Tag: Todd Monken

Ravens OL Patrick Mekari must perform at a high-level this NFL season

In Week 1, Ravens OL Patrick Mekari needs to be the answer for Kansas City Chiefs DL Chris Jones and/or George Karlaftis.

Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman Patrick Mekari will be an important catalyst this season, helping his team keep quarterback Lamar Jackson upright and setting the edge for running back Derrick Henry.

With Tyler Linderbaum operating in the center position, Mekari must quickly engage the opposing edge rushes at the snap. This will be vital on stretch (outside) running plays, especially if the Ravens plan to get Henry to the second level of defense.

Last season, Mekari operated at the guard position, but neighboring inadequacies have forced him to transition to the tackle position.

Mekari has the attributes needed to fit in with offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s scheme. His quick feet make him the ideal asset. Mekari will be needed to help the Ravens in pass blocking and to sow up the countless issues they saw in that final preseason matchup versus the Green Bay Packers.

In Week 1, Mekari and Ronnie Stanley need to be the answer for Kansas City Chiefs defensive ends Chris Jones and George Karlaftis. Karlaftis has been the beneficiary of 1-on-1 opportunities, with Jones often double-teamed. If the Ravens are going to get revenge versus the Chiefs in Week 1, it definitely will help if Mekari has a solid game.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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3 big questions for the Ravens coming out of preseason finale

We’re looking at 3 biggest questions or concerns for the Baltimore Ravens coming out of the preseason finale

The Ravens completed their preseason with a 30-7 loss to the Packers on Saturday afternoon. While the coaching staff works to trim the roster down to 53 players, we’re looking at the three biggest questions for a club searching for a Super Bowl berth.

Baltimore had the NFL’s best record in 2023 but could not defeat the Chiefs at home, suffering a 17-10 loss to Kansas City in the AFC Championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens added Derrick Henry to the running back position and have Isaiah likely ascending as one of the top young tight ends in the league.  Even with a stacked roster, there are still questions, and we’re looking at the three most significant concerns coming out of the preseason finale.

1. Ravens’ offensive line depth

Baltimore will will likely roll with a group that includes Ronnie Stanley, Andrew Vorhees, Tyler Linderbaum, Daniel Faalele, Roger Rosengarten, Patrick Mekari, Ben Cleveland, Josh Jones, Sala Aumavae-Laulu. The Ravens led the NFL in rushing last season and then added Derrick Henry during the free-agency frenzy. The team saw Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson depart via free agency, while Morgan Moses was traded to the Jets. Baltimore has the offensive talent to be explosive and dominant, but can the offensive line be physical at the point of attack while giving Lamar Jackson time to be efficient in the passing game?

2. Can Trenton Simpson develop into an All-Pro?

Simpson will replace Patrick Queen at one linebacker spot, and Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr prepared the former Clemson star linebacker.

Simpson played into the third quarter of the preseason finale to get more game reps for the second-year linebacker, and he even came away with a big interception. Simpson doesn’t have to be dominant from Day 1, but he has the athleticism and physicality of a future All-Pro.

3. Can Lamar Jackson achieve postseason success

Lamar Jackson will enter year 7 in the NFL, having never passed for over 4,000 yards in a regular season. Thanks to Derrick Henry’s arrival and Isaiah Likely’s emergence, Jackson will shatter his career-high 3,678 passing yards from 2023. That won’t matter if the Ravens flame out in the postseason. Jackson’s career playoff record is 2-4, and he has a passer rating of 75.7, 1,324 yards, six touchdowns, and six interceptions in six playoff games. Baltimore hired Todd Monken last off-season to take his talents to the next level while adding more weapons like Derrick Henry to mesh with Zay Flowers, Isaiah Likely, Mark Andrews, Rashod Bateman, Keaton Mitchell, Nelson Agholor, and more.

Ravens OC Todd Monken should not take preseason struggles lightly

There has been a consistent problem within the Baltimore Ravens offense through all three preseason. OC Todd Monken must adjust.

NFL fans always revert to the “it’s just the preseason” moniker when their favorite team gets blasted during an exhibition game. However, we’ve seen the same consistent problem within the Baltimore Ravens offense throughout all three preseason games. These problems directly relate to offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s execution and scheme.

Firstly, minimum targets have been made towards rookie wide receiver Devontez Walker, who still tends to have an injury. Secondly, countless turnovers on offense indicate that not everyone is in sync throughout the depth chart.

Through 180 total minutes of preseason football, the Ravens failed to produce a game score higher than 17 points and have averaged just 11 first downs per game. Meanwhile, their opponents have averaged 21 first downs a game versus them.

