Ravens Insider: Mike Preston: Give Ravens OC Todd Monken a game ball for second-half adjustments vs. Texans | COMMENTARY

ExtremeRavens · January 21

The Ravens should have given offensive coordinator Todd Monken a game ball Saturday night.

After the Ravens’ 34-10 win over the Houston Texans in the AFC divisional round before an announced 71,018 at M&T Bank Stadium, there was plenty of talk about quarterback Lamar Jackson’s contribution to four of the team’s touchdowns and an outstanding defensive effort throughout the game, but it was Monken who guided the team to 24 second-half points.

He has been the Ravens’ secret weapon all year in furthering Jackson’s development and putting some pop into the passing game, but on Saturday night he was dialing up plays that led to Houston’s defensive demise in the final two quarters.

The Ravens had only 118 yards of total offense in the first half but finished with 352. They had 95 rushing yards, 50 of those by Jackson, and only 52 passing yards in the first two quarters. They finished with 229 yards on the ground and 123 through the air. The difference was Monken.

Now, it’s understandable why he is a head coaching prospect at age 57, even when most team owners are looking at other candidates 15 to 25 years younger. Monken has already had virtual visits with at least the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Chargers.

“Offensively, we talked about completions and about our profit game,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said about the halftime plan. “Let’s get the thing going [and] not try and push the ball downfield quite as much. I think it also helped open up the run game. Lamar did a great job. A lot of that was his thinking as well. He was all over it — what we felt we needed to do in the second half.

“[It was a] collaborative effort, for sure. Todd deserves a lot of credit. I thought he called a great game, especially in the second half.”

The Ravens struggled offensively in the first half but still managed to enter halftime tied at 10. Jackson was blitzed on 13 of 18 dropbacks, pressured 10 times and sacked three times. Neither Jackson nor his offensive line had an answer for the Texans’ blitzes, which came from outside linebackers or safeties and were delayed at times.

But then came halftime.

Jackson delivered a profanity-laced speech, and Monken devised another game plan.

“It would be inappropriate if I said it right here,” Jackson said, drawing laughter. “But, we weren’t really doing anything to their defense — they were playing great. That offense was playing great as well, but we weren’t doing our job with our unit. In the second half, [we] started putting points on the board, started moving the ball, moving the chains and started looking at ourselves.”

Both Jackson and Monken need to take some blame for the lackadaisical first half. They had no answers for the Texans’ blitzes, even though they had seen them multiple times throughout the season.

But there were definitive answers on the Ravens’ first offensive possession of the second half. On the first snap, Jackson threw a pass to wideout Nelson Agholor for a 9-yard gain and then went to tight end Isaiah Likely for a 19-yard reception over the middle. Quick passes were going to work, not the deep passes the Ravens were hoping to hit on.

On second-and-10 from the Texans’ 15-yard line, Jackson ran a devised draw behind running back Gus Edwards, who put a picture-perfect block on middle linebacker Blake Cashman as the Ravens went ahead, 17-10, early in the third quarter.

The Ravens put together another scoring drive on their next possession, this one 93 yards on 12 plays capped by a 15-yard touchdown pass from Jackson to Likely. It was a similar play the Ravens used last season in a win over the New Orleans Saints.

But before Monken reached into his bag of tricks, he had the Texans off guard. They couldn’t stop the deep passes over the middle to a receiver like Rashod Bateman or short passes into the flat to rookie Zay Flowers or running back Justice Hill. After taking a 24-10 lead on the touchdown pass to Likely, the Ravens went to the running game behind Edwards, Hill and recently signed Dalvin Cook.

They ran counter plays, tosses and straight dives up the middle and the exhausted Texans couldn’t stop them. Of course, this was all caused by Jackson, who rushed 11 times for 100 yards and two touchdowns while completing 16 of 22 passes for 152 yards and two scores.

And, of course, it was directed by Monken.

“It means a lot for your [offensive coordinator] to trust in you to be out there and putting our team in a great situation,” Jackson said of Monken. “That’s all I need, and we’re going to go from there.”

