Betting On Todd Monken
September 15th, 2018
BY IRA KAUFMAN
It’s his time.
Ryan Fitzpatrick deserved to be designated the No. 1 star in the Superdome, but Todd Robert Monken wasn’t far behind.
The new playcaller for the Buccaneers enjoyed a rather smashing NFL debut and if you have any doubts, just ask the battered Saints defense.
A league member since 1976, the Bucs have never scored more than the 48 points they just registered. Only once in franchise history had the Bucs rolled up more than Sunday’s 529 yards, somehow managing to drop a 38-30 decision at Minnesota in 1980 despite unleashing a 573-yard onslaught.
New playcaller Todd Monken
Yes, Mr. Monken is on quite a roll. Sunday’s outburst was stunning, but let’s remember that this offense has looked more robust since Dirk Koetter surrendered the keys to his trusted 52-year-old assistant.
Tampa Bay boasted the league’s No. 2 offense in the preseason, including the top-ranked passing attack. Before the dogs were called off in the fourth exhibition game, this offense looked crisp, sharp, dangerous, unpredictable and prolific.
Those are adjectives rarely used in the past two years when the Bucs possessed the football.
Mystery Factors; Clear Results
Koetter admits it wasn’t an easy call to hand over the call sheet. He’s been calling plays since entering the NFL with Jacksonville in 2007 and he’s enjoyed more than his share of success.
Perhaps someone in the organization suggested it would be a good idea to give Monken this opportunity. We’ll probably never know all the factors in play, but at this point, Buc fans don’t care why it happened.
They’re too busy celebrating Monken’s flair for getting the ball in the hands of his play-makers. And as the Saints will attest, the Bucs have a lot of those guys.
Monken’s been preparing for this chance for awhile. The former quarterback at Knox College was the overseer of a dynamic offense at Oklahoma State and turned around a moribund program at Southern Miss before Koetter hired him as offensive coordinator in 2016.
Don’t be fooled by the title. This offense has been Koetter’s baby the past three years and there have been way too many burps.
Besides, titles are often misleading. During Jon Gruden’s tenure as Bucs coach, he elevated Bill Muir from offensive line coach to offensive coordinator, probably as a way to give a confidant a bigger paycheck.
Muir had the new job description and the cash, but Gruden was still calling the shots.
There’s a fresh feel to the Buc offense at the moment, but that could change in a flash because the Eagle defense is stout.
Fearless Will Continue
Tampa Bay’s line did a nice job containing Cam Jordan last week, but Philadelphia’s defensive front is loaded, led by Fletcher Cox and Michael Bennett.
Monken may have to be even more creative in Week 2, but he won’t be scared in the home opener. He’ll remain aggressive and Philly’s defensive players will know they’ve been challenged.
If the Bucs continue to win, everyone wins. Koetter keeps his job and perhaps Monken establishes himself as an NFL assistant on the rise.
The Bucs may be underdogs in Vegas, but Monken is becoming a fan favorite in Tampa.
I wouldn’t bet against him.
Airs twice weekly through the season on JoeBucsFan.com and at The Identity Tampa Bay. (Click through to view The Identity site)
Now in his 40th year covering the NFL, Ira Kaufman is the most revered sports personality and writer in the Tampa Bay area. He scored a full-time seat at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters in July of 2016. Tampa Bay’s only Pro Football Hall of Fame voter, Ira busts out columns here every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and his award winning podcasts fire Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can also hear Ira on SiriusXM Mad Dog Radio Wednesdays at 5 p.m. Also a TV star, see Ira now on Mondays at 10:30 p.m. on Spectrum Sports 360 (aka BayNews 9). Ira also is part of the FOX-13 Tailgate Sunday NFL show and enjoys beet salads, Riesling, tennis, Chiefs victories and needling Joe.
