The Browns are stepping into a new era, and Todd Monken arrives with something Cleveland fans don’t usually get handed this early: a strong vote of confidence from someone on the other sideline.
With Week 1 approaching, Jaguars head coach Liam Coen made a point of praising Monken and the path that led him to the NFL. Coen said Monken was a major help to him when he got the Kentucky job, and he pointed to the Browns’ current setup as one that fits what Monken wants to do.
“I’ve always had a lot of respect for Monk," Coen said. "Monk helped me out tremendously when I got the Kentucky job, and we talked a ton about game planning, about the field dimensions, about splits, about tempo, about all of that stuff.
So I’ve got a lot of respect for Monk. I think he’s legit when it comes to being able to adapt to his playmakers and his personnel, and he’s proven it.
… I think the personnel [in Cleveland] really fits what Monk wants to do."
That kind of endorsement matters because Monken’s résumé has always been about flexibility. He has built offenses in different ways at every stop, whether that meant leaning into the vertical game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, striking a more balanced tone at Georgia, or going run-heavy with the Baltimore Ravens.
He’s not a coach who fits neatly into one offensive label. There are familiar threads - pre-snap motion, wide-zone concepts, use of fullbacks, and a clear willingness to involve tight ends - but the bigger story is how different his offenses have looked depending on the personnel.
That adaptability is part of why Cleveland may be willing to give him some room, even with the quarterback situation still unsettled. The choice to start Deshaun Watson over Shedeur Sanders was widely unpopular, though whether it was the right call remains to be seen.
Monken’s approach, though, is built around working with what he has rather than forcing a roster into a rigid system. That matters in Cleveland, where there is still no quarterback of the future but there is a collection of young offensive pieces that can be used in different ways.
KC Concepcion gives him a versatile wideout to move around. Denzel Boston can help move the chains.
Quinshon Judkins brings explosive runs. Harold Fannin Jr. offers production after the catch and a target between the numbers.
There’s plenty of room for skepticism, and the Browns have given fans reasons to brace for disappointment. Still, Monken has earned the benefit of the doubt because of how often he has adjusted and kept his offense moving. If this works, it will be because he has done what he has always done: shape the scheme to the players, not the other way around.
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Browns May Have Found A Rookie Answer To Their Biggest O-Line Need
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Veteran guard Zion Johnson has already singled out Fanos daily improvement and his grasp of the game, the kind of praise that matters on an offensive line where trust is built quickly and mistakes show up just as fast. The Browns are counting on Fano to help lock down left tackle as they think ahead to roster development, including the possibility of drafting a new quarterback in 2027, so this debut carries more long-term significance than a typical Week 1 test. [Read more 🡒]