Unafraid Todd Monken
September 19th, 2018
Describes Todd Monken’s traits as a playcaller
Want to know the difference between last year’s offense and this year’s offense?
Well, yeah, Bucs offensive coordinator Todd Monken is calling plays. But to hear tight end O.J. Howard talk, Monken basically has no fear.
Last night Howard appeared on “Late Hits,” co-hosted by Alex Marvez and Bill Polian, heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio. Marvez asked him why the offense has exploded in the first two games of the season.
Part of Howard’s answer got Joe’s antennae up.
“Our playcalls, Coach Monken is doing a great job for us,” Howard said. “He’s not afraid to take chances. He is spotting the one-on-one matchups and allowed the athletes to make the plays.”
Yes, the Bucs have thoroughbreds at receiver and tight end. It’s interesting to Joe that Howard said Monken is basically calling plays that allow the athletes to do what they do best: make plays. That doesn’t sound like a quarterback thing to Joe; that sure as heck sounds like a change in philosophy and mentality.
It wouldn’t surprise Joe if Bucs coach Dirk Koetter said to Monken when he handed the keys to the playbook over to him, in so many words, let’s let these Ferraris hum.
After all, what did Koetter have to lose? If he stayed conservative and the team lost, we all know what would happen in January. If the Bucs lost after Koetter and Monken slammed the pedal to the metal, hey, at least they went down swinging.
Howard also gave credit to Koetter for allowing the offense to get plenty of reps with backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick in training camp and preseason knowing America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, wouldn’t be available for three weeks.
September 19th, 2018 at 9:04 am
I’m tired of everyone saying Winston is our future and FitzMagic is just there for a few weeks or maybe this year. He’s only 35. There is a guy named Brady who is over 40 and plays pretty well. I’ll take 5 years of Fitz…
September 19th, 2018 at 9:05 am
America’s lawsuit quarterback
September 19th, 2018 at 9:07 am
monken putting playing in position to win…..what an idea….
#TUNNELVISION!!!!…GO BUCS!!!
September 19th, 2018 at 9:08 am
We all know the difference. It’s the guy throwing the football
September 19th, 2018 at 9:10 am
Casey ,most if us are tired of explaining this to you anti jameis fans. Please look at fitz career, he always does this and then implodes. He keeps starting until then. And stop comparing him to Tom Brady for god’s sake, what a ridiculous comparison.
September 19th, 2018 at 9:16 am
It is the play calling. So many other teams set up the ‘run’ with the pass. Throwing on first down on occasion actually works. Keep it up.
September 19th, 2018 at 9:17 am
Again…. O – LINE is playing lights out right now! Huge difference from last season. Not to mention the D – line is getting better every Quarter. Enjoy the ride,
It’s going to be fun to watch!
September 19th, 2018 at 9:18 am
Play Fitz and give Jameis a chance to iron out his legal issues. Maybe he has a future as an attorney, because QB is taken.
September 19th, 2018 at 9:20 am
Well Fitz his hands on his wife, not uber drivers how about that comparison for ya
September 19th, 2018 at 9:20 am
I think OJ nailed it.
Calling plays from above, he’s spotting mismatches and taking full advantage of the great athletes available.
Koetter from the sideline can’t see what Monken sees.
Plus Monken is fearless.
September 19th, 2018 at 9:21 am
Casey Morgan – Fitz has played outstanding no doubt about it. BUT it’s a small sample size. However if this team is say 12-4 and makes a run in playoffs I don’t know how you just hand the team back to Winston. Again I still think we are a 9-7 or 10-6 football team but at this point who knows..
Cgmaster – I don’t know where to start with you lol… Not sure what Fitz career has to do with what he is doing now because clearly, it has nothing to do with anything. He is playing lights out and even BETTER than Brady the last two games… Not sure what about Winston you want to hang your hat on but he can’t throw deep, has never been to playoffs and doesn’t have a winning record as a starter. That being said he is only 24 and I think he should remain with the team but don’t act like Winston doesn’t have anything to prove because HE DOES.
