Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh added two more coaches to his staff today, including quarterbacks coach Hue Jackson, who has been an offensive coordinator for both the Falcons (2007) and the Redskins (2003).
Harbaugh also hired Andy Moeller, the highly-respected offensive line coach (2002-07) at the University of Michigan. Moeller will serve as the Ravens’ assistant offensive line coach. John Matsko joined Baltimore last week as the offensive line coach.
“One of the main attributes we’re looking for in assembling this staff is great communication. Hue Jackson has that. He’s known for getting the players’ attention and taking them to a higher level of play,†said head coach John Harbaugh. “His experience at coordinating, both in the NFL and in college, adds some real strength to our offensive group. When [Ravens offensive coordinator] Cam [Cameron] and I first talked about putting this offensive staff together, we targeted Hue, and we’re excited he decided to join us.â€
“I’m very excited. The opportunity to work with John Harbaugh and Cam Cameron was an ideal situation for me,†said Ravens quarterbacks coach Hue Jackson. “Coach Harbaugh’s attention to detail, his fiery style and his leadership make him someone you love to follow into battle. Coach Cameron has put together many great offenses, and working with him give me more of an opportunity to grow as a football coach.â€
“Look at all the Michigan linemen Andy coached who are currently in the NFL. And, he has a top 10 pick (T Jake Long) in this year’s draft,†said Ravens director of college scouting Eric DeCosta. “His approach, with his attention to detail, will help elevate our linemen. I think they’ll respond to him.â€
Bios of Jackson and Moeller are below:
HUE JACKSON
Quarterbacks Coach
College: University of the Pacific
Years with the Ravens: 1
Years in the NFL: 8
Years in coaching: 22
HS: Dorsey (Los Angeles) HS
Born: October 22, 1965, Los Angeles, CA
Hue Jackson joined the Baltimore Ravens as the team’s quarterbacks coach on February 5, 2008. The versatile Jackson has headed a number of offensive positions over the course of his 22-year coaching career. He has served as offensive coordinator for 2 NFL teams (Atlanta, 2007 and Washington, 2003) and 2 NCAA teams (USC, 1997-2000 and California, 1996).
Jackson spent 1 year in Atlanta as the Falcons’ offensive coordinator, but was faced with adversity from the start. The team lost starting QB Michael Vick for the season, and his 3 backups, all new to Atlanta in 2007, each played a role, filling in for the former Pro Bowler over the course of the season. Jackson and the Falcons also faced the in-season departure of head coach Bobby Petrino.
Prior to joining the Falcons, Jackson tutored the talented Cincinnati Bengals’ wide receivers. Under his tenure (2004-06), Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh became one of the most prolific wide receiving tandems in Bengals and NFL history. In 2006, Johnson (1,369) and Houshmandzadeh (1,081) became the 1st pair of Bengals to eclipse the 1,000-yard receiving mark in the same season. Johnson’s total led the NFL in receiving yards, and for the 4th-consecutive season, his yards were tops in the AFC. It was the 1st time a player had led his conference in receiving yards in 4 straight seasons.
Under Jackson’s guidance, Johnson set both NFL and Cincinnati team records. In 2006, he established an NFL record for most receiving yards in consecutive games with 450 and a Bengals’ record for the most single-game receiving yards with 260 (against San Diego). The Pro Bowl receiver also set the top 4 marks for receiving yards in a season in Bengals history. He also holds the team record for most 100-yard receiving games (26).
Jackson’s tutelage extended to the rest of the Bengals’ strong receiving corps as well. Houshmandzadeh, a former 7th-round draft pick, played a key role on Cincinnati’s powerful offense with Jackson as his coach. His receiving numbers progressed each year, peaking in Jackson’s final year in Cincinnati, when the receiver totaled then-career highs with 90 catches for 1,081 yards. Jackson helped Houshmandzadeh’s career take off, helping him improve each season. In 2007, Jackson’s 1st year away from the wideout, T.J. tied for the NFL lead with 112 catches for 1,143 yards and earned his 1st Pro Bowl nod. Jackson also worked with Bengals talented young receiver Chris Henry, helping him to produce career highs in receptions (36), yards (605) and TDs (9) in 2006.
In 2005, Jackson’s 2nd year in Cincinnati, the Johnson-Houshmandzadeh tandem combined to total 175 receptions for 2,388 yards, while helping the Bengals secure the AFC North title and a playoff berth for the 1st time in 10 years. The pair scored 27 of the team’s 48 TDs in 2005, helping the Bengals finish 4th in the NFL in scoring (26.3 points per game). Jackson joined the Bengals’ staff in 2004, providing immediate leadership for the young receiving unit.
In 2003, Jackson was promoted to Washington’s offensive coordinator by head coach Steve Spurrier, the year before Spurrier resigned. He was charged by the head coach with handling the team’s offensive play-calling, becoming the only coach to perform that duty by someone other than Spurrier (during the head coach’s NFL tenure.) Cincinnati head coach Marvin Lewis quickly hired Jackson, with whom he had worked while Lewis was the Redskins’ defensive coordinator (2002).
