Todd Monken: ‘ Make Them Defend The Depth Of The Field’
New Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken hopes to revive their neglected pass game, although he’s not fixated on it.
A couple years ago, Lamar Jackson was being talked about as revolutionizing the quarterback position. His ability to run with the ball is unique among quarterbacks.
However, this came at the cost of the passing game. Shorn of the traded Marquise Brown and injured Rashod Bateman last season, Baltimore struggled even more to throw the ball.Â
Todd Monken has been OC for the Browns, Bucs and Bulldogs and ran a tight passing game in Tampa.
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“Players dictate style of play,” Todd Monken said. “They do. Players around the quarterback dictate the style of play. There’s no way around it… When I was in Tampa, we had really good receivers … and we had quarterbacks that loved to throw it — sometimes to the other team, but they liked to throw it. But the reality is we were much better throwing it. So that’s where you play to — the strengths of who you have.
“To me, balance isn’t run-pass,” he said. “Balance is make them cover all five of your guys, make them defend the field, make them defend the depth of the field.”
Whether it’s more over the ground or through the air, Monken has a high caliber quarterback to execute, and he knows it.
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“Elite. You know, he’s got an elite skill set,” he said of Jackson. “It’s obvious when you watch him on film. The things he can do with a football and the plays that he makes. I think he’s underrated as a passer, I think so, in terms of his ability to make plays and throw it down the field. You’ve all seen it. I’m like you. I’m no different than you. I watch what you guys watch, and it’s pretty amazing.”
