Veteran Leadership and Coaching Fuels Ravens’ Playoff Charge – What the Bears Can Learn🙄

Here’s the Quick -n- Dirrty..

• The Baltimore Ravens’ playoff win over the Houston Texans showed the value of experience – from coaches to players – in being successful in the playoffs long-term. The Bears are still a young, growing team.
• The Bears defense improved greatly over the second half of the season in getting turnovers, thanks to experienced coordinator Matt Eberflus and analyst Phil Snow. More defensive talent is still needed.
• The Bears offense, especially the O-line, must be the top priority this offseason in order to properly support Justin Fields’ development. More weapons are needed too.
• Coaching and continuity matter greatly in the NFL, which is why the Bears are taking their time to hire the right offensive coordinator to build longevity as a team. Waldron would be great.
• While young players like Fields and draft picks will be key, it’s ultimately good coaching and experience that translates talent into wins, like with the Ravens. The future can be bright under Poles.

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The Baltimore Ravens’ decisive playoff victory over the Houston Texans this past weekend underscored the immense value of veteran experience and leadership in crafting a perennial championship contender. Anchored by coach John Harbaugh’s steely guidance and the brilliant two-way play of quarterback Lamar Jackson, the Ravens displayed a standard of excellence that the promising yet youthful Chicago Bears would be wise to emulate.

By investing in both sides of the ball and cultivating an atmosphere of continuity, discipline, and player development, general manager Eric DeCosta has furnished Harbaugh with a balanced roster brimming with playmaking talent. The centerpiece, of course, is Jackson, who overcame a sluggish first half to ignite the Ravens’ offense. His clutch fourth-quarter performance showcased the poise and big-play ability that earned him the 2019 MVP award. With the rushing attack sputtering early on, Jackson took matters into his own hands, improvising for 100 yards on scrambles while also delivering precise throws from the pocket.

Jackson’s heroics underscored how a dynamic quarterback can elevate an entire roster. The Bears envision Justin Fields fulfilling a similar role as both a gridiron magician and a culture-setter capable of ending the seemingly endless carousel of coaches and coordinators. Surrounding Fields with sufficient protection and perimeter weaponry must be general manager Ryan Poles’ top priority this offseason. Finding an offensive line anchor to replace the underwhelming Lucas Patrick is imperative, as are additions at wide receiver and tight end to diversify Matt Eberflus’ attack. With the defense now sturdy under Eberflus and venerable advisor Phil Snow, resources must shift toward buttressing Fields.

The elder statesman Harbaugh provides the blueprint for melding top-shelf talent with hard-nosed leadership and a united vision. By championing an offense tailored to Jackson’s improvisational genius while still featuring a physical rushing approach, Baltimore has forged an attack ideally structured for January success. That coordinative harmony emanates from the top down, with the front office, coaching staff and locker room pillars preaching the same message. Building that continuity has been elusive in Chicago despite flashes of promise.

The Monsters of the Midway have shown incremental growth this past season thanks to the infusion of young playmakers like Fields, Kyler Gordon, and Jaquan Brisker. But gaining consistency in the standings requires long-range thinking and stability across the organization. Hitting on draft picks is not enough by itself; surrounding them with teachers and role models versed in winning is equally essential. The cerebral, detail-oriented Eberflus has Chicago moving in the right direction, though his assistants must match his high standard to nurture the Bears’ budding nucleus.

That makes the ongoing offensive coordinator search so consequential for the Bears’ ascent. While past partnerships quickly fizzled, the new hire must bond with Fields over the long haul while implementing designs conducive to both maximizing his rare improvisational flair and expanding his polish inside the pocket. Seahawks passing game coordinator Shane Waldron appears an ideal candidate given his role in developing Russell Wilson and tutoring inventive schemes.

Whoever assumes the post will also benefit from Snow’s creative vision and knack for manufacturing pressure with both simple and elaborate blitz packages. Chicago’s defense tightened considerably down the stretch under their leadership, allowing just 17.4 points per game across the final seven contests thanks to an influx of takeaways generated by aggression and calculated risks. Turnovers were nonexistent early on as Eberflus rigidly adhered to his trademark zone coverages meant to eliminate big plays. But with Snow advising more daring blitz calls to catch opponents off guard, the Bears morphing into a fierce, ball-hawking unit reminiscent of past Monsters pillars.

With astute veteran minds like Snow and presumed defensive coordinator candidate John Hoyer on staff to mentor promising defensive building blocks, that side of the ball appears on solid ground entering 2023. The offense, however, still requires more championship timber to realize its vast potential. Surrounding Fields with personnel and schematics conducive to unlocking his improvisational magic is paramount if the Bears hope to replicate the Ravens’ template as contenders. That mission starts with the coordinator hire but also relies on Poles targeting battle-tested trench warriors and receivers with the physicality to excel in January slugfests.

The Monsters’ breakthrough may not unfold overnight the way Baltimore immediately jelled into a juggernaut upon Jackson’s insertion four years ago. But in studying the Ravens’ blueprint of continuity, discipline and crunch time execution powered by elite quarterback play, Poles and Eberflus have a proven philosophy to emulate. Patiently constructing around dynamic young centerpieces by emphasizing fundamentals and smarts over flash will keep the Bears trending upwards. As veterans like Cody Whitehair likely exit, Poles must reinforce the foundation through both the draft and selective free agent acquisitions.

For time is a precious commodity in the NFL, and the need for urgency increases with each passing offseason. Fields and his classmates represent Chicago’s best chance in years at sustained relevance. Maximizing it starts with surrounding Fields with an infrastructure conducive to individual and collective growth in the image of Baltimore’s gold standard. Eberflus and Poles now must align the organizational pillars toward that goal by rewarding teacherly credentials and leadership intangibles as much pure talent.

The final outcome may not reveal itself fully in 2023 given the team’s relative youth at key positions. But this offseason offers a prime opportunity to build for the long haul in the mold of Baltimore’s stalwart formula. Providing Fields protection, weapons and play-calling vision would be an excellent start, as would investing further in the coaching ranks to echo the Ravens’ stability and know-how. The Bears have the quarterback and defensive cornerstones in place. Furnishing them with a support structure akin to what fuels Jackson and Harbaugh’s perpetual contender is the next step toward sustained success.

Bear Down Bears fans! and as always… PEACE!