Not to downplay Rex as a DC because he is really good, but he inherited the best defense in football, that had already won a SB from Lewis. Rob goes from one sad sack outfit to the next rebuilding defenses, and has done pretty well. I'd like to see what he can do if he stayed in one place for more than a year or two.
Although slightly off-topic, I thought that this would be a good place to add something to the discussion on Head Coaches' images. On PTI, Wilbon and Kornheiser were debating Todd Haley's appearance, and they brought up Belichick. Wilbon said that, outside of football, Belichick is very well-dressed, often in suit-&-tie. He then went on to say that Belichick would wear that apparel (in the fashion that the HCs of long ago did), but the NFL doesn't approve/allow (presumably because the NFL wants the teams/logos/colors etc visible to the viewer). So, as a middle-finger to the NFL, Belichick purposely looks haggard in that hooded-sweatshirt with the sleeves cut. Whether or not Wilbon was speculating, I'm not sure; but I thought it was interesting, and I can definitely believe Belichick being passive-aggressive like that.
I couldn't care less about the way he looks, but life is full of compromises, and just like the rest of us, if a job he wants requires a certain image, he's just going to have to suck it up and deal with it, or he won't get the job. I think all of the evidence points to Rex being a far better defensive guru than Rob. You're right about Baltimore's defense being elite before Rex and after Rex, but it also stayed elite during his time there, which is all you can ask for. He had a record to run on. His effect on the Jets defense has been dramatic and positive, with a defense that was ranked 20th, 18th, and 16th, respectively, in yards allowed from 2006-2008 suddenly going to 1st and 3rd the next two years. There is no corresponding evidence I can see for Rob rebuilding defenses, as his record is exceedingly mediocre. In the 4 years before he went to Oakland their defenses were ranked 17th, 18th, 11th, and 30th, respectively, in yards allowed; during his 5 years there as DC (a lot more than a year or two, by the way) they ranked 30th, 27th, 3rd, 22nd, and 27th. In the two years after he left they ranked 26th and 11th. There's nothing there to suggest that he did anything special. In the 4 years before he went to Cleveland their defenses ranked 16th, 27th, 30th, and 26th. In the two years he was DC they ranked 31st and 22nd. Again, nothing to suggest great achievement. For what it's worth, in the 1/2 year since then they're ranked 5th. In the 4 years before he went to Dallas their defenses ranked 9th, 8th, 9th, and 23rd; so far (only 1/2 year, of course) they're 9th. This isn't a thorough analysis, of course (something I have no interest in doing), but on the face of it Rob Ryan has not had a particularly impressive career as a defensive coordinator. On another note, the performance of the Dallas defense against Philly was horrifyingly bad, so saying something now only makes him come off as a blowhard. If that's what he was going for, great, but I don't think it increases his chances of getting a head coaching job.
I did not realize that Rob had been with the Raiders that long. I don't see him as a HC in any case. I wasn't trying to diminish Rex's achievements on defense, I just meant he was put in a better situation in Baltimore.
Good for him. The global obsession with dressing down annoys me intensely; I'd like to see more HCs in suit and tie, looking like they're in charge.
Maybe its just me, but I could swear that Jerry Jones is the EXACT kind of owner who would hire Rob Ryan just how he is. And not only that but im also convinced that he brought Rob in as DC so that when Garrett fizzles out over the next 1-3 years (which id say theres an incredibly high chance he will) he can just promote Rob to the HC. I mean after seeing what Rex did to turn the Jets around, Rob might be exactly what the Boys need since theyve been a joke since the 90s. The one big knock on Rob tho, is hes been acting like hes a HC (or more specifically acting like Rex currently) when hes not. When Rex was DC for the Ravens he wasnt out spouting off his mouth as much, he at least put in his due diligence first.
One of my professors is from Cleveland and he said when Bellifag was the coach there he met him and that Bellifag was one of the coldest human beings he has ever met. He also said that Rex's act was getting old. I would have told him what I really thought but then i would fail the class.
It's funny... as much as the uninformed say "Rex is a loudmouth", he's far from it. he's tactful and praises his opponent. doesn't curse in public. doesn't directly taunt anybody other than a good natured ribbing. he's clean cut etc Rob on the other hand is a total wild child. crazy hair, cursing on the sidelines, cursing at opposing players. cursing in the media. doesn't exhibit any tact
Rex will occasionally bust out a FUCKING BULLSHIT on the sidelines but other than that you're about right.