September 19th, 2018 at 9:21 am
I think the big difference is Koetter’s tendencies are all over film through the years, Monken has no NFL tendencies out there right now.
September 19th, 2018 at 9:23 am
Look guyy,Joe, it’s a little of everything,perfect OLine protection,the recievers, and also the guy throwing the ball to them and hitting them in stride.can we really guarantee the 75 yard pass to djax would’ve been completed by Winston?or any of the other 50+yard touchdown passes?
September 19th, 2018 at 9:24 am
@Joe
There might not be a given that the suspension is lifted next Monday night!!!!! It was a suspension with a plea deal depended on certain conditions being met!!!!! Could one of those conditions be, that to settle and make this extended hassle go away????? Could the NFL reinstate the full suspension if this was a condition!!!!!!!!
September 19th, 2018 at 9:26 am
No idea Realist.
September 19th, 2018 at 9:27 am
Koetter has often said similar things.
September 19th, 2018 at 9:28 am
Let me throw in the Execution word by the QB position…
September 19th, 2018 at 9:28 am
Describing your play caller as unafraid worries me because it means last year koetter coached scared because that’s just what it looked like. and makes me believe all that talk last about Winston not being happy with the predictable offense may be true. Look what happens when you actually throw the ball on first down. Last year on every single first play of the game they ran the same stupid run play. The offense was predictable, boring and dork coached scared. He’ll never get play calling back
September 19th, 2018 at 9:29 am
All three QB’s threw bullets in preseason..
It’s the weapons and the play calling . IMO
September 19th, 2018 at 9:31 am
Casey Morgan,
I would gladly take 5 more years of ‘Elite-level’ Fitz
September 19th, 2018 at 9:34 am
Not to bash the guy too hard I just hope if Fitz goes on the fritz that Winston comes back and whoops some A$$ and I know with all the #metoo garbage going around that allegations just instantly become fact without even facing your accuser but this guy has this issue in college and then hangs out with a convicted rapist the night that crap happened there is a pattern here C’mon man I hope being a family man along with reality slapping him upside the head wakes him up and for god’s sake Winston you have money buy a permanent driver you can trust for now on.
September 19th, 2018 at 9:39 am
I agree it’s more play calling and the Oline, than it is the QB. Apart from the 2nd half of the Arizona game last year, in which the Cardinals were playing prevent the entire time, Fitz did not look like this (to shoot down anyone saying that Fitz is doing more with same players that Jameis had last year).
I think the issue last year was Koetter’s play calling. Not that it was horrid, but he did call plays fearful of losing a game as the HC. Monken as the OC can just go out and call plays to get points, and Koetter can be a check to that when he feels he needs to be.
I said it last year, and I believe the results this year are proving this, Koetter is a very good OC and might be a very good HC, but he is not able to do both at the same time on Gameday.
September 19th, 2018 at 9:50 am
We are really winning because space aliens obducted our old team and replaced them with humanoid robots from planet gliese 581g lol. Who cares to argue why, let’s enjoy and observe.
Gooooooo Bucs!
September 19th, 2018 at 10:07 am
gotBucs. I called it last night. He might be calling Dirk’s plays, but there is no film on Monken yet. You need multiple games to figure out what type plays are being called in certain situations.
September 19th, 2018 at 10:14 am
The difference between Fitz and JW is easy. Fitz see’s it developing and lets it fly. JW thinks about it and then lets it fly. The difference is timing.
September 19th, 2018 at 10:15 am
Anyone who says we will play Winston if/when Fitz goes on the fritz doesn’t understand that could be too late.
Regardless, you can’t ruin a guys attitude by not believing in him and then say your up when the other guy fails.
If you wanna roll with Fitz, I’m all for him playing lights out, but then you have to allow his bad games. You can’t bench him after 1 or 2 losses.
So then the question becomes which one will do enough throughout the course of a game to allow for a turnover or 2.
