Many Ravens fans got what they considered to be the answer to their prayers on Monday when after a difficult loss to the Washington Redskins, the club elected to part company with offensive coordinator Cam Cameron.

The offense has failed to live up to the expectations of the fans, and by firing Cameron the team seemed to echo that sentiment. Before getting too carried away with the celebration however, it’s worth acknowledging that the new hope many are feeling today, s a result of the change, an only continue if now, in the aftermath of Cameron’s regime, Jim Caldwell is able to pick up the pieces and bring about the improvements that many have both expected and demanded.

There are lots of questions still to be answered and not a whole lot of time to find those answers before the playoffs begin. Here’s what we should be looking to find out as the Ravens move forward under Caldwell in the coming weeks:

How will the offense look to impose tempo?

The fans seem split on what the ideal answer to this question might be. The Ravens began the season, and seemingly chose their offensive personnel, with a notion to pick up the offensive pace. Their ability to move quickly, particularly on the road with the crowd working against them has been stagnated at times and at other times the team just seemed compelled not to use their up-tempo brand of offense.

With the defense struggling with injuries, age and at time ineffectiveness it may no longer be in the Ravens best interest to move their offense in such a hurry. Time of possession has not often fallen in the Ravens favor, and perhaps a more deliberate and methodical approach to offense, while not as glamorous, might be in the best interest of the defense and the overall goals of the team as a whole. It’ll be interesting to see if or how often the Jim Caldwell offense is willing to push the pace.

More Rice or more Flacco?

The 25-touch gauge for Ray Rice is often the first place that fans look to cast judgment on the performance of the play caller, particularly after a Ravens loss. Many operate under the belief that Rice is far and away the Ravens best offensive weapon and that a failure to use him enough can be blamed for most of what ails the offense.

At the same time, bell cow running backs aren’t exactly a part of the blueprint of most upper echelon NFL offenses these days and if the Ravens aspire to be one they’ll likely have to do it on the arm of Joe Flacco. The 25-touch barometer should be interesting as it’s been an overall down year for Rice in terms of touches and production. We’ll see if that leaves him with more in his tank than usual as they head down the stretch.

Will the Ravens use the middle of the field and/or be aggressive with a lead?

There have been legitimate questions raised as to just how much the Ravens have prioritized ball control and field position versus scoring. Bad play calling falls at the feet of the offensive coordinator, but conservative philosophy likely at the feet of the head coach. It’ll certainly be interesting in the coming weeks to see if the Ravens show a greater willingness to use the middle of the field in their passing game and whether they’re willing to stay aggressive if and when they’re able to attain narrow leads. This may also increase the potential for turnovers a risk they’ll have to be willing to accept if they’re going to be a top-flight offense.

How will the offensive line look?

Lots of observers are as frustrated with the performance of Michael Oher at right tackle as much as with any other component of the offense. You could certainly argue that in flipping Oher back and forth to each side of the line hasn’t exactly set him up to be as successful as he could be. You could also make the argument that Oher on the left side this year hasn’t set the Ravens up to be as successful as they could be. Whether or not Bryant McKinnie finds his way into the lineup at some point soon will be quite interesting to see, and greatly debated over one way or the other. If he does, then where Oher and likewise Kelechi Osemele end up as a result will be equally interesting.

How much control will Joe Flacco get?

Although he’s never called plays at the NFL level, the Jim Caldwell claim to fame has been the work that he put in refining and developing Peyton Manning. Interestingly enough, fans have complained for years about Joe Flacco’s inability or lack of permission to assess and change things at the line of scrimmage, which has obviously been a hallmark of the Peyton Manning experience. I wouldn’t expect Flacco to open up and do Manning’s “chicken dance” any time soon, but we should probably expect at least to see him exhibit a bit more control and decision making at the line of scrimmage.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — It looked like the typical Wednesday in Owings Mills as Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco stepped to the podium to meet with the media, but the circumstances had never been more different.

