REASONS FOR THE LOSS (AKA, the Blame Game)

[sailorsam]

whom to blame for the loss?
1) McNair. made no plays, didn't look sharp, some pics.
2) O Line. average running holes, some protection breakdowns.
3) Jamal. has lost a step.
4) Coach Billick as OC. uninspired game plan, never got a rhythm.

or was the Indy defense that good?

[crunk-colt]

whom to blame for the loss?
1) McNair. made no plays, didn't look sharp, some pics.
2) O Line. average running holes, some protection breakdowns.
3) Jamal. has lost a step.
4) Coach Billick as OC. uninspired game plan, never got a rhythm.

or was the Indy defense that good?


i think its a combonation of both. the colts D played well, but the ravens offense had some opportunities they didnt seize also.

[festivus]

whom to blame for the loss?
1) McNair. made no plays, didn't look sharp, some pics.
2) O Line. average running holes, some protection breakdowns.
3) Jamal. has lost a step.
4) Coach Billick as OC. uninspired game plan, never got a rhythm.

or was the Indy defense that good?

1. Agreed.
2. Maybe. McNair seemed to have some time.
3. Yes.
4. I don't think we banged it between the tackles as often as I would have liked. Still it's hard to blame the coach when we had 4 turnovers. If McNair throws a touchdown pass instead of a pick at the 1 and we play field position the rest of the game, or if Ray doesn't tip those balls and we get 2 more picks. . . Seems like a lot of little things having to do with bounced balls, bad calls, and execution on offense. I know a lot of people like to blame the coaches but I didn't see anything suggesting that's fair.

**sigh**

[UKRavenStockers]

On the O-line, the running holes were average, but they have been all year. The pass pro I thought was good tbh, as good as can be expected against as aggressive a pass rush as the Colts have. Our pass pro was pretty much 100% worse than that the last two times we've played them in my opinion.

[Bez513]

It was the totally the offense. The defense played their butts off...not giving up a TD to the Colts is a huge feat.

[PurpleRulz]

1. I agree that McNair had a terrible game.

2. The Colts D had a good game.

3. The OL was not the problem. The problem is that we need to address our RB via the draft. I think Jamal should come back, but in a Bettis or Corey Dillon type role, along with a young back that we draft.

4. We really miss BJ Sams and the field position he gave us this season.

5. My biggest pet-peve with this darn game is Brian "Marty-Ball" Billick. WTF happened at the end of the first half when we had one minute left, and all of our timeouts, to at least take a shot down the field. I think Steve Biscotti ought to hold off on giving Billick an extension, because this system is not working.

Sure we went 13-3, but next season brings a new unknown. The Steelers went from SB champs to 8-8. The Bengals went from AFC North Champs to 8-8. The Seahawks went from a SB trip to barely surviving in the playoffs this year.

You don't know what each season will bring, and especially with a aging ballclub such as ours.

We had a golden opportunity and this was a winnable game. Had we gone for it and failed at the end of the first half, I would have said, well at least we tried and it did not work. No, we went ultraconservative and did not even try. That crap may not work next season against a retooled Steelers, and young and still talented Bengals team, and an unknown in the Stains. We are a talented team, but only as good as the coaching allows, and only as good as what we do in clutch situations.

I am not saying that Billick should be fired, but he definitely still needs to work for his extension.

[festivus]

> I am not saying that Billick should be fired, but he
> definitely still needs to work for his extension.
I think it's kind of harsh after the turnaround this year and the success he had as OC to throw him under the bus for a game where the O had 4 turnovers and couldn't run or pass.

My 2c. I know the radio will be non-stop with people calling for Billick's head, but there were lots of little things in this game - bad calls, poor execution - that were *clearly* not the fault of BB the coach or BB the OC.

He did enough this year for the extension. He should get it soon so we have some stability.

[UKRavenStockers]

I think cutting Billick off would be a dreadful thing to do and Bisciotti is smart enough to know that, he stuck with Billick last year and was rewarded with a 13-3 season, no way we say thanks but no thanks after this season. Keep the continuity continue the building process and this team will stay near the top, emotions are bound to come out in the wake of this game it's inevitable, leveller heads will prevail though and when things calm down in a few weeks time we'll realise that in spite of the dissapointment we should still be in a good position to build with this team.

[sailorsam]

emotions are bound to come out in the wake of this game it's inevitable, leveller heads will prevail

the level heads can wait. right now I want to VENT!!!:grbac:

[UKRavenStockers]

the level heads can wait. right now I want to VENT!!!:grbac:

Precisement, and I wouldn't want anyone to not vent, we've just lost in the playoffs, our season is over, I'll be in the mood for venting at some point (just too numb right now), but I'm just glad we've got the level heads in the FO who can right this ship if it starts to rock in the wake of this pretty crushing defeat.

[Art-Florida]

Ahh, the bi-polarism of Raven fans. A eek ago BB was the savior. He can have off games too - though what a terrible time to have one.

Better idea: Get as many more high-caliber O lineman as we can find, and draft a good FAST back to replace Jamal.

I liked Addai before the draft and still do. sigh...

[Sephy]

Things the Ravens need:
1: Something offensively in the gameplan to change. Preferably an OC who is allowed to implement an entirely different offense.
2: A little bit more in the OL.
3: A versatile RB that hits holes hard.
4: True QB of the future
5: A CB to replace Rolle.

Most of these things really aren't that hard.

[BertJonesMyHero]

I think BB had a good year, but I don't know what the hell he did for 2 weeks. Like BS posted on another thread, 5 yard routes on 3rd and 7(That's old school Ravens) and continuous play action when we are not even running the ball well. Play action fooled no one.

To top it off, the protection was shaky-A nd when #9 did have a lane, he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn.

btw- The few successes he did have, was out of the pocket. Did we call more roll outs? No. The only time he moved out of the pocket was when he was chased.

Top that off with TO's(The one on the GL was a back breaker), BAD st's(Ross looks like a Moose), a defense that could not get off the field despite the valiant effort- and you have a butt kicking.

[StingerNLG]

I couldn't believe with 1 minute to go in the half BB decided to sit on the ball and just run out the clock. That was just unbelievable. Did he have that little confidence in his offense to get downfield and at least go into the half with a field goal?

[RockyMRaven]

I couldn't believe with 1 minute to go in the half BB decided to sit on the ball and just run out the clock. That was just unbelievable. Did he have that little confidence in his offense to get downfield and at least go into the half with a field goal?


