When things go wrong, we want to blame someone or something.  We need a fall guy, a scapegoat.  We need to point the finger.

It’s your fault that my life has changed in oh so many bad ways!  The dog relieved himself on the carpet, I’m late for work and I could lose that deal now and for God’s sake my life is ruined!  The world sucks because Kyle Boller stinks and because the Rock of Gibraltar sits comfortably atop Brian Billick’s shoulders.

Someone is to blame!

To help spread the blame, members of the media and fans alike are playing detective and conjuring up conspiracy theories – a little Columbo or Inspector Clouseau if you will.  There are bad things simmering beneath the surface at One Winning Drive.  There must be.  After all, the team quits on Brian Billick and they lay down in the second half, right?

Jamal is whining; Chester Taylor is fighting and he’s gone AWOL; Ray Lewis and Ed Reed are faking injuries and the Ravens constantly cover up the seriousness of injuries; there’s a mysterious off the field issue with Chris McAlister; Ray Lewis is leaking info to Shannon Sharpe about Kyle Boller; there was a big party in Detroit the night before the Lions game which explains the Meltdown in Motown – the list goes on and on.

Someone is to blame.

Some have suggested that the Ravens front office should just blow up the entire team.  But why?  Are they really that far off?

The Ravens made a few critical errors heading into the 2005 season and as a result they are paying the price.  If you want to play the blame game, blame it on the following:

1. The Ravens underestimated the degradation of the offensive line.  Mulitalo has dealt with personal and physical setbacks and the result is poor conditioning; Mike Flynn is suffering from whiplash while watching blitzing linebackers wisp by; and unfortunately part of the game day uniform of any Ravens’ right tackle is a pair of shiny shackles.  This line is about as mobile as a barge in Alaska in January and it severely limits the Ravens tactical maneuvering.
2. The secondary is thin and far too old.  The Ravens knew they needed help in the secondary yet they failed to address it in the draft.  Instead they rolled the dice on aging veterans like Deion Sanders and Dale Carter – an egregious mistake!
3. They talked the talk on defense.  We heard about the 46 and how the Ravens would bring heat on the quarterback, force turnovers and make big plays.  They sold it and then bought it themselves.  They depended on it yet through 11 games the Ravens are 28th in interceptions, 28th in turnovers, 30th in turnover differential and 19th in sacks.
4. And of course there’s the play at quarterback.  While no one could really fault the Ravens for giving Kyle Boller another season with all the new toys, they were wrong not to create competition at the position.  Perhaps the lack of competition and the lack of a threat to take away his job hurt Boller when he was forced to compete during games.  Dean Smith used to create such intense pressure for the Tar Heels during practices that actual games felt like a walk in the park.  The Ravens have done just the opposite with Boller.

Blowing up the team is a bit drastic.  There is something here to build on and the Ravens aren’t that far off.  It’s time to stop the blame game and pull it all together, fans included.

While watching the game on Sunday with several fans, I must admit that I found a quiet enjoyment watching Carson Palmer carve up the Ravens defense like a Thanksgiving turkey.  Why?  I want the Ravens to stare into the abyss and admit their weaknesses.  Brian Billick’s spin about pride and character and the rest of us not understanding what it’s like to respond to the adversity of a 34-0 deficit and blah, blah, blah.

Come on Coach.  For once just say, “I’ve never seen such inept quarterbacking” or “our offensive line will be a primary focus in the off season.”  Stop enabling complacency and start creating a sense of urgency.

Otherwise the finger of blame will find you and your coddled quarterback.

That’s just the way life goes in the NFL.  That’s the nature of the blame game.