The Baltimore Ravens decided to let their veteran kicker, Matt Stover, go after 12 years and a game winning 44 yard field goal in the playoffs against the Tennessee Titans in the gusting winds of January.
This week, Stover’s replacement Steve Hauschka got his first real challenge with an opportunity to win the game with a 44 yard game winning field goal at the Metrodome against the Minnesota Vikings. Hauschka’s kick was wide left and the Ravens fell to 3-3.
While everyone in Baltimore is pointing the finger at Steve, I’m looking at the Ravens Staff. More specifically, John Harbaugh and Ozzie Newsome.
Brian Billick was continuously criticized during his tenure in Baltimore for a lack of offense because he was an “offensive guru”, but no one has said jack about the terrible special teams play under former special teams coach John Harbaugh.
Here I am.
The Baltimore Ravens organization gave up on the NFL’s third most accurate kicker because they wanted a guy who could make the long field goal and kick off at the same time. Only problem is that they haven’t found him. Hauschka hardly ever reaches the end zone while kicking off and his first kick under pressure was a game losing miss.
Ozzie and John are responsible for the Ravens 3-3 record a the bye week and they need to accept the responsibility.