Frankly, no. McNair was showing that he had no confidence in his own passing. The last thing we needed at that stage was for him to throw another interception and give the Colts not only the ball, but a huge boost to their confidence and momemtum. McNair was the Denver game McNair today. What a time to revert to that!

[Tspot-D-Ravenator]

It's Ripkens fault:eyes:

[sailorsam]

It's Ripkens fault:eyes:

I thought he was kidding, but look at the stats:
RAVENS PLAYOFF RECORD WITHOUT CAL RIPKEN: 5-2
RAVENS PLAYOFF RECORD WITH CAL RIPKEN: 0-1
The numbers don't lie!!!

[Tspot-D-Ravenator]

I thought he was kidding, but look at the stats:
RAVENS PLAYOFF RECORD WITHOUT CAL RIPKEN: 5-2
RAVENS PLAYOFF RECORD WITH CAL RIPKEN: 0-1
The numbers don't lie!!!

Thanks for getting my back sailorsam:thumbup:

[GREYREDSTAR]

I just talked to someone who attended the game and was trying to get some idea of what really happened because its so hard to tell on TV. My question related directly to what you're saying. I asked if our receivers were open downfield or they were covered.

He told me that the crowd was getting antsy because our guys were open downfield on a regular basis! So, it looks like what you're saying about McNair's confidence may be true. All I can say is tht on TV he looked confused.

[Fanman]

this loss is ALL on Billick. He had 2 weeks to prep for this game and still had no idea how to exploit the Cover 2 def. They played not to lose, like he wanted a 10-7 game.....give me a FRIGGIN break.

Man I wish he had been fired last year.

FM

[Tspot-D-Ravenator]

this loss is ALL on Billick. He had 2 weeks to prep for this game and still had no idea how to exploit the Cover 2 def. They played not to lose, like he wanted a 10-7 game.....give me a FRIGGIN break.

Man I wish he had been fired last year.

FM

You're a FREGGIN' NUT BAG!:insane: McNair"s decisions cost us the game!

[Fanman]

I understand your reasoning for blaming McNair, but I disagree.

1. We didn't run the ball enough
2. We didn't spread the defense
3. We didn't stretch the field
4. The play calling in the red zone was atrocious
5. How many times was Dem Williams on the field....like 2?
6. The whole game plan was crap
7. Killing the clock at the half was a complete embarrassment

FM

[festivus]

I understand your reasoning for blaming McNair, but I disagree.

1. We didn't run the ball enough
2. We didn't spread the defense
3. We didn't stretch the field
4. The play calling in the red zone was atrocious
5. How many times was Dem Williams on the field....like 2?
6. The whole game plan was crap
7. Killing the clock at the half was a complete embarrassment

FM

I am sick and tired of hearing this crap about killing the clock at the end of the half. It is real easy in the cheap seats to second guess that decision, but it made a lot of sense.

There was about one minute left and the Colts had 2 time outs. If we start throwing the ball, we keep the clock from moving and, unless we get a first down, punt it away with appx. 40 seconds (or whatever) left to a Colts team with 2 time outs and a dangerous passing game. Plus to open the 2d half the Colts would get the ball.

Was it conservative? Yes. Did the fans like it? No. But neither of those things means it was wrong, and I personally think it's just goofy to suggest anyone playing or coaching for the Ravens doesn't want to WIN.

Concerning the play calling in the red zone being atrocious - If McNair hit Demetrius Williams for a td, instead of missing Heap for a pick on the exact same play, would that still be atrocious play calling?

[PARavensJeff]

Concerning the play calling in the red zone being atrocious - If McNair hit Demetrius Williams for a td, instead of missing Heap for a pick on the exact same play, would that still be atrocious play calling?

No, that would not have been atrocious, but McNair was locked onto Heap as soon as he got the ball. He didn't even look at D Will. When the Ravens called TO before that play, the play I called for was the QB Draw. Spread them out & let Steve take it right up the middle. Call his own number, keep it on the ground, if it doesn't work, kick the FG.

[Fanman]

When your team us struggling to make a 1st down and you have 2 TOs left and you have the ball, you at least TRY to get pts on the board, if you fail, no big deal. But wasting an entire possession is a JOKE...only a little p--sy wouldn't try to get more pts. And Billick called the whole game like a scared little kid.

FM

[Gabrosin]

There's one other reason that I haven't seen yet, and it's the most painful one to hear: simple bad luck.

Sometimes, the ball's just not going to bounce your way. Heap fumbles and the Colts recover. We hit a deep strike with flags flying and the receiver (can't remember who) fumbles, so we have to take a five-yard penalty instead. We force a fumble and it rolls out of bounds. The Colts KR flubs two kicks, but the ball stays near him, so he has time to pick it up and get a few yards back, rather than having to fall on it. We tip away a couple of passes that would have otherwise been interceptions. Vinatieri's kick hits the crossbar and bounces over, so his last kick has a chance to seal the game by putting them up two possessions.

This is not intended as an excuse for shoddy offensive play, or to say that we deserved to win the game. But it was a factor. Our defense did a tremendous job and Manning looked awful again, and we held one of the top three offenses in the NFL without a touchdown. Our offense was lethargic and McNair played a miserable game.

Still, if we catch a couple more breaks and the luck had evened out, we might be talking about hosting the Pats right now.

[ExiledRaven]

the offense as a whole didn't play well the entire game. But with 4 changes we win that game.

1 ~ that pass makes it to heap we're up 10-6
2 ~ McNair completes the pass to williams and at worst that's another 3.
3 ~ Clayton holds onto the ball ~ more potential for another three.
4 ~ heap doesn't fumble, 1st down Ravens.

Then you're got Ravens winning 16-12.

But that's the whole problem with our offense, execution has to be about flawless to win. I am hoping Billick gets his hands out of the offensive pot and let's Slick Rick (if he's not the new OC I will be shocked) run his own game, I think we'll like the changes.

[ScottinFrederick]

It all comes down to playing to win or playing not to lose. You can get away with playing not to lose if you are winning the turnover battle. If you lose the turnover battle like we did the only way to win is to play to win. Don't abandon the run. Throw it down the field. Try a 15 yard pass on third and 5 instead of a 2 yard pass.

[festivus]

> It all comes down to playing to win or playing not to lose.
Something that gets repeated so often I might be tricked into thinking it means something.

If the guys 15 yards down the field are (a) covered or (b) overlooked, then there will be a throw underneath. If Steve McNair sees a receiver break loose 15 yards downfield, he will throw it to him, of course.

