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Ravens Defense Won't Miss a Beat if Ryan Leaves

Feb 15, 2007 – 1:09 PM
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Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan finally got an NFL head-coaching interview. It seems odd that a guy in charge of the league's best defense couldn't even get a call while Chan Gailey and Mike Sherman racked up frequent flier miles talking to teams. Whatever, Ryan will visit the Chargers and if he happens to land the gig, Baltimore's dominant defense shouldn't miss a beat next season. Or so thinks the Baltimore Sun's Mike Preston:
...[T]here is no one who can replace Ryan's big old, Papa Bear personality...But the Ravens have two possible candidates already on staff in consultant Vic Fangio and linebackers coach Jeff FitzGerald. Also available is former secondary coach [Donnie] Henderson, who spent a year as the Detroit Lions' defensive coordinator before he was fired shortly after the season.
Preston also lobbies for San Diego to hire Ryan. He thinks Ryan can make the Chargers defense even better, and Ryan's low-key demeanor should mesh well with general manager A.J. Smith and team president Dean Spanos.

Fangio is the early favorite to replace Ryan, but unless the team hires Matt Millen, the personnel still make the Ravens a great defensive team.
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