(Photo by Ned Dishman/Getty Images)
“He is one of the best offensive coaches in the league. He’s recognized around the league as that.”
Under Jackson’s tutelage, Joe Flacco threw for 2,971 yards, 14 touchdowns, and a 80.3 QB rating in his rookie season, and he is regarded as one of the bright young stars in the league.
Of course, the Ravens’ offense wouldn’t be as successful without the rest of their coaches. Coaches like Jim Hostler for the wide receivers, Wilbert Montgomery for the running backs, or Wade Harman for the tight ends.
Harbaugh would be quick to praise them as well.
And then there’s the vaunted defense and those who help run it.
Former defensive coordinator and assistant head coach Rex Ryan will always be hailed in Baltimore as a defensive genius. But his successor, Greg Mattison, has quite a pedigree himself, coaching for such college powerhouses as Michigan and Florida before making the jump to the pros in 2008.
“Greg is a guy that I have full trust and belief in,” Harbaugh said of his new coordinator. “He’s been successful at every stop. He’s been a coordinator at the highest level of college football, won national championships, done it all, really, at that level.
"But [also], the job he did this year with our guys...He established himself as a premiere coach in the NFL. If you talk to our players, they will tell you the same thing.”
Once Ryan left for the New York Jets, Harbaugh promoted special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg to assistant head coach. Given Harbaugh’s background in special teams, this move emphasized the Ravens’ devotion to staying strong on that aspect of the game.
There were moments in 2008 in which special teams decisions proved turning points in the game, such as a fake field goal week 17 in a must-win against Dallas that helped sustain a drive and produce a touchdown.
Like the offense, the defense also has position coaches playing their parts, like Chuck Pagano and Mark Carrier for the secondary, or Clarence Brooks for the defensive line, and Vic Fangio for the linebackers.
Key moments called for key plays.
And those plays were called by the right coaches at the right time. The Ravens’ coaching staff paved the way for success in 2008. They intend to keep that momentum going for 2009.
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