Even assuming the plan was for throws underneath, that's consistent with a strategy of attacking Indy's undersized linebackers. Good strategy? Bad strategy? I don't know. Lots of people who post here and call NST *do* seem to know; perhaps their experience watching television, playing Madden, and coaching peewee football makes them experts.

I can't help but think that without one or two bad calls and bad turnovers, we would have won.

Would everyone be calling/posting to complain about our terrible coach without those bad calls and bad turnovers, and a victory instead? Same coach, same coaching, different result. Nobody whines.

We had a great season, going 13-3, sweeping the Steelers and generally representing very well. We *did* have a poor game against Indianapolis in the playoffs. That does *not* mean, after a successful year, you burn down the house.

[Sports Steve]

The Colts had three (3) fumbles and recovered all three.

We had two and lost both


:jester: :jester:

[deuce]

There's one other reason that I haven't seen yet, and it's the most painful one to hear: simple bad luck.

Sometimes, the ball's just not going to bounce your way. Heap fumbles and the Colts recover. We hit a deep strike with flags flying and the receiver (can't remember who) fumbles, so we have to take a five-yard penalty instead. We force a fumble and it rolls out of bounds. The Colts KR flubs two kicks, but the ball stays near him, so he has time to pick it up and get a few yards back, rather than having to fall on it. We tip away a couple of passes that would have otherwise been interceptions. Vinatieri's kick hits the crossbar and bounces over, so his last kick has a chance to seal the game by putting them up two possessions.

This is not intended as an excuse for shoddy offensive play, or to say that we deserved to win the game. But it was a factor. Our defense did a tremendous job and Manning looked awful again, and we held one of the top three offenses in the NFL without a touchdown. Our offense was lethargic and McNair played a miserable game.

Still, if we catch a couple more breaks and the luck had evened out, we might be talking about hosting the Pats right now.

You nailed it. Hey, Indy won the game fair and square, but man, it sure did seem like every bounce went their way.

[purplepoe]

I am sick and tired of hearing this crap about killing the clock at the end of the half. It is real easy in the cheap seats to second guess that decision, but it made a lot of sense.

There was about one minute left and the Colts had 2 time outs. If we start throwing the ball, we keep the clock from moving and, unless we get a first down, punt it away with appx. 40 seconds (or whatever) left to a Colts team with 2 time outs and a dangerous passing game. Plus to open the 2d half the Colts would get the ball.

Was it conservative? Yes. Did the fans like it? No. But neither of those things means it was wrong, and I personally think it's just goofy to suggest anyone playing or coaching for the Ravens doesn't want to WIN.

Concerning the play calling in the red zone being atrocious - If McNair hit Demetrius Williams for a td, instead of missing Heap for a pick on the exact same play, would that still be atrocious play calling?


Agree 100%

PP

[skaybaltimore]

It's moot at this point, since it's already been announced that he'll be back next season, but the call for Billick to be fired, as far as I'm concerned, is NOT just the result of Saturday's debacle -- that was merely the culmination of YEARS of having to put up with his stubborn arrogance, his misdirected overloyalty, his slow reaction to real time game situations, his abominable clock management, his inability to prepare the team for BIG GAMES, and, as has been stated already several times, his "play to not lose vs play to win" mentality. Now that Marty has shown his ability to abandon "Martyball", the new kid in town is now clearly BILLICKBALL. And unless one has an overwhelming desire to continually get f*cked up the ass, Billick should have been let go at the end of the season, IMO.

But he wasn't, and I accept that, although I don't like it, and I will go on record as saying I don't like it now -- before next season even starts, so it won't be a matter of jumping on or off any bandwagons. I didn't join here until near the end of this season -- but I've been saying this about Billick now for years -- this isn't any kneejerk reaction to Saturday's loss to the Colts. I want a coach who is going to PLAY TO WIN, not PLAY NOT TO LOSE. If the mental giant Festivus is tired of hearing it, I could care less. I'm tired of hearing his and PP's apologetics for this woefully mismanaged team of ours.

GO RAVENS!!!

[Fanman]

I never said he should be fired for the debacle vs the Colts. I wish he had been fired after last year. If we had Bellichick, or Sean Payton as coach last week vs the Colts we win that game....no doubt in my mind.

Billick played not to lose, instead of being aggressive and playing to win. We have seen this over and over w/ him since he has been here.

FM

[highwater]

Nice meltdown, Preston, I mean skay. Sure, it's definitely all Billick's fault. He obviously instructed McNair to turn the ball over.

[festivus]

Skay, I don't claim to be a mental giant. I'm not so fancy as you and don't understand the difference between playing to win, and playing not to lose. Unless you mean playing to tie? I thought they don't have ties in the playoffs.

Anyway if you want to point to some specific things, and explain what the difference is between playing to win, and playing not to lose, then maybe I'll understand better.

Thanks in advance.

[Fanman]

Festivus..I'll give you a perfect example of what SKAY is trying to say. It was clear to me what Billick's mentality was at the end of the 1st half:

When your team had been struggling to make a 1st down the entire 1st half and you have 2 TOs left and you have the ball, and you are trailing 9-3, a FG or TD can turn the momentum in your favor heading into the locker room.

You at least TRY to get pts on the board, if you fail, no big deal. But wasting an entire possession is a JOKE. And Billick's logic was that Indy had TOs left as well and if we went down and scored Indy would get the ball back w/ another chance to score before halftime. Well, a real coach would have tried to score AND leave Indy little or no time left....THAT'S PLAYING TO WIN.

What more do you need than that?

FM

[skaybaltimore]

Nice meltdown, Preston, I mean skay. Sure, it's definitely all Billick's fault. He obviously instructed McNair to turn the ball over.Save your histrionic monolithic thinking/arguments for someone who cares. I never equated McNair's piss poor execution with Billick's piss poor play calling, although, now that you mention it, the fact that he was calling in PASSING plays in the 2nd half WHEN HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN EXPLOITING THE RUN D of Indy DOES, in fact, impact on the execution of the plays, because the plays being called in end up playing into the STRENGTHS, rather than the WEAKNESSES, of the opposing D. But that notwithstanding, McNair is entitled to have a bad day -- Billick's pattern of stupid game planning/play calling spans YEARS.

And that doesn't even get into Billick's piss poor preparation for this game (where was an attempt to get SOMEBODY back there instead Cory Ross to run back kickoffs or punts and maybe give us a shot in the arm as far as better field position goes -- like Clayton, McAlister, etc.

Or the insanity of running out the clock at the end of the first half -- something Billick has done REPEATEDLY -- rather than at least TRY to get some points on the board.

