Ravens HC #JohnHarbaugh on #ToddMonken's Hire As OC

John Harbaugh made a bold choice in his recent offensive coordinator hires when he selected Georgia's Todd Monken as his offensive coordinator.

Monken is an accomplished offensive mind who has led Georgia to back-to-back national championships. Additionally, he has NFL experience from working for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2016-2018 and Cleveland Browns (2019).

Harbaugh’s sister influenced the decision

On Tuesday, Baltimore Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh announced the hiring of Todd Monken as their offensive coordinator. A wise move, considering Monken is fresh off back-to-back national championships with an adept play calling style which helped shape Heisman finalist Stetson Bennett into a top tier signal caller.

After an impressive 21 interviews, Monken was ultimately successful in landing the job despite many people being impressed with his egoless approach to offense. Many believed that Monken won over Harbaugh with his ability to craft a strategy tailored specifically for each player's needs, leading to greater efficiency across the team as a whole.

Monken's credentials as an inspirational coach were unsurpassedable in a league filled with top-tier coaches. As both offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, he became the first coach in history to win back-to-back national titles. He has been instrumental in the development of Jackson, whose future with the team remains uncertain, and for all of the offense. His offensive scheme should help Jackson regain his MVP form, though it will take some time for him to adjust to the system and adjust to life with the new-look Ravens. The team will likely make an savvy move in free agency to bolster their pass-catching corps, especially as Jackson prepares to receive the franchise tag. Over the course of two or three seasons, we'll see just how effective Monken can be at his craft; he still has much work to do as an offensive wizard. Nevertheless, his name is already on everyone's lips.

Jackson’s input

After Greg Roman announced his departure, the Ravens are expected to name Todd Monken their new offensive coordinator. Expect Jackson's input in this decision-making process as well.

In an interview with The Athletic, HC John Harbaugh described Jackson as the type of person they want to build this team around and indicated that he will have a hand in searching for Jackson's replacement as offensive coordinator.

He further stated that he would not be making a trade to bring in another coach, but rather remain on the roster as a franchise player. The club intends to re-sign him and use his franchise tag as a placeholder.

Monken earned back-to-back national championships with his offense at Georgia and is renowned for being an adept play caller. He hopes to bring that same offense to Baltimore.

After meeting with Monken, Harbaugh informed reporters that he felt it was the perfect fit for him to join the team. He went on to say that Monken had a reputation for placing players in positions where they could succeed, which gave him confidence going into training camp.

The former Georgia assistant expressed his enthusiasm to collaborate with Lamar Jackson, whom he had the chance to coach while they both played at Louisville. He was particularly impressed by Jackson's quick processing skills when it came to play clock, playcalls, personnel and defensive formation changes on-the-spot.

Jackson and Monken must have a great rapport, but they also need to be on the same page. The offensive coordinator should be able to assist Jackson in taking his game to another level.

Harbaugh's decision to hire Monken was a wise one. It puts him on the right path and will benefit both Jackson and his team. By building around an NFL quarterback who is widely considered one of the best, and on the brink of breaking into its elite group of MVPs, this franchise can build around one of its brightest stars.

Jackson’s future

With the announcement that Baltimore had hired former Georgia offensive coordinator Todd Monken as their new offensive coordinator, many wondered how this decision would impact quarterback Lamar Jackson. Unfortunately, they weren't able to extend Jackson's contract last season but he is still eligible to test free agency.

The Ravens are still trying to reach an agreement with Jackson on a long-term contract, but it could prove tediously difficult. According to NFL Network, if both parties cannot come to an agreement this offseason on what constitutes fair compensation for next season, the team could use Jackson's franchise tag which could total up to $46 million.

Harbaugh is not yet ready to abandon Jackson, even though the star signal-caller was injured late this season and lacks a contract extension. Instead, Harbaugh praised Huntley for persevering through his injury during Sunday's loss against Cincinnati.

There remain many unanswered questions regarding Jackson's future, but one thing is certain: He wants to be the starting quarterback for at least the next three seasons. The organization is working diligently towards making that happen and Jackson's input helped shape Monken's hiring as offensive coordinator.

What's more, the Ravens were able to hire an offensive coordinator with expertise in both running and passing offense. His familiarity with modern pass concepts will allow Jackson to move the ball downfield more efficiently.

Monken's beliefs align perfectly with Harbaugh's. He believes the most successful offenses are those with a robust running game and effective passing attack, and he excels at balancing these two components.

He's had great success working with various quarterbacks, always bringing out their best performances. Additionally, he is known for being an adept play caller and designer.

These qualities were exactly what the Ravens sought in an offensive coordinator, especially after Greg Roman left to become head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. As many have noted, they desperately needed a pass-first offensive coordinator who could teach and promote modern passing schemes.

Jackson’s style of play

Harbaugh and Monken were able to reach an understanding on Jackson's style of play and how the Ravens wanted him to develop. With Jackson likely becoming their starting quarterback for years to come, Monken will work closely with him in order to maximize his effectiveness.

Jackson's style of play has come under scrutiny recently, yet the quarterback remains one of the best in the league. As such, he stands as an unbeatable dual-threat with an elite running game and deadly passing ability.

As a result, the Ravens have experienced incredible success during his first three seasons as starter. Each year they've made the playoffs and he led them to two Super Bowl victories.

As they searched for an offensive coordinator, a major focus was on finding someone who could work well with Lamar Jackson's unique style of play. After interviewing 14 candidates, Harbaugh ultimately chose Todd Monken as their new OC.

Monken boasts extensive experience at both the Pro and collegiate levels, and is renowned for his ability to balance running and passing games. Additionally, he adeptly blends different systems at various positions on the field - something Harbaugh was looking for when selecting his next offensive coordinator.

His most recent position as offensive coordinator at Georgia saw Monken assist the Bulldogs in winning two national championships and increasing average rushing yards per game by 6% and passing yards per game by 13% during those two seasons.

Monken is the ideal candidate to serve as Ravens' offensive coordinator. His philosophy aligns with that of Lamar Jackson, and he possesses the necessary abilities to make Jackson even more successful.

He's also adept in the meeting room, encouraging players to laugh and compete with one another. This was essential for Harbaugh who sought someone who could effectively communicate with players.

Monken's hiring is an important development for the Ravens, likely ensuring Harbaugh stays in Baltimore for another few years. Hopefully this marks a shift towards having a more balanced offense that can propel this team towards greater success in the future.