When the Cleveland Browns employed Todd Monken as their subsequent head coach, they introduced in a man who has remodeled each offensive unit he has been employed to run.
At Oklahoma State, the offense went from #88 to #11. Whereas at LSU, a #42 rating grew to become a #9 rating. Southern Miss? #112 to #13. On the College of Georgia, the offense moved from #49 to #5 and received two Nationwide Championships. And the previous three years with the Baltimore Ravens, their offense shot from #16 the 12 months earlier than Monken arrived, to #1 within the league.
RELATED: BROWNS’ SMARTEST OFFSEASON MOVE
One side of Monken’s offenses is the flexibility to run the ball. He requires it. He loves a operating quarterback.
What if the Browns introduced in a two-time Professional Bowl operating again to pair with RB Quinshon Judkins? One who would run over defenders and turn into the goal-line go-to man? Cleveland ought to think about buying and selling for RB James Conner of the Arizona Cardinals.
Below former head coach Kevin Stefanski, the quarterback scenario by no means grew to become solved. Turnover at this place was fixed for a number of years with none stability.
After six years below Stefanski’s tutelage, the offense was ranked on the backside of most classes this previous season. Bear in mind, Stefanski was an offensive coach, but his offensive manufacturing was horrible because the workforce collected 26 losses in his last two seasons.
Whole offense: #30Passing offense: #31Running offense: #27Total offense: #28Passing offense: #22Running offense: #29
Monken is a instructor. He needs his gamers to succeed on the gridiron, however principally in life. His method to the sport, in addition to his means to show ideas, invariably will get the most effective out of his gamers.
Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken Obligatory Credit score: Ken Blaze-Imagn Photos Ken Blaze-Imagn Photos
Monken’s scheme is predicated upon a versatile, matchup-based system that makes use of participant strengths quite than forcing them into an rigid association. He’s not solely a system man, though he may need some preferences. He doesn’t design schemes for gamers that aren’t on the roster, however quite he appears to be like at his roster expertise and tailors his playbook to suit their abilities.
He’ll assault defenses based mostly on their construction and tendencies quite than forcing one system on each opponent. He likes to isolate linebackers in protection.
He requires good pass-catching tight ends. He has to have correct passers. He wants a stable offensive line. And Monken should possess operating backs who’re nice athletes.
Conner can punish. He’s 6’-1” and a beefy 233 kilos. He has by no means been the swiftest again, however he’s fast.
Monken has six features which can be part of his teachings: Limiting detrimental performs, zero turnovers, constructive third-down effectivity, a excessive proportion of Pink Zone scoring, explosiveness, and using athletic quarterbacks.
The Pink Zone scoring is the place Conner can turn into probably the most useful. Final 12 months, Cleveland was ranked #25 in stepping into the tip zone from after they drove into the Pink Zone and scored factors. Should you look at the highest of this listing, there’s one factor that’s obvious straight away: playoff groups stay right here. The groups that get into the tip zone when they’re shut are profitable.
In his nine-year profession, Conner has scored 60 touchdowns on the bottom and 12 on go receptions. He has superb arms and has been an integral a part of the brief passing recreation with 289 receptions for two,255 yards.
This new offense would require a gentle operating recreation.
The Browns have already got a great operating again room.
Quinshon Judkins was named to the NFL All-Rookie Group final 12 months and was a dominant drive earlier than he suffered a fractured fibula and dislocated ankle, which ended his season. He was on observe to achieve 1,000 yards however missed the ultimate three video games with 827 yards on 230 carries.
When he landed in IR, it was as much as Rocket Sanders, Trayveon Williams, and fellow rookie Dylan Sampson, who had been the SEC Offensive Participant of the Yr earlier than touchdown in Cleveland.
With Judkins gone, the Browns rushed for 78 and 118 yards, respectively.
Judkins has healed and is anticipated to be totally recovered, going into July’s coaching camp. Sampson is anticipated to compete for the backup spot in opposition to Davon Sales space, fullback Michael Burton, T.J. Harden, Ahmani Marshall, and Sanders. NFL groups usually retain 3-4 operating backs on their last roster.
Final 12 months, when Judkins was misplaced for the 12 months, the run recreation suffered. Conner would remedy that. He’s a bruiser who performs bodily ball with a battering-ram fashion. His fashion is to make the tackling course of extra of a two-way affair. Good blocker who’s prepared to depart his toes close to the purpose line.
Conner has proven the flexibility to come back out of the backfield in brief swing passes, wheel routes, and outs.
Final 12 months, he had damage problems with his personal. In Week 3 in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers, he was carted off the sector with a grotesque foot damage. Surgical procedure adopted by in depth rehab. In the course of the offseason, the Cardinals’ entrance workplace restructured the contract that allowed him to stay with Arizona.
However now he’s high-quality. With the latest OTAs, he has attended every one. Nonetheless, there’s a scenario with the Cardinals: they’ve too many good operating backs.
Conner was Arizona’s high operating again the previous two seasons, gaining 1,094 yards in 2024 and 1,040 yards in 2023. He was their bellcow. Within the 2024 NFL draft, speedster Trey Benson out of Florida State was taken within the third spherical to complement Conner. Benson grew to become injured final 12 months.
Not figuring out the provision of Conner and Benson due to their accidents, in free company, the Cardinals signed Tyler Allgeier away from the Atlanta Falcons. Allgeier was Atlanta’s beginning again till they obtained Bijan Robinson within the first spherical of the 2024 draft. Additionally they re-signed utility operating again Bam Knight.
On this 12 months’s NFL draft, the Cardinals chosen Jeremiyah Love of Notre Dame with the third total decide in Spherical 1.
That signifies that Arizona’s operating again room has 4 guys who’ve NFL begins, plus the addition of Love. It’s anticipated that Love and Allgeier will turn into their main dashing assault, with Benson slotted at RB3 as a result of he’s the youthful of the 2 backs. Though the entrance workplace and the fanbase love Conner, he’s now 31 years previous and coming off a extreme damage.
With the franchise bringing in Love, he’s going to obtain the majority of carries. Conner will need to play as a substitute of doing spot obligation. A brand new atmosphere needs to be so as, and the Browns may use a hammer that can present some relaxation for Judkins.
Not that the Cardinals are buying Conner in the meanwhile, or Benson for that matter. But when they solely preserve three or 4 backs, any person should go. Conner would get carries in Cleveland, whereas he’ll hardly ever play with Arizona in 2026.
Conner initially signed a two-year, $19 million extension in 2024, which retains his providers by way of the upcoming 2026 season. With the restructured deal, Conner took a $5 million pay reduce with bonuses (similar to enjoying time) that may convey his settlement again to sustainability. His base wage this 12 months is now $2.355 million with simply $2.1 million assured.
The Browns may use him; he would come low cost, and he isn’t going to be utilized if he stays within the desert. If he isn’t going to get the snaps, he most actually would love to maneuver on.
By including Conner, Cleveland is including one other weapon. Monken needs to run the ball successfully. It’s one of many explanation why now there’s a fullback on the roster, and the workforce drafted two new tight ends.
Ship a Day 3 draft decide to the Cardinals and provides the Pink Zone effort an enormous enhance.