 

Again, it is endlessly presumptuous to assume that the Ravens will be the same defensive powerhouse from a season ago with key losses on their depth chart. This means their offense will need to be sharp, and we’ve seen everything but sharpness from the reserves, which should be feeding off the leadership of NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and company.

Neither the Green Bay Packers nor the Ravens starters were participatory, so that excuse doesn’t fit as a scapegoat. Monken is responsible for establishing a competitive spirit on offense so the team can carry over into the regular season. So far, things have been a struggle.

Ravens OC Todd Monken is focused on trying to find clever ways to use WR Zay Flowers

Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken is trying to find creative ways to use wide receiver Zay Flowers

The Baltimore Ravens selected wide receiver Zay Flowers in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft. He had a phenomenally rookie season and is looking to build on it this upcoming year as the team’s unquestioned No. 1 wideout.

When asked about Flowers, Baltimore offensive coordinator Todd Monken said he wants to find more ways to involve the second-year wideout this season. He talked about Flowers’s confidence over the course of last year and how he became more engaged with more experience.

“Well you could see it over the year – you could see it thought the year: his development, his confidence, his ability to be engaged. I think that’s the biggest thing. You can see that with players as they gain experience – they’re confident to be engaged on the field and in meetings, ask questions, have ideas, have thoughts. Like, ‘Can we do it this way? What about this? What about this?’ When you’re younger, you’re just trying to learn it – it’s hard to be engaged when you’re not sure yourself. That’s where he’s really come a long way. You can really see that – [we] saw it this offseason really being engaged in the offense.”

Flowers will be a top pass catcher on the Ravens’ offense, assuming he can stay healthy. He must continue his strong play, as he was a massive part of the team’s offense last year and will be relied upon as such again this year.

Ravens OC Todd Monken expects big things from WR Rashod Bateman

Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken expects big things from wide receiver Rashod Bateman

The Baltimore Ravens drafted wide receiver Rashod Bateman in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft. He hasn’t had the start to his NFL career that everyone expected, but he is looking to get back on track this season.

Baltimore offensive coordinator Todd Monken was asked about Bateman’s expectations for the 2024 season but deferred to the wide receiver himself for his own. However, Monken did mention that he’s expecting big things from the former Minnesota star, mentioning health as a significant factor.

“Well, you’d have to ask him in terms of for him. I think he’s always had a belief in himself as a player. I think it’s good for all of us; quarterbacks, [as well as] collectively as a team. We’re expecting a big year from Rashod [Bateman]. Once he got fully healthy, which wasn’t for a while last year – he was hurt, got healthy, got nicked up again, came on. We’re expecting great things from him, and he is from himself.”

Bateman and quarterback Lamar Jackson will need to get on the same page to achieve the season they’re hoping for. It will be imperative for the two to build up plenty of chemistry, especially considering the fourth-year wideout will have a major role on offense.

Ravens OC Todd Monken raves about the leadership of WR Nelson Agholor

Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken raved about the leadership of wide receiver Nelson Agholor

The Baltimore Ravens signed wide receiver Nelson Agholor to a one-year deal last offseason in the hopes that he could contribute solidly to their WR corps. He did that and more, instantly becoming a leader on the team and putting up solid numbers as well.

Agholor re-signed with Baltimore before starting free agency and is expected to take on a bigger role with the team in 2024. Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken raved about Agholor and his presence on the team, especially his leadership qualities.

“It really hasn’t changed per se, [Nelson Agholor] was like that last year. Obviously, with Odell [Beckham Jr.] moving on, that changes a little bit, in terms of ‘Nelly’ [Nelson Agholor] being back. The way that I see it, because I’m not in the receiver room, is the same that I said about some older guys – he’s engaged. In all of the meetings, he’s engaged. If he doesn’t understand, he asks. If he has a better way of doing it, he talks about it. That, to me, is the number one part of leadership, or being an older player, is seeing the big picture and then relaying that rest of the players.”

With Odell Beckham Jr. now in Miami with the Dolphins, Agholor will be relied upon to be the sole veteran presence in the wide receiver room, considering most of the rest of the group is younger. He’s certainly up for the challenge and hopefully will be able to deliver for the Ravens again this year.

Todd Monken says the Ravens’ analytics department gives the team an edge

Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken said the analytics department gives the team an edge

The Baltimore Ravens are always looking for every advantage to win games and be as successful as possible. They have plenty of great strategies in place, which only add to what they try to do year in and year out.

