Kyle Boller?s incomplete pass on first down to Demetrius Williams late in the fourth quarter was inconsequential in the Ravens? 20-13 victory over the New York Jets ? until the man who called the play faced the media following the game.
Ravens coach Brian Billick received plenty of questions regarding the team?s offensive strategy as it tried to run out the final three minutes of the game, but instead used just 25 seconds. Billick may have to get used to being scrutinized for his playcalling ? duties he took over after Week 6 last season when he fired then-offensive coordinator and good friend, Jim Fassel.
The Ravens have since promoted Rick Neuheisel from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator, but Billick is the one making the decisions on game days. Billick said having Neuheisel?a former college head coach at Colorado and Washington?on his staff is instrumental in his game preparation.
“Rick, having been a head coach, understands how important that voice is, and you sort through it,” Billick said. “You decide what to do with it and you move forward.”
But Billick ? a former offensive coordinator with the Minnesota Vikings ? is not the only coach around here who also calls the plays. Navy coach Paul Johnson and Maryland?s Ralph Friedgen are two of just 14 college coaches nationally at Football Bowl Subdivision teams (Division I-A) who double as offensive coordinators.
Johnson has never had an offensive coordinator in 10 years as a head coach, including from 1997 to 2001 at Georgia Southern, where he won two Divsion I-AA titles. Entering his sixth season at Navy, Johnson said he never felt the need for such an assistant on his coaching staff. He also calls the plays without the assistance of notes, charts or scripts.
“I?ve just always been comfortable calling the plays myself,” said Johnson, who was an offensive coordinator at Georgia Southern Hawaii and Navy earlier in his career. “Taking on that role myself is how I feel I can best put our team in a situation to win. It?s what?s always worked for me.”
Friedgen came into the dual role much differently. The seventh-year Terrapins coach took over the play-calling duties last season after then-offensive coordinator Charlie Taffe stepped down after five years on the job.
Friedgen is no stranger to the role. He?s been the offensive coordinator at both the college and NFL levels, including with the San Diego Chargers when they advanced to Super Bowl XXIX and at Georgia Tech when the Yellow Jackets won a share of the NCAA title in 1990.
Friedgen said he holds the final decision on what plays the Terrapins run, but he acknowledged he receives help in preparation during the week from quarterbacks coach John Donovan.
“Most of my organization was done last year,” Friedgen said, “so it?s just a matter of readjusting for this year.”
DUAL ROLES
Navy?s Paul Johnson and Maryland?s Ralph Friedgen are two of just 14 coaches at Bowl Championship Subdivision teams who serve as there own offensive coordinators. Here is the complete list:
» Art Briles (Houston)
» Troy Calhoun (Air Force)
» Bill Callahan* (Nebraska)
» Bill Cubit (Western Michigan)
» Todd Dodge (North Texas)
» Ralph Friedgen (Maryland)
» Turner Gill (Buffalo)
» Paul Johnson (Navy)
» June Jones (Hawaii)
» Hal Mumme (New Mexico State)
» Steve Spurrier (South Carolina)
» Jeff Tedford (California)
» Bob Toledo (Tulane)
» Charlie Weis* (Notre Dame)
* Does not have the title of offensive coordinator, but handles play-calling duties.
