Todd Monken hasn't coached a regular-season game for the Cleveland Browns yet, but expectations are already building around what he can do with the team's offense.

One Browns insider believes the new head coach could succeed where former Browns HC Kevin Stefanski struggled. Speaking on the Cleveland Browns on cleveland.com, Jake Burns pointed to flexibility being the biggest difference between the two coaches.

"I think there's a space where Deshaun feels more comfortable because it's less rigid under-center stuff that Kevin liked to do," Burns said on July 16. "He's in a space where he's in a more comfortable environment for him."

Burns joined Dave Bacon on the July 16 Sports4CLE podcast to discuss why Monken's offensive approach may better suit Cleveland's quarterbacks, including Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders.

Burns pointed out that Monken's system could allow Watson to play faster by leaning into his strengths instead of forcing him into concepts that don't fit his game. 

He also argued that Monken has built a reputation for adjusting his offense around his personnel. The head coach never expected players to fit into one system.

Looking back at Stefanski's offense, Burns felt the former Browns coach struggled once opponent defenses adjusted to his scheme. 

He also questioned whether Cleveland ever found a way to make Stefanski's offense work alongside former assistants Ken Dorsey and Tommy Rees' ideas.

Burns didn't promise instant success. But he believes Monken's experience will help the Browns build an offense that better fits their quarterbacks.

That belief lines up with why Cleveland made the coaching change in the first place.

Monken gets his first chance to reshape Cleveland

According to Sporting News' Horace Shivers, Monken will begin his first training camp with the Browns. He will take the role of rebuilding an offense that finished a disappointing 5-12 season. It will also be his first NFL head coaching job since 2015.

The quarterback battle will be the biggest storyline in camp. Monken is expected to wait until the preseason is over before naming a starter. 

That approach gives both Watson and Sanders time to compete instead of entering camp with a predetermined depth chart.

Monken also arrives with one of the strongest offensive resumes available. He helped the Georgia Bulldogs win back-to-back national championships before coordinating one of the NFL's highest-scoring offenses with the Baltimore Ravens.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart praised Monken's ability to adapt his offense to the players available.

"Todd is one of the brightest offensive minds in football," Kirby said, via The Sporting News.

Former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh also highlighted Monken's leadership, calling him "an outstanding football coach, an outstanding teacher and a great communicator."

Training camp will offer the first real look at Monken's offense. The Browns hope his system helps bring out the best in whichever quarterback wins the job.

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Written by

Evince Das

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit