Brian Billick Looks Back on His Ravens Tenure
During Super Bowl Radio Row, former Ravens Head Coach Brian Billick joined Jon Gruden for an interview discussing their experiences with the Ravens. Below are the highlights.
Why Billick picked Baltimore:
“I didn’t know Ozzie Newsome, however clearly [Dennis Green] did. He thought Ozzie and I’d work very properly collectively. And in the end, that was the distinction when he went by means of [head coaching opportunities]. He acknowledged Ozzie’s perspective with it … I simply thought, Cleveland was a brand-new franchise, in order that’s a little bit of a grind. But I simply thought in Baltimore – I preferred Art Modell. Art was a fantastic, nice man. But the connection with Ozzie – that is pivotal. You obtained to have a fantastic relationship with the GM. I believed, ‘We might win with this.'”
On the defensive workers for the Super Bowl XXXV win:
“Bringing the workers collectively, that is the important thing. I introduced in – Marvin Lewis was there – however after we had been [coaching] in Minnesota the final yr, we performed Baltimore. And Marvin, with not a fantastic crew, did pretty much as good a job towards us as anyone that we had performed. So, I’m going to interview Marvin for the job. Now, I already bear in mind, I do know Mike [Smith’s] going to come back on to the workers. Jack Del Rio, who I had labored with somewhat bit in Minnesota. Rex Ryan, Donny Henderson, so I’m going to usher in some personnel. So, I do know who the defensive workers goes to be. I hadn’t selected a coordinator.”
On interviewing Marvin Lewis for defensive coordinator:
“Marvin comes up [to the suite at the Senior Bowl], and Marvin and I giggle about this now. When we had been completed with that interview, not solely did I not wish to rent Marvin, I by no means needed to see the [him] once more. It was the worst interview within the historical past of soccer. Marvin was emotional, he liked being in Baltimore. He was actually distraught with the firings. So, I get completed, I’ve the workers able to go, and I feel, ‘I obtained to speak to Marvin once more.’ So, I reconnect with Marvin, have a greater dialog, and I stated, ‘Okay, I need you to remain and be my defensive coordinator. But here is the flip facet. I’ve already obtained your defensive workers.’ And I give Marvin quite a lot of credit score as a result of all these guys, nice, competent coaches – are you able to think about sitting within the conferences having to defend what they’re taking a look at as you undergo the movie of the earlier yr and the brand new guys [Mike Smith, Rex Ryan, Donny Henderson] are simply ripping it to shreds? Marvin did an exceptional job. … Marvin put collectively a hell of a defensive workers, and a hell of a crew.”
What makes Ozzie Newsome a fantastic GM?
“He’s one of the best listener I’ve ever been round. There’d be these mind-numbing read-outs of all of the gamers and no matter, and Ozzie by no means actually stated quite a bit. But he’d listened to all people. What I liked about Ozzie was we might undergo the readings, and for instance we’re taking a look at a receiver, he’d [say linebacker coach Mike Smith], ‘Mike, why do not you get with Phil Savage and I need you to have a look at this man and inform me what you suppose.’ Just to get a distinct set of eyes – after which simply pay attention. Never tried to steer the dialog or bias it. He was actually only a nice listener.”