The Ravens hired Monken in February to replace Greg Roman as the offensive coordinator. On the first day he met the media, Monken said he wanted to attack the entire field. He has done that with a running game that doesn’t have a featured halfback and a passing game that is effective, but not dominant.

It’s called balance. The Ravens have it. Monken seems to add new wrinkles weekly, such as the tight end delay over the middle to Likely or a similar play to fullback Patrick Ricard. They also have a quarterback who is more accurate and more of a leader this year, while Monken helped lead Georgia to two straight national titles before arriving in Baltimore.

It’s an offense that is inconsistent at times, but the Ravens always seem to get in sync.

“I think we just did a better job getting the ball out on time,” Harbaugh said. “I think Todd called a different game. It wasn’t so much hold the ball and try to push the ball downfield, which Lamar did a good job. Once Lamar was able to sit back there [in the pocket] and just pick [the defense] apart and get the ball out quick, he just did a great job with that and then took control of the game.”

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson wearing a "Top 10" gold chain as he walks to the locker room. after beating the Texans 34-10 in Divisional Round of the 2024 NFL Playoffs at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson wearing a "Top 10" gold chain as he walks to the locker room. after beating the Texans 34-10 in Divisional Round of the 2024 NFL Playoffs at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens' Ronnie Stanley, left, and Lamar Jackson celebrate after Jackson ran in for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round of the playoffs at M&T Bank Stadium.(Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens' Ronnie Stanley, behind, and Lamar Jackson celebrate after Jackson ran in for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round of the playoffs at M&T Bank Stadium.(Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, left celebrates with tight end Isaiah Likely following the touchdown reception against the Houston Texans during the fourth quarter of the Divisional Round of the 2024 NFL Playoffs in Baltimore. The Ravens defeated Houston 34-10, to advance to the AFC championship.(Karl Merton Ferron/Staff Photo)
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson beats Texans defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins to the end zone during the fourth quarter Saturday. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)
Ravens' Lamar Jackson runs for a 4th quarter touchdown to give the Ravens a 30-10 lead. Houston Texans vs. the Baltimore Ravens in NFL Divisional Round playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
Ravens' Lamar Jackson runs for a 4th quarter touchdown to give the Ravens a 30-10 lead. Houston Texans vs. the Baltimore Ravens in NFL Divisional Round playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens' Isaiah Likely catches a touchdown as Houston Texans' Derek Stingley Jr. attempts to defend against the play in the Divisional Round of the playoffs at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens' Isaiah Likely catches a touchdown as Houston Texans' Derek Stingley Jr. attempts to defend against the play in the Divisional Round of the playoffs at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely, #80 reaches out after scoring a touchdown in front of Houston Texans cornerback Ka'dar Hollman during the fourth quarter of the Divisional Round of the 2024 NFL Playoffs in Baltimore. The Ravens defeated Houston 34-10, to advance to the AFC championship. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff Photo)
Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely, center stands beetween Houston Texans linebacker Blake Cashman, #53 and cornerback Ka'dar Hollman after a touchdown reception during the fourth quarter of the Divisional Round of the 2024 NFL Playoffs in Baltimore. The Ravens defeated Houston 34-10, to advance to the AFC championship. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff Photo)
Baltimore Ravens Isaiah Likely hauls in a touchdown pass over Houston Texans Derek Stingley Jr. in the 4th quarter of the divisional playoff at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo)
Houston Texans' Jalen Pitre almost intercepts a ball thrown to Baltimore Ravens' Isaiah Likely during the Divisional Round of the playoffs at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, #8 celebrates his rushing touchdown against the Houston Texans with wide receiver Zay Flowers during the fourth quarter of the Divisional Round of the 2024 NFL Playoffs in Baltimore. The Ravens defeated Houston 34-10, to advance to the AFC championship. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff Photo)
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, #4 and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. react after quarterback Lamar Jackson scored his second rushing touchdown against the Houston Texans during the fourth quarter of the Divisional Round of the 2024 NFL Playoffs in Baltimore. The Ravens defeated Houston 34-10, to advance to the AFC championship. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff Photo)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, #8 celebrates his rushing touchdown against the Houston Texans with wide receiver Zay Flowers during the fourth quarter of the Divisional Round of the 2024 NFL Playoffs in Baltimore. The Ravens defeated Houston 34-10, to advance to the AFC championship...(Karl Merton Ferron/Staff Photo)
