Todd Monken’s addition to Ravens coaching staff enhances versatility

Todd Monken has proven his worth in salt as an offensive coordinator with two national championships to show at Georgia.

Monken employed a balanced offensive attack with the Bulldogs. He mixes in a vertical passing attack that improved each year of his three-season tenure, along with a rushing attack that plowed defenses into the dirt with physical blocking. As the Baltimore Ravens newest offensive coordinator – his position holds significance for the team’s redesign from the plodding Greg Roman scheme that the team employed for four seasons to a more versatile offense that takes on the character of its personnel.

He will look to maximize the potential of wideouts Odell Beckham Jr., Rashod Bateman and Zay Flowers. The Ravens will additionally have tight ends Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar in tow. Offensive Ravens’ formidable running game, led by Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins.

Monken’s arrival brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success. His innovative offensive schemes and ability to adapt to different personnel make him an ideal fit for the Ravens’ dynamic offense. With Jackson’s exceptional dual-threat abilities, Monken’s offensive strategies will likely create new opportunities for the quarterback to showcase his passing skills.

Here are five things to look forward to with Monken’s offense:

High-Scoring

Georgia’s scoring totals ranked among the best in the country in Monken’s second and third seasons with the program. Monken’s offense scored 32.3 points per game in 2020, ranking 38th in the country with a mix of Stetson Bennett and J.T. Daniels splitting time at quarterback.

The Bulldogs took another leap in the following year offensively, scoring 38.6 per game (ninth in the country). Georgia won the national title with an efficient, yet threatening Bennett at quarterback – throwing 29 touchdown passes and rushing for one more, along with a bevy of running backs in Zamir White, James Cook, Kenny McIntosh and Kendall Milton – who accounted for 22 rushing touchdowns.

Monken’s Georgia offense reached its greatest height in 2022 with another national championship to show and 41.1 points per game (fifth). While Bennett threw 27 touchdowns, his rushing ability became a scoring threat with 10 touchdowns on the ground. McIntosh also scored 10 touchdowns, adding to Daijun Edwards’ seven rushing touchdowns, Milton’s eight and Branson Robinson’s three. Even Brock Bowers and Ladd McMonkey got in on the action with three and two rushing touchdowns respectively.

Vertical, play-action passing attack

Monken’s offenses are known for their prolific passing attacks. In both the NFL and college football, his offenses have often ranked among the top in passing yards per game. They have consistently produced high yardage totals through a combination of deep shots and efficient passing.

With the usage of two tight ends at Georgia, Monken would often send one tight end into motion toward the quarterback’s arm side – which usually meant a run. This would allow a wide receiver and tight end on the play side to attack vertically and split the coverage on one side of the field. Bennett exploited mismatches with bootlegs that allowed him to bisect the defense and make three quick reads out of the shotgun.

If this sounds familiar, it’s not too far from what the Ravens ran with Jim Caldwell calling plays for the Ravens during the latter portion of their Super Bowl run in 2012.

Big play ability

His offenses also excel at generating big plays – which goes together with the vertical passing attack Whether it’s through deep passes or explosive runs, his schemes and play designs create opportunities for his playmakers to break off long gains. This ability to consistently produce explosive plays puts constant pressure on opposing defenses. Dobbins, when healthy, is a home run hitting back.

Wideout Devin Duvernay may occasionally be employed as a rusher as well, carrying the ball 12 times last season for 84 yards, a touchdown and seven yards a pop. Georgia used wide receiver Ladd McConkey in a similar way early last season.

The Bulldogs had a first-and-goal play against Oregon with 6:26 remaining in the first quarter. McConkey was split out right in tight trips off the line, with Bennett in the shotgun and a running back in the backfield to his right, on the nine-yard line. McConkey pivoted to his left and took a pitch to the end zone.

A mix between rushing schemes

Monken mixes inside and outside zone runs with gap schemes. This allows him to create running lanes for his rushers and to control the tempo of the game. Defenses are then worn down to be crushed over the top with play-action passes.

These statistics highlight the success and productivity of Monken’s offenses, showcasing their ability to score points, accumulate yards, generate explosive plays, and efficiently convert in the red zone.

Dobbins saw limited action last season due to a lingering knee issue that caused him to undergo a cleanup procedure. He played the from Weeks 3-6 – missing the ensuing five games post-operation and returned with a vengeance – rushing for 6.96 yards per carry on 57 attempts and a total of 397 yards with a rushing touchdown.

Edwards too missed extended time at the beginning of the season after recovering from a torn ACL. He returned for Week 7 and 8, before missing the next two games. The 28-year-old back had 302 yards on 60 attempts for 5.03 yards per carry and a rushing touchdown.

Both running backs can mix inside and outside rushes to go with both zone and gap schemes. Zone schemes will allow for both backs to be patient, allowing the offensive line to read the defense and attack a zone to work up the ladder from the defensive front to the linebackers within a zone. In a gap rushing game, the offensive line will use its leverage to wall off defenders from the running backs, thus giving the rushers an opportunity to use their shiftiness behind larger players.

Monken will make wholesale adjustments if needed

The offense that Georgia ran initially was more suited to Monken’s usual comforts – a spread offense with more pro-style passing concepts. As the 2021 season rolled on, Monken adjusted his offense to fit the needs of Bennett instead of J.T. Daniels, creating a more habitable environment for him to thrive. The new offense featured more run-pass options and getting the ball to the receivers and backs in space.

With Baltimore’s added weaponry of Flowers and Beckham Jr., to go with the existing pieces of Bateman, Andrews, Likely, Duvernay, Edwards and Dobbins, the Ravens could reach new heights with the new rapid-fire offense.

Maybe even Nelson Agholor will get in on the action.