Dawgnation’s Connor Riley joined Dukes & Bell for his weekly appearance on the show and talked about what Todd Monken’s departure means for the Dawgs and why Monken left for the NFL.
When asked why Monken left UGA for the Ravens.
“I think the big thing is he wanted offensive control at that NFL level, he wasn’t looking to go back just to be an offensive coordinator in name only. He wants to be a play-caller, his last year in the NFL as an offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns he wasn’t the play-caller and needless to say it didn’t very well,” Riley said. “I think with Baltimore, look it’s an intriguing fit, obviously they have to figure out what they’re gonna do with Lamar Jackson but if you look at the offensive personnel they have, I think two of the better skill players are tight ends with Mark Andrews and Isiah Likely. We saw what Monken was able to do with a tight end heavy offense at Georgia running it through Brock Bowers and there is some level of talent on that Ravens offense and look if Lamar Jackson comes back, great you have one of the five or six best quarterbacks in the NFL at your diposal able to use him effectively.”
Riley talked about the freedom Monken with have with the offense in Baltimore.
“If for example the Ravens trade Lamar Jackson, let’s say the Falcons give up three first round picks in trade, you sort of allow Monken to reshape that offense more so in his image. So yes there’s some question what’s gonna happen next with Lamar Jackson but I think the either or scenarios there, either you have Lamar Jackson or you have a new look offense rebuilt around more draft picks I think makes it an appealing job to Monken. And above all else he’s going to be the sole play caller there, he’s not gonna have to worry about John Harbaugh meddling in and having ideas there. So that offensive freedom is going to be very important and a big reason why Monken ends up taking the offensive coordinator job with the Baltimore Ravens.”