Information & Notes: Todd Monken Says Ravens Offense Has ‘A Lot of Work to Do’

Clifton Brown, BaltimoreRavens.com

Ravens gamers have enthusiastically embraced Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken’s system since being launched to it this offseason. Left deal with Ronnie Stanley stated issues are “actually beginning to click on early.” Tight finish Mark Andrews stated on NFL Community’s “Inside Coaching Camp Dwell” that he had by no means seen the group extra locked in.

Nonetheless, Monken says it’s early within the strategy of constructing the excessive degree of execution he’s in search of.

“It’s a piece in progress,” Monken stated. “We’re not almost the place we must be, and we shouldn’t be. It’s early in camp, now we have quite a lot of work to do.”

Monken stated he appreciates how onerous the gamers are working, and that they’re open to doing no matter it takes to choose up the system shortly.

“I recognize Mark saying that. It’ll solely matter what we do on Sundays, what we do every single day,” Monken stated. “I wasn’t right here previously, so I can’t communicate to what it appeared like earlier than. Am I appreciative [that] we’re locked in? Sure. That’s what being a professional is.

“It is a job. I don’t know the way else to say it. We get to play a child’s sport, however don’t make any mistake about it, we’re paid to do a job. I take full benefit of that and I recognize that they’ve been attentive … they’ve wished to embrace the brand new system, what we’re doing. Now, we simply obtained to proceed to take these subsequent steps as a result of we’re not there but.”

Largest query every AFC group faces in 2023: Will Russ really feel harmful once more? Which WR steps up for Chiefs?

Jordan Dajani, CBS Sports activities

Baltimore Ravens

Can Todd Monken strike a stability with new offense?

A very powerful factor the Ravens will do that preseason is set up Todd Monken’s new offense. It’s actually a cause to be enthusiastic about what Baltimore can accomplish in 2023, however hanging a stability is essential. Nearly everyone seems to be anticipating extra passing with Monken, and the arrivals of Odell Beckham Jr. and Zay Flowers additional assist this speculation. On the identical time, Lamar Jackson and the run sport have been essential to the Ravens’ latest success. Since 2018 — Lamar’s rookie yr — the Ravens haven’t completed outdoors the highest three in dashing offense. That’s fairly exceptional. If Monken finds that right combination of run and move, the Ravens could possibly be among the finest groups within the NFL.

Ravens offensive linemen get pleasure from a summer time of stability, cohesion as adjustments occur throughout them

Childs Walker, The Baltimore Solar

“I really feel very comfy with the place we’re proper now within the course of,” Stanley stated Wednesday. “It’s in all probability the furthest alongside I’ve felt with any group I’ve ever been on at this level. We’re actually beginning to click on early.”

The beginning linemen are adapting to coordinator Todd Monken’s new offense, which might hinge on extra zone-blocking ideas. They’ve struggled at occasions to maintain Ravens defenders out of the backfield within the early days of padded exercises.

Stanley is having fun with his first regular coaching camp since 2020 and speaking about regaining his All-Professional type from 2019. Linderbaum is a extra assured on-field commander and able to pushing for a Professional Bowl berth as quickly as this yr. Zeitler and Moses are the epitome of reliable starters.

Stanley stated the unit might surpass the road he performed on in 2019, which cleared the best way for probably the most prolific floor sport in NFL historical past.

“It’s important,” Ravens offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris stated. “The unity of the offensive line, all 5 guys enjoying collectively, speaking — when each talks to one another, they’re on the identical web page. They need to know learn how to match the blocks, and so they know the way to do this collectively. Nicely, for those who don’t follow, it’s not going to look nearly as good. So the consistency, the continuity, it’s crucial.”

Ravens heart Tyler Linderbaum isn’t huge for a lineman. His impression in 2023 could possibly be big.

Jonas Shaffer, The Baltimore Banner

Underneath new offensive coordinator Todd Monken, what Linderbaum does earlier than the snap could possibly be as important as what he does after it. Ravens coaches have empowered quarterback Lamar Jackson to vary performs on the line of scrimmage when he sees match. However, if a play adjustments, so can the offensive line’s obligations. It’s Linderbaum who’s tasked with processing the changes and resetting the road’s protections.

After the psychological challenges come the assessments of power. The 305-pound Linderbaum, who in contrast his rookie yr expertise to his freshman yr expertise at Iowa, struggled at occasions in move safety final season. He allowed three sacks and 26 pressures, the fourth most amongst NFL facilities, in keeping with Professional Soccer Focus, and gave up three pressures 4 occasions, together with in a regular-season loss to the New York Giants and a playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. The opposing nostril tackles in these video games: Dexter Lawrence, listed at 342 kilos, and D.J. Reader, listed at 335 kilos.

“He’s very, very technically sound, however he can anchor quite a bit higher,” Pierce stated Monday. “I don’t know if he gained just a little weight or not, or simply getting stronger as he’s rising, however he’s undoubtedly gotten quite a bit higher. … Approach-wise, he was at all times sharp. However similar to these grown-man issues, coping with these grown-man strikes, completely different ‘hump’ strikes, all that sort of stuff the place you simply want that muscle, that girth and that anchor, he’s undoubtedly anchoring quite a bit higher.”

Ravens camp notes: Competitors for No. 3 cornerback contains lengthy checklist of names

Jeff Zrebiec, The Athletic

It’s been broadly speculated that Baltimore might nonetheless add a cornerback. But, group officers appear centered on evaluating what’s already in camp. That doesn’t embrace Trayvon Mullen, who’s coping with a foot/toe concern and is on the non-football harm checklist. If he returns to follow quickly, he might enter the combo, too.

Proper now, although, there isn’t any slam dunk favourite for the job. Requested what he’s in search of out of the competitors, Hewitt stated, “Making performs. That’s what we’re going to be graded on, and that’s what these guys are being graded on. They’ve obtained to make performs when it counts.”

The following few weeks can be attention-grabbing. Both a younger cornerback will step up and seize the No. 3 cornerback job, or common supervisor Eric DeCosta is likely to be compelled to usher in a extra confirmed nook later in coaching camp.