The view from afar
Brian Billick emphasizes that since he is no longer the head coach of the Ravens, any observations he might have on the Ravens are from an outsider's point of view -- albeit from an outsider who has spent 20 years in the NFL.
But he was willing to comment on this year's version of the franchise he had a hand in shaping for nine seasons. Speaking at Della Rose's Tavern in Baltimore to announce a partnership with WNST (1570 AM), Billick pointed out that injuries (Kyle Boller's right shoulder) and illness (Troy Smith's tonsils) have played a more prominent role in determining rookie Joe Flacco's role as the starting quarterback against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
"Obviously, there’s not a lot of decisions to be made," Billick said. "I noticed that they signed one of my old quarterbacks, Todd Bouman. I tried to get Todd a few years ago, but I couldn’t talk Ozzie into it. Todd’s a good man and a good quarterback. [The setbacks to Boller and Smith have] kind of made the decision for them, which kind of makes it easier. I like what I see in Joe Flacco, but obviously there’s going to be a growth spurt."
With his work on FOX and his new project on WNST, Billick said he hasn't made it a point to study the Ravens’ preseason struggles.
"Quite frankly, I’ve been absorbing other things and probably on purpose," he said. "But I talk with [general manager] Ozzie [Newsome] once a week and [team spokesman] Kevin Byrne. We tend not to go there. We talk about a few things. So I’ve been aware of it on the peripheral, but it’s kind of standard operating procedure in the NFL. You deal with injuries, you deal with transition. Anytime you start a rookie quarterback, now you’ll remember we went 10-6 when we started our rookie quarterback. That doesn’t necessarily dictate that it’s going to be one way or the other, but it is a challenge."
But Billick said he won't be reluctant to offer his commentary on what's wrong and what's right with the Ravens.
"I'm not going to criticize anybody just to criticize," he said. "I'm certainly going to comment, I'm going to critique, and I'm going to give my opinion. Sometimes that will be well-received and sometimes that won't. It's an opinion. That's all it really is."
Comments
Boller started as a rookie in 2003, but was injured in St. Louis. As I recall, it was Anthony Wright that led the Ravens to the playoffs that year, not Boller.
Posted by: The "Armchair" QB | September 3, 2008 9:39 PM
it is what it is
Posted by: Ravenstaketitle | September 3, 2008 10:34 PM
Hey, I always liked Billick, even with his cockiness and verbosity. I just don't think he was a good game-time coach. I watched Jonathan Ogden come to the sideline a hundred (more) times, with disgusted body language and sometimes shouting mad, over the play calling. One of JO's signature postures when he was PO'd was to slide his helmet back half over his head and walk off staring at the sky. We all knew what he was thinking: the play Billick just called stunk like rotten cabbage.
Posted by: Jon | September 3, 2008 10:43 PM
Billick's not-so-subtle dig to the Ravens: when I started a rookie QB, we went 10-6.
Anthony Wright was QB most of the time, and he knows that the Ravens won ten games that season in spite of the QB. The year 2003 was Jamal's +2,000 rushing yrds year and the D was easily top 5, if not the best in the NFL. If the Ravens had a QB just below average that year (yes, Dilfer), they win the Super Bowl that year.
Posted by: J | September 3, 2008 11:35 PM
Go Blue Hens ... errr Ravens.
Posted by: Bob | September 3, 2008 11:40 PM
Billick and Boller. Who would have thought they'd both be gone from the Ravens so soon? I read an interesting post on CoastToCoastRavens.com today about how our fans gave both of them too much heat. I'd have to say it's an interesting vantage point, even though I'm not sure if I agree with it. Nonetheless, both Billick and Boller did their best for the Ravens. There's a lot of other players and coaches we cannot say the same thing about.
Posted by: Maurice | September 4, 2008 2:34 AM
Brian Billick put the Ravens on the map. I'm glad to see he appears to be staying local.