No matter how you feel about Flacco and where he ranks in the hierarchy of NFL quarterbacks, all eyes will be on him for the remainder of the season as the 27-year-old begins the next phase of his career without offensive coordinator Cam Cameron. It’s no secret the two struggled to coexist as the years progressed, even if Flacco downplayed that perception in his first interview since Cameron was fired on Monday.

Some think the quarterback has plateaued because of Cameron’s inconsistent play-calling, conservative nature, and reputation for being a control freak while others wonder if Flacco simply isn’t good enough to handle more responsibility within an offensive system or to take his game to another level.

With quarterbacks coach Jim Caldwell promoted to offensive coordinator, Flacco will have his first chance to prove just how good he can be without Cameron’s involvement this Sunday against the Denver Broncos and their fourth-ranked defense. And if the Ravens are to snap a two-game losing streak and right the ship in time to make a deep postseason run, Flacco must take command of an offense in transition and desperately needing leadership and consistency at the most important position on the field.

Flacco acknowledged his part in Cameron’s dismissal when asked if he feels any responsibility for the coordinator’s demise. Of course, he’s not the only one to blame as inconsistent play from the offensive line and wide receivers has also plagued the Baltimore offense this season.

“I think as an offense, we have to look at ourselves and see what we can do to be better,” Flacco said. “Obviously, we weren’t good enough.”

It wasn’t supposed to be this way after last season’s AFC Championship loss in which the Baltimore quarterback outplayed future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady despite Lee Evans’ failure to catch the game-winning touchdown and Billy Cundiff’s subsequent miss of the game-tying 32-yard field goal. The silver lining was Flacco’s 306-yard, two-touchdown performance that was to springboard him and the Ravens offense to bigger and better things in the final year of his rookie contract.

Instead, the 2012 season has brought much of the same from the 2008 first-round pick — a few great performances, some decent games, and still too many bad ones — as the offense hasn’t taken the significant leap many believed the Ravens needed with the anticipated decline of the long-vaunted defense. Looking elite at home with a 100.7 passer rating in six home games, Flacco has struggled on the road (a 75.4 rating) and still struggles to protect the football as he’s thrown a tolerable nine interceptions but has also fumbled eight times.

Leading the league’s 16th-ranked passing offense, Flacco has completed 60 percent of his passes, has averaged 7.2 yards per attempt, and has thrown for 3,220 yards and 18 touchdowns. Aside from being on pace to set a new career high in passing yards, Flacco has posted numbers mostly in line with his career averages. Good, but not great and certainly not worthy of the $100 million contract he desires.

General manager Ozzie Newsome and owner Steve Bisciotti shouldn’t be swayed too dramatically over Flacco’s performance for the remainder of the season — barring a deep postseason run — but Cameron’s dismissal is a clear sign of the Ravens wanting to see what they really have with their franchise quarterback before deciding how much they ultimately invest in a long-term contract, regardless of when it’s ultimately signed. For now, it appears Flacco has received a new lease on life with the promotion of Caldwell, who has never held the title of offensive coordinator in his career.

“Joe seems like he’s happy about it,” left tackle Michael Oher said. “I’ve seen him smiling and stuff, so I’m pretty sure he’s OK with everything.”

All accounts point to Caldwell and Flacco holding a good relationship in their first season working together, and the former Colts head coach was credited by current Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning Wednesday for helping him take his play to another level in their years together in Indianapolis. However, it’s been difficult to pinpoint any particular part of Flacco’s game that’s noticeably improved this season while working with Caldwell. And there’s no telling how that relationship might be tested as inevitable disagreements occur over play calls and philosophy.

Whether it’s the possible reintroduction of the no-huddle offense that’s virtually disappeared in recent weeks or just a different voice and mind calling the plays, the Ravens offense isn’t expected to be reinvented in any dramatic way and how could it entering Week 15? But a change of this magnitude will force all offensive coaches and players to bring a renewed level of focus to account for potential growing pains.

“The biggest thing we’ve talked about is just coming together as an offense and everybody helping and giving their input because we’re going to need it,” Flacco said, “It’s a quick change, it’s late in the year, and it’s going to require all of us to be focused and work hard.”

