October 29, 2009|By Kevin Van Valkenburg | Kevin Van Valkenburg,kevin.vanvalkenburg@baltsun.com
Two years ago, Josh McDaniels got word that the Ravens were interested in interviewing him for their vacant coaching job. Brian Billick had just been fired, at least in part because his teams consistently struggled on offense, and McDaniels, even though he was just 31 years old, had wrapped up a record-setting regular season as the New England Patriots' offensive coordinator.
It seemed, at least on paper, like an intriguing partnership, although Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, at the time, still looked liked the Ravens' leading candidate.
McDaniels politely told the Ravens he was going to decline the opportunity to interview. Ultimately, the team hired John Harbaugh from the Philadelphia Eagles.
It seems, in retrospect, like one of those rare instances in which fate worked in favor of everyone. Harbaugh led the Ravens to the AFC championship game in his first season. McDaniels got the Denver Broncos job a year later and has led his team to a 6-0 record this season.
So why did McDaniels turn down the chance to be the Ravens' coach?
"First off, I really appreciated the opportunity, but there were two reasons why it wasn't the right time for me," McDaniels said Wednesday on a conference call. "One, the season we were involved in [during which the Patriots went 16-0 in the regular season] required a lot of our time. We were all putting a lot into it, trying to finish it the way we wanted to. And secondly, I just didn't feel like I was as ready as I wanted to be to handle that type of challenge. I didn't know at the time how much more time I was going to need to feel like I was capable of doing it, but certainly I didn't feel like that was the perfect time for me."
McDaniels said he spent the next year studying all the different directions a head coach can be pulled in, but his first few months with the Broncos were proof that no matter how much you prepare, it's virtually impossible to predict the potential pitfalls. McDaniels was heavily criticized during offseason for alienating, and then trading, his Pro Bowl quarterback, Jay Cutler, and then nearly doing the same with his Pro Bowl wide receiver, Brandon Marshall.
Yet somehow, the Broncos have become the surprise team in the NFL this year.
"The head coach does a million things, and I think when you're an assistant, you're so focused on your side of the ball or your position or your coordinating the offense or the defense, that many times you're not aware of some of the things that a head coach needs to deal with," McDaniels said. "You're not really [privileged] to that information many times. So, over the course of the last year or year and a half, I've been able to try to improve myself in many areas that were more relative to becoming a head coach than being a position coach or a coordinator. There are a lot of things that you need to be able to handle and do well."
Gaither: I'm ready
Ravens left tackle Jared Gaither said before the Minnesota Vikings game that he felt as if he were "100 percent healthy" and that he planned to play, but the team still declared him inactive.
This week Gaither expressed a similar sentiment, but the chances of his suiting up seem more realistic. Even during locker-room interviews, Gaither seems to possess more range of motion in his neck this week, and he practiced Wednesday in full pads and without any braces.
"I'm ready," said Gaither, who has been out since he injured his neck in the Ravens' loss to the Patriots. "It's pretty much 100 percent."
Gaither said he wasn't disappointed that he was held out of the Vikings game, even though he expressed virtual certainty he was going to be ready to play the days leading up to it.
"We just needed to make sure it was all the way ready," Gaither said. "I'm good. I expect to be back where I left off."
The Ravens had to shake things up on their line in Gaither's absence, moving Michael Oher to left tackle and Marshal Yand a to right tackle, but Gaither and Oher said they expect to be back in their old positions this week.
"He looks great," Oher said. "He's been working hard to get back and looks like the old Gaither to me."
Flacco's good to go, too
Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, who sat out a few practices last week with a sore ankle, said he's completely healthy and doesn't think the injury will be a lingering issue. Flacco limped through a few plays at the end of the Vikings game after defensive end Jared Allen appeared to roll on his ankle, but said he could have played last week had the Ravens not been on their bye week.
"My feet are great," Flacco said. "I feel good. I'm ready to go."
Derrick Mason, who spent several minutes of his time behind the microphone Wednesday teasing Flacco about his closely cropped haircut, said that all kidding aside, the toughness of his quarterback has impressed him.
"You can't teach toughness," Mason said. "If a guy isn't tough, he can't play in this league, especially at the quarterback position. Guys are diving at your legs or going after your head, unless you're Tom Brady or Peyton Manning, and then no one can get close to you. But you have guys flying around you trying to put you on the turf, and Joe has the ability to stand in the pocket, and he's done it game in and game out. He takes the big hit and still gets back up to go to the next play. That's something you can't teach."
Reed, Gooden sit
Two starters - safety Ed Reed (illness) and linebacker Tavares Gooden (head) - did not practice Wednesday.
Baltimore sun reporters Edward Lee and Jamison Hensley contributed to this article.
