Tag: Lamar Jackson

Ravens Hire Todd Monken as new Offensive Coordinator

Todd Monken hired as new Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator
Photo Credit: Jeff Sentell/DawgNation

Tuesday morning, the Baltimore Ravens named Georgia Bulldogs offensive coordinator Todd Monken as the team’s next play-caller. After parting with Greg Roman following the 2022 postseason, the Baltimore Ravens get their next offensive coordinator to help jumpstart their offense. 

Monken was a vital part of the National Champion Bulldogs, helping guide them to consecutive national titles. Before joining Georgia’s staff in 2020, Monken served as offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns in 2019, after spending three years in Tampa Bay. Monken also worked as the Buccaneers’ offensive play-caller in 2018 before leaving for Cleveland. 

The Ravens offense was terribly underwhelming in 2022, especially after quarterback Lamar Jackson missed much of the season due to injury. According to Pro Football Reference, Baltimore ranked 19th in points scored, 16th in total yards, and 19th in passing touchdowns. Despite ranking very well as a rushing team, the Ravens’ passing attack struggled and something had to be done. 

What Todd Monken Brings to the Ravens

Although there were other outstanding circumstances which led to their struggles, there was plenty of blame at the offensive play calling. Monken offers the same promise as run game coordinator, but with a far more expressive offensive attack. In his article for The Athletic, Seth Emerson quotes Monken in saying “I do like to throw”, while also referring to him as the “Air Raid Guy.” 

Emerson also mentions some of Monken’s tendencies as a play caller. He notes Monken will often call passing plays in situations where most offensive coordinators will call for runs, and vice versa. According to Childs Walker of The Baltimore Sun in an interview with former NFL OL John Stichcomb, Monken’s best trait is his “adaptability.” To the average fan, this marks a big change up from their previous experience. 

At Georgia, Monken had the luxury of having two great tight ends which he leaned on heavily, and he will be stepping into a similar situation in Baltimore. Monken also worked with incredible receivers like George Pickens, who he utilized heavily when available. Fans should have a similar expectation for his relationship with Rashod Bateman. 

This is a positive step for the Baltimore Ravens offense. However, their work is not done. In order to get the most out of Monken’s capabilities, the team should continue its efforts in supplying receiving talent for him to work with. In Tampa, Monken had elite talent in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, so expect the Ravens to at least try to add more receivers in the coming months. 

2023 NFL Draft: Baltimore Ravens Mock Draft

For non-playoff teams, the 2023 NFL draft looms large. Despite not taking place until late April, the NFL’s yearly selection draft offers all teams an opportunity to improve. Front offices are investing their time in all-star games and player interviews while prepping for the NFL combine. 

As for those of us in the media, it’s mock draft season. Although teams do their own simulations, the most notable works are produced by sportswriters. Most are for the general draft, while many others, including this one, are more team-centric. 

The Baltimore Ravens are currently hunting for their next offensive play-caller while also evaluating this year’s new crop of college prospects. Baltimore’s process this year might be their most important in recent memory. With potential question marks at quarterback, while only possessing five draft picks, the onus is on the Baltimore Ravens scouting staff to nail their picks this year. 

Sidenote: The following Ravens mock draft was made via the Pro Football Focus Mock Draft Simulator

Photo Credit: Jon Durr/Getty Images

Baltimore Ravens Mock Draft


Round Two: Pick 33 – Kelee Ringo – Cornerback – Alabama 

TRADE

Baltimore Gets: 2023 second round pick (33), 2023 third round pick (65)

Houston Gets: 2023 first round pick (22) 

With Marcus Peters entering his age-30 season and a current free agent, the Baltimore Ravens face a massive need at outside cornerback. Marlon Humphrey is one of the NFL’s premier corners, however he cannot be asked to face the AFC North’s receivers alone. 

Kelee Ringo is a somewhat boom-or-bust prospect given some technical rawness. However, given his ceiling, he’s worth the risk at this spot. Ringo could see plenty of early reps given those athletic traits, which should hopefully speed up his development. 

Round Three: Pick 65 (from Houston) Marvin Mims – Wide Receiver – Oklahoma 

After the hypothetical trade, the Baltimore Ravens also picked up another third round pick which they use on their second biggest need. With Rashod Bateman’s rash of injuries and a lack of talent outside of him, Marvin Mims will be asked to contribute immediately. Mims is a quality separator with great concentration skills and can give the Baltimore Ravens a quality deep threat. 

