Todd Monken’s gone from one of the hottest names in NFL coaching circles to an offensive coordinator some believe has “lost his mind.” That’s the damning verdict of Monken’s play-calling for the Baltimore Ravens during the 32-14 defeat to the Cincinnati Bengals on Thanksgiving.
Facing the owners of the last-ranked defense in the league was supposed to be a get-right game for Monken’s below-par offense. Instead, the Ravens were dominated by their AFC North rivals, who blitzed freely to make franchise quarterback and two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson appear barely ordinary.
Jackson’s harrowing night at M&T Bank Stadium was brushed off by an All-Pro teammate, but no such understanding was available for Monken. Not after the man in the booth called a pass-heavy game against “the #31 Cincy run defense,” according to Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis.
Sharp lamented how Monken called “38 Lamar Jackson dropbacks 10 Derrick Henry rushes (2 Keaton). Baltimore led 7-3 entering the 2nd quarter in the 2nd quarter: 12 Lamar dropbacks (-0.51 EPA/att) 0 Derrick Henry rushes.”
Those bleak numbers and obvious imbalance left Sharp to conclude “Todd Monken lost his mind” on November 27.
There’s some validity to this criticism. Especially when two-time league rushing champion Derrick Henry made a fast start and looked capable of running over the Bengals at will.
Monken clearly didn’t agree because he kept Henry and fellow running backs on ice. Meanwhile, Jackson was left to throw often into the teeth of the blitz, right at a time when the injury-hit and erratic signal-caller needed protecting.
Todd Monken Has Ignored the Run Before
This was far from the first time Monken chose to all but ignore an effective running game in a curious moment. The same lopsided, pass-first gameplan undid the 2023 Ravens in the AFC Championship Game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Just like against the Bengals, those Ravens stepped onto home soil favored to win, largely thanks to their ability to run the ball. Yet, Monken defied what had worked and kept the game on Jackson’s throwing arm, leaving head coach John Harbaugh to offer a fairly hollow explanation for the unexpected strategy.
Jackson was at least playing at a high level entering that game, but he’s been decidedly out of sorts this season. The visit of the Bengals should’ve been Monken’s cue to help Jackson by getting back to some of the basics of Ravens football.
Monken opting against doing this is tougher to explain when Baltimore’s offense enjoyed its rare successes against the Bengals on the ground.
Ravens Running Game Clicked, But Was Underused
Henry’s historic start to the night, courtesy of this 28-yard touchdown run, was the signal for the Ravens to keep their offense on the deck.
Quite why Monken resisted dialling up a heavier dose of No. 22 is unclear, but the aerial plan sold Jackson short, albeit Baltimore’s OC could point to some things out of his control. Things like tight end Isaiah Likely fumbling what would’ve been a touchdown pass from Jackson out of the end zone, while wide receiver Zay Flowers had a TD catch ruled out for offensive pass interference.
Monken’s approach would be viewed differently had those scores been completed, but even they wouldn’t have excused the lack of running. Not when Jackson was vulnerable behind an offensive line that struggled to deal with the blitz.
Jackson also suffered with inaccuracy, rash decision-making and poor ball security that led to a pair of lost fumbles and an interception. Opportunities were available for Monken to calm the game with straightforward handoffs, particularly when one of those yielded the Ravens’ only other score, via Henry’s backup Keaton Mitchell from 18 yards in the third quarter.
The Ravens had no trouble making big plays running the ball, but they couldn’t protect Jackson, who failed to find his range. So it remains a mystery why Monken leaned so heavily in the wrong direction.
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