Mike Preston: From what I hear, owner Steve Bisciotti is aware of the problems and ready to correct them as soon as the season ends. Does this mean Billick will be fired? I don’t know, but I think he is in trouble. This team stumbled down the stretch in 2004, and then bombed this season after Billick was given almost everything he demanded. There has to be some house cleaning and it might start with the coach.
I think Bisciotti is competitive and is passionate about being the owner. He’ll run the organization like he runs his business. If you can’t get it done, I don’t think he’ll keep you around long. He watched some things unfold that he didn’t like when he was the minority owner, and he won’t tolerate them any longer as the majority owner.
Chris, Annapolis: Does this game finally seal Kyle Boller’s fate? Or do you think Billick will be able to drag the team down with Boller again next year? Who is our best choice/chance for a new quarterback in the offseason?
Mike Preston: I think Kyle Boller’s fate was sealed when he fumbled that ball on the one-yard line against the Steelers. There is no way a quarterback attempts to pitch on he knees. It’s unforgivable. Shannon Sharpe was right. The coaches know that Boller is a bust, but Billick will keep pumping Boller up for the rest of the season. He has to because the fans and media are down on Boller. As I mentioned at the beginning of the year, their futures in Baltimore are virtually tied together. If one exits, the other may not be far behind.
Before the Ravens can start talking about picking up another quarterback, they need to determine Billick’s fate and the kind of scheme they will use in the future. There are several quarterbacks available through a trade, and maybe one or two in the draft. But with the present system in place, I’m not sure any quarterbacks will succeed in Baltimore. So far, none have in the Billick era.
Brian, Arbutus: Why must they tease us so? Boller looks like a semi-competent QB in the second half, after stumbling, bumbling and throwing to the wrong side for much of the game. That surge WAS facilitated by a disinterested Cincy defense, right?
Mike Preston: Of course, it was. The Ravens scored two touchdowns off Bengals turnovers, and Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis went light on old friend Billick after the big lead in the third quarter. Lewis rotated his starting linebackers to rest them, and pulled out starting running back Rudi Johnson. The Bengals have the big game against the Steelers this week. When the game got close midway in the fourth, Lewis re-inserted the starters and took the game away from the Ravens. The Bengals went to a prevent defense and allowed Boller to complete short passes.
By the end of the third, they were only rushing three and four players. When the game was on the line, Boller was terrible. Also, he didn’t make any great throws. Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer was outstanding, hitting seams, and getting the ball to his receivers before they came out of the break. Boller threw some decent passes, but nothing that makes you believe in him. It’s time to move in another direction, and get a real quarterback in here with a real offense.
Paul, Bethesda: Is Chris McAlister way overrated? We are giving up a lot of big pass plays. I think we could trade him a get another DB or weapon on defense. What do you think?
Mike Preston: I thought with the new contract behind him, McAlister would play well this season. He started off strong, but has faded, maybe because the Ravens have no chance of going to the playoffs, and because Ed Reed and Ray Lewis aren’t in the lineup. I’m with you Paul. Enough is enough. Trade him and try to get a second or third round pick. As far as the coverages in the secondary, there have been a lot of busted ones this season. From what I understand, the players just haven’t picked it up. One thing for certain, the Ravens still miss former secondary coach Donnie Henderson, now the defensive coordinator of the New York Jets. He’d put some fear into some of those guys. The expletives would be flying, but the results would be better.
Ken, Rockville: Two questions: Since Smith and Taylor were out, Jamal Lewis seemed to get quite a few carries–what excuse will he use now for his tenative performance? Second, do you think the Ravens’ staff watches the Weather Channel? They are playing as if they have never played in rain before.
Mike Preston: I thought Lewis ran hard and played well. When the Ravens were down like 31-0, he had one 14-yard run where he powered over several defenders. He looked like the old Jamal, a man either on a mission or auditioning for other teams. As for the Weather Channel, I’m sure the Ravens watch it. As soon as they say rain, the Ravens go inside to the indoor facility. If they say snow, the Ravens go inside. If the temperature gets above 85, they go inside. I think the injury bug bit the team hard last season and Billick became too cautious. If he returns, he might want to ratchet the tone and intensity level of practices, especially in training camp.
Richie, Baltimore: The Ravens continually come out on both sides of the ball every Sunday looking like no one has been to a practice all season (confusion on defense/most embarassing offense of all time). Is the problem lack of a hard training camp and discipline, or is it lack of quality coaching across the board?