Round Three: Pick 86 – Noah Sewell – Linebacker – Oregon 

This is by far the best pick for the Ravens in this mock draft in terms of value. Noah Sewell was once billed as a top-ten prospect who’s seen his stock drop over the course of the season. Despite this, he’s a versatile defender who can fill the hybrid backer role for Baltimore. He’s got the weight and length to play the edge while possessing the IQ to cover space. 

Round Four: Pick 125 – Jaelyn Duncan – Offensive Lineman – Maryland 

Yet again, another value pick for the Ravens here in this mock draft. Jaelyn Duncan is a highly-touted offensive tackle prospect who has plenty of great athleticism, but is viewed as a developmental prospect at this point. Luckily, the Baltimore Ravens are in a position to draft, and stash, a player like Duncan with both Ronnie Stanley and Morgan Moses already on the roster. 

Round Five: Pick 159 – Rakim Jarrett – Wide Receiver – Maryland 

Back-to-back Maryland picks here for the Baltimore Ravens. Rakim Jarrett had a disappointing 2022 season and has fallen in this simulation to the fifth round. Even so, Jarrett could get plenty of early snaps given the Baltimore Ravens needs at the position. Jarrett has solid ball skills and could grow into a potent slot weapon for whichever offensive coordinator Baltimore adds. 

Round Six: Pick 200 – Jaren Hall – Quarterback – BYU

Best player available is the strategy with the Ravens final selection of this mock draft. With Lamar Jackson’s contract currently in dispute, quarterback could become a much bigger need if things do not progress positively. If Jackson is gone, Tyler Huntley could be looked at as the stop-gap quarterback while they search for a permanent option. Jaren Hall is an older prospect, but has plenty of tools at his disposal that could make him some money as a backup. 

Over/Under: Best prop bets for Miami Dolphins vs Baltimore Ravens

The Miami Dolphins and Baltimore Ravens are running back their matchup from last season. Here is a betters guide brought to you by Prizepicks

Mandatory Credit: Baltimore Ravens

The Miami Dolphins are traveling up north to face the Baltimore Ravens. While most of us will be tuned in to see the result of the game, there are other reasons to turn this game on: fantasy games, betting, and prop bets.

The reality of the situation is that gambling and fantasy football are very much part of the game. There will be countless fans watching this game with a vested interest from their pockets. Who’s going over? Who’s going under? These are the important questions to ask in 2022.

Sports betting is surging in the United States and there is nowhere it has more power than in the NFL. Many people will be placing bets this weekend. Here are some of the most fascinating player prop bets for Dolphins vs Ravens. All odds are presented by PrizePicks. 

Dolphins vs Ravens Best Prop Bets

Tua Tagovailoa Passing yards: Over 230.5 

Tua Tagovailoa went for 270 yards in his first game under new head coach Mike McDaniel. However, there was quite a bit of meat left on the bone. Tagovailoa typically has fewer passing yards against the Patriots, leaving some optimism for his statistical output.

The Ravens will also put up considerably more points than New England, and Miami will likely have to push the ball downfield more than they did on Sunday. Even if you take away the yards after the catch on Jaylen Waddle’s touchdown, Tagovailoa was right at 230 yards. 

Tyreek Hill receiving yards: Over 70.5 

Tyreek Hill was all over the field in his Miami Dolphins debut. While Hill and Tagovailoa were unable to connect on any big splash plays downfield, he still ended the day with 94 yards. Based on what this offense looked like in the preseason and in Week 1, it is reasonable to presume that Hill will have the opportunity to hit his over every week.

The volume will always be there, and his after-the-catch ability lends itself to stockpiling yards in chunks — even if there is a game where he doesn’t hit a home run. Tyreek Hill amassing at least 71 yards on Sunday is one of the safer bets of the weekend. 

Lamar Jackson rush attempts: Over 7.5

The Ravens were severely frustrated by Miami’s defense in their matchup last season. It has become a point of conversation this week, with both sides bringing it up. In last year’s game, Jackson rushed nine times.

That number may have been higher with more designed runs if the Ravens had not been trailing for the entire second half. The weakness of Miami’s defense is their linebackers, and it would behoove Baltimore to attack them with designed Jackson runs.

Ravens vs Jets Week 1 Review

The Ravens travel to New York to battle the Jets in the season opener. Find out what happened as Around the Block breaks down the important action!

Photo Credit: Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

The Baltimore Ravens kicked off the 2022 season with a trip to New York against the Jets. The stories around this game and the Ravens themselves abounded. Would the Lamar Jackson contract situation distract the team? Would the numerous starters out for Baltimore affect the team? Could this be Joe Flacco’s big revenge game? There were many questions but they could only be answered by playing the game. Follow along as we break down this Week 1 matchup of the Ravens vs Jets.

