Tag: Reactioin

Zay Flowers needs spacing, Ravens work best out of 12 & 13 personnel

Baltimore Ravens WR Zay Flowers would greatly benefit if OC Todd Monken used more 12 personnel to grant him spacing on the outside.

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is nearly impossible to cover on an island with NFL defensive backs.

However, suppose offensive coordinator Todd Monken keeps crowding the boundary with two and three wide receiver sets. In that case, he limits the space Flowers has to work, allowing teams to use shell and disguise coverage effectively.  

In 21, 12, and 13 personnel, opponents have to match the Ravens with 4-3 base, 3-4, and Nickel packages to account for the run. Furthermore, with running back Derrick Henry and quarterback Lamar Jackson posing serious ground threats, these personnel groups allow the play-action pass with Flowers to be lethal.

Sure, it’s just a broken play. One Monken can’t brag about to his expert comrades. However, the probability of these explosive plays is proven.

Flowers is averaging 14.4 yards per catch this season on just 60 receptions. Thus, sequencing in deep and intermediate throws to Flowers while prioritizing the running game in 21, 12, and 13 personnel has been adequate. Monken’s lust for a pass-heavy offense has to be seized if the Ravens want a chance late in the season. Instead, he should enjoy the bliss of sporadically getting chunk plays with Flowers.