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Eric DeCosta will add to Ozzie Newsome’s legacy

By Chris Schisler

OWINGS MILLS, MD - MAY 05: Head coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens speaks with general manager Ozzie Newsome after a practice during the Baltimore Ravens rookie camp on May 5, 2013 in Owings Mills, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
OWINGS MILLS, MD - MAY 05: Head coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens speaks with general manager Ozzie Newsome after a practice during the Baltimore Ravens rookie camp on May 5, 2013 in Owings Mills, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /
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For better or worse, Eric DeCosta will add on to the legacy of Ozzie Newsome:

This is the last offseason before Eric DeCosta starts calling the shots for the Baltimore Ravens. Ozzie Newsome has this one last offseason to put the finishing touches on his career. However Newsome’s legacy will be affected either positively or negatively, by what DeCosta does as general manager.

DeCosta has worked his way up through the ranks. Like Newsome, he has been a constant presence in the franchise. Newsome has mentored DeCosta and groomed him for this position. It’s important to remember that Newsome is DeCosta’s professional mentor.

As his hand picked successor, DeCosta is perhaps the most important piece of Newsome’s legacy. There were a lot of jobs open to DeCosta but he stayed put, knowing his future was in Baltimore.

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If DeCosta does a good job, and pushes the Ravens back into the standing of perennial playoff contenders, that would be huge. Success like this would prove that Newsome’s biggest bet was his best. Newsome would have to be credited for not only fostering the Ravens first two Super Bowls, but allowing a promising future to unfold after his tenure.

If DeCosta stumbles and the team falters in the next few years, the legend of “The Oz” would be punched in the gut. This would mean that Newsome wasted his time building DeCosta up as his assistant GM. The history books of this great game will speak glowingly of Newsome no matter what happens, however the last several years have been a stain on his reputation.

The Bottom Line:

The Ravens have missed the playoffs in four of the past five years and three years in a row. Many people see the transition to DeCosta as more of the same. While it is true that DeCosta has learned a lot from Newsome, he is also his own man. While many fans want to see a total shift in the Ravens front office DeCosta could end up being just what the doctor ordered.

Memory is a tricky thing. People tend to remember the beginning and the end. Ravens fans remember how Newsome built a historically good defense and a great batch of Ravens rosters in the beginning. Fans also remember the frustration of the last few years. If Newsome can start turning things around this offseason, and DeCosta keeps things running smoothly, people will forget all about the tough span the Ravens are currently in.

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One way or another, the Ravens are getting a new man in charge of the 53 man roster at the completion of next season. Everything Ozzie Newsome has ever done as the general manager of the Ravens has led up to this handing off of the baton. The way DeCosta performs as general manager will reflect on Newsome one way or another.

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