Or the total lack of even ONE SINGLE NEW WRINLKE on offense -- pass by Clayton, flea flicker, etc.

Or the season-long under-utilization of Mike Anderson.

Etc. Etc. Etc.

If you need to rationalize all the legitimate criticisms of Billick as a "meltdown", be my guest. His coaching problems -- MASKED by the quality of the players he has -- speak for themselves. Belichick, on the other hand, has demonstrated an uncanny ability to piece together sub-pro bowl caliber players and get them to win championships. Billick has YET to do that. He won in 2000/2001 because that D was so good, it took care of the defense AND the offense.

He tried to rely on that this year, and he fell short. And I'm tired of it. And so are a lot of other fans. You want to stay in his corner, that's up to you. And if you need to write off those who are clear-headed enough to see what's really going on and speak out against it as "meltdowners", that's also your choice But I guarantee that as long as Billick is here as HC, the team is going to continue to be limited by his eccentric fears that get projected onto the whole offense, and ultimately the whole team.

GO RAVENS!!!

[skaybaltimore]

Skay, I don't claim to be a mental giant. I'm not so fancy as you and don't understand the difference between playing to win, and playing not to lose. Posters have been citing examples of Billick's "playing not to lose" vs "playing to win" repeatedly here in these posts. If you can't figure it out by yourself, then you can't figure it out.

GO RAVENS!!!

[festivus]

Posters have been citing examples of Billick's "playing not to lose" vs "playing to win" repeatedly here in these posts. If you can't figure it out by yourself, then you can't figure it out.

Lots of people say it. You just repeat it.

Just because a parrot repeats something doesn't mean he understand what it means, if it means anything at all.

[Art-Florida]

"Skay, I don't claim to be a mental giant. I'm not so fancy as you and don't understand the difference between playing to win, and playing not to lose."

Try this: You're Indiana Jones. You can pick up all the ancient loose gold coins on the floor of the temple and go home with a nice find...or you can pull the lever that might give you access to the motherlode treasure of the Incas ten feet away - but that also may be booby-trapped to kill you instantly.

[Fanman]

Well said SKAY...I agree w/ all of your pts. There are 2 factions of fans on the Billick topic...always has been.

Keep in mind the playcalling when we got into the redzone. It was run, run, pass. Billick couldn't better than that? It was WAY too predictable. Calling the same pass play on 1st or 2nd down is just smarter and increases the chance for success.

FM

[festivus]

Art, Fan, Skay, if on the goal line pick, Steve McNair had instead hit Demetrius Williams in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown, would you guys all still be blaming the coach for a bad play called?

[skaybaltimore]

Festivus..I'll give you a perfect example of what SKAY is trying to say. It was clear to me what Billick's mentality was at the end of the 1st half:

When your team had been struggling to make a 1st down the entire 1st half and you have 2 TOs left and you have the ball, and you are trailing 9-3, a FG or TD can turn the momentum in your favor heading into the locker room.

You at least TRY to get pts on the board, if you fail, no big deal. But wasting an entire possession is a JOKE. And Billick's logic was that Indy had TOs left as well and if we went down and scored Indy would get the ball back w/ another chance to score before halftime. Well, a real coach would have tried to score AND leave Indy little or no time left....THAT'S PLAYING TO WIN.

What more do you need than that?

FMThanks, Fanman. I just didn't have the patience to explain it to Festivus. And that example is cut from the same cloth as that ridiculous Keystone Cops adventure when Billick decided against Cinci that it was "too risky" to just go ahead and kick the field goal that would have put us up by two scores -- something that would have made it statistically IMPOSSIBLE for us to lose, given the time left, assuming we made the field goal. Billick threw up a bunch of red herrings as to why he was playing the "odds", DESPITE THE REALITY THAT THE ODDS WERE SLIM TO NONE OF US HAVING THE FIELD GOAL BLOCKED AND RUN BACK FOR A TOUCHDOWN -- something that has NEVER HAPPENED while Billick has been the coach.

By contrast, giving the ball back to Cinci with Palmer, Johnson, WhosYourMama, and Henry to try for a hail mary that COULD have tied the game WAS an actual possibility. So with Billick, not only do you get his with his warped, "play not to lose" mentality, you ALSO get hit with all of his rationalizations to try to explain his stupid philosophy. And I've had it with that chit. People who play not to lose actually END UP LOSING MORE than people who play to win, especially in post season, where the wheat has already been separated from the chaff. It's a FALSE security, and that's what people here are trying to expose.

And those are just 2 examples; he incorporates his "play not to lose" in virtually every game. I THOUGHT that after firing Fassell, that would change. But what this season showed is that it really hasn't; it won't; it's too much a part of Billick's basic makeup. And Billick's insistence -- along with all the usual rationalizations -- to keep calling plays after "promoting" Rick to OC is another example of his eccentric, control freak mentality, which is intimately linked to his "play not to lose" mentality. (i.e. not to lose control is connected to his "play not to lose" game planning, IMO)

GO RAVENS!!!

[skaybaltimore]

Art, Fan, Skay, if on the goal line pick, Steve McNair had instead hit Demetrius Williams in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown, would you guys all still be blaming the coach for a bad play called?
Again, you're pulling your same old Bait And Switch crap. NO ONE is saying that, but you keep on trying to ram YOUR argument home, without beginning to LISTEN to what anyone else is saying to you. That's why I chose NOT to give you examples of things already given, because with you, it's not a matter of people saying things to you that are beyond your comprehension, it's a matter of you choosing not to listen to what people have already said.

GO RAVENS!!!

[Art-Florida]

Art, Fan, Skay, if on the goal line pick, Steve McNair had instead hit Demetrius Williams in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown, would you guys all still be blaming the coach for a bad play called?

Personally, I'm not blaming anybody, except maybe McNair for aging. I was only trying to give an illustration of the difference between the two kinds of mindsets anyone can have.

[festivus]

Thanks Art, now your Indiana Jones metaphor makes sense.

> People who play not to lose actually END UP LOSING MORE than
> people who play to win,
Sure Skay. Now I understand completely. We went 13-4 including the Indianapolis game, and you reach back to a game we lost against Cincinnati on short rest to give me your counter example. So you keenly remember to throw in these extra words:
> especially in post season
Perhaps because you think that I will point out we went 13-3 in the regular season, which isn't exactly a pattern of losing.

In the San Diego game SD could have put the ball away with a key first down very late in the fourth quarter. They had the ball 2d and 5, I believe, with Ladanian Tomlinson in the backfield. The more cautious play would have been to run the ball, but Marty Schottenheimer went to the air instead two times, two incompletions. New England gets the ball back, and the rest is history. Should Schottenheimer have called running plays? I bet the SD fans say so, with the benefit of hindsight. But I'd bet you would say, he did the right thing, because you have to be aggressive.

