Why the Browns are Hiring Todd Monken

 

Todd Monken was Offensive Coordinator for the Browns in 2019.  

BREAKING NEWS:  The Browns are hiring Todd Monken.  How about that?   I wrote this article the day before Monken was hired.  I think there are legitimate reasons why he is an interesting person for the Browns, but not sure that they should have actually hired him over Jim Schwartz.  

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We hear that the Browns have interviewed Todd Monken for the second time.  For the Browns, that is a serious relationship.  Why?  He is currently the OC for the arch-rival Baltimore Ravens, and rumor has it that he does not get along with Lamar Jackson.  That is a serious problem if it's true. 

So why are the Browns interested? 

Let's think back to the 2019 season when he was the OC at Cleveland.  He ran a two-back offense with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt (who was suspended the first eight games of the season) and cameo appearances by Dontrell Hilliard and D'Ernest Johnson.  There were only two wide receivers in Odell Beckham, Jr. and Jarvis Landry.  The lack of a tight end really hurt, as David Njoku wound up in Coach Freddie Kitchens' doghouse and was scarcely used (long story short, that was on Freddie.  We know now that Njoku developed into a Pro Bowl tight end, but Freddie could not figure that out).  In the two back system, both backs were receiving threats but could also run the ball.  That was fun to watch.   

Meanwhile, do you remember when the Browns had Carlos Hyde and Duke Johnson?  Well, in 2019, they played with Deshaun Watson in a two back system after being traded to Houston (the Browns love to trade with Houston).  Damn if Hyde didn't gain 1112 yards from scrimmage, with Johnson adding 820 yards more.  Watson threw for 3852 yards that year, including 767 yards to tight ends.  You might pass out if I remind you that one of their tight ends was Darren Fells, who played for Cleveland the previous year. Cleveland rejects accounted for 2699 yards that season, but the larger point is that Deshaun Watson was great in a two back system, and the Cleveland Browns have two running backs in 2026, and Todd Monken knows how to run a two-back offense in the NFL.  

The Texans' offense was largely based on the triple option:  Most plays would start with play action or Run/Pass Option.  If Deshaun keeps the ball, he rolls out like Baker Mayfield and can throw a screen to either of two backs, or look downfield, or else he can take off and run for the sideline.  The disadvantage is that he probably got hit as often as Lamar Jackson.  With two ACLs and a twice-torn Achilles tendon in his resume, he probably should not roll out as often as he used to. 

Nevertheless, the two back offense and ball control style worked well for him at Houston. Watson's career in Cleveland was soured by his misadventures in his personal life and his bad contract, which caused the Dawg Pound to be skeptical from the get-go.  Moreover, as a competitor, he wanted to earn his gigantic contract and change his style of play to out-do Josh Allen.  Hence the Browns hired ex-Bills coordinator Ken Dorsey and tried to install a Bills-style deep passing offense. That was a failure.  

Nevertheless, Watson was once a 4000-yard quarterback, and it makes sense to stop trying to convert him into Josh Allen and go back to what worked in the past.   Watson was great in a two back system, and the Browns have Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson.  

Under Monken, the Ravens had everyone running the ball, starting with quarterback Lamar Jackson, but they also had Derrick Henry toting the rock, often with monstrous fullback Patrick Ricard in the backfield at the same time, all 305 pounds of him.  Change-of-pace backs Keaton Mitchell and Justice Hill found time to combine for 666 yards from scrimmage.  The Ravens' hot dog vendors can also run the football if called upon.  

The Browns would be helped immensely by making better use of their ground game.  It would take pressure off "Pro Bowler" Shedeur Sanders if the Browns had a more balanced offense.  This news flash just in: the Browns are a cold weather, natural turf team. They should pound the rock and win the second half against worn-out defenses.  They keep on thinking they are a warm weather, synthetic turf team that should feature four and five receiver sets.  Maybe someday they will have a domed stadium, but that time is not yet.  Till that happens, let's remember who we are:  the Browns are Marion Motley, Jim Brown, Leroy Kelly, Greg Pruitt, Earnest Byner, Kevin Mack, Peyton Hillis, and Nick Chubb. I don't see any reason why Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson cannot join this group.