What does Billick need to do to stay on board?

**FadeToBlack** · 09-07-2006, 03:30 PM

How many wins do you expect from the Ravens to be satisfied having him coach another season?

**highwater** · 09-07-2006, 03:41 PM

With the challenging schedule they have, I think he should (emphasis on "should" as opposed to "will") be safe if they go 9-7. But then again, if they go 9-7 and miss the playoffs, who knows? I remember that idiot in San Francisco firing Mooch after they made the playoffs and lost a close game in the first round, so who really knows? We also don't really have a track record with Bisciotti, so it's hard to predict how he'll react.

But 9-7 would be a three game improvement over last year's train wreck, and given the tough schedule, would not represent a massive underacheivement. I hope we do better than that so this discussion ultimately won't matter at the end of the season.

**Mista T** · 09-07-2006, 03:46 PM

I think 8-8 (a two game improvement) should do it.

**Irishraven** · 09-07-2006, 03:52 PM

I would hope that we get 4 divisional wins and maybe even 5 depending on when we hit the road at Pitt!

I'm pray for 12 wins but know its not going to happen but hey, on any given sunday...

I like Billick by the way, I really hope he turns things around this year, I feel the addition of McNair will take us to the playoffs!

**jonboy79** · 09-07-2006, 03:57 PM

9 wins in conjuncture with a horrible injury year(McNair, or Cmac and Rolle, Jo and Pashos or Terry).
or
10 wins in or out of playoffs. Should be in.

**FellsPointRaven** · 09-07-2006, 04:21 PM

Originally Posted by Mista T

I think 8-8 (a two game improvement) should do it.

T - I think Steve B's expectations are higher than yours. Mine are too. Anything less than 10 wins and/or the playoffs and I think Brian will be gone.

**RavenFanatic2k6** · 09-07-2006, 04:39 PM

I do not think 8-8 will do it. 9-7 AT MINIMUM.

T, I know you have said you view the team as a 7-9, 8-8 team, but I do not feel that Bischiotti does. I think Bischiotti feels that the pieces are there for a playoff run and anything short of that will mean Billick is gone.

**AZRAVEN** · 09-07-2006, 04:49 PM

I think we have to go deep in the playoffs for Billick to be retained, and I really doubt we'll be able to pull that off. I think Steve laid the groundwork of how he will react to failure or perceived failure last year ~ Billick is in deep trouble if this team doesn't win and win big. If I had to make a guess now, I'd say he's gone after this season.

**Greg** · 09-07-2006, 05:06 PM

I think a lot depends on how many injuries we have and also how the team composes itself. A Detroit-like melt down is worth 3-4 losses while an OT loss to Cincy or Pittspuke on the road would not weight too hard on him. A win total has too many variables, but a composed team playing with passion for 60 minutes each week will do it. If we don't have injuries to a lot of key people we should win 9-12 games if we play like that.

**highwater** · 09-07-2006, 05:07 PM

Originally Posted by AZRAVEN

I think we have to go deep in the playoffs for Billick to be retained,

I think if we make the playoffs at all, Billick gets retained, even if we go out in the first round. It's not as if the expectations are that high for this team, aside from us fans and a few NFL commentators/analysts. Steve can and will do whatever he wants, but if we make the playoffs, firing Billick would be a mistake.

**AZRAVEN** · 09-07-2006, 05:36 PM

The big question is not what the fans, commentators, pundits expectations for us are ~ there is only one vote that matters and that's Bisciotti's. I will be very surpprised if anything less than a playoff run keeps Billick's job. I think he came within a gnat's ass of getting canned last year and Bisciotti doesn't strike me as being very patient. I hope I'm wrong but I haven't seen anything to convince me that he will have any better control of the team this year than he did last year. Everyone is playing nice now but the bullets haven't started flying yet.

**GreenWave52** · 09-07-2006, 05:47 PM

I think Billick needs to make the playoffs and possibly win a game. A blowout loss in the first round won't help him.

**highwater** · 09-07-2006, 06:50 PM

Originally Posted by Greg

I think a lot depends on how many injuries we have and also how the team composes itself.

I agree, and this is also a factor that complicates matters. Bisciotti places an emphasis on how Billick interacts with the press, his scouts, his players, to a degree that I think is probably uncommon among NFL owners. If Billick meets those expectations and the team goes 8-8, maybe that will be good enough for Bisciotti. If the team goes 10-6 but the team has issues that Bisiciotti decides is Billick's fault, then he's in trouble.

If not for "Next Man Up" we wouldn't even have a clue about Bisciotti's attitude, and even with that book, we still don't have a solid clue about what he thinks is most important. If they have a Detroit type meltdown, Billick could be in Bisciotti's doghouse even if they make the playoffs.

**Sephy** · 09-07-2006, 08:14 PM

Absolutely no chance Billick is brought back if the Ravens go 8-8.

**sandiegosean** · 09-08-2006, 12:16 AM

I think 8-8 would keep him, but I'm not sure if he wants to stay. He's getting very upset with the lack of offensive peronnel given to him by the FO. I can see Brian leaving before firing.

**Purpleguy** · 09-08-2006, 09:05 AM

I really don't like the "new" Billick. Nobody was complaining about his arrogance when we were winning.

I never thought Billick needed to change. I always thought it was the players that needed to change. Namely the Lewis brothers. When players think they are bigger than the coach or the team for that matter, then it is time for them to go.

All i can say is that if billick goes because of team performance, then the guy that put that team together should go as well.

**Sports Steve** · 09-08-2006, 09:51 AM

I think Billick will have to finish at least 9-7 and make the playoffs.

**Admin Steve** · 09-08-2006, 10:01 AM

Let me be the devil's advocate for a moment. What say you all about the scenario where he doesn't make it through the season. With the exception of Oakland and Cleveland, the first 6 games are tough. How many times have we looked past an easy opponent and lost in a big nasty way. I'm almost more worried about Oakland than the Bucs because of the team's penchant for waltzing into what should be easy games and losing.

So, in an 0-6 scenario, does Billick make it past the Bye week. Does JF take the reigns?

**hurting** · 09-08-2006, 10:16 AM

With the team we have 8-8 is a reasonable expectation. I hope I am wrong, but if the preseason (minus the first drive everyone is creaming over) is any iindication McNair will be on his back quite a bit and we will have a hard time moving the ball.

Billick should definitely be fired for drafting such shitty offensive linemen the last 6 years. And for Billick not to offer a lucrative contract to Casy Rabach a few years ago is inexcusable.

This teams oline other than Ogden is crap. Last year they were describe as "Jonathan Ogden and four turds" by an insider on the profootballtalk site. And that just about sums it up. This team has not had a good O-line since 1997. All the proof you need to see that O-line is king is to look at the teams that were in the playoffs and SB last year. Indy had a great line all year long. Their O-line had a lapse in the playoffs last year and Manning looked like Boller.

Venting complete.

**Purpleguy** · 09-08-2006, 10:37 AM

I don't think Ogden is close to what he once was, and even if he was his retirement is iminent. We have really made no contingency plans to replace the one solid piece of our line. We are pinning our hopes on some projects panning out.

I'm not saying you have to have a pro-bowler at every position, but I'd rather have 5 solid guys than one high paid tackle and 4 scrubs.