Baltimore Ravens running back Dalvin Cook, #31 gains first down yardage to the 25-yard line against the Houston Texans during the fourth quarter of the Divisional Round of the 2024 NFL Playoffs in Baltimore. The Ravens defeated Houston 34-10, to advance to the AFC championship. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff Photo)
Ravens' #43 Justice Hill is brought down by Texans' #21 Steven Nelson after he made a first down in the 4th quarter. Houston Texans vs. the Baltimore Ravens in NFL Divisional Round playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff photo)
Jan. 20, 2024: Ravens' Lamar Jackson is congratulated by teammates after his 15-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Houston Texans vs. the Baltimore Ravens in NFL Divisional Round playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff photo)
Ravens' Lamar Jackson runs for a 15-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Houston Texans vs. the Baltimore Ravens in NFL Divisional Round playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff photo)
Texan's #93 Kurt Hinish sacks Ravens' Lamar Jackson in the second quarter. Houston Texans vs. the Baltimore Ravens in NFL Divisional Round playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff photo)
Texans' kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn misses a field goal late in the first half. Houston Texans vs. the Baltimore Ravens in NFL Divisional Round playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff photo)
Houston Texans' Dameon Pierce fumbles while tackled by Baltimore Ravens' Malik Harrison on a kickoff return recovered by Houston late during the fourth quarter of the Divisional Round of the 2024 NFL Playoffs in Baltimore. The Ravens defeated Houston 34-10, to advance to the AFC championship. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff Photo)
Baltimore Ravens' Lamar Jackson runs for a first down in the third quarter against the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round of the playoffs at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens' quarterback Lamar Jackson throws the ball in the third quarter against the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round of the playoffs at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
Ravens' #80 Isaiah Likely uses a stiff-arm to hold off Texans' defender #25 Desmond King II to gain a first down in the third quarter. Houston Texans vs. the Baltimore Ravens in NFL Divisional Round playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson runs the ball against the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round of the playoffs at M&T Bank Stadium.(Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
Texan's #26 Devin Singletary is tackled by Ravens' #14 Kyle Hamilton and #0 Roquan Smith in the second quarter. Houston Texans vs. the Baltimore Ravens in NFL Divisional Round playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff photo)
Ravens' #92 Justin Madubuike tackles Texans' #19 Xavier Hutchinson in the second quarter. Houston Texans vs. the Baltimore Ravens in NFL Divisional Round playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens punter Jordan Stout reacts after the Texans score a punt return for a field goal touchdown during the Divisional Round playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens punter Jordan Stout is dejected after the Texans returned a punt for a touchdown during the Divisional Round of the playoffs at M&T Bank Stadium.(Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
Houston Texans' Steven Sims runs a punt in for a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional Round of the playoffs at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens' Charlie Kolar catches the ball against the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round of the playoffs at M&T Bank Stadium.(Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Nelson Agholor celebrates a touchdown against the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round of the playoffs at M&T Bank Stadium.(Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Nelson Agholor, left, and quarterback Lamar Jackson celebrate a touchdown against the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round of the playoffs at M&T Bank Stadium.(Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson celebrates with tight end Isaiah Likely, left, after Jackson ran for a touchdown against the Texans on Saturday. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Baltimore Ravens Lamar Jackson runs in for a touchdown against the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round of the playoffs at M&T Bank Stadium.(Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens Lamar Jackson runs in for a touchdown against the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round of the playoffs at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback runs for a first down in the second quarter against the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round of the playoffs at M&T Bank Stadium.(Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
Ravens' Lamar Jackson celebrates with teammate #15 Nelson Agholor after he caught a touchdown pass in the second quarter. Houston Texans vs. the Baltimore Ravens in NFL Divisional Round playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff photo)
Ravens Lamar Jackson takes off for a long run in the first quarter. Houston Texans vs. the Baltimore Ravens in NFL Divisional Round playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff photo)
