Offensive Coordinator

When almost everyone else thought the team was coming apart, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome thought his team was coming together. It's hard to see a turnaround when a team fires its offensive coordinator during a losing streak late in the season, but Newsome didn't blink after the 34-17 loss to Denver on Dec. 16th, the team's third straight. "I think there were two turning points in the season," Newsome said. "In the Denver game, we were just starting to get healthy again for the first time.

Minutes after toppling the New England Patriots in the AFC championship, Ravens offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell pointed out that his collaboration with quarterback Joe Flacco is just beginning. Under the direction of Caldwell, in his first time calling plays at the NFL level, the Ravens have reached the Super Bowl while upgrading their offensive production and precision. And Flacco is playing arguably the best football of his career with 10 touchdowns and zero interceptions in the past five games.

Since firing offensive coordinator Cam Cameron in early December, the Ravens have entrusted Jim Caldwell with running the offense. Having reached the Super Bowl behind an offense clicking with Caldwell at the controls, his status as offensive coordinator has been extended at least through next season. Ravens coach John Harbaugh announced Monday that the former Indianapolis Colts head coach and quarterbacks coach has agreed to remain as offensive coordinator going forward. "He's really a solid football coach, first of all," Harbaugh said.

When historians look back on the Ravens' 2012 season, they will remember offensive coordinator Cam Cameron being fired and replaced by Jim Caldwell. They will talk about quarterback Joe Flacco's clutch performances in the postseason and how star linebacker Ray Lewis's decision to retire inspired this team. But the best move came two weeks ago when Ravens coach John Harbaugh inserted Bryant McKinnie at left offensive tackle, moved Michael Oher to right tackle and rookie Kelechi Osemele to left guard.

Despite the lack of a big play in the running game early in the third quarter, the Ravens kept pounding and pounding away at the Denver Broncos' front seven. And with each rushing attempt came more criticism until running back Ray Rice produced a 32-yard run late in the third period that eventually led to a 1-yard touchdown run just over a minute later. Finally, old school football might have returned to Baltimore with new offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell. The Ravens haven't seen this type of patience or discipline on offense since Ted Marchibroda was coach in the 1990s.

Offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell and special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg probably exhaled mightily after rookie kicker Justin Tucker nailed a 47-yard field goal to give the Ravens a 38-35 win against the Denver Broncos in double overtime Saturday night, but for different reasons. Caldwell didn't have to call another offensive play against a Broncos defense that had finished the regular season ranked second in yards allowed and fourth in points surrendered. But Caldwell called a largely masterful game against Denver.

The improvements in the Ravens offense during the past two weeks can be contributed to the play of quarterback Joe Flacco and the play-calling of offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell. But the most significant improvement has been the addition of left offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie. McKinnie has started the past two games, forcing tackle Michael Oher to the right side and Kelechi Osemele to start at left guard. Since then, Flacco has rarely been touched and getting more time to throw.

It's been four games since Jim Caldwell replaced Cam Cameron as the team's offensive coordinator. One might think that Caldwell is feeling comfortable with his role, but he disagreed Thursday with the notion that he is “settled in.” “I don't think we ever really feel comfortable and settled in,” he said. “But I'm a bit more familiar with some things. But it's a real challenge, calling plays and adjusting. But I've got a lot of help with assistant coaches that are on the staff.

The Indianapolis Colts' nine points in Sunday's 15-point loss to the Ravens in Sunday's AFC wild-card playoff round, matched a season low when the team fell to the New York Jets, 35-9, on Oct. 14. Critics might point to the absence of offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, who was hospitalized at a Baltimore-area hospital Sunday morning with serious flu-like symptoms, but wide receiver Reggie Wayne downplayed the impact of having quarterbacks coach...

The Indianapolis Colts' reversal from a 2-14 record in 2011 to an 11-5 mark this season could largely be traced to Andrew Luck, who established several NFL rookie records this season. But to his teammates, Luck is still a 23-year-old first-year player who isn't too old to understand his role on a team filled with veterans. "I think there are times when, yeah, you don't feel like a rookie, I guess," Luck said. "But there are still times when you feel like a rookie when you carry Dwight Freeney's jersey in after practice.