Even with Cameron out of the picture and the possible mental boost that might bring for the quarterback — any employee finally escaping the thumb of an undesirable boss could attest to the notion — the flaws and shortcomings of the quarterback’s game are still there.

Flacco has struggled to throw the deep ball as he and speedy wide receiver Torrey Smith have frequently failed to be on the same page. The quarterback has been inconsistent in making adjustments at the line of scrimmage, either in changing plays or protections.

And his shortcomings with pocket awareness have led to sack-and-strip opportunities that have led to turnovers in two straight games. Of course, an inconsistent offensive line — now facing the possibility of no Marshal Yanda for the time being — hasn’t helped matters in that department, but the Ravens have acknowledged the need for Flacco to be more protective of the football in those situations. Entering this Sunday’s game, Flacco has fumbled 47 times in 77 regular-season games while Manning — a quarterback also lacking mobility — has fumbled just 59 times in 221 career regular-season contests.

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First, let me get this out of my system………12-12-12. 10-10-10 (no, not the fertilizer – good stuff though), 11-11-11, pretty cool. Today is the last time we’ll be able to write the same number sequence for the month-day-year in our lifetime. The world hasn’t ended yet or is that like in 9 days? 12-12-12. 12-12-12. I dig it. 

“One down” – it’s about time. ”Talk to ya Later” – (The Tubes) – Camera Cameron. See ya! Adios! Sayonara! Go repress another teams offense. You are done stifling the Ravens. Now, “one more to go” – if they would only get rid of Horribaugh. Whoa, asking for way to much at once for that one. Savor the moment and enjoy it. I did! If you have been following this blog and/or know me………..I am not a fan of Camera Cameron or John Horribaugh. For 3 years, I have expressed my concerns, hoping for a change. Well, we sure got one on Monday. Thank you Ravens front office (2 years to late though). 

Finally, let Flacco run the show. Jim Caldwell – all you should have to do is steer the boat. All Flacco has to do is go head to head, mano-y-mano against possibly one of the better field generals in football history this coming Sunday. Embrace it Joseph. It’s your time to shine. Your time to cash in. Your time to add a zero on a new long term contract. Nobody there to hold you down.

 Cameron is not the sole reason, the Ravens haven’t made it to the Promised Land these past few years. But he sure has assisted in delaying success. I never brought into the “We have a plan for Ray Rice.” Or “We have to be selective in our down field chances.” Or  – I’m calling this game in a matter so that I won’t lose my job. All I saw were missed opportunities. Hello Ravens front office, you may have waited to long and you may have squandered precious time with your veterans, i.e. Matt Birk, Ray-Ray, Ed Reed, etc. The Ravens had and have a loaded potential offense. Now let’s hope it’s recognized. 

 Will Mr. Blue Hen finally emerge from his feathers? Does he have ”next level leadership qualities” in him? Guess we’re going to find out real quick. Sunday ought to be quite interesting. A win on Sunday – huge, a springboard to the playoffs. A loss on Sunday – realization the Ravens just aren’t that good. And they really aren’t – the defense can get lit up like a Christmas tree and the right guy is coming to town to do it. Can the Ravens offense go toe-to-toe with Peyton Manning? You’re darn right they can. Can the Ravens offense go toe-to-toe with Eli Manning? You’re darn right they can. MINUS Camera Cameron they have a legit shot.

Now with Horribaugh still on the sideline without his “partner in crime”, that’s a whole different story. Ten bucks says his lost puppy mug will look even more bewildered. Keep riding Ray-Rays coat tails Johnny, in fact let Ray-Ray coach and you just watch. Easy now……..I’m asking to much. I should just  be grateful that I have one less pillow to throw at the television on Sunday. No more flings at Cam Camerons’ mug or 1/2 mug behind a worthless play calling script. Come on Joe Cool - we got your back.

