Week 6 arrives, and the AFC North is set for a reunion of sorts. TheBaltimore Ravens will travel to Cleveland to face their division rival Browns at Huntington Bank Field on Sunday. Kyle Hamilton, one of the team captains, knows Todd Monken well enough to appreciate what makes him difficult to prepare for.
That familiarity doesn't necessarily give the Ravens a decisive advantage. Monken spent the previous three seasons coordinating Baltimore's offense before becoming the Browns' head coach. That also gives him firsthand knowledge of the players and defensive tendencies he'll encounter Sunday. Hamilton understands that the relationship works both ways, turning preparation into a duel in which neither side wants to reveal too much. The Ravens safety
spoke with the media recentlyand described Monken as a brilliant offensive mind, and he hasn't changed that assessment now that the coach is leading a division rival.
"We know stuff about him; he knows stuff about us. So, we're both playing the chess game of going back and forth and trying not to give our hand away. I'm sure they're going to have dialed-up plays for us, just like we are for him."
Cleveland can stress a defense in several ways, from changing formations and personnel groupings to using a quarterback who can extend plays when the original design breaks down. Baltimore's familiarity with Monken's approach offers useful clues, but Hamilton knows the defense still has to recognize and respond to what unfolds on the field.
"I think [the familiarity that comes with working with him for three years] could help just recognizing some formations, but I wouldn't rely on it. Obviously, [Todd Monken] has done a great job with them so far, and he's a good football mind [and a] good coach... But his offenses are always super multiple [and] take advantage of a mobile quarterback, which they have. Deshaun [Watson] has been playing really, really well, I think. [He's been] keeping plays alive [and] extending plays. They have young guys on the outside who are doing really well, too. So, they have all the weapons, [a] revamped offensive line, and it's going to be a good, physical game."
Todd Monken's versatility creates a difficult preparation
Hamilton's comments point to the challenge of preparing for an offense that doesn't rely on one look or one method of attacking a defense. Monken can change the presentation, mix personnel, and force defenders to adjust before the snap. Even when Baltimore recognizes a familiar concept, Cleveland can alter the details enough to test the defense's communication and discipline.
Deshaun Watson's mobility can turn a well-defended passing concept into a scramble situation, forcing defenders to maintain their assignments while accounting for the possibility that he will leave the pocket. That makes it especially important for Baltimore to stay connected through the entire play rather than assume the initial defensive call has solved the problem.
Hamilton acknowledged the quality of the coaching staff Cleveland has assembled, including offensive coordinator Travis Switzer and pass game coordinator Danny Breyer. He expects Monken's group to present a sophisticated challenge, but he also expressed confidence in Baltimore's own defensive leadership.
Familiarity won't replace execution
Having faced Monken's offense in practice and preparation, the Ravens can use their experience to identify tendencies and anticipate potential adjustments. That knowledge, however, cuts both ways. Monken also understands Baltimore's personnel, and he can use that familiarity to design situations that challenge the defense's expectations.
Hamilton isn't treating the reunion as an opportunity to rely on old information. The Ravens must study Cleveland's current film, communicate effectively, and execute their assignments when the game begins. Familiarity may help them recognize what Monken wants to accomplish, but it won't guarantee they can stop it.
For Hamilton and the rest of Baltimore's defense, the challenge is to stay a step ahead without becoming predictable themselves. Monken knows the players he once coached, and the Ravens know the coach they once worked with. On Sunday, the advantage will belong to the side that adjusts fastest when the aforementioned chess match moves beyond the film room.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Kyle Hamilton reveals what makes Todd Monken's offense dangerous
