The additional Antone’ Sewell watched Ravens coaches from an intimate vantage, the additional he was struck by the similarities between their work and the work he and his colleagues do principal Morgan State’s soccer program.
It was an educational experience, however as well as an affirming one.
“A few of it was getting new concepts and a few of it was confirming issues we already do,” acknowledged Sewell, Morgan’s assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. “Being spherical coach [John] Harbaugh, you anticipate points to be completely completely different in case you’re talking about being spherical expert avid gamers, nonetheless he treats his guys, every coaches and avid gamers, like he genuinely cares for them.
“I anticipated it to be strictly enterprise. Daily, he’s sharing nuggets and giving guys data that may make it easier to be a greater soccer participant but additionally simply be a greater man. That’s refreshing, as a result of it’s additionally one thing that [Morgan State head] coach [Damon] Wilson has at all times been about.”
Coaches from Morgan State and Bowie State spent a full day shadowing their Ravens counterparts all through offseason teaching actions. Sewell may be with the Ravens by subsequent week’s crucial minicamp as a recipient of the NFL’s Invoice Walsh Range Teaching Fellowship.
Ravens director of soccer evaluation Scott Cohen reached out with the invitation to the staffs from the historically Black universities.
“They got here early within the morning, and so they’ve been shadowing our coaches [in] all of the place conferences, rookie conferences, particular groups conferences,” Harbaugh acknowledged. “They’ve been concerned in all the pieces … so [it’s] a terrific alternative to get to know these guys, nice alternative simply to sort of give again from a soccer perspective. And I do know, coaches, we like speaking ball, so it’s good having these guys right here.”
The NFL’s authorities vice chairman for soccer operations, Troy Vincent, who has labored to assemble connections between the league and HBCUs, applauded the educating interaction on Twitter.
“It was a terrific alternative to get to see how these guys function on a day-to-day foundation,” acknowledged Bowie State offensive line coach Maurice Paulk, who shadowed his Ravens counterpart, Joe D’Alessandris. “Every little thing there may be primarily based off time. These guys received in on time and ready on time, and that’s one of many greatest issues on this career.”
He chatted with Ravens correct type out Morgan Moses, seen drills and blocking schemes he might incorporate for the Bulldogs, nonetheless Paulk received right here away most impressed with the overall custom of precision.
“That was my first alternative to see it that shut,” the 14-year educating veteran acknowledged. “You’re at all times studying on this career. With out a shadow of a doubt, if invited, I might return.”
HBCU soccer has been inside the data over the previous yr, with former Ravens greats Ed Reed and Deion Sanders among the many many excellent voices decrying a shortage of administrative and financial assist for purposes with rich histories of producing future execs. Reed was set to change into head coach at Bethune-Cookman earlier this yr, nonetheless he and school administrators couldn’t agree on final phrases for what had been an settlement in principle. Sanders constructed a worthwhile program at Jackson State sooner than leaving to change into head coach at Colorado in December.
Although Sewell and Paulk acknowledged they acknowledge the curiosity, every expressed frustration at commentators lumping all HBCU purposes within the an identical basket.
“Each coach runs their program in another way,” Sewell acknowledged. “I feel it’s a bit of unfair that when folks speak HBCU soccer and group us collectively, it’s at all times in a adverse gentle. … Every HBCU is exclusive, similar to each different college within the nation.”
“I don’t wish to be thought-about simply an HBCU soccer coach,” Paulk acknowledged. “It’s nice, as a result of I went to an HBCU. There’s plenty of expertise — you’ll be able to see the NFL is taking heed to it — and simply with the ability to give again is a superb deal. However I simply wish to be the most effective coach I may be.”
Sewell carried out free safety at Bowie State and has constructed his 20-year educating career at historically Black universities nonetheless “it was by no means a state of affairs the place I set out and mentioned, ‘I solely wish to coach at HBCUs.’ Like everybody else on the earth, I might love to check my potential and prowess towards a few of the finest of faculty soccer, the NFL, regardless of the case may be.”
He has spent most of his time with the Ravens observing and collaborating with defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald and inside linebackers coach Zachary Orr.
He’s struck by Orr’s unrelenting exuberance and openness to “actually simply chopping it up and evaluating notes.” He identifies with Macdonald’s democratic instinct to incorporate methods from all his defensive coaches.
“From a tangible standpoint, it’s been about getting some new concepts — some recent concepts to implement defensively in addition to taking notes on some issues I can share with coach Wilson and our employees when it comes to how we are able to probably function extra effectively on a day-to-day foundation,” Sewell acknowledged.
He added that Ravens coaches have urged him to reach out if he ever wishes to return once more or ask a ingredient question.
Will we see one thing specific from the Ravens inside the Bears’ playbook for subsequent season?
“Yeah,” Sewell acknowledged, laughing. “However I don’t know if our opponents learn the newspaper or not, so I can’t essentially say.”
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