The Cleveland Browns went from one offensive head coach to another. Former boss Kevin Stefanski loved his tight ends. And he kept more than his share on the roster at all times.
The new guy, Todd Monken, also has a fascination with tight ends. We will see how he uses them shortly. With the return of TE Harold Fannin, Cleveland’s new offense should flourish. But Fannin will need a throwing mate. Enter this year’s fifth-round draft pick, Joe Royer.
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A lot
of analysis of Monken’s offense has been covered in the media. Just ask Dr. Google about “Todd Monken’s offensive scheme,” which will tell you this:
“Todd Monken operates a multiple, hybrid offensive scheme that fuses Air Raid passing concepts with a power run game. His system is known as an “illusion of complexity”, relying on heavy pre-snap motion, diverse personnel groupings, and week-to-week adaptability rather than a rigid playbook.”
The honest answer is that all of the above is what he wants to accomplish. But the reality is that Monken uses what he has on the roster.
In 1982, the Miami Dolphins ranked #3 in the league in rushing. They had a successful running contraption with RB Tony Nathan and FB Andra Franklin. Head coach Don Shula built his career on being successful with the Baltimore Colts and running the ball with Lenny Moore. So, with Miami, that is how he built his offense.
But the Dolphins drafted QB Dan Marino late in the 1983 NFL draft, who was a throwing machine. Shula altered his offense from a successful rushing attack to fit his personnel with receivers Mark Duper and Mark Clayton, with Nathan now a third receiver, and Marino. Suddenly, Miami was known as an exceptional passing team. In just a few short years, Miami was 14-2-0 under Marino.
Shula adapted. Monken also adapts.
Monken prefers a two-tight-end grouping. This could involve a fullback in the absence of one tight end, but the players do the same during the game. A fullback and two tight ends are also utilized in some scenarios.
Monken spoke at this year’s Combine about about using two tight end sets:
“We were lucky enough with the Ravens to have a good number of tight ends. That puts you in a position to use that personnel group. I wouldn’t say we’re going to be a 12-personnel group of 21 and 11 until we get out there and see what we have. I think that’s our job as coaches to utilize the players that we have. We morphed a little bit last year with Isaiah Likely being hurt. And with Lamar (Jackson) being hurt a little bit more 21 than we were even 12 the year before. So, we’ll see how it goes. I do think the bigger you are, the calmer the looks.”
In a nutshell, he adapts the offense to what he has on the roster. Which means he isn’t rigid to his system and tries to place round blocks into boxes that have lots of corners. The roster, aka the personnel on the roster, will determine the best offensive method for their playcalling.
1, 2, 3 Bulldogs!
That goes all the way back when Monken was the OC at the University of Georgia, home of the Bulldogs. He had tight ends Brock Bowers and Darnell Washington on the roster, and these two stayed on the field for at least three-quarters of all offensive snaps.
Both of these tight ends were expected to be key components in the rushing attack. Each tight end has a man designated on the second level to manhandle and block out of harm’s way. They usually line up in tight splits inside pre-snap, where they could block down on their man and provide a seal.
Monken used quite a bit of trey sets as well, where one tight end will line up like a fullback between the offensive line and the QB, while the other tight end is in the slot right beside a receiver, who is positioned outside – all on the same side.
This is used in a toss run where the tight end in the backfield leads the running back as if he is a fullback. The other tight end along the line then chips a man, then leaks out and drags along the second level to the other side. Everything appears to be a run to the hard left, but the QB holds the ball, bootlegs to the right where the tight end has performed a drag route, and he is wide open with only safeties covering other receivers as possible tacklers.
In this same trey grouping, it will appear to be the same play, but this time the slot tight end will not run a route initially, but block down instead of the chip, then slide outside on a route. The defense sees the TE as a primary blocker all the way, but instead becomes the primary receiver.
By keeping both tight ends on the field for most of the game, Monken is asking a lot of both players. They need to have exceptional blocking abilities and be excellent pass catchers. Yeah, all that.
We all know that tight ends don’t offer great route running. They aren’t known for deceptive body gestures such as head bobs, shoulder shakes, or hip jukes. Their routes are either straight or rounded off. But their position before the snap helps to create room for them to become open in the passing game and available for the throw. Then, it’s up to the player to create his own YAC numbers.
