Todd Monken Reveals Baltimore Ravens' Offensive 'Expectation' vs. Detroit Lions
The Baltimore Ravens are gearing up to face a Detroit Lions team on a four-game winning streak on Sunday. If the Ravens' offense wants to snap that streak at M&T Bank Stadium, it needs to find some consistency.
While adjusting to a new scheme inevitably takes time, the Ravens have shown glimpses of what they're capable of; it just hasn't been done enough.
Offensive coordinator Todd Monken outlined the expectations for his unit and stated that, ultimately, scoring points and not turning the ball over is critical to success on Sunday.
“The expectation is to be efficient, score every week, and take advantage of your opportunities,” Monken said. “In some ways we did that last week, and others we did not, same with the week before. Ultimately, that’s what we’re in charge of is to score points and not turn it over, and when you’re not doing that, you’re not where you wanna be. But we are certainly capable of that.”
While the Ravens have struggled in the red zone, another issue that has been creeping into the offense of late has been the sluggish second halves of games.
In Baltimore's last two games, it has been outscored 27-6 in the second half, and it has only outscored its opponents twice in six games in second halves as well.
Todd Monken wants his Ravens offense to be more consistent.
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The Ravens have led at halftime in five of their six games, which has some concerned that the offense may ease up when it has a lead.
For Monken, he wants his players to be all gas, no breaks, but he also stated that the offense's slow second halves begin with him.
“You certainly do want to keep your foot on the pedal and keep driving, of course,” Monken said. “Not turning it over, being explosive, converting on third downs, scoring touchdowns in the red zone are all big parts of what makes an offense successful. We’re close, we got to do it better, and I’m in charge of it.”
The Ravens' offense will get a true test of its credentials on Sunday when they host the Lions. If they do have a lead, there is no margin for error in easing up on Dan Campbell's team.
If Baltimore is to snap the Lions' four-game winning streak, it has to have the foot on the gas for the full four quarters.