Baltimore, we have received an early Holiday present. One less thorn in the Ravens nest. Be thankful. You never know, we may receive another gift on Sunday -  Flacco shines, Caldwell shines, Horribaugh breaks down and requests advice from Ray Lewis on the sidelines, a win and clinch a playoff spot. Might as well ask for the whole ball of wax, when you have the chance. I really only need enough wax to make a small Ravens Christmas candle. Wait-a-minute, we already have received our second present – that Peyton Manning guy won’t be in a Baltimore Colts uniform! Good Luck Ravens, you’re gonna need it.

D.I.Y.

Fedman

If you’re one of those who like to play the blame-game, Monday’s dismissal of Cam Cameron offers you a smorgasbord of options on which to feast.

In no specific order, you have the following:

John Harbaugh, the man who employed Cam for the last 4+ seasons, and the person in charge of the on-field product, which includes being in touch with his players and their festering aggravation with one of his coaches.

Steve Bisciotti, who, while rightfully considered in general a “good owner”, has spent a little too much time over the years hob-knobbing with the players to the extent he might be closer with them then he should be.

Joe Flacco, perhaps the main spoke in the Cameron firing-wheel, and the guy who potentially might have suffered the most while working under his now former boss.  But, if Cameron was inconsistent as a play-caller and offensive coordinator, Flacco has to wear the same basic scarlet letter, for he, too, hasn’t exactly been a shining beacon of consistency in the last four months.

The Ravens defense, which has been occasionally superb but more often a liability this season, particularly in the final 5 minutes of the team’s most two recent losses to the Steelers and Redskins.  True, they were very good earlier in the year against the Chiefs and the Browns and the Chargers.  They were also woefully exposed by the Cowboys, Texans, Steelers (with a bum at quarterback) and Redskins.

The Ravens offense, with players in key positions not playing up to par week-in and week-out.  I’m all for Jim Caldwell taking over at this point, but I’d be shocked if he can give back to Anquan Boldin that step he’s lost over the last year or so…or turn Michael Oher into a premier pass blocker as a left tackle…or heal Marshal Yanda’s bad ankle within two weeks…or get Torrey Smith to run his routes to completion the way they’re designed in the playbook.

And then, there’s one other name to add to the mix:  Ozzie Newsome.

Let the continuing story of “how Cam got canned” be examined with Ozzie’s name in mind, for it’s Newsome who wasn’t able to ink a new deal with his team’s franchise quarterback, thus paving the way for Joe Flacco to play the 2012 campaign as a “lame duck”.

Yes, there always remains the option of the franchise tag for Flacco.  But, as any player will tell you, that’s a band-aid – a nice, lucrative one – he’d rather not wear if it’s possible.

The easiest way to start any conversation about Joe Flacco and his contract situation is to simply say this about him and his future in Baltimore:  The Ravens want him back in 2013 and Flacco would like to return for a 6th season.

There’s no debating that at this point.  The two parties are still in love.

But – and here’s where we start the dissection of how things are off kilter – these are very complicated times in Owings Mills, particularly when it comes to assessing Flacco’s value.

And who’s fault is that?

If you ask Flacco and/or his agent, Joe Linta, they’re going to place the blame squarely on the employer — the Ravens, the offense and, naturally, Cam Cameron.

Linta, as a natural reaction to his Flacco’s contract status being in the spotlight, would argue up and down that with each passing game where the Baltimore offense was stagnant or stuck in neutral because of Cameron’s inconsistency, his client was effectively “losing money”.

Honestly — he’s right.

That doesn’t mean, of course, that his client doesn’t bear some of that responsibility.  He, Flacco, that is, might be costing himself money with every incompletion or strip-sack or poor audible.

But the agent would never admit that to the general manager of the team.

Instead – and if you close your eyes and let the movie play out in your head, you’ll hear it for yourself – I’m quite certain with every “new conversation” Linta and Newsome have had over the few months that Joe’s representative has reminded Ozzie in no uncertain terms that Cameron and the on-again, off-again Ravens offense is costing the quarterback big money.

