It’s not all doom and gloom at The Castle.
Regardless of the result of the workforce’s negotiations with star quarterback Lamar Jackson, there’s religion within the Ravens’ new coordinator Todd Monken and his capacity to show round a sputtering offense.
Monken, who left Georgia after profitable back-to-back nationwide championships to affix the Ravens in mid-February, has but to name a play and spent the final two seasons as a university offensive coordinator, however his resume is definitely extra spectacular than Jackson’s postseason statistics and win-loss file.
Because of the stalled negotiations with their dynamic signal-caller, there appears to be some fear surrounding the Ravens and their capacity to construct a championship contender. There is extra doubt than ever on the whole supervisor Eric DeCosta with the ability to signal a extremely touted free agent receiver like Odell Beckham Jr. or make a commerce for Arizona’s DeAndre Hopkins, however the Ravens have at all times been reluctant to make these forms of offers.
Instead, they’ve at all times constructed by the draft. It’s why they’re in rivalry virtually yearly. And that brings me again to Monken.
It’s been enjoyable watching him dialing up performs at Georgia, and he definitely believes in attacking your entire discipline and taking part in to his strengths. When he was with Tampa Bay in 2018, the Buccaneers had just about no operating recreation however nonetheless led the NFL with 320.3 passing yards per recreation.
A 12 months later, as Cleveland’s offensive coordinator, the Browns receivers have been in complete disarray, so Monken relied on their robust operating recreation and Nick Chubb, who completed second within the league with 1,494 speeding yards and eight touchdowns. Quarterback Baker Mayfield nonetheless managed to throw for a career-high 3,827 yards.
At Georgia, the Bulldogs have been versatile because the they completed fifth within the nation in factors, averaging 39.8. That’s the hope for the Ravens in 2023 — that Monken can a minimum of get extra manufacturing out of the passing recreation to enrich the operating assault.
If that occurs, the Ravens might be aggressive within the mediocrity referred to as the NFL. Can they win a Super Bowl with out Jackson? No, not at this level, however they haven’t received one with him, both.
Jackson has received solely certainly one of 4 playoff video games, finishing 76 of 136 passes (55.9%). He has thrown for under three touchdowns, been intercepted 5 instances and sacked on 19 events. His passer score within the postseason is 68.3.
After Jackson dedicated two main turnovers late in a 24-20 loss to the New York Giants in Week 6 final season, the Ravens went conservative and turned their star right into a recreation supervisor.
With or with out Jackson, this passing recreation will change.
“There was nothing going on there from a scheme standpoint, a passing scheme,” stated ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. “Now you got Todd Monken, now you’re going to have some semblance, hopefully, a big-time semblance to a sophisticated passing offense.”
So no matter whether or not Jackson returns or the Ravens resort to backup Tyler Huntley or a veteran free agent or a rookie, Monken has expertise working with all sorts. The Bulldogs ran every little thing from pass-run choices, to straight dropbacks to an influence operating recreation.
The Ravens aren’t going to do something daring at this level, not with Jackson in hibernation. But they nonetheless signed veteran Nelson Agholor, and although he isn’t a real No. 1 receiver, he has sufficient velocity to make performs on the surface or within the slot.
The Ravens have wage cap points, having signed center linebacker Roquan Smith to a five-year, $100 million extension in January, they usually’ll need to pay Jackson $32.4 million if he indicators his nonexclusive tag for the 2023 season.
There are at all times methods to avoid the cap, however that’s not the Ravens’ model, which is why I believe the workforce has been posturing in coping with Beckham.
The similar monetary restraints have compelled the Ravens to permit free brokers corresponding to guard Ben Powers and defensive finish Calais Campbell to depart for different groups. Campbell’s management might be missed.
Overall, although, the Ravens’ protection was nearly as good as any not named the San Francisco 49ers in the course of the closing month of final season. They have a weak spot at cornerback however ought to be capable of fill that with certainly one of their 5 draft picks later this month. They want a move rusher, too, however second-year exterior linebacker David Ojabo has all of the bodily attributes to be excellent. Third-year professional Odafe Oweh might want to step up.
DeCosta has gotten lots of criticism not too long ago for permitting first-round draft picks corresponding to tight finish Hayden Hurst and wideout Marquise “Hollywood” Brown — and now probably Jackson — to depart.
Hurst didn’t do something in his two years with Atlanta and was a third- or fourth-down passing choice for Cincinnati final 12 months. Brown battled a foot damage, began 10 video games and had 67 receptions for 709 yards final season for the Cardinals, who traded a first-round decide for the wideout on the primary day of final 12 months’s draft.
DeCosta deserves criticism for drafting them within the first spherical, however a minimum of he traded them for good worth.
And now there’s Jackson.
A great settlement between either side can be for the Ravens to supply Jackson a three-year contract, two of these assured, price about $45 million a season.
But that received’t occur, a minimum of not on Jackson’s half. Unfortunately for him, no different workforce has reportedly made a proposal for the 2016 Heisman Trophy winner and 2019 NFL Most Valuable Player, so the Ravens could be caught with him.
That’s going to be a tough promote within the Ravens’ locker room. Maybe Jackson exhibits up for coaching camp on time, and perhaps he doesn’t. Maybe he’ll miss the ultimate month of the season the way in which he has the previous two years due to well being considerations.
The solely manner for Jackson to grow to be a celebrity in Baltimore once more is for him to win massive, which means he has to go deep into the playoffs or win the Super Bowl.
But for proper now, I’ll journey the Monken practice. At least I do know he’ll present up.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com