Hue Jackson

N ews item: Former Ravens quarterbacks coach Hue Jackson has been hired by the Oakland Raiders to be head coach Tom Cable's offensive coordinator. My take: It's fair to wonder why anyone would want to join the dysfunctional Raiders organization, but Cable's situation is so tenuous that Jackson's got a puncher's chance of opening next season as head coach. Related news item: The Ravens have hired former New England Patriots defensive coordinator Dean Pees to be the new linebackers coach, replacing the departed Vic Fangio.

If the Ravens are playing this weekend, you can bet there is someone somewhere wondering if offensive coordinator Cam Cameron is coaching for his job. And maybe he is. Cameron has been a popular punching bag when things haven't gone well this season. He was caught for a time in the middle of a tug-of-war between quarterback Joe Flacco and running back Ray Rice to determine the identity of the Ravens offense. He is an easy target for criticism when that offense stalls because, well, he's the guy with the car keys.

As the Bears' search for an offensive coordinator enters its third week, Ravens quarterbacks coach Hue Jackson flew Monday to Chicago, where he will meet with general manager Jerry Angelo and coach Lovie Smith today. Jackson, who interviewed for the offensive coordinator position for the Oakland Raiders, according to a source with knowledge of the situation, enters the picture while Ken Zampese is now off the list. Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis told the Tribune that Zampese will remain as the team's quarterbacks coach.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh is saying the right things these days. He is going to be more involved in the offense next season. He says he will be holding offensive coordinator Cam Cameron fully responsible, and wants an improved running game in 2011. Last week at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, Harbaugh said quarterback Joe Flacco, entering his fourth season, will have more responsibility in the offense, and the Ravens will add more short passing plays to quicken Flacco's release.

The Ravens added two coaches to John Harbaugh's staff yesterday, hiring Hue Jackson as the quarterbacks coach and Andy Moeller as an assistant offensive line coach. Jackson, who was the Atlanta Falcons' offensive coordinator this past season, was the offensive coordinator for the Washington Redskins under then-head coach Steve Spurrier in 2003 and the wide receivers coach for the Cincinnati Bengals from 2004 through 2006. "One of the main attributes we're looking for in assembling this staff is great communication.

McKinney spent two seasons with the San Diego Chargers before being released Oct. 4. Four days later, he was signed by the Ravens. McKinney is still dealing with that and going undrafted, as well as a certain phobia. Question: How did you feel about being waived by the Chargers? Answer: Still have a chip on my shoulder for getting released by San Diego and everything. I don't want to say I should have been drafted. Everybody always says that. That's a played-out excuse. But I feel ... I'm better than they thought I was. Q: Did you have a childhood fear?

Ravens quarterbacks coach Hue Jackson spent a third straight day in Oakland interviewing with the Raiders for a coaching position Thursday. Despite media reports that Raiders owner Al Davis has recently been interviewing candidates for an assistant coaching position, it should not come as a surprise if Raiders coach Tom Cable is fired and Jackson replaces him, according to a source. The Raiders could not be reached for comment. The Raiders like Jackson, 45, because he played a major part in the development of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer, and Oakland also likes what he has done working with Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco the past two seasons.

MOBILE, Ala. - - As the Bears' search for an offensive coordinator enters its third week, Ravens quarterbacks coach Hue Jackson flew Monday to Chicago, where he will meet with general manager Jerry Angelo and coach Lovie Smith today. Jackson, who interviewed for the offensive coordinator position for the Oakland Raiders, according to a source with knowledge of the situation, enters the picture while Ken Zampese is now off the list. Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis told the Tribune that Zampese will remain as the team's quarterbacks coach.

Hue Jackson is becoming one of the best-kept secrets in the AFC North. Who? Hue. He is the assistant coach who tutored quarterback Carson Palmer at Southern California, and then helped develop him with the Cincinnati Bengals. He is the Ravens' assistant coach in charge of developing rookie quarterback Joe Flacco. "He has a wealth of knowledge about the game, and has coached in a lot of different offensive systems," said Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, a former Ravens defensive coordinator.

