Ravens Insider: Jim Fassel - The inside scoop and analysis on the team from The Baltimore Sun's Ravens columnist and Ravens beat writer.

Jim Fassel

It is kind of amusing that Jim Fassel is being made a scapegoat. Fassel wasn't a bad guy, and he basically ran the same offense that was given to him by Brian Billick. It was also the same offense that was given to Matt Cavanaugh. The two major things that Fassel was guilty of was not listening to the veteran players and not putting in the necessary hours. Billick is smart enough to listen to players like Jonathan Ogden, Steve McNair and Derrick Mason. He made the proper changes to the offense as suggested by the players, and then added some new stuff of his own. The changes gave the players a spark and confidence. After taking input from both Billick and quarterback coach Rick Neuheisel in 2005, Fassel thought it was best to do things his own way this season. He didn't get much time after losses to Denver and Carolina. If it wasn't for the players, this would be the same offense we've seen for years.

Posted by Mike Preston on November 29, 2006 10:46 AM | Permalink

Comments

Fassel is a scapegoat and rightly so.....

Fassell did not run the plays Billick is running. The Ravens are being physical on offense. That is the big difference in the Ravens through 5 games. I'm pretty sure Fassell had access to the same running plays Billick has but he never called them.

Difference with the Bengals offense as much as it is getting Chad Johnson the ball is the fact they are running 20 times a game no matter what the yardage. Rudi Johnson had 2 games in a row with only 12 carries all defeats for the Bengals.

Fassell was the problem, all Jamal and J.O wanted was a chance. Last game Jamal all of a sudden looked like the runner he was 2 years ago. It is no fluke that with Fassel in 6 games he ran 97 times for 352 yards. With Billick in 5 games he has run 110 times for 383 and of course tonights game against Cincy will pile more on top of those numbers.

Fassell was a nightmare. I was at the Detroit game last year and he had oppurtunities to run the ball in that game and he failed to make the right call. It is no coincidence that Jamal will reach over a thousand yards and Steve McNair's passer rating with Billick is 96.8. The offense today looks like what was anticipated before the year started.

Monique in Toronto.

Posted by: Monique | November 30, 2006 10:48 AM

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About the bloggers

Mike Preston has been with The Baltimore Sun since 1983. Prior to becoming a columnist in 2000, he covered the Ravens for four years. Preston will appear every Monday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Fox Sports Radio (1370-AM) to answer any questions about the Ravens. Preston is a native of Essex and a graduate of Towson State University, where he played football. E-mail Mike.

Jamison Hensley has been The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens beat reporter since the 2000 Super Bowl season. He is a regular contributor to WBAL radio and ESPN2’s First Take. Hensley is a Baltimore City native and a graduate of the University of Maryland.