“Ozzie, I respect you and the organization and so does Joe,” Linta is likely saying.  ”But you can’t possibly think you’re doing my client a true service by having Cam Cameron operate that offense in such a manner that it’s clearly hindering his qualities as a high-level NFL player.  You’ve known for a year now that Cam and Joe can’t exist together in the long run.  They’ve tried to make it work and it’s just not going to happen.  All you’re doing by trying to force this Cameron-Flacco relationship on both of them is costing Joe Flacco money.  And, even though I make little in comparison to my client, you’re costing ME money, too.  Get this Cameron thing sorted out and let’s make Joe the $90 million player he deserves to be.”

I imagine a conversation like that has been going on nearly every Monday or so for the last 13 weeks.

(Please see next page)

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — A day after their highest point total on the road all season, the Ravens finally decided they needed to go in a new direction Monday by firing offensive coordinator Cam Cameron.

Discussion will continue over the circumstances and motivation behind dismissing the long-maligned assistant with three games remaining in the regular season, but coach John Harbaugh and the Ravens will now entrust quarterbacks coach and former Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Caldwell to do what Cameron was unable to accomplish — regardless of who was to blame — in guiding an up-and-down offense during the 2012 season. At times, the unit has looked as good as any in the league, particularly when playing at M&T Bank Stadium. Other times, the offense has looked as inept as the worst attacks in the NFL.

In the Ravens’ eyes, Cameron wasn’t going to figure it out, so they decided to hand the reins to Caldwell with hopes of salvaging what still appears to be an enviable position with a 9-4 team despite its current two-game losing streak. It was becoming more and more apparent that Baltimore needed a new vision and voice to lead its offense, but the decision to make the change at this late juncture of the season was very unlike an organization that rarely makes decisions with haste. It smelled of desperation in not wanting to waste an opportunity.

“What we’re trying to do is just to get about that much better,” said Caldwell, holding his thumb and index finger roughly an inch apart. “That’s about it. And that’s a difficult task, obviously, trying to get that done in this league. That’s what we’re shooting for.”

It’s a daunting challenge, indeed, for a man with extensive coaching experience at the collegiate and professional levels but none of it coming as an offensive coordinator. Caldwell tutored future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning — or was it the other way around? — for seven years before taking over as his head coach for three years, which included a trip to the Super Bowl following the 2009 season, but he never called the plays for Manning and the high-powered Colts offense.

There’s no predicting how the 57-year-old coach will respond to the pressures of making in-game play calls with only seconds to make a decision and other coaches or players chattering in his ear. According to Harbaugh, the Ravens haven’t determined whether Caldwell will call plays from the upstairs coaches’ booth or the sideline. It’s a risky proposition trading in a known commodity — flawed as it may have been — for an alternative with question marks and very little time to adjust to his new title.

“Jim is qualified. Jim is a heck of a coach,” Harbaugh said. “And we have a heck of a staff. They’ll do a great job, and I am looking forward to seeing how it plays out.”

While fans may have visions of the offense finally being cured with Cameron no longer calling the plays, Caldwell will deal with the same problems that have plagued the Ravens all season. He’ll try to overcome an underwhelming offensive line, a group of wide receivers that struggles to gain separation consistently, and a quarterback who’s struggled with pre-snap adjustments, pocket awareness, and finding overall consistency.

How much Cameron impacted those areas is up for debate, but to assume Caldwell will significantly remedy those weaknesses in a matter of a few weeks isn’t realistic — or even fair. The Ravens’ offensive problems run deeper than their former coordinator, and we’ll see whether players are able to rise to the occasion with the shadow of Cameron no longer a built-in excuse for their shortcomings.

I suspect we’ll see much of the same offensively as the Ravens desperately need to improve their offensive line and take a long look at their future at the wide receiver position. As much as some of his toughest critics might hesitate to admit it, Cameron wasn’t the left tackle failing to protect the blind side, the receiver dropping passes or failing to get open, or the quarterback turning the ball over at critical times. There are only so many protection schemes and play designs that can mask talent deficiencies, so it will be interesting to see what Caldwell can do.

