LOMBARDI'S WAY: Ray, Ray, Ray

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Lombardi's Way - LOMBARDI'S WAY: Ray, Ray, Ray

The little things you say...

Posted On: 10/25/07

Written By:

Tony Lombardi

Ray Lewis’ comments about Adalius Thomas and Brian Billick during his weekly radio program have set off a firestorm of commentary in print, on the web and along radio and TV airwaves throughout the continent. Ray’s words are the things local beat writers dream of during bye weeks.

I have to tell you as a fan of the team and as a fan of Ray Lewis and Adalius Thomas, I’m disappointed. I’m disappointed because I thought the two were friends and friends can settle differences, either real or media conjured, with a simple phone call. Instead both took the media bait and chomped down hard.

Sometime between now and the moment the opening kickoff knifes its way through the cold night on December 3^rd, Ray and AD will kiss and make up and they will publicly pledge their renewed solidarity and write it all off as a misunderstanding. And while they will likely forgive, will they forget?

It would make for interesting drama if the two actually had to face each other on the field.

AD certainly made a valid point when he suggested that perhaps Ray was the coward given that he went public with his disapproval of Brian Billick’s offense and play calling instead of brokering a behind-closed-doors powwow with Billick. Didn’t Ray in essence do exactly what he accused AD of doing?

That said, maybe Ray publicly calling out Billick is a good thing.

Look the Ravens have miraculously kept the team on the same page since 2000 and that is a credit to Brian Billick. How many other organizations could have successfully navigated away from an organizational implosion when one side of the football is clearly more dominant than the other side year in and year out? How there hasn’t been a mutiny or enough finger pointing to rival an episode of Jerry Springer is pretty impressive.

What isn’t impressive and never has been is the Ravens’ offense under Brian Billick. Billick has always stressed accountability but has he been accountable as it relates to the offense? Over the course of the last 4 ½ seasons the Ravens are dead last in the league in red zone efficiency.

Since Billick arrived the Ravens have been in the top 10 in points scored in the NFL only once, back in 2003 when Jamal Lewis ran for over 2,000 yards. On average they have ranked 17^th. What makes that statistic even more staggering is the fact that the Ravens defense has been ranked in the top 3 during five of Billick’s seasons and they’ve been sixth or higher in every season except one – the cap purge season of 2002. Plus they’ve been among the league leaders in defensive touchdowns.

So I ask where is the accountability of this offense? It doesn’t matter if Matt Cavanaugh, Jim Fassell or Brian Billick is calling the plays this team can’t score. Willis McGahee is on pace to approach 1,500 yards rushing yet he only projects to 4 touchdowns!

Can someone please send in the demolition crew in the offseason and raze this thing?

The Ravens scouting department is studying collegiate quarterbacking talent feverishly. What if they land their guy in the 2008 draft? Do the Ravens have the coaching to develop the quarterback of the future? Is their offensive system conducive to successful quarterbacking?

Watch any NFL game that the Ravens aren’t involved in. At some point during the game there will be a receiver on one of the two teams absolutely wide open. When is the last time a Ravens receiver was wide open?

Some may ask why Ray threw his head coach under the proverbial bus because of the team’s offensive woes.

As for me I just ask, “What took so long?”