The Ravens fired quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn on Thursday and immediately expanded offensive coordinator Cam Cameron's responsibilities with quarterbacks. Zorn's release came after a seven-hour meeting this week with Cameron and coach John Harbaugh in which they questioned him about Joe Flacco's development this season, a league source said. Instead of hiring a new quarterbacks coach, Harbaugh decided that Cameron will have more hands-on duties with the quarterbacks. "We've talked about this since the end of the season, and we believe this will help improve our offense," Harbaugh said.

The Ravens are acting as if they finished 5-13 instead of 13-5. They've fired offensive line coach John Matsko. They've fired quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn. They've made head coach John Harbaugh more accountable by asking him to be more involved in the offense. Maybe these turn out to be great moves, but the central figure to the problems of a year ago has gone unscathed, and that's offensive coordinator Cam Cameron. How is he going to fix this mess? The firings of Matsko and Zorn are mere Band-Aids to what this offense needs, which is either a change in philosophy, or schemes.

The Ravens fired quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn on Thursday and immediately expanded offensive coordinator Cam Cameron's responsibilities with quarterbacks. Zorn's release came after a seven-hour meeting this week with Cameron and coach John Harbaugh in which they questioned him about Joe Flacco's development this season, a league source said. Instead of hiring a new quarterbacks coach, Harbaugh decided that Cameron will have more hands-on duties with the quarterbacks. "We've talked about this since the end of the season, and we believe this will help improve our offense," Harbaugh said.

Despite an impressive showing in 2010, the Ravens are back where they were a year ago. At the annual state of the Ravens dog and pony show Thursday in Owings Mills, the major players in the Ravens front office staff were basically asked the same questions as last season. Will the Ravens sign a big, vertical threat at wide receiver? Is Joe Flacco the quarterback of the future? What happened to the passing game? Can the Ravens beat Pittsburgh (last year, it was the Colts) in a big game in the postseason?

Niners poised to rise Sam Farmer Los Angeles Times The biggest surprise will be the 49ers, and the biggest disappointment will be the Vikings. The 49ers have gone seven seasons without making the playoffs. That drought will end. For the first time in a long while, they are the stable team in the NFC West, having made no changes at coach, either coordinator or quarterback. They were close to a breakthrough last season when they went 5-1 in the division and swept the Cardinals.

News item:: Former Ravens quarterbacks coach Hue Jackson has been hired by the Oakland Raiders to be head coach Tom Cable's offensive coordinator. My take:: It's fair to wonder why anyone would want to join the dysfunctional Raiders organization, but Cable's situation is so tenuous that Jackson's got a puncher's chance of opening next season as head coach. Related news item:: The Ravens have hired former New England Patriots defensive coordinator Dean Pees to be the new linebackers coach, replacing the departed Vic Fangio.

In a week when changes were made to their coaching staff, the Ravens still have one more hire to make - and it could be the most important one of the offseason. The Ravens need to find a new quarterbacks coach after Hue Jackson agreed to become the Oakland Raiders' offensive coordinator Tuesday. The team is expected to look at Jim Zorn and Al Saunders for a position that will be key in the development of second-year quarterback Joe Flacco. Zorn, 56, who was fired as the Washington Redskins' head coach after two last-place finishes, has expressed interest in the Ravens job, a league source said.

It's only one game into the NFL season, but Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron has already eased concerns about which direction the offense is heading. Under the previous coaching regime, there were constant questions about coach Brian Billick's strategy and play-calling, and concerns that he lacked a feel for the game. But after 3 1/2 hours and a 17-10 win against the Cincinnati Bengals in the season opener Sunday, fans witnessed real offensive football for the first time since Ted Marchibroda was the coach here in the mid-1990s.

In a week when changes were made to their coaching staff, the Ravens still have one more hire to make - and it could be the most important one of the offseason. The Ravens need to find a new quarterbacks coach after Hue Jackson agreed to become the Oakland Raiders' offensive coordinator Tuesday. The team is expected to look at Jim Zorn and Al Saunders for a position that will be key in the development of second-year quarterback Joe Flacco. Zorn, 56, who was fired as the Washington Redskins' head coach after two last-place finishes, has expressed interest in the Ravens job, a league source said.