“We all take responsibility for that when something like this takes place,” Harbaugh said. “It’s real. You’re talking about anytime guys leave a program who put their heart and soul into the thing — be it a coach or player — that is real. The burden falls on everybody who’s still here.”

As for what we’ll see offensively, the Ravens don’t plan to change their offensive system, nor would it be possible to make such drastic changes without a full offseason to prepare. A rebirth of the no-huddle offense that’s virtually disappeared over the last four weeks is a distinct possibility given Caldwell’s background with Manning in Indianapolis, but the Ravens weren’t exactly thriving with the up-tempo attack in road games earlier this season and the defense was paying a major price as a result.

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The Baltimore Ravens, in a surprise move, fired their offensive coordinator Cam Cameron today. It is not surprising that Cameron got fired, but the timing of it is the most surprising, especially for a team that is 9-4 and heading to the postseason.

Baltimore was 53-24 in four plus seasons with Cameron as offensive coordinator as well as a 5-4 record in the playoffs. This team will have gone to the postseason five consecutive seasons with Cameron, but an inconsistent offense did Cameron in.

Ravens fans have been calling for Cameron’s head for about three years now, even after victories all you heard was how bad Cameron was. The fact is he was in an unwinnable situation, unless this team put up 50 points a game he was going to be criticized as the worst offensive coordinator in the history of football. Sometimes in life you have to be careful what you wish for because you just might get it. We will see if Jim Caldwell is the answer at offensive coordinator or if Ravens fans will find themselves asking come January, man what if Cameron was still the offensive coordinator?

Oh and be sure to come to WNST’s Coat Drive event tomorrow Tuesday, Dec. 11th at Buffalo Wild Wings White Marsh. Join Glenn Clark, Drew Forrester and WNST crew from 6-8. Bring a coat, get a great Buffalo Wild Wings gift card! All coats will benefit Helping Up Mission here in Baltimore keep local folks warm this winter!

Here is Ravens coach John’s Harbaugh’s official statement on the firing of Cam Cameorn and promotion of quarterbacks coach Jim Caldwell to the offensive coordinator position:

“I have made a coaching change, and Jim Caldwell will take over as the offensive coordinator, which includes play-calling duties.

“My charge – our responsibility as a coaching staff – is to maximize the opportunities for our team to win, and we can still reach all of our goals for this season. We have a motto we follow on this team: W.I.N. – What’s Important Now – and what’s important now is to find ways to get better, win the AFC North and advance to the playoffs.

“With our coaches and players, the solution is in the building. We are going to make the most of our opportunities going forward, and this change gives us a better possibility to achieve our goals.

“There is a very human side to this. Cam is my friend, he taught me a lot about coaching, and he is an outstanding coach. Personally, this is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do as a coach. Cam has been a significant contributor to all of our successes over the past four, almost five, seasons. Deservedly, he is highly-regarded, and we owe thanks to him for what he did for the Ravens.

“It’s not about fair or unfair, right or wrong. My responsibility is to the whole team and what’s best for them right now. We need a change. Our plan and our goals are to win games, win our division and get to the playoffs.

“We have a lot of work to do, and we have the coaches and players in place to achieve our goals this season. We are working on that right now. I’m excited about where we are and where we are going.”

Less than 24 hours after suffering their second consecutive loss to drop their record to 9-4, the Ravens have fired offensive coordinator Cam Cameron in his fifth season with the organization.

Former Indianapolis Colts head coach and current Ravens quarterbacks coach Jim Caldwell will assume the offensive coordinator duties.

The move comes in a season filled with offensive inconsistency in which the Ravens have averaged 34.0 points per game at home but only 18.1 points per game in seven contests away from M&T Bank Stadium. Despite falling to the Washington Redskins in a 31-28 final in Landover on Sunday, the offensive output marked the Ravens’ best in a road game all season.

In their typical schizophrenic fashion, the Ravens scored three touchdowns in the first half and ran for 186 yards against the NFL’s fourth-best run defense but started the second half with two turnovers and two three-and-outs to keep Washington within striking distance before the Redskins ultimately tied the game in the final minute of regulation and won in overtime.

