The Ravens’ offseason has been a sea of change. Quarterback Lamar Jackson obtained a model new contract, and Baltimore obtained a model new offensive coordinator and a cadre of newest massive receivers.
However there’s moreover a well known face amongst all that restructuring.
Tee Martin, who spent the earlier two seasons as Baltimore’s massive receivers coach, was named quarterbacks coach in February, taking over for James City.
For Martin, it’s a return to his pure place — he quarterbacked Tennessee to a nationwide championship in 1998. However with it moreover comes a positive diploma of scrutiny as he tries to help Jackson return to the form that earned the quarterback the NFL Most Beneficial Participant award in 2019.
“You’re teaching a quarterback who’s totally different than numerous … different quarterbacks,” Martin acknowledged remaining week all through voluntary organized workforce actions, which conclude this week in Owings Mills sooner than mandatory minicamp begins subsequent Tuesday. “[It’s] similar to how I performed, however manner higher.”
Certainly.
Whereas City, who had labored with Jackson since his rookie 12 months in 2018 and is now a senior soccer analyst with the workforce, was the place coach, the quarterback hasn’t come close to matching the output he had all through that dazzling 2019 season. After throwing for 3,127 yards, an NFL-best 36 touchdowns and dashing for 1,206 yards and seven further scores in 2019, Jackson’s numbers have since dropped off.
A few of that might presumably be outlined by accidents — Jackson has missed 11 video video games over the earlier two seasonsSome of it may presumably be attributed to the scarcity of playmakers throughout the quarterback, significantly at massive receiver. And some of it may presumably be excused away attributable to former coordinator Greg Roman’s proclivity for a run-heavy offense.
However that was then.
Now, Jackson, who signed a five-year extension worth a reported $260 million remaining month that makes him the highest-paid quarterback inside the NFL per 12 months, has a coordinator in Todd Monken who has preached a further up-tempo tempo with further passing and fewer working. He moreover has receivers Odell Beckham Jr., rookie Zay Flowers and veteran Nelson Agholor (along with the return of a healthful Rashod Bateman and tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Possible).
Then there’s Martin.
He obtained right here to Baltimore after eight years at Southern California and two further at his alma mater. Alongside the best way through which, he helped develop quite a few future NFL receivers. As massive receivers coach the ultimate two seasons for the Ravens, though, the group struggled, ending remaining inside the league in receiving yards this earlier season. However Martin was hardly the one accountable. Final offseason, the Ravens traded their most effective receiver, Marquise Brown, whereas Bateman, a 2021 first-round select, has carried out merely 18 video video games his first two seasons as he’s battled accidents.
Martin, 44, was moreover a candidate for the Indianapolis Colts’ offensive coordinator job this offseason, if there was any question about his functionality.
“Tee is a quarterback man,” Harbaugh acknowledged in March. “He performed the place, research the place, and I can let you know this: Once we interviewed him for it, he blew us out of the water with it.”
Now it’ll be as a lot as Martin to do the an identical to Jackson.
Although it’s early inside the offseason, Jackson has favored what he has seen out of Monken’s new offense and in flip Martin. By means of the first two weeks of the media viewing elements of voluntary organized workforce actions, there was a healthful dose of run-pass decisions, screens, routes out of the backfield and occasional deep throws.
There’s an emphasis on being further dynamic — and on giving Jackson further administration.
“Coach [Monken] is principally simply giving us the keys to the offense,” Jackson acknowledged remaining month. “You may change issues while you need to. You see the protection, [and if] it’s not trying proper to you, you see a man blitzing, [or] you may want your receiver to do one thing totally different, Coach has given you the free will to do no matter you need to.”
Nonetheless, there’s an prolonged choice to go and nonetheless slightly lots to be taught for Jackson. The obligation of getting the quarterback the place he should be will fall on Martin.
Jackson has appeared inconsistent so far, nonetheless it’s solely June.
“The very first thing is the brand new system and the best way we do issues within the new system — the drop footwork, the play motion footwork, the place our eyes go, progressions, reads, the kind of accuracy we have now to have, anticipation, ball location, issues of that nature,” Martin acknowledged.
Even when Martin didn’t play the game on the an identical stage that Jackson has — he appeared in merely three video video games all through two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Oakland Raiders — having any person who carried out the place helps.
“I believe there’s a consolation degree with that, and once I say one thing to him or counsel one thing, it goes somewhat bit additional,” Martin acknowledged. “The consolation degree is there, and the belief is there.”
All that’s left are the outcomes.
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