Jetfan13 Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Brendan Prunty/The Star-Ledger Thursday January 15, 2009, 10:13 PM Associated Press file photoPlaying for Baltimore Ravens defensive co-ordinator is a barrel of laughs, according to the Ravens defensive players. OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- For Baltimore Ravens strong safety Jim Leonhard, the best day of his week is always Wednesday. Walking into the meeting room and getting that big, black binder about the upcoming game's defensive scheme makes him feel like a kid on Christmas. Then again, every player on defensive coordinator Rex Ryan's unit feels that way. Because what he hands them isn't so much a binder filled with X's and O's. It's more like a grab bag of tricks. And that's just the way Ryan likes it. "That part makes it fun," Leonhard said Thursday as the Ravens prepared for Sunday's AFC title game in Pittsburgh. "I think everybody goes in there on Wednesday to get the game plan and they know they'll have opportunities to make plays. You know that coming in. You can't just show up to the meeting and sit there and get through it. You know you're going to have to get there and study and find out what the changes are. It makes it a lot of fun." But there's nothing amusing about how Ryan's unit has pounded its opponents this postseason, which certainly hasn't hurt his chances of landing a head coaching position. The Ravens allowed the second-fewest rushing and passing yards in the NFL during the regular season and the third-fewest points per game. In their two playoff games, the Ravens have forced eight turnovers and allowed 9.5 points a game. Those defensive numbers certainly beef up Ryan's resume. Just don't tell him that. "I'm excited about the interviews and things like that," Ryan said. "But again, I'm excited about coaching right now. Hopefully, if the thing goes on, if there is another day to interview or whatever next week, that would be great. But I just want to get to a Super Bowl and help coach this team." Since the end of the regular season, Ryan's name has emerged as a top candidate for a number of teams, most notably the Jets, with whom he interviewed last weekend. But Ryan -- the son of Buddy Ryan, architect of the 1985 Chicago Bears' Super Bowl winning "46 Defense" -- is not on his first go-around on the head coaching interview circuit. Last season, after being fired along with former Ravens head coach Brian Billick as part of a team-wide house cleaning, Ryan interviewed with a handful of teams, including Miami and Atlanta. When John Harbaugh was hired as the new head coach, he rehired Ryan as the team's defensive coordinator. This time, there is little chance he'll be turned down again. "Just his personality -- and obviously his schemes -- make it really enjoyable being here everyday," Leonhard said. "I hope he gets a head coaching job, because he deserves it. He has all the credentials and the resume for it." The Ravens insist they're playing loose and that it all flows from Ryan's laid-back attitude. "You just have to go out there and play whatever's called," cornerback Corey Ivy said. "Sometimes he'll pull stuff out of his hat, just to see if it'll work. But for the most part, they all work." Ryan's intricacies in drawing up defensive game plans and his affability in the locker room are nothing new to Ivy. Before coming to Baltimore, Ivy spent time with Ryan at Oklahoma, when he was the team's defensive coordinator for the 1998 season. So when Ivy arrived in 2006, he knew exactly what to expect. "He's still the same guy," Ivy said. "Exotic blitzes and loves his players. He puts us in great positions to succeed. ... I remember the first time I met him, thinking, 'Wow, this guy has a lot of bizarre blitzes.' But they work. So you can't argue with that." Even though they are focused on Sunday's game against the Steelers, most of his players know they're likely spending their final days with Ryan. But they're not at all bitter about it. The widely held consensus in the Ravens locker room is that he's earned the right to move on and take his talents elsewhere. "Just thinking about it now, he's a great coach and I think he's due," linebacker Bart Scott said. "I think he's been deserving of a head coaching job and we'd all be happy for him." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neckdemon Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 **** everybody else...this is the guy we need to coach our team..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMJ Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 **** everybody else...this is the guy we need to coach our team..... Cowher would have been my first choice like everyone else but I knew it was a pipe dream (because of Cowher not wanting to coach this year, not for ANY other reason). Once it was confirmed that Cowher was not on the market, Ryan has been the guy I wanted. Get er' done! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Gun Of Bavaria Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Somehow, Coles will find a reason not to like this guy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetfan13 Posted January 16, 2009 Author Share Posted January 16, 2009 Somehow, Coles will find a reason not to like this guy. "Always with the negative waves, Moriaritty! Always with the negative waves!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RutgersJetFan Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 IMO, he's getting the job as soon as Baltimore loses. Rex is definitely our next coach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rillo Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 IMO, he's getting the job as soon as Baltimore loses. Rex is definitely our next coach. Has to be... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackout Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 why don't the Jets hire Marty? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 [quote name='Blackout Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BleedinGreenNC Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Maybe he can bring some of the FA's from Baltimore here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vicious89x Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 I really hope Woody and Tannenbaum don't epically screw this up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irish Jet Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Cowher would have been my first choice like everyone else but I knew it was a pipe dream (because of Cowher not wanting to coach this year, not for ANY other reason). Once it was confirmed that Cowher was not on the market, Ryan has been the guy I wanted. Get er' done! He was my choice even when Cowher was available. IIRC I was the first to be campaigning for Ryan. Am I a prick for bringing that up? Yes. Do I care? No Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmike1 Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Somehow, Coles will find a reason not to like this guy. He won't coach Coles for one game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
124 Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Just because his players like him doesn't mean he'll be a good coach. There is a reason he was passed over by teams over the years and if he was such a good coach the Ravens wouldn't have fired him in the first place. Harbaugh had to bring him back. I hope I'm wrong, but I see another unproven failure on his way to New York. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BroadwayJ667 Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 hey mike, quick question, Rex Ryan is your guy, are you going to start bad mouthing him if (insert problem here) happens while he is coach? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmike1 Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 hey mike, quick question, Rex Ryan is your guy, are you going to start bad mouthing him if (insert problem here) happens while he is coach? I will bad mouth him if he does a bad job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BroadwayJ667 Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 I will bad mouth him if he does a bad job. fair enough, but can you do me a favor, be patient, i believe jets fans need to be patient. they really need continuity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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