Every Ravens fans letter to the front office should begin with something along the lines of…

“To Whom It May Concern:

Please sign a real offensive coordinator.”

Brian Billick may have been a offensive genius at Minnesota but these are different days. In Minnesota, he at least had explosive weapons. In the 1998 season, the one after Billick was hired, he had Randall Cunningham throwing to Cris Carter and Randy Moss with Robert Smith in the backfield. It seems that Billick thinks that he has those weapons in Baltimore.

With his knack to call throwing plays two out of every three plays, he has created a predictable and inept offense. What good is it to be able to move the ball downfield just to have to punt it or kick just a field goal?
I think it begins with his belief that Steve McNair is still the MVP Steve McNair. The story could obviously be less true. McNair has no deep arm strength which is allowing defenses to key in within a 15 yard box. By being able to stack the box for pass plays, shutting down run plays also becomes significantly easier. The fact that McNair can only throw 10-15 yard strikes accurately is something Billick chooses to ignore. Every time McNair has tried to go downfield, the pass has been inaccurate or led to an interception. If Billick were playing Kyle Boller, he could call more of those plays, as Boller has been impressive with his passes downfield in the limited action this season. This isn’t a call for Boller to start but if Billick is going to continue to call deep passes, Boller should at least be the one making those passes.

The next problem is Billick’s playcalling in short yard situations. Billick has called pass plays on those plays so often, it has become predictable that he will pass, just like how it is predictable that most teams will run. When you do it so many times, it becomes predictable. I’m not sure if he’s realized it yet but he’s fooling absolutely no one. Billick is the only offensive playcaller that would call so many pass plays when in the red zone.

Speaking of red zone playcalling, Billick has really blown those too. Again, he tries to go for the element of surprise but it’s become predictable what he will do. He tries to take a shot in the end zone on first down, attempts a run play, and then takes another deep shot on third down. Any smart defense will pick up on these tendencies and adjust their personnel accordingly. What makes it worse is that McNair does not have the ability to execute these plays. His passes are missing his receivers completely.

How come we’re not running more this year? Last year, we still used an inept Jamal Lewis to balance the offensive attack. Willis McGahee has proven that he is a playmaker. Did Billick see those runs he’s had against the Jets and the Browns? He’s proven that he’s got great vision and patience in the backfield but Billick refuses to use him early. How do you soften a defense for a pass when you never run the ball early? McGahee needs to get 25 carries a year. He won’t wear down like Jamal did last year when a healthy Musa Smith and Mike Anderson can also make plays if he’s tired in a game. Willis has shown he knows when he needs to be pulled and when he can stay in. It’s absolutely inexcusable that McGahee does not have one rushing touchdown all year. What happened to the run first offense? No team can win without using their running game.

Billick’s late game playcalling has also been horrendous late in games. What offensive coordinator in the NFL will call 6 pass plays when their team is in goal line situations? What coordinator would call a pass play when their team is trying to save a lead? First off, there is no need to attempt more than 1 pass play in an ENTIRE goal line situation. Let alone in 2 opportunities, calling a pass play 6 times with a quarterback that has a knack for throwing off his back foot. Second, why pass at all late when ahead? At worst, you take 1:20 off the clock with one possession. When there’s only 3 minutes left on the clock, taking off close to half is a lot of time for the opposing team to lose? Burning just over 30 seconds is bad strategy.

Sure, one can say that Billick has at least taken chances. But do you keep taking chances if they aren’t working at all? You can play the slots for awhile but when you’re down 10 grand, it’s time to change your game. None of his risks have paid off at all. Until one does, he should call maybe one or two risks a game. Plus, a little creativity is needed. Don’t confuse creativity and taking risks. Taking a risk for the Ravens is simply passing downfield. Creativity involves reverses, RB/WR passes, odd formations, hook and laterals to end the half, plays to that sort. After all, if Billick is a genius, why can’t he devise brilliant plays? 5 yard pass attempt after 5 yard pass attempt obviously hasn’t gotten the team anywhere.

As to my solution, I think it’s time to hire a real offensive coordinator. Or at least allow Rick Nueheisal to call plays. There’s no specific name I have on my wish list outside of Boise State’s Chris Petersen but right now, any offensive coordinator is a better option than keeping Billick as the playcaller.

-Andy C.

Are the Ravens in trouble?

is was a team expected to challenge for a superbowl and now sit at 2-2 on the year.

Are things going to get worse or get better?