And Monken’s system also has a protection grouping where he will keep seven men in. Both tight ends are lined up as wings set back behind each offensive tackle, with a receiver outside on both sides of the field. The QB can be under center or back in the pistol with a lone running back. The negative is that only the outside receivers and the running back flaring out are the only targets, while both tight ends are left in to block. But the QB has all day to find an open man, and it keeps the linebackers at the second level who are expecting one – or both – of the tight ends to go out at some point, and then never do.
If Monken thinks his tight ends are some of his best offensive players, then expect at least two to remain on the turf for most of the game, every game. These two are usually the only ones who will go into motion.
He has also used one tight end in the backfield with the RB in 22 personnel.
The end result of his tampering with the Georgia offense was winning two National Championships, an offense that went from being ranked #49 in the nation to #38 in his first year, then #9 in his second season, and finally to #5 in his final year.
For the third straight year, the Bulldogs saw their points per game increase. Heading into the College Football Playoff, Georgia was averaging 39.2 points per game, the most ever under Monken.
Washington went on to be selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, while Bowers was taken #13 overall in Round 1 by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2024 draft.
Which means, offensive success for everyone.
Monken was then hired by the Baltimore Ravens as their OC. Since Monken left, Georgia has not returned to the national championship stage.
This personnel grouping continued while Monken was with the Ravens. He had two really good tight ends with Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely, along with backup Charlie Kolar. Fullback Patrick Ricard was used in place of one of these tight ends as well, especially when Likely went down with an injury last year.
Ricard was named First Team All-Pro and Second Team All-Pro all three seasons under Monken. He also earned two Pro Bowls during this time span. Andrews was voted to one of his Pro Bowls under Monken’s tutelage, while Likely had his career-best yards per catch average of 13.7 while playing for Monken.
Which means, offensive success for everyone.
Potential offensive line unicorn?
The Browns found several draft gems later in the draft. Florida OT Austin Barber will be a starter one day once he figures out the next level of defensive ends. C Parker Brailsford of Alabama should have been taken a round earlier, while LB Justin Jefferson will begin his career in Cleveland on special teams, but has the potential to get defensive snaps the following year.
Then there is tight end Joe Royer. Round 5. An Ohio kid. From the University of Cincinnati.
Four-star prospect coming out of Elder High School in Cincinnati. As a senior, he had college scouts lined up out the door and stretching from his home on Delight Drive and around the corner until you get to the St. John’s Westminster Learning Center.
He chose to be close to home and accepted a scholarship with Ohio State. Once his mom, Micki Royer, passed away unexpectedly in September of 2022 at the age of 52, Royer decided to be close to his dad, Mark, and his two sisters. So, he transferred to the University of Cincinnati, one of his initial suitors.
With a high football IQ, Royer is an above-average blocker and a very good pass catcher. He plays very well out in space, running and catching the ball, and out on the perimeter.
Training camp reveal
A full dose of training camp should propel Royer to become that TE2 and give Monken the tandem he is looking for.
He will have a lot of competition from holdovers Blake Whiteheart and Brendan Bates, plus free agent signee Jack Stoll. Another draft pick, Carsen Ryan, is also a new roster member.
But Royer has what it takes to become that second tight end Monken will need to run his offense. Royer has drawn Travis Kelce comparisons. Kelce wasn’t an early-round pick, as most people assume. He was taken in Round 3.
University of Cincinnati tight ends coach Josh Stepp told Dawg Pound Daily:
“He’s kind of an old soul, quiet and just keeps his head down and goes about his business. He is a very competitive person; no matter what it is you are doing, he wants to win. He is extremely smart, hard-working, and dependable.”
Royer and Fannin will become a scary duo.
This kid shows exceptional body control and spatial awareness. He can contort his body and catch poorly-thrown passes. He creates good separation on intermediate throws and will run angry after the catch. He also gives the offense good YAC numbers.
Stepp added:
“He was our best player these last two seasons at UC. Just the way he moved, ran routes, and caught the ball. We were all just blown away.”
Blocking will become the most tutelage he will need. He is a very willing blocker, but like Fannin, in college, he wasn’t required to block much as he was used more as a receiver, getting lots of targets instead of being used in the run game.
Royer’s ball skills are his best attribute. He had zero drops last year and has no issue going over the middle to the field on routes. Plus, he’s a good teammate. Which, by the way, his QB was Brendan Sorsby.
This new Browns’ offense still needs to find its #2 tight end and become a companion to Fannin. Whiteheart is currently penciled in as TE2 going into training camp with Royer behind him. Fifth-round or not, that is just a number at this stage. Royer is the one that the coaching staff will take a good, hard look at. Whoever wins that spot will become a starter with this offense, as it needs two tight ends.
