Keep Caldwell?

rayvens4sb · Joined: 30 Dec 2010 Posts: 275 Location: US

Do you guys think we have a chance of keeping Caldwell as OC IF he keeps up the playcalling from yesterday into preseason? I know there are going to be a few options in the offseason, like Norv Turner, but if Caldwell does what he did yesterday with the creative playcalling, I don't really see a reason to get of him.

draftguru1234 · Joined: 09 Feb 2011 Posts: 549

Preferably, no.

But if Turner is the only other option, I'll stick with Caldwell.

Mancunian Raven · Joined: 09 Oct 2012 Posts: 1883

On the strength of yesterday's game, yes. But that was only one game, and I would like to see a lot more of what he can do next week and in the post-season, before I'd be happy for him to have a chance next year.

I know the players are being diplomatic about it, and saying that the main difference is the speed in which the plays come in from the sidelines, but there's definitely more to it than that.

I feel like Caldwell has spent all year watching Cam call plays and thinking 'why's he doing that? That's dumb', and that might have been the best preparation he could have had to call plays for this offense.

He just seems to make common-sense calls that fit the personnel and situation. Just keeps things simple when they need to be, and come up with something that works whenever things aren't simple.

Whether he can do that on a sustained basis, I don't know. And the other thing to consider is, if Caldwell becomes OC, what do the Ravens do about a QB coach? Ask Caldwell to do both jobs and try to split his time between them? Bring someone else in, even though Flacco has a good relationship with Caldwell?
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coordinator0 · Joined: 18 Jan 2008 Posts: 6992

Cameron was both the OC and QB coach last season if I remember correctly so it wouldn't be a big surprise Ravens went that route. I'm not too worried about that aspect of the situation but it's something that will be interesting to see how it plays out too.

I think that if the offense keeps building on this past game and finishes the season relatively strong then they will probably keep Caldwell. It would be kind of hard for them to move on from him at that point. I wouldn't have a big problem with it personally since there isn't anybody that will be or will potentially be available that I think is an elite or "must-have" option to take over as the OC.

Flaccomania · Joined: 12 Aug 2008 Posts: 20276 Location: Parkville, MD

I think if our offense continues to click for the remainder of the season, we very well may. But at the same time, I think we should most definitely do our due diligence and conduct some interviews with Caldwell included in there and determine the best option moving forward.

I hope Turner isn't on that list, however.
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janky · Joined: 08 Oct 2011 Posts: 443 Location: Bird land

drd23 · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2012 8:34 pm Post subject:

diamondbull424 · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 12768 Location: Baltimore, MD

draftguru1234 · Joined: 09 Feb 2011 Posts: 549

Speaking of Zorn, I'd love to have him back as OC this time.

alfalcone · Joined: 25 Apr 2009 Posts: 1298

BaltimoreTerp · Joined: 13 Feb 2005 Posts: 27596 Location: Washington, DC

Does Caldwell have a system/playbook of his own that he even has the ability to implement? He definitely showed us all something encouraging on Sunday, with Torrey running slant routes, Boldin utilizing the middle of the field from the slot, the option play on 3rd down (and overall a terrific intuition on when to use Pierce and when to use Rice), getting Rice out in space in the passing game, and overall getting the ball out of Flacco's hands early. A 2nd full week to prepare with the offense and get them up to speed with what he wants to do was clearly beneficial.

My main concern, though, is that Caldwell is still working from Cam's playbook for the rest of this season. If keeping Caldwell means keeping that system, then I'm not a fan of it even if Caldwell is more capable of finding ways to make it work than Cam was. And if Caldwell does have a system of his own that he would implement, I would want to hear some details about what that entails. I think it's most likely going to be either Caldwell or Norv as the OC next year, in any case.

Depending on how Caldwell and the offense do with the rest of this season, we may see Caldwell earn the job full-time and we may even be a big playoff run away from Flacco solidifying his long term contract. There is A LOT to play for, both individually and for the team as a whole. The win over the Giants has, at the very least, given me some new energy and fresh optimism as to what this team can do in January with all of the attention focused squarely on the darlings in New England and Denver.
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Flaccomania · Joined: 12 Aug 2008 Posts: 20276 Location: Parkville, MD

ravens5520 · Joined: 20 Dec 2007 Posts: 8450 Location: New York

If Caldwells playbook has variety in it, then I'm on board! It was a different team last Sunday out there. Play call wise.

Best play we've talked about is the slant. Nice to see Caldwell using Torrey's speed for more than just a Hail Mary & pray type of play

gooselovechild · Joined: 29 Mar 2007 Posts: 2431

Chris Ault anyone?

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/29/offensive-innovator-chris-ault-leaves-nevada-could-head-to-nfl/

diamondbull424 · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 12768 Location: Baltimore, MD