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Has The John Harbaugh Era Gone Stale in Baltimore?

By Chris Schisler

Jan 3, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. The bengals won 24-16. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. The bengals won 24-16. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 11, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh looks on from the sideline during the game against the Buffalo Bills at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh looks on from the sideline during the game against the Buffalo Bills at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports /

The First Sign: Going Through The Motions

In the beginning of the Harbaugh era, there was a toughness about this team. The team reflected the determination and will of their fierce head coach. The Ravens always were given a mantra that meant something, more than just a sports cliche. It started when Harbaugh drew from a famous story about Muhammad Ali, when his opponent refused to acknowledge that he was no longer Cassius Clay. “What’s Our Name” was a rallying cry for a Baltimore football team that wanted respect. Now the Ravens just repeat “Play Like A Raven,”  over and over again. It’s not a powerful message. It’s just something people say, a place holder for the coach’s next motivational nugget.

The purple and black just don’t seem to have any fire. Without Steve Smith Sr. on the field, there is no emotional leader on the offense. Everything feels flat. It isn’t fun. It isn’t exciting. The Ravens are saying the right things. They’re playing football games, it just doesn’t seem like they have the fight that this team has always been known for.

I think the Ravens got a little cocky when they started out 3-0. In their first real test against the Oakland Raiders, the Ravens failed. The things that they got away with when they played teams like the Bills and the Browns, has cost them against more challenging competition. When things are going well, it lowers the volume of all your screeching problems.

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