Would you still be screeching today if we'd won on Saturday? Because I really don't remember you demanding Billick's head on a pole last week.

[skaybaltimore]

Well Tex...this is one of those occasions where I agree with you 100%. Thanks for your post.

GO RAVENS!!!

[highwater]

Steve McNair has made a huge difference in the Ravens going 13-3. Make no mistake about it. He finds a way to get it done in the clutch.

Tex, shouldn't you edit your sig after this game? Because he DIDN"T find "a way to get in done in the clutch."

And you guys can bitch about Billick all you like, but the truth is that the players didn't execute, plain and simple.

[Fanman]

The play calling is ALL on Billick...regardless of how the players executed it. Did McNair play poorly...yes, but the game was STILL there to be won and Billick couldn't find a way to overcome and adjust and find a way to win.

In case you people have forgotten we haven't won a playoff game since 2001and the offensive problems can be traced back to Billick. Sure he did a nice job of getting things turned around after Fassel was fired...but Billick hired Fassel in the first place. We had a terrible QB situation b/c Billick wanted Boller. I don't see why Billick's past mistakes all magically disappear b/c of what happened this year.

FM

[Mwjergs]

1) Turnovers! Turnovers! Turnovers!
A part of the regular season success was winning the turnover battle and taking advantage off of those turnovers and converting them into points.
2) Game plan
The panic button was hit too early in giving up on the run. Lewis had 13 attempts for 53 yards and average of 4.1. Mike Anderson for 4 for 18 yards at a 4.5 clip. Every team that had success this season against the Colts defense wore the smaller Colts out by pounding on them. This was a cause for concern from me going into the game as the Ravens have become more pass first than run first. It has proven successful but, for this game they had to let their huge lineman stuff the slight front seven. The offensive sets didn't have the same air of unpredictability that they had in spots during the season. Playing too conservatively. The trying not to lose arguement that many have brought up.
3) No breaks. Two tipped passes for sure interceptions. A Colt fumble that falls out of bounds. A Clayton "fumble" that negates a huge reception. It didn't help on a day where not much else was going right.

As for Billick being too conservative here are parts of a article on just such a topic in the NFL.

The conservative party

Dr. Z, SI.com

They knew it was the defining moment of their season, maybe, for the older members of the Arizona Cardinals, for their careers. And man, were they ever on their game. At least for three quarters. How could I tell? The concentration. I didn't see a Matt Leinart pass dropped. I saw tackling that was sure.

Say on third-and-5, Chicago competes a little swing pass for a few yards, and you know the momentum will get the guy the first down. Not against Arizona on Monday night. The runner was stopped in his tracks, forcing a punt, time and again. Eric Green, the right corner, was in a tackling frenzy. I mean, these guys really wanted it.

The coach wouldn't let them have it. It isn't certain which coach. Dennis Green wouldn't take responsibility for the gutless play-calling that cost Arizona the game. I mean, what did you expect? By implication he indicated that the fault lay with offensive coordinator Keith Rowen, because he fired him the next day. A convenient bail out for sure. And who says the head coach can't get on the phone to the booth and tell his assistant what he wants run. Timeouts had been taken during the crucial period -- by the Bears, no less.

We all know that Chicago never should have been ahead. But that's been rehashed enough. The point is that after the punt return that gave the Bears the lead, Leinart and the offense didn't just fold up. The kid drove his team into field-goal range, and that was against a defense that didn't hold back. Chicago was throwing a lot of blitz pressure on Leinart, and sometimes it forced bad passes. One blind side hit in the third quarter had knocked the ball loose for a score.

But he was still hitting his hot reads often enough to set the Bears on their heels, and at the end he brought his team from its own 38 to the Bears' 24, second-and-3. And then the Cardinal coach (Green ... Rowen ... who knows?) took the game away from his team.

Anyone who had watched the contest had to know that no amount of running plays was going to get the Cardinals a first down, not when you've got one of the worst offensive lines in football trying to block the best. Slobs trying to block athletes, lots of athletes, all crowding the box.

Edgerrin James was on his way to setting an all-time record for fewest yards gained (55) on most carries (36), an unbelievable chronicle of frustration and failure. Out of 19 third-down situations up to that point, the Cards had tried to run on only one of them, falling five yards short. That was the track record of their running game. That's how much confidence they had in it, until, of course, they decided to play to lose.

I don't know what percentage of coaches in the NFL would have played it conservative in that spot and called two straight running plays, as Arizona did, or how many would have tried something a bit different, such as the kind of short pass to Anquan Boldin that had been driving Chicago crazy all night. Get your first down, pick up a few more yards somewhere and you give your kicker a chip shot and take a lot of the pressure off. I'd imagine that most coaches would have gone conservative and played these kind of percentages.

"Dare to be bold. Yeah, it sounds nice, but so few of them do it. They're basically conservative people. Sam Wyche dared to be different. Remember what they called him? Wicky Wacky. I might lose, say the coaches who take his lesson to heart, but by God, no one's gonna make fun of me.

What Green, Rowen or the combination found was the easiest way to lose. Run twice, get stopped, miss the 40-yard field goal, which isn't exactly a chip shot, go home with your loss, knowing that at least you didn't do anything unusual. Besides, it's the players who get the loss, right? Bunch of chokes, right?

Coaches are always taking victories away from their players. What did Marty Schottenheimer do but close up shop and try to sit on a tiny lead for half a game. San Diego vs. Baltimore earlier this season, remember? He isn't a bad guy, and on an organization level, he's a hell of a good coach. But it's just that old-boy mentality.

You'd have thought that he learned his lesson two years ago, when he shut it down against the Jets at the end of the wild-card playoff and set it up for a 40-yard field goal to win the game. Not exactly a gimme, but Marty decided to pay the hand he had and not draw any more cards. Nate Kaeding missed the kick and San Diego went home

And you'd have thought that Jets coach Herm Edwards would have profited from watching Marty go down, following that slavish adherence to those kind of percentages, but next week he did the same thing in the divisionals in Pittsburgh. Only he told his QB to actually take a knee and lose some yards in order to set up a 47-yard field goal. And this was in Heinz Field, where no one ever had kicked one longer than 46. This one didn't break the streak, either, and the Jets said sayonara.

Why do coaches keep doing it? Why do they refuse to take the smallest bold step, with such a reward at the end of it? Beats me. You see it on the other side of the ball, too.

