Ravens OC Todd Monken gushes over Zay Flowers
The Baltimore Ravens did a total revamp of their offensive weapons to appease quarterback Lamar Jackson. In the NFL Draft, they took one of the best wide receivers, Zay Flowers. Flowers has 4.42 speed and the ability to run the entire route tree. Now it's up to Todd Monken, the Ravens' new offensive coordinator, to […]
The Baltimore Ravens did a total revamp of their offensive weapons to appease quarterback Lamar Jackson. In the NFL Draft, they took one of the best wide receivers, Zay Flowers.
Flowers has 4.42 speed and the ability to run the entire route tree. Now it's up to Todd Monken, the Ravens' new offensive coordinator, to figure out where the skill set of Flowers fits in his plans, and it should be a heavy dose.
Speaking of Monken, when he was asked what he's seen in Flowers, he could help but get excited.
“That's a fun little toy right there, isn’t it?” Monken said on Friday while laughing. “I’m just fired up [that executive vice president & general manager] Eric [DeCosta] and the boys drafted [Zay Flowers].
Monken very well should be.
Flowers isn't a one-trick pony as he displayed amazing versatility during his days at Boston College. He took 797 snaps in the slot, with isn't surprising for a receiver his size. But Flowers did most of his damage as an outside weapon with 1,767 reps taken.
What Flowers can do with his speed and versatility is stretch defenses vertically and horizontally. On Thursday, he talked about Monken wanting to maximize the Ravens' talent through the air.
“Yes, [offensive coordinator Todd Monken] uses everybody’s ability to the best," said Flowers on Thursday. "He puts everybody in places where they are able to make plays. So, you let them play outside. I played outside in college 75% of the time, and [I] said, ‘You can let me play outside or inside.’ Then, he puts ‘O’ [Odell Beckham Jr.] outside. Then, he’ll put Nelson [Agholor], then [Devin Duvernay] … We’re all just rotating. We all are playmakers. So, he just uses us to the best of our ability.”
Flowers did his thing as a three-time All-ACC performer and a third-team All-American in 2022. But jetting past cornerbacks and safeties in the NFL will be a different challenge.
The Florida native already feels like he's got Monken's offense down to a tee, though, thanks to the time put in by him and the rest of the coaching staff.
“I’m super comfortable," Flowers said. "He makes you feel comfortable. My receivers coach [Greg Lewis] makes me feel comfortable and everybody that’s around, all of the vets. They help you out so much that it feels like you’re just learning, and you’re playing.”
When a receiver as talented as Flowers feels things are easy, that spells trouble for opposing defenses.
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That’s an understatement.
Feature image via Brent Skeen-USA TODAY Sports
