LOMBARDI'S WAY: SOMETHING HAD TO GIVE

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Lombardi's Way - LOMBARDI'S WAY: SOMETHING HAD TO GIVE

Fassel moves on to prevent an offensive implosion (Photo by Sabina Moran)

Posted On: 10/17/06

Written By:

Tony Lombardi

On Tuesday the announcement was made that Jim Fassel had been removed from his position of Offensive Coordinator. Some have asked whether he resigned or if he was fired. C’mon, you do the math. Why would a man who aspires to be a head coach in the league again quit? That doesn’t add up.

Brian Billick during the press conference to announce the move looked forlorn…he was distraught.

How could he not be? He had to sack one of his best friends.

He’s also the head coach of a first place 4-2 team that would be the number 4 seed in the playoffs if the season ended today and they’d host the San Diego Chargers. If someone told the Ravens front office back in August that the team would occupy the position that it does, they would all be high fiving one another.

Yet it’s the way they’ve arrived at that perch that is creating frustration and the resulting pressures on the offense.

And the offense is beginning to crack not only on the field, but off the field as well.

Derrick Mason, Jonathan Ogden, Jamal Lewis and even to a lesser degree, All American Boy Todd Heap have been openly critical of the offense. Each week Derrick Mason gets out his red pen and writes F on Jim Fassel’s game plan; each week J.O. is ear banging Brian Billick on the sidelines and I’m sure he’s not talking smack with Billick about his racquetball game.

The Ravens say they would go with the hot hand at tailback. Jamal Lewis breaks off a 17 yard run and then never sees the field again. Todd Heap wasn’t even thrown to in the first half a couple games this year.

Something had to give.

What were they to do, fire the players?

Of course not!

Fire Billick?

C’mon now!

This move was the right move at the right time because it prevents an implosion by the offense.

It’s also a move that I would guess came from above and I’m not talking divine intervention here folks….I’m talking Steve Bisciotti.

The Ravens are too close and they can’t allow that back biting to resurface in the locker room, otherwise it’s 2004 all over again when the Ravens watched a 7-3 record and near certain playoff berth slip through their fingers and out of the playoffs at 9-7.

Bisciotti knew a change was needed and Billick reluctantly conceded.

I doubt that Billick made the call. This is a man who is loyal to a fault and defended Matt Cavanaugh for years before he caved in to the pressures to replace Cavanaugh who for the record, resigned as well.

The Ravens post season is on the line. The offense has to improve. Can it get much worse?

This was the right move and Billick taking the play calling responsibilities is also the right call. Besides, if they passed that torch over to Rick Neuheisel, who among us wouldn’t wonder if it was indeed Billick making the calls anyway.

Maybe Jim Fassel will go the route of Pete Carroll and end up as the head coach at a high profile program like the University of Miami. Perhaps that’s the best path for him back to a NFL sideline. “Resigning” certainly isn’t the answer. That doesn’t make sense for a man with such high aspirations.

Best of luck to a good football man and an overall good guy.

Take care Jim Fassel.

And good luck Brian Billick. I think you’re going to need it.