Have you ever rooted for a team that's on defense, and you practically beg: Hold 'em, please just hold them this time. And they're rushing four, only four, play after play, and no one's getting through. They're just getting tired. And there's this thrashing storm, going nowhere, in front of the passer as he takes his drop, sets his feet, looks straight downfield, and you know, you just know, that it's gonna be a quick post or a comeback or a crossing pattern good for 18 yards, minimum.

Atlanta vs. the Giants last Sunday. The Falcon defensive line is wearing down. People are getting hurt. They're out of ammo, but they keep storming the walls. They are being coached to lose. And they oblige. You don't pressure the passer, you don't win the game.

Floyd Peters, the great 49ers defensive coach who masterminded the famous Gold Rush, with Cedrick Hardman and Tommy Hart, used to say that he'd go to bed at night and wake up in the morning creating rush schemes. He'd dream of them and reach for his notebook and start diagramming them.

Sometimes he'd bring only four, but they were always twisting and looping and running stunts. It was never a static rush. If four didn't get there in time, he'd bring one blitzer, two, whatever it took.

"Sometimes I can use a rush scheme only once," he'd say, "and then back on the shelf it goes, and I start working things off it. Then when they catch up with that, it's shelved and I work on new ones."

Dare to be different. Dare to create. Don't lose the game for your team."

To summarize that long section. It's always easy to look in hindsight at decisons. I just did that earlier didn't I? But, to fire Billick or blame it all on him shows little real understanding of sports. Players make plays and coaches take the blame when they don't make those plays. All coaches can do is put the players in the best spot to win and then they do the rest. Much of the condemnation of Billick are points that he is arrogant and a control freak. Ultimately it's his job on the line. The shelf life of a head coach isn't a long one. With 8 seasons, Billick is tied for 4th with the Eagles' Andy Reid for NFL head coaching seniority with the same team...Bill Cowher , formerly of the Steelers was 1st with 15 seasons, the Titans' Jeff Fisher is 2nd with 13, followed by the Broncos' Mike Shanahan with 12. In six seasons, the Ravens under Billick have had a record (regular and post-season) of 61-42 (.593). Two divisional titles (2003/2006). Four trips to the playoffs.

[festivus]

Any football fan I know understands exactly what that means, which is ultra conservative,
Ok, it means conservative. Fine.

Now let's look at the game plan Billick apparently went into this past weekend with. "Conservative," you say. Now, if you'd told me before the game that Billick was going to have a "conservative" game plan, I would have said, that means we will run the ball 50% or more of the time. If we had this discussion *before* the game, would you have agreed with me? I bet you would have.

But now, here we are, after the game. We had a great many more passing plays then running plays, but we lost.

Therefore we can assume the play calling was conservative.

It's funny, Skay, when I asked you for an example of conservative play calling, you went away from the Colts game to get a game from the regular season. We played 16 times in the regular season, sixteen 60 minute games. Isn't it interesting you happened to pick out one of only 3 losses?

For you and Tex and the others all across Baltimore who make this same argument, we lose because of the conservative play calling. We never *won* because of it, but on the rare occasions when we lost this year, that's why.

I'm not going to persuade you, or Tex. That's fine. The readers can decide for themselves.

[copenhaggard]

To tell you the truth, I don't know what to classify Billick's gameplan as, because as other posters have stated, we didn't run the ball very often (espeically the 2nd half), which is a trademark of a conservative gameplan. I tend to think if we were ACTUALLY conservative on offense, we might have had a better chance. That's the part I didn't understand. It's like we had absolutely no identity on offense on Saturday, we didn't know if we were a west-coast pass happy team, or a conservative ball control team.

That above + bad player execution = failure on offense.

If we ran the ball more, I think we might have had a better chance, but at the same time, if our offensive skill players had executed better, we'd also have done fairly well.

[skaybaltimore]

It seemed to me that in the second half Billick didn't want to fall into the "trap" of what happened to KC the previous week. Except in the first half, we were relatively successful running the ball, AND passing to Jamal out of the backfield. He had some NICE runs after the catch -- better than I'd seen him make in a long time. During one of those runs after the catch, he juked the defender right out of his jockstrap. And we weren't down by that much, so it wasn't as if it were panick time. But he seemed to get away from what had worked during the first half, and then...it was time to pack it in and gear up for next year.

So I think the answer is, there WAS no "type" of game plan -- and that, maybe more than anything else, explains a lot of why we got the results we did. And why so many fans are scratching their heads, wondering WTF did Billick DO for those two weeks as far as DEVELOPING a game plan. It was obvious what Indy did. And even when it didn't work (I think even Dierdorf said that the real fast "hurry up" wasn't working for Indy and they needed to knock it off), at least they TRIED something. We tried NOTHING. And THAT'S what's so hard to take about Billick and his coaching "style".

GO RAVENS!!!

[skaybaltimore]

I think you're right, Tex, as far as a coach needing to have alternatives, since it's impossible to know if your "A" plan is going to work. But the reality is, we weren't down by THAT MUCH at halftime, so it's not clear to me that the "game plan" in the first half wasn't working. The EXECUTION wasn't working, and we were shelling out more turnovers -- and getting fewer takeaways -- than normal, but it was NOT time to push the panick button and abandon what WAS working in the first half. How can anyone say that the yardage JL got in the first half wasn't on course for a 100+ yard game?

I don't know, man. The game sucked; the bounces sucked; the coaching, IMO, sucked (except for Rex); and McNair sucked. I am NOT going to say that either Heap or Clayton sucked; that is absurd, IMO. And what really sucks is having to wait and see what "great genius plans" Billick has in store for next year. Even when he took over and was winning, it STILL was vanilla, although after a steady diet of Fassell/Billick, Billick/Billick was an improvement. But then it stopped. And it was painfully lacking against Indy. And some people are not satisfied with Billick's "status quo", approach, and some are. I clearly am not.

Oh, btw...I don't know if you were at the game, but in the warmups, they had McNair and Boller throwing diagonally across from each other. And at one point, after McNair threw the ball to the guy standing next to Boller, that guy flipped the ball to Boller and he bobbled it; then he went to pick it up from the ground and he bobbled it again; and all I could do was laugh and think about you.

:laugh:

GO RAVENS!!!

[terpsnoone]

1st half - 14 running plays/12 passing plays

2nd half - 6 running plays/19 passing plays

We threw on 7 consecutive offensive plays to open the 2nd half.

This makes no sense to me - against a defense that is statistically poor against the Run & statistically good against the pass.