September 15th, 2018 at 7:44 am
Ii wouldn’t bet against him either Ira. Been saying for a long time that Koetter needs to stop trying to wear two hats: HC and OC. He looked a LOT more relaxed (and more like a HC on Sunday) than I’ve ever seen him look in any game.
September 15th, 2018 at 8:30 am
i am a mon-ken man, a monk monk monk monk monk ken man – yes i am
September 15th, 2018 at 9:03 am
He did look relaxed DR. I saw him smile a few times too.
Keep it rolling Monk.
September 15th, 2018 at 9:12 am
Hell of a job by Monk. I wouldnt bet against him either. Been calling for him to call plays for a long time. No idea he was gona be that good week 1 tho. Keep it rolling Monk. And dont tell anyone its your offense so Dirk doesnt get his panties in a wad and take it back.
September 15th, 2018 at 9:34 am
If Monken continues to.light it up, and if Mike Smith’s defense continues to totally suck (which I will get the farm it will) and Koetter refuses to do anything about it by a coaching change….I say fore Koetter and hire Monken. I don’t want Koetter to go , hell I was screaming for them to hire him as hc, but I never imagined he would compromise his success by doing a favor. This offense just screams playoffs with Monken calling the plays and the players clearly want to play for Koetter. But how long can they continue WASTING this all away on a favor for a friend???
DO THE RIGHT THING DIRK!!! THIS IS A BUSINESS BASED ON RESULTS NOT HUGS AND HANDSHAKES!!!!
September 15th, 2018 at 9:42 am
Koetter should turn his attention more to the D side of the team for now. . . I know we have injuries but every team has injuries and we need to get that Defense fixed like yesterday.
Get creative you guys – Im pretty sure you didnt forget how to coach geez
September 15th, 2018 at 9:49 am
Let’s see if the line can block for Fitz…
Half our draft class is deactivated for the game
September 15th, 2018 at 9:59 am
@BucEmUp … “but I never imagined he would compromise his success by doing a favor. This offense just screams playoffs with Monken calling the plays and the players clearly want to play for Koetter. But how long can they continue WASTING this all away on a favor for a friend???”
If you REALLY believe BucEmUp that Smitty got the job as DC because of a FAVOR from Koetter then I suggest that you’re quite naive when it comes to understanding how businessmen like the Glazer Boyz run multi-billion dollar businesses. Do you REALLY think that they’d bet their $2 billion franchise on Smitty if they didn’t trust him? Same with Jason Licht … his job, as well as Koetter’s, is on-the-line this season.
Disregard that we just beat last year’s division winner in THEIR house last Sunday … a highly-experienced offense led by one of the best offensive coaches in the NFL (Sean Payton), with probably the best QB (Drew Brees) in the NFC. Focus instead on the fact that Smitty’s defense … with only 2 real DTs available & a bunch of rookies in the Secondary … held that same high-powered offense to 24 points in the first 50 minutes of the game. Something changed in those last 10 minutes as we all saw, but what changed? We went all conservative, on BOTH sides of the ball, and almost let the Saints back in it. Now ask yourself BucEmUp … “Who made the decision to go ultra-conservative at THAT point in the ballgame on BOTH sides of the ball? The HC, the DC, the OC, all 3?
September 15th, 2018 at 10:07 am
I thought I heard that Koetter and Smith had an agreement after getting fired in Atlanta that the first one hired as HC would hire the other one.
So what about that DR?
September 15th, 2018 at 10:18 am
Monken sure did light up the scoreboard at Oklahoma State. Who’d a thunk it, a successful explosive playcaller making the Bucs offense soar.
September 15th, 2018 at 10:40 am
Monken will go on that list of head coaching candidates and take over for Matt Patricia when he is fired after going 0-16 in Detroit.
September 15th, 2018 at 12:04 pm
Defense Rules
That last take is waaayyy over the top.. The Glazers let DK hire who he hired…
And yes it looks and smells like one hand washing the other.
September 15th, 2018 at 12:04 pm
I want a bigger sample size before agreeing that Monken is the NFLs newest Playcalling Guru.