Posted by: The Truth | September 4, 2008 7:55 AM
IF I WERE TO GIVE BOLLER ANY TYPE OF MONIKER IT WOULD BE ATHLETIC VAMPIRE. HE ALWAYS MADE HIS TEAM, COACH AND FANS ALIKE FEEL GOOD AS HE CHARMED AND TEASED US WITH HIS SOMETIMES GOOD PLAY AND ATHLETIC POTENTIAL. HE WOULD TAKE US AS HIGH AND AS LOW AS WE COULD POSSIBLY GO THEN HE WOULD STICK IN HIS FANGS AND SUCK US DRY. HE DRAINED THE BLOOD FROM US ALL ON SUNDAYS. SO MANY CHANCES TO WIN WERE BLOWN BY HIS INABILITY TO PUT THE FINAL NAIL IN THE COFFIN AND SCORE PTS. IT WAS ALWAYS SAID THAT HE HAD HEART...I'M SURE HE DID, BUT IT PUMPED THE BLOOD HE SUCKED FROM US ALL! SEE YA BOLLER. TAKE YOUR FANGS ELSEWHERE.
Posted by: DARNELL | September 4, 2008 8:38 AM
THERE ARE WHO WE THOUGHT THEY WERE -- WE LET THEM OFF THE HOOK!
Posted by: Denny Green | September 4, 2008 9:03 AM
Armchair QB - Billick's point is they started a rookie in the opener that year and still made the playoffs. He did not say he led them to the playoffs. At this point, all we know is Flacco will start the opener. It is highly likely that Troy Smith will start when he comes back just like Wright did.
Posted by: frox | September 4, 2008 9:11 AM
With Boller at QB they had a winning record heading into that Rams game and probably would have won the game had he continued. Redman lost that game and if my memory serves me Wright never lead anything.
Posted by: Don in Fells Point | September 4, 2008 9:38 AM
Chris Redman SHOULD have been the Ravens starting QB for the 2003 season. When Brian "YOU ALL" Billick literally handed the job to Kyle Boller on a rusted silver platter, Redman's confidence "imploded." This season, it's a different scenario, so best of luck to Joe Flacco.
Posted by: Ski-Man | September 4, 2008 10:05 AM
Like I was reading on CoasttoCoastRavens.com , Boller and Billick drained this team of wins by undermining the offense.
Posted by: Ramon | September 4, 2008 10:10 AM
We were a much better team with Billick.
Brian - Thanks for the passion, success, and for brining us the first Super Bowl champion to Balimore in 30 years!
Posted by: Steve | September 4, 2008 10:23 AM
Wright never led anything? Did you forget the Seatle game that year?
Posted by: zzzzz | September 4, 2008 10:24 AM
Billick was a good for speeches but thats all. If Jonny U in his prime was available on the bench of the Ravens; Billick still would have tried to keep Boller on the field to stay true to his word and personal pride.
Posted by: Tom S | September 4, 2008 10:44 AM
raven fans are indebted to brian billick. he is a good man and we are lucky to have him associated with the franchise and city.
Posted by: pop fisher | September 4, 2008 10:58 AM
As a season ticket holder I expect some play from Flacco, after all how many mini-camps, prctices against a great defense, pre-season, meetings etc, sure not per se real games but we paid him this big miney to play not hold a clipboard and he should have at least a grasp of offense that can keep us close..I worry about offensive line and receivers who never seem to get loose...if they can well a chance and lets see our new offense
On Billick, please , how can Biscotti a month before he fires him give him what a 3 year 5 million dollar deal...I far we season ticket holders will be paying that tab in some way...OK Ravens 24 Bengals 20...Fred from Hagerstown
Posted by: Fred Nastri | September 4, 2008 1:15 PM
J is right on the money.
In 2003 we had all those things plus a beast of an offensive line with J.O., Zeus, Mulitalo in his prime, etc., plus a healthy Todd Heap.
This year is starting off MUCH differently. I'd love to see Billick get 10 wins with this crew!
Posted by: Aman | September 4, 2008 4:29 PM
I just believe the days of managing the game are over, and that's what we've pretty much done. With the rule changes and offenses as good as they are no team can win with just defense, a run game, and safe QB play.
Posted by: Carey | September 4, 2008 5:05 PM
Don in Fells Point: Your memory is foggy. Boller was a turnover machine in that game. The Ravens ended up losing in spite of the defense giving up a total of about 140 yards to the "greatest show on turf." Boller had a stupid fumble which scooped up by Adam Archuleta and returned for a TD. A harbinger of the years to come. Boller stunk in the beginning, middle, and end of his career.
Posted by: john | September 4, 2008 7:32 PM