We were out coached in this one plain & simple - embarrassing - especially with 2 weeks to prepare.

There is no excuse Billick - And you didn't even take any personal responsibility in your press conference.

I guess you are ready to "move forward"

[skaybaltimore]

Props to the NEWBIE!

RACK IT!

GO RAVENS!!!

[festivus]

> We were out coached in this one
This much I agree with.

I just think it's absurd after the season and seasons we've had with Billick to call him out as a bad coach, and complain about an offensive scheme that got us the 2d best record in the AFC this year. 2 Division championships, 1 SB championship, other wild card berths, most teams' fans would *love* to have a head coach with those accomplishments.

edited to add:
Also obviously offensive execution was *so* poor, with bad passes and 4 turnovers, it makes it considerably more difficult to assess the quality of the game plan. If we are going to turn the ball over 4 times, the game plan doesn't make one bit of difference.

[purplepoe]

It's moot at this point, since it's already been announced that he'll be back next season, but the call for Billick to be fired, as far as I'm concerned, is NOT just the result of Saturday's debacle -- that was merely the culmination of YEARS of having to put up with his stubborn arrogance, his misdirected overloyalty, his slow reaction to real time game situations, his abominable clock management, his inability to prepare the team for BIG GAMES, and, as has been stated already several times, his "play to not lose vs play to win" mentality. Now that Marty has shown his ability to abandon "Martyball", the new kid in town is now clearly BILLICKBALL. And unless one has an overwhelming desire to continually get f*cked up the ass, Billick should have been let go at the end of the season, IMO.

But he wasn't, and I accept that, although I don't like it, and I will go on record as saying I don't like it now -- before next season even starts, so it won't be a matter of jumping on or off any bandwagons. I didn't join here until near the end of this season -- but I've been saying this about Billick now for years -- this isn't any kneejerk reaction to Saturday's loss to the Colts. I want a coach who is going to PLAY TO WIN, not PLAY NOT TO LOSE. If the mental giant Festivus is tired of hearing it, I could care less. I'm tired of hearing his and PP's apologetics for this woefully mismanaged team of ours.

GO RAVENS!!!

Look at Skay.

Bringing up my name because I don't agree with his OPINION.

Awww, poor little Skay doesn't like when people don't agree with him, ON A MESSAGEBOARD.

If you could care less, then why do you continually post all over the place why you think Billick should be gone when he's not going anywhere.

We all get it. You want him gone.

Maybe you can talk about something else. Or at least not personally insult other board members like you whine about others doing.

PP

[skaybaltimore]

Look at Skay.

Bringing up my name because I don't agree with his OPINION.

Awww, poor little Skay doesn't like when people don't agree with him, ON A MESSAGEBOARD.

If you could care less, then why do you continually post all over the place why you think Billick should be gone when he's not going anywhere.

We all get it. You want him gone.

Maybe you can talk about something else. Or at least not personally insult other board members like you whine about others doing.

PPAnd your point is...?

GO RAVENS!!!

[highwater]

And your point is...?

I think his point is that you can make a point without insulting board members who have a different opinion than your own -- how complicated is that?

[skaybaltimore]

I think his point is that you can make a point without insulting board members who have a different opinion than your own -- how complicated is that?Sounds pretty simple to me.

GO RAVENS!!!

[xKingLewis52x]

whom to blame for the loss?
1) McNair. made no plays, didn't look sharp, some pics.
2) O Line. average running holes, some protection breakdowns.
3) Jamal. has lost a step.
4) Coach Billick as OC. uninspired game plan, never got a rhythm.

or was the Indy defense that good?

plain and simple, we lost because we had no offense. the defense played solid enough. who would of thought that the mighty offense of the colts, and manning would not score a TD, and make 5 field goals :thumbdown:

[terpsnoone]

No - we lost because the OC called the wrong plays. Amore balanced attack in the 2nd half wins that game.

Totally gave up on the run in the 2nd half when we were only down by 6 - inexcusable.

[skaybaltimore]

No - we lost because the OC called the wrong plays. Amore balanced attack in the 2nd half wins that game.

Totally gave up on the run in the 2nd half when we were only down by 6 - inexcusable.Well then...that won't happen again next year because we now have a new OC, so we WON'T GET FOOLED AGAIN!

(OH....wait a second...the new OC won't actually have the authority to call the offensive plays. "MEET THE NEW BOSS...SAME AS THE OLD BOSS".)

GO RAVENS!!!

[Fletchterps]

I can't believe some people here are calling out Jamal for his play in the game. When you average four yards a carry, you're getting it done in the NFL. But when you only get 13 carries, that's just wrong.

[skaybaltimore]

I can't believe some people here are calling out Jamal for his play in the game. When you average four yards a carry, you're getting it done in the NFL. But when you only get 13 carries, that's just wrong.Fortunately, very few people are laying the blame on JL. He had probably one of his best games of the year -- at least in the first half. Then, he got very few touches after that. And I think most people understand that going AWAY from the run is what caused the problems for the offense.

GO RAVENS!!!

[festivus]

And I think most people understand that going AWAY from the run is what caused the problems for the offense.

That, and 2 picks, and 2 fumbles. And inaccurate passing. Overall I agree with Tony Lombardi's report card (http://www.ravens24x7.com/column_view.php?cid=19&id=1061&view=archive), including both his assessment of McNair and Billick as OC.

[skaybaltimore]

That, and 2 picks, and 2 fumbles. And inaccurate passing. Overall I agree with Tony Lombardi's report card (http://www.ravens24x7.com/column_view.php?cid=19&id=1061&view=archive), including both his assessment of McNair and Billick as OC.Yep. Lombardi nailed it. :thumbup:

(And yet, reading his article, I think he gave the perfect definition of a "play not to lose" coach in Billick. So if you agree with that article, I still don't understand what it is about that "play not to lose" label that you don't get.)

[festivus]

Some people seem to mean, 'playing conservatively.' Most of the time people talk about coacing bland, vanilla, not to lose, as far as I can tell what they mean is 'coaching in a game where you lose,' which is how I believe you were using it, and still do.

To be fair to Billick, besides complaining about his failure as OC in this game, he gets full props for his fine work all year. Not just as coach, but as OC. I know you disagree, but while we are on the subject of TL's remarks on the game, I point you to his responses to letter writers here (http://www.ravens24x7.com/column_view.php?cid=10&id=1062&view=archive), in which he looks backward at BB's performance over the whole season.

