OTL: Former Ravens Among Those Praising Monken Hire

The 2023 offseason is officially upon us after watching the Kansas City Chiefs pull off a fabulous comeback victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII. Now comes the long, grueling months without football and while we are all certainly bummed about that, now we can begin fantasizing about the future of our beloved Baltimore Ravens.

We have already seen one of the bigger dominoes of the team’s offseason topple with the hiring of offensive coordinator Todd Monken. Let me tell you, it’s a good one, and there are a lot of people excited about it.

For this edition of Out to Lunch, let’s look at everything Twitter has to say about the hiring of Monken.

The long-awaited search for the next offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens has come to a close. The new man at the helm will be former Georgia Bulldogs offensive coordinator Todd Monken.

We have hired Todd Monken to be our Offensive Coordinator. pic.twitter.com/tTtMNMRCMd

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) February 14, 2023

For those of you unfamiliar with Monken, the 57-year-old has been in coaching since 1989 and has had several stops in the NFL before finding a great niche with the Bulldogs the last three seasons. And before you ask, yes, Monken is a pass-first coordinator who implements the air raid offense.

Under Todd Monken, then-Browns QB Baker Mayfield threw a single-season career high 3,827 yards and 22 TDs in 2019.

As OC in Tampa Bay, he helped the Buccaneers lead the league in passing offense (320.3 ypg) and finish third in total offense (415.5 ypg) in 2018. #RavensFlock https://t.co/n0UfrQhhzF

— Melissa Y. Kim (@melissaykim) February 14, 2023

The flexibility and adaptability that Todd Monken brings to the table should be able to do wonders for the Ravens' offense

— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) February 14, 2023

Here is Monken himself speaking on his offense back in 2019:

Here’s a real good video to have a better understanding of Todd Monken discussing his philosophy on offense. #RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/6iVD2aHKx0

— Garnet West (@Garnet478) February 14, 2023

The Bulldogs offense found electricity that its previous incarnations had lacked and his final game as the play caller saw the team explode for 65 points in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.

Georgia’s last game under Todd Monken:

65 points
589 yards
32 first downs
8.2 yards per play pic.twitter.com/YWtgWg1NbE

— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) February 14, 2023

Now, Monken will be returning to the pros after his last NFL stint with the Cleveland Browns in 2019. And my oh my will he have some fun toys to play with.

Lamar Jackson will be expected to return for 2023 and that alone should give Monken a lot to work with. But to make things better, he has a deep tight end group including All-Pro Mark Andrews. Monken is a massive advocate for using the tight end position and his most recent work with Brock Bowers (the reigning John Mackey Award winner) should have fans excited about what he can do with Andrews, Isaiah Likely, and Charlie Kolar.

Certainly, Monken will inject some much-needed passion into the press box.

Take every Gregory P. Roman press box clip in existence. Combine them all together and Todd Monken has more passion, fire, and general life in these two clips than all four years of GRO. Infectious energy means a lot in football. pic.twitter.com/jwRc92pqpo

— Siva (@siva2_) February 14, 2023

While it feels like some fans are lukewarm about this hire, I promise you that more people are excited than not.

Former Ravens’ quarterback Robert Griffin III had this to say on the hire:

LOVE the Todd Monken hire for the @Ravens offense and Lamar. In those Back to Back National Championship seasons at Georgia, Monken routinely OUT SCHEMED the defenses he faced in the PASSING GAME. Monken will help UNANIMOUS MVP Lamar take his game to another level. SCARY HOURS.

— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) February 14, 2023

Monken’s use of TEs and the run game at @GeorgiaFootball screams PLAY LIKE A RAVEN. Tough. Physical. Smart. No one in College Football had better offensive game plans in big games the last two years than Georgia.@StetsonIv had 14 TDs in SEC Champ and CFP Games this past season.

— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) February 14, 2023

That’s pretty solid endorsement from the ESPN analyst.

Don’t like RGIII’s opinion? What about another former Raven who knows a thing or two about football?

I love this hire!!! https://t.co/6Z0683ClbF

— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) February 14, 2023

And don’t worry, Dez Bryant made sure to let you know just how confident he is in this hire:

I’ll argue Lamar Jackson and Mark Andrews make all pro… I’ll also make an argument they’ll be playing for a chance to make it to the Super Bowl next year.. Todd Monken win wherever he go https://t.co/T4pt6Nf1Jf

— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) February 14, 2023

Bryant also firmly believes that the Monken hire was for Lamar Jackson and not in spite of him.

the Todd monken hire was for Lamar Jackson… how can you be a ravens fan and not know this https://t.co/tm5pY98DW2

— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) February 14, 2023

Still not convinced? Don’t worry, it doesn’t stop with former Ravens hyping up this hire:

Former Ravens TE Benjamin Watson on the Ravens hiring Todd Monken:

“Y’all got a good one. Can’t wait to see Todd’s ingenuity on display with the talent on this roster. Perfect fit.” pic.twitter.com/nI7v23FdoE

— Ravens Nation LIVE (@LIVERavenNation) February 14, 2023

Not only is Benjamin Watson a former Raven, but he was a tight end who understands the importance of the position in Monken’s offense. If there is one man not to take lightly on this subject, I would say that Watson has the best case for that distinction.

Ravens Flock, this is a hire to get excited about.

My reaction to the Todd Monken hire. pic.twitter.com/eiCBEDJAaV

— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) February 14, 2023

Let’s celebrate this win, Flock! Times are changing for the Baltimore Ravens and now the 2023 offseason can’t begin fast enough.

Enjoy the rest of your week and I’ll see you next time!