Ka'imi Fairbairn kicks a 50 yard field goal in the first quarter. Houston Texans vs. the Baltimore Ravens in NFL Divisional Round playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff photo)
Ravens' Justin Tucker celebrates with his teammates after kicking a field goal to make the score, 3-0, against the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round of the playoffs at M&T Bank Stadium.(Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
Ravens #24 Jadeveon Clowney tackles Texan's #26 Devin Singletary during first quarter action. Houston Texans vs. the Baltimore Ravens in NFL Divisional Round playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff photo)
Ravens fans react to Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker's first quarter field goal against the Houston Texans. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo)
Ravens defeated the Texans 34-10 in Divisional Round of the 2024 NFL Playoffs at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
Ravens' Justin Tucker kicks a field goal to make the score, 3-0,, against the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round of the playoffs at M&T Bank Stadium.(Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker kicks a field goal in the first quarter as the Ravens host the Houston Texans in the divisional playoff at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker kicks a field goal in the first quarter as the Ravens host the Houston Texans in the divisional playoff at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson breaks from the pocket for a gain against the Houston Texans in the first quarter. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo)
Ravens' Lamar Jackson runs for a first down against the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round of the playoffs at M&T Bank Stadium.(Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson throws in the first quarter. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens' Travis Jones pressures Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud in the first quarter as the Ravens host the Texans in the divisional playoff at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo)
Houston Texans' Devin Singletary is tackled for loss by Baltimore Ravens' Justin Madubuike in the Divisional Round of the playoffs at M&T Bank Stadium.(Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson heads out to practice for the Divisional Round of the 2024 NFL Playoffs in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff Photo)
Fans react before the Divisional Round of the playoffs game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Houston Texans at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens' Morgan Moses is on the field before a playoff game against the Houston Texans.(Karl Merton Ferron/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens' Tyler Ott uses a heater to warm up the equipment before a playoff game against the Houston Texans. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff photo)
Wayne Reese known as Uncle Grandpa dances outside of the stadium before the Houston Texans vs. the Baltimore Ravens in NFL Divisional Round playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff photo)
Ken Mioduski of Bel Air, also known as Purple Haze, enjoys the pregame tailgate before the Houston Texans vs. the Baltimore Ravens in NFL Divisional Round playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff photo)
Mark Acton wheels a Ravens MVP sculpture he created through the streets outside of M&T Bank Stadium. Houston Texans vs. the Baltimore Ravens in NFL Divisional Round playoff game. (Lloyd Fox/Staff photo)
Chris Mills, of Toronto, and wife Chantel Mills, both Odell Beckham Jr. fans, attend their first Ravens game ever and it is the Divisional Round of the playoffs against the Houston Texans at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
Governor Wes Moore arrives at M&T Bank Stadium for Baltimore Ravens playoff game against the Houston Texans. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
Clarence Thomas known as the Hip-hop Raven enjoys pregame festivities before the Houston Texans vs. the Baltimore Ravens game. NFL Divisional Round playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff photo)
Former Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning watches the Baltimore Ravens and the Houston Texans warm up during the Divisional Round of the 2024 NFL Playoffs in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff Photo)
Adalius Thomas, left and Carmelo Anthony talk as the Baltimore Ravens and the Houston Texans practice during the Divisional Round of the 2024 NFL Playoffs in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff Photo)
Comedian Stavros Halkias is on the field before the Divisional Round of the playoffs between the Baltimore Ravens and the Houston Texans at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens Roquan Smith pumps up the team prior to the divisional playoff game against the Houston Texans at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens Roquan Smith takes the field as the Ravens prepare to host the Houston Texans in the divisional playoff at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens' Justin Madubuike takes the field as the Ravens prepare to host the Houston Texans in the divisional playoff at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo)
Maryland National Guard A10s fly over prior to the start of the divisional playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium between the Baltimore Ravens and the Houston Texans. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo)