Billick Fires Longtime Friend Fassel

In 'Dramatic' Move, Ravens' Head Coach Takes Over the Struggling Offense

OWINGS MILLS, Md., Oct. 17 -- Baltimore Ravens Coach Brian Billick fired longtime friend Jim Fassel as offensive coordinator on Tuesday, a "dramatic" move he hopes will invigorate his team's struggling and frustrated offense. Billick, who first made his name in the NFL as an offensive coordinator with the Minnesota Vikings, will take over the offense and will call the plays, something he has not done since his first season in Baltimore.

The Ravens are one of 11 teams in the NFL to have at least four wins, and they sit atop the AFC North, but they have scored only 10 touchdowns , and they rank 26th in red zone offense (eight touchdowns on 18 trips inside the 20-yard line).

"Clearly, in order for us to expand on our 4-2 start, we have to have more offensive productivity," Billick said during a brief news conference. "It was my opinion in going forward, in order to bring about the level of production that we needed offensively, to get where we want to go, that I needed to step back in on a day-to-day basis."

Billick made the decision late Monday afternoon after meeting with Fassel. He called owner Steve Bisciotti to inform him of the move, and then he met with his coaching staff Tuesday morning. Word of Fassel's dismissal trickled out to the players, who were given Tuesday through Saturday off. The Ravens have a bye this week; they resume practicing on Sunday for their Oct. 29 game in New Orleans.

Billick gained the reputation for being an offensive mastermind while working as the offensive coordinator in Minnesota from 1993 to 1998. During his final season with the Vikings, he was in charge of an offense that set an NFL record for points in a season (556).

When Billick came to Baltimore in 1999, he was in charge of the play-calling, but he eventually handed that responsibility over to then-offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh. In Billick's tenure as head coach, the Ravens' offense has never ranked higher than 14th in total yards per game, and only once has it been ranked higher than 14th in points per game. This will be the first time in Billick's eight-year tenure he has not had a separate offensive coordinator.

During training camp, Billick emphasized that Fassel was the one calling the plays last season and that he would do the same this season. When Billick was asked on Tuesday why he finally decided to assume that role after resisting it for so long, he replied, "It's what's required."

Added Billick, "If there was any ambiguity before about who is responsible for the productivity of any aspect of what we do -- particularly now offensively -- if there was any ambiguity, that should be removed."

In 22 games under Fassel, the Ravens' offense was held to zero or one touchdown 14 times. Last year, Baltimore's offense ranked 24th in total yards per game (293.3) and 25th in points per game (16.6). Even with the addition of veteran quarterback Steve McNair, the Ravens' offense has been ineffective; Baltimore is 28th in the league in total yards per game (271.7), ahead of only Buffalo, Houston, Cleveland and Oakland -- which are a combined 4-17.

During the current two-game losing streak, several offensive players have expressed frustration with the unit's performance and have questioned the play-calling. Veteran wide receiver Derrick Mason has been the most outspoken critic, saying the offense has no identity, but he also refused to point solely at Fassel.

Running back Jamal Lewis had a season-low nine carries -- none after a 17-yard gain in the third quarter -- in a 23-21 loss to Carolina on Sunday. Afterward he said: "Offensively, I think that there were some things that we could have done better out there or whatever. The offensive line was jacked up, and we got some good runs starting off early. I think we just pumped the brakes on that. . . . I had a 17-yard run and got taken out. I guess I wasn't hot enough at that time."

On Tuesday, Fassel told ESPN.com this change had been brewing for some time and the question of who was ultimately in charge of the offense -- he or Billick -- contributed to its ineffectiveness. Fassel also said Billick felt he needed to take control of the offense because his job as head coach is on the line.

"This is clearly one of the most difficult decisions I've had to make, not only from a professional level, but for the obvious personal reasons because of the relationship that Jim and I have," Billick said. "I have an obligation to this organization to do what is in the best interest of this team, regardless of how it affects you personally, how difficult those decisions are. Jim Fassel has been a valuable and loyal coach to me."

Phone messages left for Fassel and his agent were not returned Tuesday. Fassel's son, John, will remain with the team as an assistant special teams coach.

Ravens Note: Baltimore re-signed wide receiver Clarence Moore and waived linebacker Dennis Haley.