Time for Ravens to change

Throughout his team’s latest, greatest debacle of 2007, Coach Brian Billick wore a grim look of resignation suggesting he would rather be anywhere but watching the Pittsburgh Steelers deliver his Ravens a 38-7 embarrassment without breaking a sweat.

Then, there was 13-year veteran quarterback Steve McNair, the man with the vacant stare, who soiled another game by refusing to protect the ball and looked like a broken-down, ex-star headed for retirement.

For Owner Steve Bisciotti and General Manager Ozzie Newsome, the rebuilding project should start now. And their first order of business should be to draw up plans to send Billick and McNair packing, as soon as the Ravens conclude this lost season against the playoff-bound Steelers on Dec. 30.

After fumbling two more times and throwing another interception to fuel a 35-point first half by the Steelers, and after showing once again a shocking lack of presence and mobility, McNair never looked older and more done. Starting his first game in a month, the injury-plagued McNair produced quite a sequel to the season-opening loss on a Monday night in Cincinnati, where No. 9 graced the viewers with four turnovers.

As for Billick, the ninth-year coach headed for his third playoff miss in four seasons, is this the best he can do in a game of such magnitude, coming off a bye week? This is how he inspires and prepares his team? This is how you kick-start your drive to the postseason?

The Ravens posted almost as many turnovers (four) as first downs (five). The most penalized team in the league weighed in with another, 11-flag special. The offense — surprise, surprise — showed no life or imagination, as the Ravens’ longest pass completion went for nine yards.

The defense, no longer up to carrying Billick and his popgun attack, never had a chance — not with the offense generating a grand total of 104 yards and fewer than 24 minutes of possession time.

Anyone blaming the Monday Massacre on the absence of starting cornerbacks Chris McAlister (knee) and Samari Rolle (longest undisclosed illness in team history) is missing the point. Yes, it was sad watching the overmatched Derrick Martin and Corey Ivy trying to hang with Pittsburgh’s receivers. Even Hines Ward’s patented smile seemed to say, “Is this the best they got?”

But any hope of a Ravens’ upset boiled down to the offense doing its job for a change. Scoring 17 to 20 points was probably too much to expect. That young line, especially right tackle Adam Terry, was in over its head. But was it too much to ask of the Ravens to respect field position and secure the ball, just a little bit?

McNair sure didn’t get the memo, or maybe he fell asleep while reading it.

His first fumble led to the Steelers’ first of several, quick-strike, touchdown drives that began in Baltimore territory. His second fumble, recovered by Willis McGahee, backed the Ravens up to their goal line and led to Ben Roethlisberger’s fourth touchdown pass of the half. His final act was an interception that set up Big Ben’s fifth scoring pass late in the first half.

The Ravens might have done themselves and their fans a favor by falling so flat in yet another Billick-authored low point on national television. They offered definitive proof they are not a playoff team, so we don’t have to waste time over the next two months watching the standings and doing any math.

Now, it’s up to the brass to start orchestrating some moves to take this operation in another direction. With Boller and rookie Troy Smith under contract next year, the Ravens still need a quarterback of the present and the future. Maybe it’s Smith. But maybe it’s a young NFL passer such as Green Bay backup Aaron Rodgers or Buffalo’s Trent Edwards. Maybe it’s Boston College’s 6-foot-5 senior Matt Ryan.

As for Billick, who nearly got fired after going 6-10 two years ago, there is a worthy successor currently working in the Ravens’ complex.

His title is defensive coordinator.

His name is Rex Ryan.

Gary Lambrecht writes about the NFL, Major League Baseball and college sports. He can be reached at glambrecht@baltimoreexaminer.com.