“My charge – our responsibility as a coaching staff – is to maximize the opportunities for our team to win, and we can still reach all of our goals for this season,” head coach John Harbaugh said in a team statement. “With our coaches and players, the solution is in the building. We are going to make the most of our opportunities going forward, and this change gives us a better possibility to achieve our goals.

“It’s not about fair or unfair, right or wrong. My responsibility is to the whole team and what’s best for them right now. We need a change. Our plan and our goals are to win games, win our division and get to the playoffs.”

Entering the season with heightened expectations in quarterback Joe Flacco’s fifth season at the helm, the Ravens offense has failed to take off in compensating for a defense that’s regressed because of personnel losses in the offseason and several significant injuries during the 2012 season. Baltimore entered Week 14 ranked 19th in total offense, ninth in points per game, 23rd in rush offense, and 15th in passing offense.

Caldwell will now take over as the offensive coordinator as he finishes his first season with the Ravens. Hired in the offseason to be the quarterbacks coach after the position went unfilled last season, the 57-year-old has never held the title of offensive coordinator at any point in his collegiate and NFL coaching career.

He spent three seasons as the head coach in Indianapolis after seven years as the Colts’ quarterbacks coach in which he worked with future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning. Caldwell’s influence was considered instrumental during spring organized team activities and training camp as the Ravens attempted to implement the no-huddle attack as a major part of their offensive philosophy earlier this season, but Baltimore has used the approach far less frequently in recent weeks.

“We have a lot of work to do, and we have the coaches and players in place to achieve our goals this season,” Harbaugh said. “We are working on that right now. I’m excited about where we are and where we are going.”

Cameron was long maligned by critics and often cast as the scapegoat for the team’s offensive struggles. The Ravens’ offensive line has performed inconsistently, wide receivers have struggled to gain separation, and Flacco has thrown nine interceptions and fumbled eight times this season.

A debate had existed for several years over just how much freedom Flacco had to change plays at the line of scrimmage and make adjustments on the fly, with Cameron saying the quarterback could make those choices in contrast to others wondering if the 2008 first-round pick truly had enough control to operate.

Expecting wholesale changes in the offensive system in the final weeks of the season would be unrealistic, but the most notable change could be a renewed commitment to the no-huddle offense. It’s also worth noting Flacco is in the midst of the final year of his rookie contract, and the Ravens will be forced to make difficult decisions in terms of a long-term deal and the potential use of the franchise tag should they be unable to reach an agreement with Flacco’s agent Joe Linta before the start of free agency in March.

A coaching change in the middle of the season is a rare occurrence from the Ravens organization but not completely unprecedented. During the 2006 season in which the Ravens finished a franchise-best 13-3, former head coach Brian Billick fired offensive coordinator Jim Fassel following two straight losses that dropped the team’s record to 4-2 and took over play-calling duties for the remainder of the season.

Harbaugh will speak to the media at 4 p.m. for his weekly Monday press conference in Owings Mills.

“Cam is my friend, he taught me a lot about coaching, and he is an outstanding coach,” Harbaugh said. “Personally, this is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do as a coach.”

Speculation first began regarding the possibility of the Ravens making a coaching change Monday morning when Dan Patrick reported the possibility of a shakeup on his morning show. The coaching change was first reported by ABC2 in Baltimore.

After every Baltimore Ravens victory, Ryan Chell and I take to the airwaves on “The Nasty Purple Postgame Show” on AM1570 WNST.net to offer “Pats on the Ass” to players who have done something to deserve the honor.

We give pats to two defensive players, two offensive players and one “Wild Card”-either another offensive or defensive player, a Special Teams player or a coach. We offer a “Pat on Both Cheeks” to someone who stands out, our version of a “Player of the Game.”

Here are our “Pats on the Ass” following the Ravens’ 44-13 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium…

Glenn Clark’s Pats…

5. Bernard Pollard

4. Haloti Ngata

3. Ray Rice

2. Jim Caldwell

1. Joe Flacco (Pat on both cheeks)

(Ryan’s Pats on Page 2…)