Every offensive coordinator wants to leave his own fingerprint on an offense. Declan Doyle will be no different when he finally sinks his teeth into calling a Baltimore Ravens game on an NFL Sunday. Following Todd Monken's departure to become the Cleveland Browns' head coach
, the Ravens began another offensive transition. Doyle will introduce new wrinkles, emphasize different concepts, and inevitably shape the offense around his own philosophy.That doesn't mean Baltimore should abandon everything that made Monken's system successful. In many ways, he helped modernize the Ravens' current passing game while preserving the physical rushing identity that has long defined the franchise.
As Baltimore turns the page, several of those foundational principles
deserve to carry over. Here are a few that most would agree immediately come to mind.
Lamar Jackson continued to prove he's a complete pocket passer
One of Monken's greatest accomplishments wasn't changing Lamar Jackson. It was expanding him. Baltimore's passing game featured improved spacing, cleaner route concepts, and more answers against modern NFL coverages. Instead of relying almost exclusively on Jackson's athleticism, Monken created opportunities for him to win from the pocket.
The results spoke for themselves. Jackson posted the two highest completion percentages of his career under Monken while becoming one of the league's most efficient passers. Better spacing also created more open throwing windows, allowing Baltimore to attack defenses with patience instead of forcing difficult plays. That's a foundation Doyle would be wise to preserve, though his QB1 has become so comfortable that even the tight throws seem effortless.
Finishing drives became a Ravens strength.
Great offenses don't just move the football. They score touchdowns. They say every drive would be nice if it ended with a kick, but let's be honest. Most would rather it be an extra-point attempt than a field-goal try.
Monken consistently stressed red-zone execution, and Baltimore became one of the NFL's most efficient teams inside the opponent's 20-yard line. Creative formations, disciplined execution, and a commitment to finishing drives transformed one of the offense's former weaknesses into a defining strength. Changing coordinators shouldn't change that mindset.
Everyone became part of the Ravens' passing game.
Monken refused to let defenses key on one position group. Running backs became dangerous receivers. Tight ends remained central to the offense. Wide receivers benefited from the attention those groups demanded.
Heavy personnel packages often forced mismatches, while creative route combinations created explosive opportunities for players like Isaiah Likely and Baltimore's running backs. The Ravens became far less predictable because virtually every eligible receiver became a legitimate threat. That level of balance should remain part of Doyle's blueprint.
Baltimore never lost its identity.
Perhaps Monken's greatest achievement was resisting the temptation to overhaul everything. He arrived with a reputation for aggressive passing concepts, yet he never abandoned Baltimore's physical roots. Instead, he blended modern passing principles with one of football's premier rushing attacks, creating one of the league's most balanced offenses.
The Ravens finished near the top of the NFL in rushing while simultaneously producing one of the most explosive passing attacks in franchise history. That balance helped produce one of the most productive offensive seasons the league has ever seen in 2024.
Declan Doyle doesn't need to replicate Todd Monken's playbook. He does, however, inherit an offense that already possesses a clear identity. If Doyle can preserve Monken's commitment to spacing, red-zone efficiency, offensive balance and maximizing Lamar Jackson as both a passer and playmaker while adding his own creative wrinkles, Baltimore won't be starting over. It may simply be taking the next step.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Four Todd Monken principles Declan Doyle should preserve in Baltimore