Mike Preston: It’s a bunch of things. The media isn’t allowed to watch most of practices, but Billick is a very detailed individual. I don’t think he misses much in preparation. But the offensive system, for numerous reasons, is flawed. The Ravens don’t have a playmaker at quarterback, the key position on the team. They also haven’t made many big plays on defense. You can point your finger at a lot of things, but the Ravens are a mess. In the accountability line, Billick will get most of the blame followed by general manager Ozzie Newsome. But there are some players on this team that have undermined both Billick and Newsome this season. That’s another area of concern the owner will have to deal with after the season.
Chris, Glen Burnie: Why is it that the Ravens’ defensive backs always give opposing wide receivers so much cushion? I thought we were supposed to have a top secondary, are they afraid to get physical?
Mike Preston: They’re playing off partially because that’s part of the designed coverage, but at times they’re back off because the Ravens have gotten burned a lot. Neither Deion Sanders or Dale Carter can cover like they used to. McAlister seems to lose his head after giving up a long pass. Samari Rolle has covered well, but he won’t hit a soul when it comes to run support. Twice against the Bengals he almost hurt himself trying to get out of the way when Johnson took pitches left for touchdown. It’s a talented group, but they just haven’t picked up the scheme. The Ravens have to take a hard look a defensive back coach Johnny Lynn, who replaced Henderson.
John, Norfolk, Va.: I’ve been a Ravens fan and season ticket holder since the beginning. I have to admit, I disagreed with you for years and mostly hated reading your articles. But looking back, you really have been correct in your predictions and assesments all these years. You speak the truth and tell it like it is, and for that you’ve earned my respect as one of the few writers that don’t sugarcoat things. My question to you is this: Do you think Ray Lewis and Ed Reed are quietly remaining injured so they can save their energy and bodies for next season when they both demand trades?
Mike Preston: Thanks John. I appreciate the compliments. You can print the truth when you’re not on the Ravens payroll. I don’t know about Lewis or Reed demanding trades. But I feel safe in saying that if this team was competing for a playoff spot, both Reed and Lewis would have returned to the field. I don’t know the level or degree of their injuries, but if a championship was at stake, both players would crawl out on the field to play. There’s no rush to get back now. The Ravens aren’t going anywhere. But how long does it take a bruised thigh to heal?
Chris, Roanoke, Va.: What should we do with our top 5 draft pick this April? Do we continue to feed our defense and keep our team unbalanced at 70 percent defense, 30 percent offense or do we begin a balance that gives our defense and fans a unit that they can count on? Do you think we should go for an established quarterback and build the rest from the draft? I am more comfortable with the strong defense but if the salary cap allows, offense upgrades are a must. PS: It was easier on the eyes to score 24 points and lose with Vinny than lose like this.
Mike Preston: If you get a chance at a player like Reggie Bush, it’s hard to turn it down. I’ve always felt you build your teams with offensive and defensive linemen. If you’re dominant in those areas, you’re going to win most games. If the Ravens can’t get a player like Bush, and they’re still in a top spot, they should trade down and get as man quality linemen as possible.
Alexa, Lexington, Va.: Hey Mike, shoot me straight. Are we in trouble for several years to come? Particularly thinking about Cincy and Pittsburgh with two great young QBs and Cleveland with such great coaching and management, is there anything that can be done that would result in a quick fix?
Mike Preston: Alexa, this is the NFL. It’s a watered-down league. You can get well in a hurry if you make the right decisions. The Ravens do have a lot of holes to fill, and when you look at the AFC, there are some good quarterbacks out there. I would like to know Billick’s status as soon as possible. If they’re going to get a new coach, that might take some time. I’m sure the Ravens have a short list together. If Billick returns, I would demand he change the offensive system. And again, the Ravens have to solve locker room issues, and I’m not sure that can be done unless they get rid of some players or Billick. There are about a handful that are still causing problems, and some of them are big names.
Dan, Boston: Hey Mike. How are the young offensive linemen doing? Do Pashos, Rimpf, or Terry still figure into the team’s future plans? Do the Ravens look to draft a tackle prospect like Ferguson first?
Mike Preston: I’ve been pleasantly surprised by Rimpf. Since the Ravens can’t go anywhere as far as playoff aspirations, they should play the Adam Terrys or Jason Browns down the stretch. If they can play, then that reduces the need on the offensive line. If not, then it becomes a priority. Right now, I think Billick is trying to mix and match. He doesn’t want to totally give in yet because his players might quit on him. But what the heck, some of them already have.