[skaybaltimore]

Here is a direct quote from the article you yourself posted. Just read it, and, as far as I'm concerned, it -- along with Billick's shitty clock management -- defines what I'm talking about as far as a coach who is AFRAID to play an aggressive -- and SMART -- offense. (I am NOT advocating reckless abandon or Air Coryell -- just proper use of personnel.)

In the passing game, Billick chose not to test Dungy’s Cover 2 despite Bob Sanders’ cheating up inside the box. Billick doesn’t seem to trust his offensive talent and is hesitant to challenge a defense. As a result, it makes it more difficult for Billick’s offense to execute within its comfort zone which is obviously from the line of scrimmage and out 15 yards.

And you're right -- I do NOT agree that BB had a great entire season. I think he didn't do SHIT to properly prepare our team -- physically OR mentally -- against Cinci IN Cinci -- OR make ANY necessary adjustments at half time. I think he did NOT prepare well for the Buffalo game either. And I think, looking back, it's the DEFENSE and Rex Ryan who deserve the props again. I think Billick UNDERUTILIZED Mike Anderson, and it wasn't even until later in the year that Billick realized the value of Ovie Mughelli. Maybe if he'd understood his own personnel better, the outcomes in some of our other losses might have been different as well.

GO RAVENS!!!

[festivus]

Jim Fassell used Mike Anderson plenty. We looked a lot better on offense after BB took over.

[skaybaltimore]

Jim Fassell used Mike Anderson plenty. We looked a lot better on offense after BB took over.Whatever, man.

GO RAVENS!!!

[highwater]

And you're right -- I do NOT agree that BB had a great entire season. I think he didn't do SHIT to properly prepare our team -- physically OR mentally -- against Cinci IN Cinci -- OR make ANY necessary adjustments at half time.

The team had a 13-3 regular season record, and was 9-1 after Billick took over as OC. But I'm sure you're right, that Thursday night game in Cincy made Billick a failure this year.

Look, we get it, you hate Billick and want him gone. You've mentioned it in just about every thread the past week. Give it a rest.

[skaybaltimore]

The team had a 13-3 regular season record, and was 9-1 after Billick took over as OC. But I'm sure you're right, that Thursday night game in Cincy made Billick a failure this year.

Look, we get it, you hate Billick and want him gone. You've mentioned it in just about every thread the past week. Give it a rest.And you've made it yoru business to hunt down every one of my posts and comment on them. So why don't YOU give it a rest?

GO RAVENS!!!

[FHRaven]

How anyone can point blame anywhere other than McNair is a little astounding to me. For the last 3 years Boller has been blamed for every possible thing wrong on this team, offensively and defensively. McNair plays a game akin to some of Boller's worst performances and some people are blaming the coaching?

In a game where McNair just had to squeeze out 16 points he puts up a horrible performance. Wasn't he supposed to be the veteran leader to win just this type of game? :187734:

[highwater]

And you've made it yoru business to hunt down every one of my posts and comment on them. So why don't YOU give it a rest?

I don't know who you are confusing me with, but I can assure you that I have not hunted down every one of your posts and commented on them. Since they're pretty much all the same, there wouldn't be much point.

[skaybaltimore]

How anyone can point blame anywhere other than McNair is a little astounding to me. For the last 3 years Boller has been blamed for every possible thing wrong on this team, offensively and defensively. McNair plays a game akin to some of Boller's worst performances and some people are blaming the coaching?

In a game where McNair just had to squeeze out 16 points he puts up a horrible performance. Wasn't he supposed to be the veteran leader to win just this type of game? :187734:They BOTH sucked. But was McNair calling his own plays in the second half? If not, how can you NOT see that the onus falls on the person calling in the plays? The running game was FINALLY working in the first half. Jamal actually looked GREAT on some runs and on some short passes out of the backfield. So to get away from that success almost totally is whose fault, in your opinion?

GO RAVENS!!!

[skaybaltimore]

I don't know who you are confusing me with, but I can assure you that I have not hunted down every one of your posts and commented on them. Since they're pretty much all the same, there wouldn't be much point.The title of this thread is: "REASONS FOR THE LOSS (AKA, the Blame Game). What part of that are you unclear about? If you DON'T feel that Billick is responsible for coming up with a lousy game plan, then put up your points for what he did great in the game. If not, STFU when people point out what he DID do wrong.

GO RAVENS!!!

[Fanman]

I tend to agree w/ SKAY and TL on who to blame for the loss. I've stated my reasons clearly all over this thread. I have said this for years now and I still believe it: The Ravens will NEVER win another SB w/ Billick as coach UNLESS he changes the "play not to lose" mentality. I think there are several other NFL coaches that would have won us that game...even trailing
9-3 at half.

Isn't one of the main reasons we brought in Steve McNair was for a situation like the end of the 1st half? Isn't a veteran QB, former MVP, made it to the Superbowl type of guy supposed to be able to lead a team on a scoring drive w/ 2 TOs left? That was the VERY DEFINITION of why we replaced Boller...for crucial spots like that where you have a chance to turn the momentum of the game.

What does Billick do....he makes NO attempt to score. I wouldn't want to play for a coach like that.

FM

[skaybaltimore]

What does Billick do....he makes NO attempt to score. I wouldn't want to play for a coach like that.
FMOnce again, the key point being made is TRYING. No one is criticizing Billick JUST FOR THE LOSS ALONE. Losing happens, and most people, painful as it is, can accept that. It's the WAY we lost -- examples already noted abundantly in this thread and others -- that are being hurled back at BB, because that's where they came from. A perfect example being NOT trying to get at least a FG before the half, coupled with the fact that this is NOT the first time BB has done this -- IT'S PART OF HIS PHILOSOPHY, and while in the past Billick supporters said: "Well, but we WON THE GAME ANYWAY, DIDN'T WE? ENJOY THAT, AND STOP CRITICIZING BB", this time WE DIDN'T WIN, and his bonehead ineptitude at basic clock management skills, and inability to know when to TURN IT ON AND GO FOR IT is nauseating. And even MORE nauseating are the attempts to try to justify what he did.

He CRIPPLES our offense, and, looking back, he's ALWAYS done that. And that's why I've voiced my opinion that he needs to go. I wholeheartedly agree with FM that we will NOT win another SB with BB at the reigns of the offense. He has his shot to give full control of the offense over to RN -- without conditions -- and his control freak nature wouldn't allow it. I have the same feeling in the pit of my stomach now that I did after the first "three and out" series in the Indy game. ALOT of energy will be invested over the course of the next 7 months by a LOT of Ravens fans, only to be Billickballed/shot down in flames once again.

GO RAVENS!!!