Ravens keep run-game architect Roman, hire new quarterbacks coach

The man who orchestrated a 2017 turnaround for the Ravens running game is staying put.
Senior offensive assistant and tight ends coach Greg Roman has re-signed with Baltimore despite growing concerns that he might depart for an opportunity elsewhere. Head coach John Harbaugh has promoted him to the title of assistant head coach, but Roman will continue his work with the tight ends as well as overseeing the running game.
“I’m thrilled to be back with the people and organization that is the Ravens,” Roman said to the team’s official website. “I enjoy coming to work every day and look forward to building upon what we did this year.”
After finishing 26th in run offense in 2015 and 28th in 2016, the Ravens hired Roman to rediscover the ground productivity that had disappeared since Gary Kubiak’s lone season in 2014. Abandoning their zone-heavy schemes in favor of a more multiple approach under Roman, the Ravens finished 11th in the NFL in rushing yards per game despite being without six-time Pro Bowl right guard Marshal Yanda for most of the year and losing projected starting left guard Alex Lewis for the season during training camp.
Picked up after being cut by Seattle at the end of the preseason, second-year running back Alex Collins flourished in Baltimore, ranking 11th in the NFL with 973 rushing yards and averaging 4.6 yards per carry.
A day after leaving open the possibility of adding a quarterbacks coach, Harbaugh hired James Urban, who had worked in Cincinnati as the wide receivers coach for the last seven years. Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg coached the quarterbacks the last three seasons, but Urban will take over those duties and previously served as the quarterbacks coach for Philadelphia from 2009-10 when Mornhinweg was the offensive coordinator for the Eagles. Urban worked with the accomplished Donovan McNabb as well as Michael Vick, who enjoyed a renaissance Pro Bowl season under his tutelage in 2010.
“I want to win football games, do what it takes to win football games, and put people in place to win football games,” Urban said in a statement. “The Ravens are about tough, physical, disciplined football, and those are appealing things to me. Obviously, Marty and I coached together for seven years, and he has guided me in many ways — in terms of what I believe about quarterback play and offensive play. I am really excited to be back with Marty and to go to work.”
The Ravens will hope Urban has a positive impact on Joe Flacco, who is coming off one of the more trying seasons of his 10-year career. His 5.72 yards per attempt average was the worst of his career and ranked last among qualified NFL quarterbacks. Excluding Flacco’s injury-shortened 2015 campaign, his 3,141 passing yards were his lowest total since his rookie year. Flacco did rebound over the final five games of the season, throwing nine touchdowns and posting a 91.4 passer rating while tossing only two interceptions.
Urban began his NFL coaching career with the Eagles in 2003 when Harbaugh was still the special teams coordinator under Andy Reid. The 44-year-old remained in that organization until being hired by Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis in 2011.
“Playing the Bengals twice a year, we’ve seen what a good job James does,” Harbaugh said in a statement. “He’s highly regarded around the league, including by Ozzie [Newsome] and Marty. We were all excited when he became available.”
The Ravens have yet to fill their vacant defensive coordinator position after the retirement of Dean Pees earlier this week, but former Indianapolis head coach and one-time Baltimore defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano and linebackers coach Don “Wink” Martindale are believed to be the top candidates for the job.