Sticking with Fitz is just too risky long term IMO.
That being said, I will gladly enjoy being wrong.
September 19th, 2018 at 10:17 am
Fiz 50% OL 25% Monken 25% is where I’d give credit
obviously thats saying the skill players are balling and doing their job (which has been B+ considering some drops/fumbles)
September 19th, 2018 at 10:18 am
Cgmaster Says:
September 19th, 2018 at 9:10 am
Casey ,most if us are tired of explaining this to you anti jameis fans. Please look at fitz career, he always does this and then implodes
What do you call 69 career TDs to 70 INTs?\
What do you call an 18 and 27 career win %
Jameis has shown only flashes of brilliance and Mucho boneheadedness IMO
September 19th, 2018 at 10:20 am
and no, mr crabby patty, lawsuit …..blah blah blah would NOT be putting up these numbers. hell I think he would have made some mistakes, hurt moral and probably lost at least one. not even close
he really should have his own 20 word intro like peter king.
we’ll have to work on that for joe
September 19th, 2018 at 10:34 am
lol now people calling for 5 years of fitz saying Brady is doing it. Brady is a freak about taking care of his body and the goat. Peopleneed to relax. Love the stat that fitz has 1 winning season.
Give credit where it’s due. Fitz is hitting on throws. But his line keeps him clean and we have weapons all over the field.
September 19th, 2018 at 10:44 am
Monken wouldn’t be calling as many aggressive plays if Winston was under center. He trusts Fitz to not throw the interceptions. The only reason to call “safe” plays is if you are worried that the QB will throw an interception.
September 19th, 2018 at 10:56 am
Pete Carroll came out and said after the Monday Night loss that Russell Wilson was trying to do too much. Imagine that when you are on a bad team the QB is trying to do too much. Comparing Winston 2017 to Fitz 2018 is apples and oranges and the fans with Winston Derangement Syndrome know this but put it out there anyway because it fits their anti Winston agenda. Winston 2017/Fitz 2017? Edge Winston. Winston preseason/Fitz preseason? Edge Winston. Winston 2018/Fitz 2018 TBD.
#Get After It!
September 19th, 2018 at 10:58 am
Better play calling + better offensive line play.
Gee, who could have guess that’s what was needed?
Some of us have only been screaming about this since 2017. I guess others are just a little slower to realize what’s happening.
I’ll let realist go ahead and dig up my hundreds of reposts screaming about the play calling and offensive line play from the last 2 seasons.
😎
September 19th, 2018 at 11:18 am
Same players……
Last season all three interior line positions were different, the running back was different, starting slot receiver was hump, third down back was Sins and starting TE was Brate. Howard, a matchup nightmare was more heavily used as a blocker. Having Howard, Godwin, DJax and Evans all lining up as a slot and outside receiver is huge. Last season Godwin was only viewed as an outside receiver.
September 19th, 2018 at 11:21 am
Unbelievable and whoever else is a genius.
And when jameis winston comes back and the offense isn’t running nearly as well as it is.now, I already hear the Jameis apologists it’s this , fitz had that. JW is hurt
Why because if you really think that you’re insightful and way ahead of the curve
By identifying playcalling and o line …..you’re aren’t smart enough to actually know much more than the tiny.bit you think is earth shattering.
September 19th, 2018 at 11:25 am
@SB, you might want to look at that TD to Int ratio again. You’re not off by a little. You’re off by a lot. 69 TD’s, 44 Int’s. Nice try, though. And the TD total is second to only Marino by the age of 24. His 45 game stats blows Brady, Rogers, Brees away. Manning is the closest to JW’s resume. And both had issues in college to deal with. Tea bagging, anyone?
You can get on Jameis for whatever personal reason you have. But, as far as QB development is concerned, there is no concern for knowledgeable fans.
September 19th, 2018 at 11:29 am
Sorry Gil
Meant Turnovers
Not just Ints.
