With John Harbaugh now in place as the Ravens’ new head coach, attention has quickly shifted to the issues Harbaugh will face in taking over the team. The biggest decision the new coach and his front office have to make is who will be at his side as offensive and defensive coordinators.

The Ravens’ defensive coordinator for the last three seasons, Rex Ryan, is a fan favorite and it’s fair to say that most fans would love to have Ryan back in charge of the team’s strongest unit. The Ravens have also expressed interest in retaining Ryan, who is also a front-runner for the open head coaching position in Atlanta.

But from a broader perspective, one has to wonder if Ryan is really the best option as this team’s defensive coordinator in the year(s) to come.

Ryan has been a part of the Ravens since Brian Billick became head coach in 1999. He’s respected around the league for his work with the team’s defense, which in 2006 finished 1st overall in both points and yards allowed. That defense also led the league in forced turnovers.

Fans and players alike revere Ryan for his old-school, hit ‘em hard style and the results it has produced with this team. In the days before the Ravens made the decision to offer their coaching availability to John Harbaugh (and before that to Jason Garrett), local television and radio waves were flooded with support for Ryan. Former and current Ravens held nothing back in letting the world know that Ryan was there man.

So what could be the problem with bringing Ryan back as defensive coordinator one more time?

Exactly that: he might be too popular, among fans and players, to mesh well with what Harbaugh brings to the team. John Harbaugh is supposed to be a breath of fresh air for a team that most fans thought was flat and unproductive for most of 2007. And like it or not, Rex Ryan was a part of that system.

In addition, it is fair to say that not every decision Harbaugh makes will be popular; and there’s also no guarantee that Harbaugh will have immediate success. Keeping the fan- and player-favorite around won’t make those bad days any easier. It’s not difficult to imagine players and fans siding with Ryan, instead of Harbaugh, when it comes time for tough decisions to be made. Good ol’ Rex, who knows what Ray and Ed like. Good ol’ Rex, who they wanted to see as head coach anyway, remember?

And let’s not forget that Ryan is far from perfect himself. Often lost among the poor play of the offense this season was the inconsistent play of the defense as well – missed assignments, forgotten coverages, and an overall lack of discipline. The once dominant unit couldn’t buy a turnover in most games. Ryan was under fire several times for misusing some of the unit’s best weapons.

Don’t get me wrong: I’d rather play with Ryan on our side than against him. And if he truly is the best candidate out there, then by all means he’s the man I want on our sideline. But Rex comes brings his own baggage into the clubhouse, just like any other coach. John Harbaugh is the man in charge now, and we deserve to let him have full control over where this teams goes for at least one season.