More Todd Monken is not the answer

Fans are upset with the Browns struggling offense so far but swapping out Freddie Kitchens for Todd Monken as a playcaller is not a good idea.

The frustration with the first three games is understandable. The Browns have high expectations. They have Baker, Jarvis, and Odell. Things aren’t clicking offensively right now and it is causing some to worry. Even though it is popular to blame the coach and want someone else calling plays, this is not a situation that would benefit from it. Todd Monken is not the answer. 

What Todd Monken’s offense relies on is explosive plays, aka the plays that are not working right now. Plays that would require Baker to hold the ball longer, you know the very thing he has struggled with this season. Todd Monken doesn’t want more “five yard plays”. Those were his very words back in 2016 when introduced as the Bucs offensive coordinator. A switch to Monken would mean Baker would get hit a lot more. 

Speaking of that, all three seasons when Monken was in Tampa they allowed the quarterbacks to get hit a lot. Tampa allowed the 10th most quarterback hits once and fifth-most twice. Is that something you want for Baker Mayfield? To get hit more? Didn’t think so. But that is what would happen with a switch to Todd Monken. 

What Baker Mayfield and the Browns offense excel at is not what Todd Monken is about. Baker and the Browns are significantly better when the ball gets out quickly rather than waiting for routes to develop downfield. 

If the Browns are going to improve offensively they need to revert back to what they were last year.  This means less deep shots and less influence from Todd Monken.