When talking to the media, Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken shared that analytics are a huge part of the team’s work and that the NFL game, in general, is currently moving in this direction. He mentioned how Baltimore has a lot of intelligent people who run its analytics, and that gives it an edge.

“They’re a huge part of it. In terms of where it’s gone over the last few years in terms of information – the power of information that’s out there. I think information’s unbelievably useful – what you do with it is up to you. Whether the situation arises, whether it be by personnel, whether it be by game situations. We’ve got some really really smart people in those departments that I think give us an edge.”

The Ravens are an extremely analytics-based team, with head coach John Harbaugh and others trying to play the percentages as much as possible. While this strategy doesn’t always work, the Ravens are committed to it and should use it plenty in 2024.

Ravens news: OC Todd Monken wants ‘an offense that’s a nightmare to defend’

Todd Monken wants ‘an offense that’s a nightmare to defend’

Year 1 of Todd Monken’s tenure as the Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator was a resounding success. His unit finished sixth in total yards, first in rushing yards, and fourth in points, while quarterback Lamar Jackson went on to win his second MVP award. With a full season under his belt now, Monken will look to build upon the sturdy foundation set last year.

After evaluating last year, Monken was asked what kind of identity he wanted his offense to have.

“Certainly you want to have an offense that’s a nightmare to defend,” Monken said. “I think that’s what we’re all trying to accomplish – [have] an offense that you’re capable of winning in a variety of ways. If you need to run it to win, you can run it to win. If you need to throw it to win, you can throw it to win. That’s all we’re fighting for – to be elite in all those areas. And then the last part of it is, are you leading situational football? Short yardage, red zone, are you not turning it over, you’re explosive [and] formatted. All those things that really dictate a game.”

The Ravens’ offense underwent some change this offseason, particularly on the offensive line. Both starting guards Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson departed in free agency and right tackle Morgan Moses was traded to the New York Jets. Veteran wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (second on the team in receiving yards) also left in free agency.

Baltimore signed running back Derrick Henry to a two-year, $16 million contract, giving Monken a true workhorse in the backfield next to Jackson. Henry and Jackson could take the league’s best-rushing attack to an even higher level, further opening up the passing game.

The passing attack should once again heavily feature tight ends, such as Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely, as well as wide receiver Zay Flowers in his second season. Fourth-year wide receiver Rashod Bateman will be relied upon more this season after back-to-back disappointing and injury-riddled seasons for the 2021 first-round pick.

Lamar Jackson performs best when Ravens call their “quick-pass” plays

Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson is a rhythm passer that becomes increasingly accurate when the offensive tempo is fluid.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is a rhythm passer that becomes increasingly accurate when the offensive tempo is fluid.

To counter the blitz this season, the Ravens will want to use the quick pass to back defenses out of man coverage. With opponents likely to crowd the line of scrimmage to stop the run, Jackson will need his wide receivers to win on quick routes (drags, slants, outs, & screens) and avoid getting jammed at the line of scrimmage.

The Ravens were sacked 41 times last season yet had the second-fewest pass attempts in the NFL.

The Ravens’ offensive line is currently being reconstructed, with rookie offensive tackle Josh Rosengarten as a player to watch for in 2024.

With this, offensive coordinator Todd Monken should use the deep pass sparingly, especially until he knows the potential of his offensive line.

Using the quick pass game effectively will force opponents to back off the line of scrimmage. Once the quick pass game ignites, running back Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, and Jackson can have their way in the ground game.

Ravens OC Todd Monken must get Zay Flowers more 1-on-1 opportunities

Baltimore Ravens WR Zay Flowers produced 387 YAC on just 77 receptions last season.

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers has a dynamic skill set that must be adequately utilized in 2024. Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken should strategize ways to scheme Flowers into more 1-on-1 opportunities at the intermediate and third levels in the passing game.

Ultimately, Monken must force opponents out of Dime and Nickel personnel to give Flowers more one-on-one opportunities. Monken can do this by deploying 22 personnel, three tight ends, and one wide receiver sets. 

Flowers is best when he has space to operate on the outside. Yet, when Monken deploys three—and four-receiver sets, the field becomes cluttered, and defenses can sit in zone coverage.

Impressively, Flowers produced 387 YAC on just 77 receptions last season within an offense with the second-fewest pass attempts in the NFL. 

Monken should focus on establishing the run and then deferring to the pass on second and third downs when the Ravens offense has shorter lines to gain. Creating explosive passing plays with Flowers can be the astronomical ingredient to perfect the Ravens’ offensive attack in 2024.