Billick's news conference
Coach Brian Billick addressed the media today, one day after the Ravens' stunning 27-13 loss to the Cleveland Browns, and said the team looked relatively healthy.
Tight end Todd Heap's hamstring is the most serious concern, but Billick said the injury is isolated to the lower part of the hamstring. According to Billick, that's better than an injury to the upper part, which can hang around for a while. With injuries to Heap and Daniel Wilcox (toe), second-year player Quinn Sypniewski may see more action in Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers. Other notes:
• Billick acknowledged that the offense must improve on its 5-of-14 (35.7) success rate in the red zone. "We've done it all -- either shots to the end zone, throwing it to an underneath guy and hoping he can make a play and pounding it in," he said. "That last one is the one we've got to be better at."
• Billick conceded that asking quarterback Steve McNair to throw 53 passes was not likely to lead to a win yesterday. “You throw the ball 53 times, you’re probably going to lose," Billick said. "I don’t know what the odds are, but if you go back and research it, I’ll bet less than five percent of the time that a team that throws the ball that much actually wins. They usually throw it that much because they have to.”
• With just six sacks this season, the defense's pass rush has been almost non-existent, and the absence of defensive end Trevor Pryce (broken left wrist) is a factor, according to Billick. “"It minimalizes it to just say, ‘Well, besides Trevor.’ That’s pretty substantial," Billick said. "Getting Trevor back will be big for us.”
• Billick defended the speed (or lack thereof) by which he throws the red flag to challenge a play or call. "You get the images from upstairs when you get them," he said. "You get the information as quickly as you can, and I get the flag out as quickly as I can."
• Quote of the conference: "It's like competing against your brother. You always want to beat your brother." -- Billick on seeing familiar faces on the opposing team like Jamal Lewis and Derek Anderson of the Browns yesterday and Mike Nolan and Trent Dilfer of the 49ers this Sunday.
Comments
There are only three things that Brian Billick can do that would comfort me as a fan.
1. Start Kyle Boller. Billick might as well not even bothered asking McNair to throw at all, because he sailed multiple touchdown passes and almost giftwrapped some for the other team. Boller is Healthy. McNair is not. Boller has improved his decision making. McNair's has declined. Boller can run and make all of the necessary throws(His deep ball gets too much air sometimes though), McNair can't run without irreversible consequences, and cannot make the necessary throws. Boller knows the offense and gets the guys ready to the line. McNair looks confused and slow pre-snap and during the play.
2. Give the playcalling duties to the offensive coordinator. That is one of the reasons the offensive coordinator is there for. If Billick doesn't trust him that much, why bother having him. Billick mismanages his timeouts and has a poor feel for the flow of the game, as well as a poor feel for the time of the game. I don't mind trying to keep a certain aggression, but when you have the lead late in a game, McGahee should still be the larger portion of your offense. You can still take shots downfield and run more. That is the problem. They aren't even taking shots down field. It is just meaningless pass happy play calling.
3. Actually show in game, that you are dedicated to a true balanced team by giving McGahee the football. Sure Cleveland scored on their first drive. It is still the first quarter and it is still only 7 points. Billick gets pass happy right away. It may not have been so bad if he had a healthy quarterback, but that should not hide the fact that he has underused McGahee in all four of these games this season.
Posted by: Doug | October 1, 2007 7:53 PM
Did this game remind anyone of the game two years ago against the Lions? Granted there were about 20 penalties called on us that game, but same lack of enthusiam to play, being jumped all over early by a team we were "supposed" to beat, and overall just looking poor in every aspect of the game. Besides Willis McGahee, who was a nonfactor in the 2nd half due to the score, there is nothing to hang your hat on for this game.
Are the Ravens at the point where KYLE BOLLER is the answer? I hope not. I can't watch him stutter-step his way in the pocket for an entire season. It just seems like whoever quarterbacks this team isn't going to play particularly well...
Posted by: Phil | October 1, 2007 11:22 PM
Another Billick PR BS session with the standard canned responses..."We've got to do better"..."Getting Trevor back will be big for us.” ..."...I get the flag out as quickly as I can."
Come on you media types, you get to question him, WE don't!!! Have some guts, or did all the guts leave town with Sage Steele?
Ask him something with some meat on it and don't let him skirt past it, like...
The Ravens under you have ALWAYS had red zone problems. You've changed personnel, coordinators, play callers...the only constant is you and your 'offense'. Did you ever think that maybe THAT'S the problem?
Personally, I think that the stretch plays with McGahee will work down there,but he keeps running him between the tackles and when you throw on 1st down and get squat, you almost guarantee that you'll then have to pass on either 2nd or 3rd down...so let's run wide on 1st down and see what happens...and if we gain something, let's try running on 2nd down...
And, let's try to build some discipline...like pulling anybody quilty of a 'false start' in the red zone and making them sit for a while and going for it on 4th and goal rather than taking the 3...make the personnel accept the responsibility...in other words, make them ACT like men, instead of just talking about it.
Posted by: Ed D | October 2, 2007 12:46 AM
I can agree with something that was said by the last fan. Especially that McGahee has been under utilized. Running the ball goes well with the short passing game and of course when you are running the ball, he defense is getting rest. History has taught us the McNair will win more games for you than he will lose. He's our quarterback. He has won in the playoffs. Boller has become a good backup, we don't know if he can carry the team to the playoffs simply because he has never done it before. Any time you go to your backup there are certain risks involved, we don't know yet if Boller can handle the pressure of moving the team game after game. We don't know if he can handle the offense when we play against a top defense. Right now, its best to stay with a proven veteran who has shown over his career that he can get the job done when he's hurt. Keep in mind even with the two losses the Ravens offense is now ranked number 8. That young offensive line is better at run blocking than at pass blocking at this stage. We need to go to their strength more. The defense will come around, it always has and the offense will continue to get better and so will McNair.
Posted by: Crewe | October 2, 2007 11:50 AM
The thing that pains me more then anything else when watching the games is. How may times do we throw underneath on a 3rd down situation. It seems like most of the time we are hoping the receive breaks a tackle.
I just wish we would throw past the first down marker more often.
Posted by: Neil | October 2, 2007 3:36 PM
The Ravens need to fire Brian Billick.
Plain and simple.
Bisciotti is turning into another Peter Angelos. He does not know when enough is enough.
Posted by: STEVE | November 6, 2007 10:20 AM
I think Bisciotti should let Billick go and keep Rex Ryan. We are going to lose a great coach (Ryan) next year if we don't do anything. The timing is right for the HC change . . .
Posted by: Bob | November 12, 2007 4:11 PM