Todd

Monken

One of 11 — 11 — known interview requests for the Bolts as they move on from Brandon Staley, Monken has also drawn interest from the Panthers. A journeyman assistant known for his pass-first ways, Monken’s only head-coaching experience came from 2013-15 with Southern Miss. Despite his success with Lamar Jackson and company this year, Monken would be an extremely underwhelming hire.

Monken bolstered an already stellar resume this season while coaching quarterback Lamar Jackson to a potential MVP season. This comes after Monken worked in Georgia for back-to-back national titles. Monken could find the phone ringing quite frequently following Baltimore’s playoff run.

Hired this month to take over a Baltimore offense headed by Greg Roman since 2019, Monken is widely expected to bring a more traditional, balanced offense to the Ravens in 2023. Monken implemented pass-heavy “air raid” offensive systems as the offensive coordinator for the Bucs and at Oklahoma State, while deploying a more run-heavy approach at Georgia over the past three seasons. His Georgia offense frequently used two tight end sets, a potential boon for Isaiah Likely and reason to believe Mark Andrews will remain the focal point of the team’s passing offense. Monken’s Georgia offense wasn’t particularly good on the ground, ranking outside the top-35 in EPA per rush while posting top-three pass EPA numbers in 2022. “Overall, I think Monken will make the Ravens more balanced and capable of playing different ways,” Mink said. “It’s no secret that Baltimore has to improve its passing attack, and I think Monken will accomplish that.”

Monken beat out a few viable candidates, including Seahawks QB coach Dave Canales, to take over an offense coached by Greg Roman for the past four years. Monken also interviewed for Tampa’s OC job, which became far less desirable after Tom Brady’s retirement. Monken has rehabbed his reputation with back-to-back titles for Georgia after leaving the Browns in 2019. Cleveland was 21st in EPA per play in 2019 with Baker Mayfield at the helm. Monken’s Bulldogs offense in 2022 ranked 13th in EPA per play among FBS teams. It remains to be seen whether Monken will coach Lamar Jackson, a free agent who wants a fully guaranteed contract similar to the one Deshaun Watson landed in 2022. Monken’s hiring could mean the Ravens will move away from the run-heavy approach deployed by Roman.

Canales will do an in-person interview after conducting his first interview via Zoom, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Canales in 2022 led a quarterbacks room headed by Geno Smith, who had a career year, throwing 30 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while leading the NFL in completion rate. It looks like the Ravens offensive coordinator opening will be filled by Canales or Georgia OC Todd Monken, who also got a second interview with Baltimore. Whoever lands the job will likely install a more traditional passing offense than the one Greg Roman operated for the past four years.

Monken shapes up as the lead candidate to lead Baltimore’s offense after the Ravens parted ways with Greg Roman in January. An NFL offensive coordinator for three seasons, Monken has rehabbed his value with back-to-back titles for Georgia after leaving the Browns in 2019. Cleveland was 21st in EPA per play in 2019 with Baker Mayfield at the helm. Monken has also interviewed for the Bucs OC opening -- a job that became far less appealing when Tom Brady retired on Monday. The Ravens are also giving a second interview to Seahawks quarterbacks coach Dave Canales. Assuming Lamar Jackson re-signs with the Ravens, the Baltimore OC gig will be among the most sought-after jobs in the league this offseason.

Georgia’s offensive playcaller the last two years, Monken is eyeing an NFL return, interviewing with the Ravens this week and slated to meet with the Bucs. An NFL offensive coordinator for three seasons, Monken has rehabbed his value with back-to-back titles for Georgia after leaving the Browns in 2019. The Ravens have targeted pass-first coordinators since firing run-heavy OC Greg Roman, requesting interviews with Rams pass game coordinator Zac Robinson, Vikings pass game coordinator Brian Angelichio, Broncos OC Jason Outten, Seahawks QB coach Dave Canales and Browns WR coach Chad O’Shea.

Monken has been Georgia’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach since 2020. Prior to re-joining the college ranks, he was an offensive coordinator for the Bucs from 2016-2018 and spent a year as the Browns’ offensive coordinator. Monken has always had pass-heavy offenses, coaxing career years from Ryan Fitzpatrick and Jameis Winston during his time in the NFL. Monken joins Jaguars passing-game coordinator Jim Bob Cooter, Vikings WR coach Keenan McCardell, Broncos QB coach Klint Kubiak and Giants QB coach Shea Tierney as the offensive coordinator candidates to interview for the Bucs.

Monken has familiarity with Todd Bowles and was spectacular for the 2017 Bucs in creating a high-volume pass offense with Jameis Winston and Ryan Fitzpatrick. Monken has coordinated back-to-back titles for Georgia and would seem to be a great pairing with Bowles.

He’ll serve as the Bulldogs’ chief play-caller, a responsibility previously held by assistant coach James Coley, who will reportedly occupy a “new role” on Georgia’s staff. Monken is headed back to the college ranks after spending the past five seasons as a position coach and later offensive coordinator in the NFL. The 53-year-old was never on the same page with Freddie Kitchens in Cleveland, though he should have relatively free reign under defensive-minded head coach Kirby Smart in Athens.