As the Redskins’ running backs coach (2001-02), Jackson coached former Pro Bowl RB Stephen Davis to a career-high 1,432 rushing yards in 2001. In 2002, Davis was on pace for another 1,000-yard rushing season before suffering a season-ending injury.
Before entering the NFL teaching ranks with the Redskins, Jackson spent 14 years coaching in the NCAA. He was USC’s offensive coordinator from 1997-2000, helping to recruit and develop QB Carson Palmer, with whom he was later reunited in Cincinnati. Palmer, whose 1st year at USC was 1998, became the NFL’s No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft by the Bengals and is already a 2-time Pro Bowler.
Jackson began his coaching career at his alma mater, University of the Pacific in 1987. After 3 seasons, he became an assistant at Cal State-Fullerton (1990-91) and then spent the spring of 1991 gaining pro coaching experience as a RBs/WRs/Special Teams coach for the London Monarchs of the World League.
The Los Angeles native coached at Arizona State (1992-95) and Cal (1996), before moving back to his hometown to coach at USC. As Cal’s offensive coordinator, Jackson helped lead the Golden Bears to an Aloha Bowl berth.
In addition to his stint with the Monarchs, Jackson furthered his pro coaching experience by serving training camp internships with 3 NFL teams: Los Angeles Rams (1990), Arizona Cardinals (1992) and Washington Redskins (1995).
Jackson, born 10/22/65 in Los Angeles, was a QB at Pacific from 1985-86, throwing for 2,544 yards and 19 TDs in his career. He also lettered in basketball in 1986. Jackson was a star QB for Dorsey (Los Angeles) HS.
ANDY MOELLER
Assistant Offensive Line Coach
College: Michigan
Years with the Ravens: 1
Years in the NFL: 1
Years in coaching: 21
HS: Pioneer (Ann Arbor, MI) HS
Born: June 15, 1964, Grand Rapids, MI
Andy Moeller (pronounced: MOLE-ur) became the Baltimore Ravens’ assistant offensive line coach on February 5, 2008. Moeller, who has 21 years of coaching experience on the collegiate level, joins the NFL ranks for the 1st time in his career.
Moeller’s experience coaching college offensive linemen speaks for itself. During his 6 years coaching the o-line at Michigan, Andy coached 2 All-Americans: C David Bass (2004) and T Jake Long (2006-07), who is projected to be a top 10 selection in this year’s NFL Draft. Under Moeller, Michigan has dominated the All-Big Ten selections list for offensive linemen, and many of his pupils have gone on to successful NFL careers.
Moeller’s success in teaching offensive line play throughout his 6-year tenure in the position is evident by the exceptional awards and accolades the linemen and running backs have received. Michigan has had a stellar running game, led by All-American RBs Chris Perry and Mike Hart and has also been strong at pass blocking. In 2004, the Michigan line was anchored by Bass, the co-recipient of the Rimington Trophy (the nation’s outstanding center). Bass was joined by teammates RG Matt Lentz and LT Adam Stenavich on the 1st-team All-Big Ten team. Long was awarded 2nd-team honors that same year.
The son of former Michigan head coach, Gary Moeller, Andy joined the Michigan football team in 2000 to coach the offensive tackles and tight ends. He became the Wolverines’ offensive line coach in 2002. His line helped pave the way for a 1,000-yard rusher in 5 out of 6 years: twice by 2003 Doak Walker Award winner Perry (2002-03) and 3 times by Michigan’s all-time leading rusher Hart (2004, 2006-07).
As the Wolverines’ tackles/tight ends coach, Moeller led another strong group. His deep TEs unit caught a total 52 passes for 471 yards and 3 TDs in 2001, and in 2000, the TEs overcame an opening-game injury to co-captain Shawn Thompson to produce another solid collective season, both in pass-catching and run-blocking.
Prior to joining his alma mater, Moeller spent 6 seasons at the University of Missouri, coaching the offensive line from 1997-99 and helping coach Mizzou’s TEs, tackles and special teams when he first arrived in Columbia (1994-96). Over the 3-year period when he led the O-line, the Tigers ranked among the nation’s top 10 in rushing yards per game. In those 3 years, Missouri had 3 offensive linemen earn All-Big 12 1st-team honors. Andy was also promoted to run game coordinator during his tenure at Missouri.
Moeller’s 1st coaching appointment was at Indiana University as a graduate assistant coach (1987). He moved on to coach at Army (1988-93), directing the O-line, inside linebackers and special teams over the course of 6 years.
A 4-year letterman (1983-86) and 2-year starter at linebacker for Michigan, Moeller was co-captain of the 1986 Rose Bowl team as a senior. He earned All-Big Ten 1st-team honors after leading the team with 138 tackles. He still ranks 12th on the school’s all-time list for career tackles (326). He graduated from Michigan with a bachelor of arts degree in economics and communications (1987).
Moeller, who was an All-State player at Pioneer (Ann Arbor, MI) HS before starring at Michigan, is married to Molly, another Michigan alumna. They have 4 children: Charlie, Nick, Olivia and Melanie.