Ravens vs Jets Recap: First Half

FIRST QUARTER

Things got started the right way for Gang Green, as the first play went for 19 yards by running back Michael Carter on the outside edge. However, the Ravens would put pressure on Flacco on back-to-back plays, including forcing an intentional grounding to bring up the game’s first fourth down.

The Ravens didn’t fair much better on their first offensive drive. After a handful of short yardage gains, Kenyan Drake got stuffed on 3rd and 2, forcing the Ravens to punt. Rookie punter Jordan Stout booted a nice punt to put the Jets on their own 11.

The following Jets possession would create a spark for the Ravens. A deep pass by Flacco would be picked off by Baltimore’s big offseason acquisition, safety Marcus Williams, who would take the ball back to the New York 14.

Despite the positional advantage, the Ravens were unable to capitalize. Receiver Demarcus Robinson would shake a Jets defender for a gain of eight yards on 2nd down, but that’s as much offense as could be mustered by the Ravens. An incomplete pass on 3rd down would force the Ravens to take a field goal. One Justin Tucker attempt later and Baltimore would have the first lead of the game, 3-0, with 3:16 left in the 1st quarter.

SECOND QUARTER

The start of the 2nd quarter began with a pass to receiver Rashod Bateman that was dislodged by a Jets defender, forcing the Ravens to punt. The ensuing drive by the Jets looked promising for New York. The Jets would drive all the way to the Baltimore 27 before Greg Zuerlein missed a 45 yard field goal to keep the Ravens lead at 3-0.

Following a New York punt, Jackson would take a deep shot to Robinson that would fall incomplete. However, Robinson would draw a pass interference call that would move the Ravens up to the New York 30. The next play would see Jackson launch a 25-yard pass into the endzone to receiver Devin Duvernay for the first touchdown of the game. A Tucker extra point would give the Ravens a 10-0 lead with 3:45 left in the first half.

The Jets wouldn’t go quietly into the half. A 22-yard run by Michael Carter would put the Jets on Baltimore’s 48-yard line. The Jets would get down to Baltimore’s 28-yard line before a forced fumble on tight end Tyler Conklin, recovered by the Jets, would halt yet another promising drive. Greg Zuerlein would boot a 45-yard field goal to cut into Baltimore’s lead right before the half, 10-3.

“I feel like it was just us feeling it out, out there. We didn’t play in preseason. I didn’t play in six games last year. Not much really.” Jackson said of his play in the first half and the offense’s slow start during the post-game press conference. “We got back in the swing of things and came out better in the second half and started putting points on the board.”

Ravens vs Jets Recap: Second Half

THIRD QUARTER

Getting the ball to start the second half, the Ravens hoped to conjure up more offense than in the first. A shifty eight-yard run by Jackson on 3rd down would give the Ravens a first down. That would be as far as the offense would go. A run for no gain and two incomplete passes brought up a quick 4th down. A 65-yard punt by Stout would negate any hopes the Jets had of getting great field position.

A quick Jets possession followed by a short punt saw the Ravens with the ball at the New York 44 to start their next possession. A handful of chunk plays would put the Ravens in the redzone. On a 3rd and 10, Jackson would find Devin Duvernay yet again for their second scoring connection of the day. Halfway through the 3rd quarter, the Ravens found themselves up 17-3.

The next Ravens possession would be a whirlwind of emotions. Mike Davis would fumble the ball after a nice run for a first down. A lucky bounce would let the Ravens keep possession. The very next play, Lamar would throw a 55-yard touchdown pass to Rashod Bateman. That would give the Ravens a 24-3 lead.

FOURTH QUARTER

Starting the 4th quarter, the Jets conjured up their best drive of the day. A handful of plays that went for 10-plus yards would put the Jets at the Baltimore 22. That would be as far as the drive would go. Safety Chuck Clark would force a fumble on rookie running back Breece Hall, and corner Marlon Humphrey would quickly recover. Unfortunately, the Ravens would be unable to turn the gift into points and punted.

Joe Flacco and the Jets would not go quietly into the night. Converting on 4th down twice, the Jets would drive down to Baltimore’s 6 yard line. Needing a touchdown to have any hope of staying in the game, the Jets lined up for a third 4th down attempt on this drive. This would not be the charm, however, as Flacco’s pass fell incomplete and the possession would switch.

Though the outcome of the game was a forgone conclusion, it wasn’t without its fireworks. Jackson would throw an interception to give the Jets solid field position. Flacco would then again drive the Jets to the Ravens redzone. The Jets would finally cross the goal-line, as Flacco found Tyler Conklin for a late touchdown pass. The ensuing extra point would be no good. Those would be the final points of the game, as the Ravens take a Week 1 victory over the Jets 24-9.

