Free Lamar: Ravens’ new-look offense gives keys to QB

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson running Todd Monken’s offense could be special.

Look for Lamar Jackson to play potentially his best football to date with Todd Monken now serving as the Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator.

Not to say that Jackson didn’t have great success previously with his former coordinator Greg Roman (he did win NFL MVP in 2019), but apparently, his lack of control and flexibility at the line of scrimmage eventually proved to the detriment of the Ravens offense. Roman would call the play and Jackson would run it, hardly deviating from what was relayed into him. But it is different now.

ESPN’s Jamison Hensley wrote about all the good things that are emanating from having Monken in the building in Owings Mill. Whether it be Jackson, quarterbacks coach Tee Martin or head coach John Harbaugh, all seem to be giving rave reviews of the new Baltimore offensive coordinator.

Here is what Jackson said about the fun and exciting part of playing in Monken’s offensive system.

“Coach [Monken] is basically just giving us the keys to the offense, really. I’m loving it.”

Monken returned to the NFL this season after a stellar three-year run as the former offensive coordinator of the Georgia Bulldogs, winning the last two College Football Playoffs with Stetson Bennett IV as the Dawgs’ superstar quarterback. He previously worked for teams like Tampa Bay.

Lamar Jackson is about to run train in Todd Monken’s Baltimore Ravens offense

With Jackson back with the Ravens on a fat, new contract, it serves Baltimore to get the absolute most out of his unique talents before he loses a touch of athleticism. Yes, Jackson is a smart player who works very hard in with his student mentality approach to the game. However, he will have to adapt his play once he can no longer run past seemingly every would-be tackler he comes across.

I watched the wonders of Monken’s offense first-hand transform my defensive-minded alma mater into a program with cutting edge play calls and incredible productivity. Should Jackson and the Ravens offense be what Georgia’s had been at times in the last three season, that should make the upper crust of the AFC all the more menacing, while making the games even better.

As fans of the sport, we win watching Jackson play unencumbered football. Not to say he will be able to do everything he did during his sensational sophomore season at Louisville, but playing for Monken could be every bit as good for him as it was playing for Bobby Petrino in college, and at times, even Roman, too. Overall, you have to love the vibes coming out of Owings Mill this week.

The faster Jackson and Monken can develop a rapport, the better off Baltimore will be this season.