Gary Lambrecht, The Examiner
2008-01-09 08:00:00.0
Current rank: Not ranked

BALTIMORE -

As the Ravens plow through their search for the third head coach in the team’s 12-year history, they are studying a list of outsiders to replace Brian Billick.

Some of them, such as Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and Eagles secondary coach John Harbaugh, are puzzling. Others, such as Colts assistant head coach Jim Caldwell and Cowboys assistant head coach Tony Sparano, are intriguing.

Then there’s Dallas offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, who might already have agreed to reunite with new Miami general manager Bill Parcells. But if team owner Steve Bisciotti wants a coach for possibly the next decade, he should hire the guy who has been toiling under his nose all along, a coach who is primed for his big break.

Former defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, who was fired with the rest of Billick’s staff last week, deserves the keys to the franchise.

Ryan, 45, has paid his dues and amassed the necessary credentials to attain his first head coaching job. He also is the last remaining plum on Billick’s impressive coaching tree, going back to his first staff in 1999.

The most notable ex-Ravens assistants include former defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis, who revived an ailing Cincinnati franchise, and former linebackers coach Jack Del Rio, who has led Jacksonville to the AFC divisional playoff round.

Ryan has interviewed with Atlanta and Miami. Expect the Washington Redskins to make a run at him as well, following Joe Gibbs’ sudden resignation yesterday.

The Ravens should make sure Ryan stays home and starts anew with his staff, his vision and his leadership style. Of course, Ryan’s success here would not be guaranteed. Nothing in life or the NFL is, but is there a better option as the Ravens take a leap into the unknown?

The most common objections to Ryan taking over here are amusing and confusing.

One supposed knock on Ryan is he is part of the old guard and represents a coaching choice that is too safe, too comfortable. Since veterans such as Ray Lewis did their best to push Billick out the door — and have voiced their approval of Ryan — bringing Ryan back would amount to appeasement, a sign the players are running the asylum.

Another objection is the Ravens need an offensive guy as head coach. Ryan, of course, bleeds defense, just like his father and former defensive guru, Buddy Ryan.

If Bisciotti wants a stern taskmaster to shake up the locker room, an old-school grouch who will crack the whip six days a week, then he probably should entice 64-year-old Marty Schottenheimer to return to the sidelines. That might restore some order in the short term, but it would also bring the Ravens a coach who has never been to a Super Bowl and has found all kinds of ways to screw up in the postseason.

Didn’t Bisciotti just fire a man who forgot how to get to the playoffs and win games in January?

Since Bisciotti has stated he believes the Ravens have a core of players capable of getting them back into Super Bowl contention soon, he isn’t looking for a rebuilder. He wants an organized, forceful personality to move the core forward, inject some offensive life into the game plan and give the Ravens a winning identity.

Ryan should be trusted to hire a solid staff, starting with a proven group of offensive-minded coaches. And he should be given the chance to show he will be no patsy with players.

There is nothing soft about Ryan. He’s a charismatic communicator, and his teaching and motivational skills are plainly visible.

As a defensive line coach under Billick, he inherited interior linemen Tony Siragusa, Sam Adams and Lional Dalton — not exactly a trio representing world-class, work ethic — to play consistently hard, forming the backbone of that Super Bowl defense. Rob Burnett wasn’t the same player when he left the Ravens.

In his three years as defensive coordinator, Ryan kept the Ravens among the top six defensive teams in the NFL.

Ryan brings instant credibility and respect, which should not be confused with stale. He brings valuable knowledge about the Ravens, from the roster to his obvious familiarity with general manager Ozzie Newsome. He could hit the ground running and get the Ravens moving with a fresh voice at the top.

Trusting in Rex looks like a safe gamble. It also would be a smart one.

Gary Lambrecht writes about the NFL, Major League Baseball and college sports. He can be reached at glambrecht@baltimoreexaminer.com.