Baltimore Ravens head coach Brian Billick said he has not spoken with wide receiver Derrick Mason yet regarding his comments over the weekend criticizing his role in the offense.
Billick seemed optimistic that whatever Mason?s concerns are could be resolved in the offseason and expects the veteran wideout to be a part of the team?s future. Mason sounded off following Saturday?s playoff loss to the Indianapolis Colts and also Sunday as he packed up his belongings at the team?s Owings Mills training facility.
“I haven?t talked with Derrick yet,” Billick said. “We will at the appropriate time if he thinks it?s necessary. There is a great deal of optimism in this team moving forward, and I expect that to continue going into the offseason. When we pick things up we?ll do the appropriate critique of what we did, how we did it and how we can do it better, both individually and collectively, and Derrick will be a part of that process.”
RUNNING GAME MUST IMPROVE: Billick said he was pleased with running back Jamal Lewis? season. However, he said the running game overall must improve in 2007 for the Ravens to make a deep postseason run.
Lewis ranked 16th in the NFL with 1,132 yards rushing in the regular season. But Baltimore ranked 31st out of 32 teams in the league at 3.4 yards per carry.
“Do we need more productivity in the running game?” Billick said. “Probably so. And that will be something that will require a great deal of time and attention over the next few months to see what we can do to improve that.”
OK AT QB: Unlike this season, the Ravens? quarterback situation going into 2007 is extremely clear. Starter Steve McNair will now have the entire offseason to work with the offense and study the team?s playbook after not arriving in Baltimore from Tennessee until June last year.
That, along with his faith that former first-round pick Kyle Boller will return as McNair?s backup, is something Billick is very excited about.
“Kyle was a phenomenal team member. … I?m very proud of that young man going forward,” Billick said.
