoring Ozzie Newsome

Today marks the beginning of the Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, as all 32 teams will travel to the all-star event to scout upcoming 2023 NFL Draft prospects. However, before the festivities kicked off, the event honored the former tight end of the Cleveland Browns with a custom helmet that sported both his professional team and his college team, the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Newsome ended his playing career only to become a highly decorated scout and general manager with the Baltimore Ravens as well. Retiring in after the 2018 NFL Draft, Newsome ended his time in the NFL with loads of accolades to his name.

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Ravens’ Ozzie Newsome is wrong about Rams making a ‘one-year run’ in 2021

Ravens executive Ozzie Newsome says the Rams’ formula was to build a great roster for a one-year run. He’s wrong about that.

The Los Angeles Rams and Baltimore Ravens are two of the best-run organizations in the NFL. The Ravens usually come away with one of the best draft classes each year, often putting themselves in position to make a postseason run. The Rams, under the guidance of Les Snead and Sean McVay, have been one of the most consistent and successful teams in the last five years, winning one Super Bowl and reaching another.

But the way they go about building their rosters is completely different. The Ravens build through the draft, compiling picks and adding young talent year in and year out. The Rams, on the other hand, haven’t had a first-round pick since 2016 and are always looking to trade away their top selections to acquire proven players – like Matthew Stafford, Jalen Ramsey and Von Miller.

Ravens EVP Ozzie Newsome recently shared his thoughts on the Rams’ roster-building strategy, and while he respects their aggression, their success isn’t going to influence the Ravens’ draft-first approach.

What Newsome doesn’t appear to understand is that the Rams didn’t just go all-in last season for a “one-year run,” as he put it. Los Angeles is built to contend for the next few years (at least) thanks to the players they’ve acquired and paid: Stafford, Ramsey, Aaron Donald, Cooper Kupp, Bobby Wagner, Allen Robinson.

“I have to applaud what Les did with the Rams,” Newsome said. “It’s all about ‘what is your formula to win a Super Bowl?’ Their formula was that you go out and get many very good players, put them together and make that one-year run. And now Stan Kroenke has a Super Bowl. There are a lot of ways of doing it. But we believe in building through the draft. This is the first time that we had six fourth-round picks. To be able to have good players on your roster for four years at a cheap number —⁠ at some point we’ll have to pay them. Some of them you pay and some of them you let go. I applaud the way the Rams have done it, but we believe in the way we do it because I think it sustains longer.”

There’s no doubt the Ravens will have an easier time navigating the salary cap in the future with the way they’ve built their roster. They’re projected to have $40.5 million in cap space next year, whereas the Rams are set to be over the cap – again. However, currently, the Rams have $1 million more in cap space this year, and the Ravens still have to pay Lamar Jackson a massive extension at some point before the 2023 season. That’ll put a big dent in the Ravens’ cap.

And again, the Rams’ strategy isn’t about making a run at a Super Bowl one year and regressing back to .500 the next. If you look at the teams best positioned to win a Super Bowl next season, the Rams are near the top of the list. Just look at odds to win it all in 2022. The Rams have the fourth-best odds at +1000, while the Ravens are tied for 10th at +2000.

So how exactly was the Rams’ strategy about making a one-year run?

Looking back, you could argue the Rams have gone “all-in” every year since 2018, when they reached their first Super Bowl. That year, they acquired Brandin Cooks, Marcus Peters, Aqib Talib and Ndamukong Suh. It paid off because the Rams won the NFC, only to come up short in the Super Bowl against the Patriots.

They went 19-13 the next two years combined, which is respectable, before finishing last season 12-5 after pushing all their chips to the middle of the table by landing Stafford, Miller and Odell Beckham Jr.

Since 2018, the Rams have gone 44-21 with two Super Bowl appearances and two division titles. The Ravens went 43-22 in that same span, with two division titles and no trips to the AFC title game.

There are multiple ways to construct a championship-caliber roster, and the Rams and Ravens are perfect examples of that. But to say the Rams can’t sustain success or that their approach is all about a one-year run simply isn’t true.

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Jets GM Joe Douglas quotes mentor when explaining best player available draft approach

Jets GM Joe Douglas learned how to build a winner through the draft while working under Ozzie Newsome. Naturally, they have a similar approach.

Joe Douglas’ draft strategy is simple: he’s looking to take the best player available.

While that idea is simple and very much an overused phrase in the NFL, Douglas explained his belief by channeling his old boss, former Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome.

“Ozzie used to always have a saying, ‘A luxury today can be a necessity tomorrow,'” Douglas said Thursday. “So if you get away from your process – if you get away from your board – that’s when you can get into a real jam.”

Douglas cut his teeth in the NFL as a scout for the Ravens from 2000-2014, during which he helped Newsome build rosters that consistently won double-digit regular-season games and competed in the postseason. He undoubtedly learned a lot during his time in Baltimore, and Newsome’s “best player available” approach helped the Ravens become a perennial powerhouse.

The Jets will have ample opportunities to apply what Douglas learned from Newsome in the 2022 draft if they keep all of their picks. The Jets own five top-70 picks, including two picks in the top-10 and two more picks in the early second round. New York has a lot of needs, so it shouldn’t be too hard to find a player who is both the best player left on the board and who solves a problem on the roster.

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