OTL: Todd Monken Makes a Great First Impression

Happy Wednesday, Flock. Tuesday was a big day for the Ravens as they had their introductory press conference for new Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken. It is clear that this hire is hugely important to the Ravens. One could argue this is the most critical hire in the tenure of John Harbaugh. Harbaugh whiffed with keeping Greg Roman last year, with players coming out publicly criticizing the offense and problems growing for over two years. They couldn’t afford to get this one wrong, and Monken needed to make a good first impression.

Luckily, Monken accomplished that goal. It felt more like we were talking to him as a person rather than a coordinator, and he came across as laid back but quite knowledgeable.

Monken sat up at the podium and answered every question with extreme detail, and it felt like we learned much more about him in 40 minutes than we did Roman in three years.

🔊 Gold from Ravens OC Todd Monken:

“Good offensive football is:

1. Don’t turn it over.

2. Be Explosive.

3. Score touchdowns in the Red Zone.

4. Be good on 3rd Down.

5. Don’t have lost yardage plays.

6. Have an athletic QB who can make off-schedule plays.

There are a lot… https://t.co/vORUycWnQh pic.twitter.com/qdXl68JMZd

— Coach Dan Casey (@CoachDanCasey) February 21, 2023

After Watching Todd Monken not dodge questions, give vague answers and be brutally honest for 30 minutes pic.twitter.com/EPZXPipaK2

— Yuri (@MR___Yuri) February 21, 2023

This dude has been around a ton of football and loves it, yet he brings a much more relaxed vibe than any other offensive coordinator during Harbs’ tenure.

One of the things that Monken emphasized was that skill position players are needed to run a functional offense.

Todd Monken keeps emphasizing the importance of the skillset in terms of personnel.

I assume we are all expecting the Ravens to go make significant additions on offense from what we’ve heard so far.

— Ramey (@HoodieRamey) February 21, 2023

Again, what a breath of fresh air this guy is. Your scheme can only take the offense so far, and at the end of the day, “it’s the Jimmys and Joes, not the X’s and O’s.”

It feels like Monken’s emphasis on players might be tipping the Ravens’ hands on improving the receiver room. Although you probably don’t need to be a rocket scientist to know that the room needs improvement and health going forward.

The idea of using space and utilizing it what also something he keeps coming back to as well.

Todd Monken said spacing is key in offense especially for your skill players. I’m at a lose of words

— sami zayn agenda (@naldoleshotter) February 21, 2023

Somebody pinch me; I might be dreaming. Is a Ravens offensive coordinator talking about utilizing the whole field and helping guys get open? What have you done with the real John Harbaugh, and what utility room in the castle is he locked up in?

If there was one thing that Roman’s offense missed was balance in the run and the pass, so the question of balance can up, and Monken hits another home run.

Todd Monken on his offensive philosophy: "To me, balance isn't the run-pass . Balance is make them defend all five of your guys. Make them defend the field. … I think that's where players want to play. They see themselves in that. That's the way the game has gone. That's what… https://t.co/wrjOvXko5R

— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) February 21, 2023

Alright, we are done here; I’m ready to go to war with this guy.

Monken was also hilarious at times. He was taking shots at Jameis Winston and what might be a direct shot at Roman.

🤔 pic.twitter.com/RdCpMaCK7s

— Will (@wearpurplepants) February 21, 2023

It is almost like Monken is a fan of this team. The way he talks and this wink-nudge comment at Roman had me dying. The delivery of this quote is also fantastic.

In short, Monken killed this press conference, and it seems like he generally cares about the important things while being entertaining to talk and listen to.

One last piece of news is that Tuesday was the start of the franchise tag window.

Window for applying the franchise tag begins today and ends March 7.

Ravens are expected to use the tag on Lamar Jackson if sides can't reach a deal over next 2 weeks.

Non-exclusive tag (2 first-round picks a compensation) costs $32.4M. Exclusive tag is projected to cost $45M.

— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) February 21, 2023

As Scott Hanson says on “NFL Redzone,” we are in the witching hour. The Ravens have two weeks to negotiate with Lamar, and will apply a franchise tag if a deal can’t be reached. After that, anything could happen. Is Lamar a tag-and-trade candidate, or do the Ravens try their best to build the best roster possible while Lamar takes up a huge percentage of the Cap while other quarterbacks get their deals? The latter is the worst-case scenario; I can’t take another year of the media trying to make up fake stories for clicks while a resolution can’t be reached.

Lamar’s contract is zapping a lot of happiness and hope away from Ravens fans right now, and pushing it down the line would be exhausting.

Monken’s presser was awesome, but now the biggest question in the last twenty years of this franchise looms. Please end this with a contract or trade because I don’t know if this fan base can take another year of the drama around Lamar’s contract.