There are those who are still cheering over John Harbaugh’s departure from the Ravens.
Veteran receiver Rashod Bateman and offensive lineman Ronnie Stanley have openly critiqued Harbaugh, offering high praise for the approach of new head coach Jesse Minter.
“From our head coach to the offensive coordinator and even down to the receivers coach, there’s a strong emphasis on details and the finer points,” Bateman remarked on Thursday. “This wasn’t something that defined us in the past.”
Stanley echoed this sentiment, telling The Athletic, “[Minter] truly appreciates the finer details.”
While these comments aren’t exactly explosive, they do offer a glimpse into the differing coaching philosophies.
But for coaches, it’s certainly a blow to be considered as lacking when it comes to being detail-oriented — and hearing it come from a multiple-time All-Pro left tackle carries weight.
Not stressing details can be viewed as a lack of preparation, which is quite the dig against a coach.
Bateman certainly had the more pointed comments of the two, and it certainly makes it seem that he welcomed the coaching change.
He previously expressed some frustration with Baltimore’s coaching staff in 2023, with the former first-rounder venting about playing to player’s strengths and calling out finger pointing.
Bateman said Thursday he could “definitely benefit” from the coaching change.
“Wherever these coaches and staff put me,” he said, “I think this team is bound for success.”
There had been some rumblings about a split being needed in Baltimore with Harbaugh after 18 seasons, which included one Super Bowl win in 12 playoff appearances.
NFL Network reported after the Ravens fired Harbaugh following a Week 17 loss to the Steelers that cost them a playoff spot that “simply Harbaugh lost the locker room.”
There had also been rumblings of a rift with star quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Minter, the former Chargers defensive coordinator, replaced Harbaugh, and one big storyline of the season will be whether he can guide Jackson to an elusive Super Bowl appearance.
Harbaugh, meanwhile, has been welcomed like a king to New York, although expectations are far lower and Super Bowl contention is not realistic for at least one more year.