As impressive as the Ravens’ Super Bowl title was, their consistent success over the span of years is the thing that separates them from others.
So it should be no surprise that Ravens coach John Harbaugh is taking a measured, steady approach to dealing with an offseason of change.
After letting so many familiar players walk out the door, Harbaugh’s leaning on owner Steve Bisciotti and his long-time co-workers including General Manager Ozzie Newsome, assistant G.M. Eric DeCosta, vice president of football administration Pat Moriarty, director of pro personnel Vince Newsome and the coaches he has come to trust.
“I talk to the people I usually talk to probably about what is going on,” Harbaugh said, via Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. “You probably can figure out who those people are. No, it hasn’t been too much different. Every year you face different challenges. This is new in a lot of different ways. You just try to do the best you can and make good choices and good decisions. We have a good team here. We have a lot of players that really care.
“We have a lot of leadership, young and veteran leadership. We have a great building from Steve Bisciotti right on through Ozzie, of course, Eric, Pat and Vince, and the coaching staff with our coordinators and our coaches always give us great input. It’s a team effort. Really, truly it is a team effort in all those kinds of areas.”
Having all those names in place is more important to year-in, year-out success than any individual player. That’s why the Ravens can let a player such as Ed Reed or Paul Kruger or Dannell Ellerbe walk, or trade Anquan Boldin, or watch Ray Lewis retire, and there’s still a sense they’re stable.
And given their five straight playoff appearances (and a 63-30 record under Harbaugh), it’s hard to argue that their approach isn’t the right one.