Todd Monken's Message To Baltimore Ravens Offense: 'More Explosive Plays!'
Entering the season, the Baltimore Ravens had one of the most explosive offenses on paper, and with Todd Monken's new scheme, many thought the Ravens would be throwing it all over the yard and picking up chunk plays.
Well, through the first month of the season, that hasn't exactly been the case. While the Ravens' offense is still coming to terms with Monken's scheme, the team is 3-1, so it's not exactly panic stations yet.
For Monken, the ability to pick up third downs consistently isn't a sustainable way of running your offense, and this is where the explosive plays help.
“I don’t think that’s sustainable,” Monken said. “In order, turnovers, explosive plays, touchdowns in the redzone, lost yardage plays, third down conversions, that’s how you win. Don’t turn the ball over, be explosive. If you’re not explosive, you better be damn good on third downs."
Luckily for the Ravens, they have been reasonably consistent on third downs this season, converting 27 of 57 (47.4% - ranks sixth in the NFL).
But while the passing game hasn't seen that many big, explosive plays, the running game, which has been a Baltimore staple over the years, has.
Todd Monken wants more explosive plays through the air vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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For Monken, while being explosive on the ground is good, picking up big chunks of yardage through the air is where they need to get better. However, it's not all simply due to the coaching staff and players that this hasn't materialized yet.
“We’ve been explosive in the run game; we’ve got to get more explosives in the pass game,” Monken said. “We’ve got to find ways to create. Some of that’s been a by-product of the defense, some of its been play-calling, some of its been we have been ahead in the fourth quarter. Look, 32 teams across the league, everyone’s going say we gotta find ways to be more explosive.”
The Ravens have a chance to make a clean sweep of division games as the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns have already fallen to Baltimore, with the Pittsburgh Steers up next.
Baltimore is still putting up points (24.8./g), but if they can add in the explosive plays many thought would be a staple of the offense in the preseason, then there is no telling how potent this Ravens offense could become.