Speaking on Jackson’s play during the Ravens post-game press conference, head coach John Harbaugh had this to say: “Lamar [Jackson] played outstanding. He played a patient, veteran quarterback game. He was in control of everything, he did a great job at the line, handled the clock really well…He played a really veteran, winning quarterback type of a game.”

The Ravens (1-0) have their home opener next week (09-18). They host the Miami Dolphins (1-0) in a pivotal early season tilt.

The Miami Dolphins are Setting up for a Big 2023 Offseason

The Miami Dolphins just traded DeVante Parker, and have continued to set themselves up for major additions in the 2023 offseason.

After dealing DeVante Parker to the New England Patriots in an active off-season, the Miami Dolphins now have five picks in the first three rounds of the 2023 NFL draft.

Through making several deals since Chris Grier became Miami’s GM, the Dolphins have found a way to build their team through the draft, while maintaining the capital to make big moves. For example, Grier was able to trade for wide receiver Tyreek Hill without giving up any major picks in 2023.

Furthermore, Miami is able to make a run with the current roster, while creating the best-case scenario if this year doesn’t work out. More specifically, they have created three distinct possibilities that cover just about every reasonable outcome. All three of which hinge on Tua Tagovailoa, and will play out differently depending on his performance.

Solidifying a Contender

If the Dolphins, and more importantly Tua Tagovailoa, perform well this year, Miami is left with myriad options with their draft picks. Much like they did with Tyreek Hill, they have the potential to go out and continue their “win now” approach. Every year, a new veteran becomes available, and it may come down to who is willing to bid the most. Miami is in a position, through these trades, to outbid just about every team.

Many NFL stars are set to become free agents following this season.

These picks, however, could also be used in the draft. While Miami’s roster is the best it’s been in years, there are still some holes and depth issues. Miami could opt for quantity over one quality player, stacking the spots on the team that need work.

This approach would signal a further confidence in Tagovailoa, who would have to perform for this to work. However, if his production warrants it, Miami could stack the deck for years to come.

Pursuing a Rookie Quarterback

The other two options would admit failure for Tagovailoa, who has been inconsistent over his first two seasons. However, Miami has an insurance policy for him, and it may be put to use if he fails this season. Miami, having five premium picks next year, is in good shape in a draft filled with premium quarterback talent.

Going into this season, the 2023 quarterback class appears to be the strongest in some time. Bryce Young, CJ Stroud, and University of Miami QB Tyler Van Dyke highlight a deep and talented class. If Miami believes that one of these signal-callers could succeed in their scheme, they have the ammo to move up for one of them.

The 2023 NFL Draft is stacked with quarterbacks.

While it seems intriguing, this option has its risks. Miami would be banking on yet another young, unproven quarterback to succeed in ways they haven’t seen since Dan Marino. With a roster that’s ready to compete, this could set the timeline back even longer, and may be unlikely as owner Stephen Ross continues to age towards retirement.

Blockbuster Quarterback Trades

The last, and potentially most exciting option for the 2023 Miami Dolphins comes — yet again — in pursuing a quarterback. However, it makes much more sense for Miami to go after a veteran if Tua doesn’t work out.

Miami has several veterans who are in their prime, such as Tyreek Hill and Terron Armstead. Thus, it’s crucial to maximize their championship window, which may be closed by the time a rookie is ready. Thus, Miami may look to acquire a quarterback from another team, much like the Broncos and Browns did this off-season.

While this is all speculation, there are a few star quarterbacks who could become available next year. Lamar Jackson, who intrigued Stephen Ross in 2018, has yet to sign an extension and would be a free agent if he doesn’t do so.

Kyler Murray is also a possibility, as his discontent with the Cardinals organization began to show this off-season. If they have yet another lackluster season with Murray and Kingsbury, there is potential for the young quarterback to request a trade.

Kyler Murray wiped his Instagram page of Cardinals posts earlier this off-season.

There is also the option of a wild-card whose team doesn’t perform to expectations. With so much talent in the AFC, some teams are bound to not make the playoffs, which could leave fringe teams with unhappy quarterbacks who would rather play with one of the league’s most opportunistic defenses and best young cores.

The Bottom Line on the Miami Dolphins and the 2023 Off-season

While these potential moves are just conjecture, it’s clear the team has made moves to position themselves nicely. Continuing to feed off the blockbuster Laremy Tunsil trade, the Miami Dolphins find themselves in a positive situation for 2023, and beyond.

New head coach Mike McDaniel looks promising, and the roster as undergone major improvement since his arrival. Dolphins fans have much to be happy about currently, and the possibilities continue to grow in the coming years.