BALTIMORE — Todd Monken is a well-respected offensive coordinator in both pro and college football, but he has stepped into some tough situations during his two previous stints in the NFL.
He’ll be under similar pressure in Baltimore.
Monken, 57, was named the Ravens’ new offensive coordinator on Tuesday, replacing Greg Roman, who was under pressure and parted ways with the team Jan. 19. In Baltimore, Monken will have to put some zip into a passing attack that last year ranked 28th and make it more complementary to the league’s No. 2 rushing attack.
Considering Monken’s pedigree, there should be optimism about the hire. With quarterbacks Jameis Winston and Ryan Fitzpatrick, he improved the Buccaneers in three seasons there. He couldn’t work the same magic in Cleveland in 2019 because the Browns receivers’ room with Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry was too dysfunctional and the egos of Beckham and quarterback Baker Mayfield often collided. Cleveland ranked 22nd in points scored and total yards that season under Monken and coach Freddie Kitchens.
The Ravens have their own problems.
Disgruntled star quarterback Lamar Jackson could be traded if he and the team don’t agree to a long-term contract extension, and the Ravens don’t have a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver on the roster. Their best pass catcher is tight end Mark Andrews.
So, a lot of work has to be done, and the pressure is high because the offense reached a new low in terms of competency a year ago.
Monken’s background at Georgia is impressive. His offenses improved each year since 2020, and this past season the Bulldogs led the nation in total offense (7,517 yards) and total points (616) as former walk-on quarterback Stetson Bennett threw for 4,127 yards and 27 touchdowns and became a Heisman Trophy finalist.
Monken loves the ground game, but he is 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 four receivers and one running back, but Monken will give opposing teams an assortment of looks, including run-pass options, a major component of the college game.
So, the Ravens will probably stay run-heavy but at least have the plays and the scheme to be more balanced, especially in the postseason.
I’m not too concerned about Monken’s short tenures as offensive coordinator for other NFL teams. In 2018 with Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers had the NFL’s best passing attack, leading the league with 320.3 yards per game and finishing third in total offense (415 yards per game).
In 2019, Monken helped direct a Cleveland offense that featured running back Nick Chubb, who was second in the league in rushing yards (1,494). Monken, though, never called the plays, a responsibility Kitchens didn’t relinquish. That situation was a disaster with Kitchens lasting only one year.
The Ravens have some issues to resolve. The team hasn’t been able to reach a long-term deal with Jackson, leaving questions about who might be under center in 2023. Monken likes to stretch defenses and throw outside the numbers, but Jackson has difficulty making reads to the outside and hitting deep passes.
But there are a lot of positives about this hire. Monken is used to working with young quarterbacks, and Jackson is only 26. If the Ravens decide to draft Jackson’s replacement, Monken is experienced there, too.
The pressure, though, isn’t just on Monken. The Ravens need to find him some talent as well. How about drafting a top receiver instead of one who was injured his final year in college? Maybe now the Ravens might be able to lure a top free-agent receiver to Baltimore because they are more likely to throw instead of being so run-heavy under Roman.
There was speculation the Ravens were interested in hiring Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, but they weren’t serious. Harbaugh wanted an experienced coordinator, someone who had called his own plays.
He got a good one, even though Monken is stepping into a mess.