1st game was amazing no doubt.
Am I excited that this year’s Buccaneers Offense looks to be a top 3 in the league right out the gate? You Betcha. Beyond excited!
This has been coming though.
Licht has been building up this Bucs offense with young talent since the day he got here 4 years and 9 months ago.
I said numerous times last year as others probably did also that if the Oline could get “fixed” and the running game became legit – that the Bucs offense would “suddenly” look explosive.
And that’s pretty much exactly what’s happening now.
The OLine is playing well. They are run blocking much better than last year and pass pro is improved as well. Barber is plowing forward for positive yards every touch and sometimes getting to the 2nd level as well which was rarely seen last year until the last couple/few games.
The OLine is playing solid – the run game is coming along and represents enough of a threat to keep defenses honest – so guess what comes next when you have the amount of receiving talent this team has and QBs distributing the ball well….
Big Plays and Points! Lots of them.
Monken deserves a good bit of credit for seizing this opportunity he’s been given and running hard with it. He’s likely in large part also responsible for convincing all his offensive players to NOT SUCK.
Whatever it is – whatever combination of things it is – throughout pre-season and game 1 – IT is working on offense. So KEEP DOING IT!
Bigger sample size needed though and there’s a REAL defense coming to town for tomorrows home opener – sooo we shall see how legit this offense is and we shall see if Fitzy is actually turning into Rich Gannon and we shall see if Monken is able to play the daredevil high wire offensive assault act on the likes of Jenkins, Darby and Co…
Stay tuned Bucs fans… Act 2 is about 25 hours from commencing.
An aside – Man it sure is nicer around here with so many of the neggy nellies in self imposed exile after the big win….
September 15th, 2018 at 12:05 pm
Oh and let’s all chill out on the Monken for HC BS.
A guy that can call a few plays is not necessarily a HC. Right?
September 15th, 2018 at 12:11 pm
Repost
I agree with you DR, re: two hats.
Maybe if he continues to let Funken Monken handle the offense,and actually gives him credit for it, DK can graduate up into a Head Coach.
First order of business should be to get all up in the Defense. Hang out in there meeting rooms. Stop hanging around the QB room being all jealous that they like Todd better.. Straighten some sh!t out with Smitty and Maxie. And definitely whoever is the LB coach. Be present to the D players.
Run the WHOLE team Dirk.
September 15th, 2018 at 12:59 pm
We are absolutely better than the eagles except we have Mike Smith coaching the defense, they will allow our offense down because of good defense but the difference is Mike Smith will let that sorry offense moonwalk all over us
September 15th, 2018 at 7:26 pm
@ Pickgrin, I agree with you on pumping the brakes.
I have faith in Monken but we need to see more, see if it’s consistent.
I do feel more than ever it can be a special year we just have to stay focused and Smith needs to WAKE UP and get this defense rolling.
September 15th, 2018 at 10:34 pm
If this man proves the ability to take the tips off defenses with this offense then he needs to be the highest paid OC so for once we can be called the Greatest Show on Earth!
September 15th, 2018 at 10:41 pm
Yo Defense Rules didn’t they hand the reigns over to Lovie Smith because they trusted him? Look what that got them! What makes you think Koetter would even tell them of that promise in the first place because Smith is really making him look bad ponying up for him in the first place.
September 16th, 2018 at 8:34 am
ok, I have heard enough about Michael Bennet. how quickly all forget, tampa made an offer of 5 million a year stating that was the market at the time. Bennet did not agree, signed once others agreed. He signed with Seattle that year for 5 Million, what a shock.
there are no concerns with Michael Bennett this Sunday, he is washed up. Same reason he was traded to eagles this year. he is a vocal pain in the ass on the team and his mouth is no longer backed up by his play.
outside of mop up sacks i expect nothing but penalties from little Mike Sunday or a walk of with a injury excuse.