Todd Monken is a well-respected offensive coordinator in each professional and faculty soccer, however he has stepped into some robust conditions throughout his two earlier stints within the NFL.
He’ll be underneath related strain in Baltimore.
Monken, 57, was named the Ravens’ new offensive coordinator on Tuesday, changing Greg Roman, who was underneath strain and parted methods with the crew on Jan. 19. In Baltimore, Monken should put some zip right into a passing assault that final 12 months ranked twenty eighth and make it extra complementary to the league’s No. 2 speeding assault.
Considering Monken’s pedigree, there ought to be optimism in regards to the rent. With quarterbacks Jameis Winston and Ryan Fitzpatrick, he improved the Buccaneers in three seasons there. He couldn’t work the identical magic in Cleveland in 2019 as a result of the Browns receivers’ room with Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry was too dysfunctional and the egos of Beckham and quarterback Baker Mayfield typically collided. Cleveland ranked twenty second in factors scored and whole yards that season underneath Monken.
The Ravens have their very own issues.
Disgruntled star quarterback Lamar Jackson may very well be traded if he and the crew don’t conform to a long-term contract extension, and the Ravens don’t have a respectable No. 1 receiver on the roster. Their greatest cross catcher is tight finish Mark Andrews.
So, plenty of work needs to be executed, and the strain is excessive as a result of the offense reached a brand new low degree of incompetency a 12 months in the past.
Monken’s background at Georgia is spectacular. His offenses improved annually since 2020, and this previous season the Bulldogs led the nation in whole web yards at 7,517 and whole factors with 616 as former walk-on quarterback Stetson Bennett threw for 4,127 yards and 27 touchdowns and was a Heisman Trophy finalist.
Monken loves the bottom recreation, however he’s a disciple of the “Air Raid” passing system, which was popularized by coaches like Mike Leach and Sonny Dykes. It’s run out of the shotgun formation with 4 receivers and one working again, however Monken will give opposing groups an assortment of seems to be, together with run-pass choices, a significant part of the school recreation.
So, the Ravens will most likely keep run-heavy however a minimum of have the performs and the scheme to stability up extra, particularly within the postseason.
I’m not too involved about Monken’s brief tenures as offensive coordinator for different NFL groups. In 2018 with Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers had the NFL’s greatest passing assault, main the league with 320.3 yards per recreation and ending third in whole offense (415 yards per recreation).
In 2019, Monken directed a Cleveland offense that featured working again Nick Chubb, who was second within the league in speeding yards (1,494). Monken, although, by no means known as the performs, a accountability coach Freddie Kitchens didn’t relinquish. That state of affairs was a catastrophe with Kitchens lasting just one 12 months.
The Ravens have some points to resolve. The crew hasn’t been in a position to attain a long-term take care of Jackson, leaving questions on who is likely to be underneath middle for 2023. Monken likes to stretch defenses and throw exterior the numbers, however Jackson has issue making reads to the surface and he was lifeless final in accuracy fee as solely 22.6% of his deep balls final season had been thrown precisely.
But there are plenty of positives about this rent. Monken is used to working with younger quarterbacks, and Jackson is simply 26. If the Ravens determine to draft Jackson’s alternative, Monken is skilled there, too.
The strain, although, isn’t simply on Monken. Because of previous success, the Ravens want to seek out him some expertise as effectively. How about drafting a prime receiver as an alternative of 1 that was injured his senior 12 months in faculty? Maybe now the Ravens would possibly be capable to lure a prime free-agent receiver to Baltimore as a result of they’re extra liable to throw as an alternative of being so run-heavy underneath Roman.
There was hypothesis the Ravens had been concerned with hiring Kansas City offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, however they weren’t severe. Harbaugh needed an skilled coordinator, one who had known as his personal performs.
He obtained one, a very good one, although he’s entering into a large number.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com