Missing the point
After 5 games, the Ravens' offense ranks near the bottom of the NFL
By Jamison Hensley
Sun reporter
Originally published October 11, 2006
A day after the Ravens' disturbing 13-3 loss to the Denver Broncos, coach Brian Billick said acclimating quarterback Steve McNair to the Ravens' offense is "a work in progress."
The same could go for the Ravens' backfield.
Although he never criticized struggling running back Jamal Lewis, Billick hinted yesterday that there could be more opportunities for backups Mike Anderson and Musa Smith in Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers.
"We have a lot of confidence in all our backs," Billick said. "I'm not going to get caught up in who has how many carries. If a back is having a hot hand and running well, then we'll kind of ride that a little bit. But [Lewis] is running hard and he had some good tough runs."
The Ravens (4-1) are searching for an identity and a spark on an offense that has been among the most disappointing in the NFL. The Ravens' offense is 29th in the 32-team league, ranking ahead of only Buffalo, Cleveland and Oakland (who are a combined 3-11 and are starting inexperienced quarterbacks).
The passing game remains ragged with McNair still learning the system, and the running attack continues a troubling three-year decline. Lewis, who ranks 27th in the NFL in rushing yards per game (62.2), has averaged 2.6 yards a carry the past two games.
Meanwhile, the Ravens' backups each showed a burst in Denver. Anderson had a couple of 10-yard gains, and Smith had an 18-yard reception. For the season, Lewis has accounted for 88 of the 119 carries by Ravens running backs.
"Each of them deserves to be 'The Guy' and get a lot of carries," Billick said. "We're just looking for productivity. We got some good backs. I know they all want more. The depth of that position is a positive for us. But it is a balancing act."
The Ravens' offense has been balanced, but for all the wrong reasons. The Ravens rank 24th in rushing and 28th in passing.
These season-long flaws on offense have been hidden by two game-winning drives and the Ravens' 4-0 start. But they were exposed on national television Monday night.
"I don't want a loss to be a wake-up call," receiver Derrick Mason said after the game.
Asked if the problem was play-calling or the execution on the players' part, Mason said, "You pick who you want to blame. Everybody is in this boat together. If you don't want to be blamed, then you don't want to be part of this team from the head man to the last man."
The player who accepted the brunt of the blame from Monday's loss was McNair, who matched his season total by throwing three interceptions including a critical one in the red zone.
"I think he's getting more comfortable. It is a work in progress," Billick said. "You'd like for it to come quicker and there's a lot of things going on around him. There are some very good things done. There are some things he would tell you that he scratches his head and says, 'Boy, I can't believe I missed that.' We're still going forward with it."
In his first season for the Ravens, McNair has thrown more interceptions (six) than touchdowns (five). Only five quarterbacks have been intercepted more than McNair.
"We're just not executing like I think we should," McNair said. "That goes for myself as far as turning the ball over in the red zone. It starts from me. I got to do well and I got to get the guys believing we can score six points."
Regrouping will be a challenge for the Ravens.
In addition to being on a short week after playing on Monday night, the Ravens' chartered plane from Denver arrived home around 6 a.m. yesterday after making an unscheduled stop in Pittsburgh so cornerback Corey Ivy could go to a hospital for treatment of a kidney injury.
Billick said the late arrival didn't allow the coaching staff to review the game film, which forced everyone to move ahead to the Panthers. Billick can only hope his players can do the same following the first loss of the season.
"They're hugely disappointed," Billick said. "But I'm counting on what this team has built over the last couple months, a certain resiliency and a mind-set. I'd be surprised if this team doesn't refocus real quickly against a very good opponent at home despite the disappointment of [Monday] night."
It says originally published Oct. 11. Agree it doesn't say anything definitively though.
