By Andrew Kruszka, Contributing Writer
This prize should be awarded to the coach that has made the most difference in the league within the year. Although most of the time it does, this decision should not be based off of regular- season results This year, again, that was the case. It would be wrong to discount John Harbaugh and the Baltimore Ravens. After Harbaugh and his team started the season 2-2, the Ravens won 12 consecutive games to finish 14-2.
There’s no denying that the Ravens had a solid season, but their Super Bowl run, once again, was stopped in the first round of the playoffs. The Ravens’ offense was first in scoring and rush yards., second in total yards and 27th in passing yards, via NFL.com. Quarterback Lamar Jackson can be thanked for that. The Ravens’ defense was a staple of the team’s success. The Ravens were third in points allowed, fourth in total yards, fifth in rush yards allowed and sixth in passing yards allowed. With all this success, was Harbaugh really deserving of the coach of the year award? If you look at these numbers, yes. But there was a stronger candidate
That is San Francisco 49er’s head coach Kyle Shanahan. Shanahan took over an organization that had reached all-time lows under former coaches Jim Tomsula and Chip Kelly. After going 5-11 his first season and a 4-12 in his second season, Shanahan went into his third year looking to win. He finally had a quarterback in Jimmy Garoppolo. He also had a stingy defense. This season, Shanahan and the 49ers went 13-3, won the NFC West, secured the one seed in the NFC and steamrolled both Minnesota and Green Bay to make it to the Super Bowl. While the 49ers lost the Super Bowl to the Kansas City Chiefs, Shanahan deserves all of the credit in the world for what he’s been able to do in three years.
The 49ers’ offense was second in scoring, second in rushing yards and fourth in total yards. Their defense, however, is what got them to Miami. They were eighth in scoring, second in pass yards allowed and second in total yards allowed.
In the past two seasons, the 49ers had a combined record of 9-23. This season, the 49ers, counting the postseason, went 15-4. The NFL made another wrong decision.
kruszka18@bonaventure.edu
