QB coach knows drill
Having tutored Vick, Urban has feel for Jackson.
During a Tuesday BALTIMORE— meeting in the second week of the 2010 season, Michael Vick knew there was something special about James Urban, the Ravens’ new quarter backs coach who was then in his second season in that same position with the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Week 2 matchup against the Detroit Lions would be Vick’s first start at quarterbacksince2006, after jail time for his involvement in a dogfighting ring kept him away from the sport. He was nervous.
“I went to his office on Tuesday early to get a look at thedefense, andI remember him vividly telling me, ‘Mike, this is going to be one of the weeks where you have to work as hard as you’ve ever worked in your life because this is a really, really good defense,’” Vick recalled.
Urban’s presence focused Vick. The then-30-year-old quarterback overwhelmed the Lions, completing 21 of 34 passes for 284 yards and two touchdownswhile running for 37 yards in a 35-32 victory. Itwas the beginning of a career-defining season for Vick, who earned NFL Comeback Player of theYear award with 30 touchdowns (21 passing) and 3,018 passing yards.
It’s nowonder Vick refers to Urban as “the biggest key in my career.”
“He really instilled confidence inme that I really had a lot of time left to do some great things,” he said. “The details of thegameplans, just him making sure I understood it, really helpedmeblossom into the quarterback that I had become that season.”
Now the Ravens quarterbacks coach, Urban must gain the respect of his new teambeforehis firstgameon M&T Bank Stadium’s home sideline, a key for taking on balancing rookie LamarJackson and veteran Joe Flacco.
It’s a good thing he’s done this before.
In 2009, then-Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb pushed for Philadelphia to signVick, which puthis eventual successor on the roster with him. At the time, McNabb said hewasn’t pressured by Vick.
“I wouldn’t have a problem with it if it’s helping us win,” McNabb told ESPN.
There was even the suggestion that Vickwould play receiver at times. Instead, the Eagles tabbed Vick to make plays with his feet. In 2009, he finished with 95 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Already, Urban has taken creative liberties with his Ravens quarterbacks that might translate to the field come September. With Flacco still the starter and Jackson in line to be the primary backup, Urban has experimented with using both on the field at the same time, with Jackson in a role that might resemble a receiver.
Not too long ago, the idea of getting moved to wide receiver would offend Jackson to the point of him refusing to run the 40-yard dash at theNFLscouting combine.
But with Urban at the wheel, the rookie seems to have faith.
“It’s pretty cool,” Jackson said on the last day of mandatory minicamp. “Gotta hit ‘em where it hurts.”
Urban collaborated with the Ravens’ strength and conditioning staff since the combine to get Jackson’s body ready for the rigors of the NFL. In the handful of work days, the quarterbacks coach prioritized playbook knowledge for Jackson, and said he sawremarkable improvement on the final day of minicamp.
“I tell him all the time, ‘That’s my responsibility, and you have to do the job,’” Urban said. “Together, we’re hooked at the hip to get him up to speed with it.”
Jackson has already been compared several times to a young Vick, who in turn referred to Jackson as a “spitting image” of himself after the Louisville quarterback rushed for 146 yards and passed for 210 with five touchdowns (four passing) to rout Florida State, 63-20, in 2016.
It’s for that reason that Vick believes having Urban mentoring Jackson won’t be too different from what Urban did eight years ago, albeit with awealth of experience added in between.
“James is really, really laid back to a point where he doesn’t have to be a ‘rahrah’ guy to gain control,” he said. “I think man to man, ( Jackson’s) going to want to give him the respect just because you know he’s put the time and the work in throughout the week to get the quarterback successful. That’s a trait that’ll be a big reason he’ll progress in the coaching realm.”
Over his 15-year NFL career, Urban has neverwon a SuperBowl ring. Butduring a seven-year stint as Cincinnati Bengals wide receivers coach, he helped the team reach the playoffs in five straight seasons, from 2011 to 2015, and helped them eliminate the Ravens from postseason contention in Week 17 this past year.
“Playing theBengals twice a year, we’ve seen what a good job James does,” coach John Harbaugh said in January. “He’s highly regarded around the league. ... We were all excited when he became available.”
Urban worked alongside Harbaugh with the Eagles for five years. He spent four under Ravens offensive coordinatorMartyMornhinweg, two as the quarterbacks coach.
He then accepted a job as Bengals wide receivers coach in 2011, citing his desire to broaden his horizons in coaching.
Ontop of his long resume, Urban is bringing a philosophy he’s built over his years in the AFC.
“Two things I emphasize like crazy: compete, and complete the ball,” he said.
Urban’s outlook for his new team and position group: “Everything’s awork in progress,” he said. “We’re heading in the right direction, andthere’smuch, much to do.”