September 19th, 2018 at 11:31 am
You can get on Jameis for whatever personal reason you have. But, as far as QB development is concerned, there is no concern for knowledgeable fans.
_____________
Every national talking head in the country is doubting the QB development. Fans? lol
I am a huge JW supporter. I however no longer have blinders on while I do so.
September 19th, 2018 at 11:34 am
Give Fitz his due for the past two games. But, this talk about Fitz being “the QB of the future” is the dumbest think I have ever heard. (Which is saying a lot considering the posters on this site). It is similar to the Pats fans who were calling for Brady to be traded after Cassell had his run. There is a 100% chance that Jameis is the QB when the Bucs begin their playoff run this January.
September 19th, 2018 at 12:01 pm
This is why I prefer an offensive coordinator call plays over a head coach. A coordinator will take more chances, open things up more, and show more killer instinct than coaches who tend to play it safe, play traditional football, and try to NOT lose the game. On the last Buc drive against the Eagles when the team was trying to run out the clock, Monken called two pass plays…. Koetter would’ve never done that. Against Carolina in the 2016 season, he called runs in the middle of the game on 3rd and long because he was so scared to throw the ball and take a chance.
September 19th, 2018 at 12:04 pm
Speaking of OJ Howard. Two plays last week, his 75yrd catch and run, and the first play from scrimmage, Jackson 75yrd Td. On that first play of the game OJ man handles the eagles starting defensive end one on one allowing Fitz to comfortably throw that bomb. Most defensive coordinators game plan to get DE v TE match ups. OJ is an absolute beast, I don’t think there is another TE in the league that could make BOTH of those plays
September 19th, 2018 at 12:22 pm
SB, that’s because every talking head is told to do so. The media went all in on the rape allegation, and can’t pull back now because they did so much damage to Jameis, it’s impossible. Just look at the fems on this site that swallowed every thing the media spit out. You can’t convince them of anything other than the narrative. She dismissed her suit as soon as Jameis counter sued her. She knew the jig was up, and would’ve faced charges herself if she continued.
So, this “look at all he’s done” bullspit is just that. Bullspit. He was wrongly accused at college, he and others yelled the most popular meme on youtube at school, and accepted free seafood from an employee. So, what’s the “all he’s done” crap.
You can give up on him. That’s what the NFL, ESPN, and every other media outlet wants you to do. They can’t be proven wrong in this fiasco. I’m not. I believe the kid, and I’ll go down swinging with him. I only hope the NFL doesn’t allow the media to derail his career, because he’s gonna be one of the all time greats.
Now, Godeep, Ben, Greg, Altered Ego, Walter and all the other pussy hat wearing fem boy sheep will have a field day with this post. They’re either Gator fans, delicate flowers, or just lonely guys jealous of the star QB. Either way, they’re irrelevant. Their whining and faux outrage affects Jameis and the situation not one bit. But have at it, girls. It is fun to read your babble.
September 19th, 2018 at 2:34 pm
Gilhealy, She didn’t drop the lawsuit, Jameis settled.
September 19th, 2018 at 3:28 pm
Miguel, dismissed.
September 19th, 2018 at 8:26 pm
WE CANNOT LET MONKEN LEAVE TOWN!!! HE’S ALREADY SHOWN HE KNOWS HOW TO RUN THIS AWESOME OFFENSE. Koetter was very lucky to be resigned last year. There is so much more to this amazing offense than just Fitzpatrick. That’s why the people saying get rid of our 24-year old pro bowl QB are insanely stupid. At the moment we have great blocking schemes and a good oline. Good but not great RBs that can block and be used all the time in PA passing calls to a toss to any of our amazing receivers and Monken is putting them all into perfect positions and making the right moves.
September 19th, 2018 at 8:39 pm
Well said gilhealy, everyone will shut up when he comes back and plays like he’s on a mission and wins. If he has to sit for a couple extra games he will do it with pride and help Fitz with anything he can to keep winning because he is a selfless teammate.