Marty Mornhinweg’s Mission

Like many others, I was incredibly surprised when the Ravens announced that they were retaining Marty as offensive coordinator. Many of the same offensive faults that we saw under Marc Trestman lingered even after the team let him go in October. The Ravens finished in the bottom 3^rd in the league in rushing, net yards per pass attempt, 3^rd down conversion percentage, yards per offensive play, first downs…really, I could go on.

Despite those numbers, John Harbaugh believes Mornhinweg can be the one to turn this offense around. There will be a few things he absolutely must get right to do so.

Establish – and stick with – the running game

Unfortunately, the second part of that needs to be said. In the short term, the most realistic road to this team becoming a good offense would be to become a running team. They’ll theoretically return three downfield receivers in Breshad Perriman, Mike Wallace and Chris Moore, all of whom possess speed that can dissuade that pesky 8th defender from coming down into the box.

With Crockett Gilmore, Nick Boyle and Benjamin Watson they have physical in-line blockers at tight end. On the offensive line they at least have the framework of building a good group if they retain Ricky Wagner and upgrade at center, most likely via the draft.

Kenneth Dixon looks the part as an NFL feature back and Terrance West jump started his career last season, proving worthy of carries going forward. The addition of former Bills and 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman, with his multi-faceted rushing attack, could prove to be the biggest boon to the run game.

Unless the Ravens plan to add two or three feature-level players to the pass game this offseason (*rolls eyes*), the offense will still have its same aerial limitations.

When your receivers and tight ends don’t consistently separate from coverage or win in contested situations, you don’t throw more…you throw less.

Scheme players open

When Harbaugh announced he was retaining Mornhinweg, he spoke about adding creative people to the offensive staff. We’ll find out in the coming weeks to what capacity he means but the passing game could use just that. Too often we saw unimaginative route combos that left no one open on third down.

Minus table-setting talents on offense, this is something the Ravens can’t afford to let linger. Hiring a coach or two that can infuse some innovative approaches to help get this passing game on schedule makes a ton of sense.

I understand the whole “too many cooks in the kitchen” concern, but if this meal doesn’t start tasting any better…

Challenge Flacco

Steve Bisciotti laid the foundation for this at the State of the Ravens presser when he said that the team needed more out of Joe Flacco. It’s important that accountability trickles down to the coaching staff and finds its way onto the field.

As for Joe’s 2016 play, it was obvious that the torn ACL he suffered a year prior was on his mind at times. It seemed evident in the way he finished some throws last year. The injuries on the offensive line, another mid-season coaching change, inability for receivers to consistently create separation, and lack of running game certainly didn’t help matters.

With all that said, Flacco still made some inexcusable decisions with the football that can’t carry over into next season. He also needs to be challenged fundamentally like he was under Gary Kubiak and Rick Dennison in 2014.

Coaches should place serious emphasis on Flacco’s footwork, not only his maneuvering the pocket to extend plays, but his setting of his feet before he throws. These things will become more pertinent than ever as Joe gets into his 30s and his physical attributes take their inevitable decline.

If all else fails, I’ve mentioned on twitter having a device placed on his back foot that…let’s say“discourages” back foot throws.

If Marty can establish a balance and improve execution there is no question this offense can be successful next season despite it’s possible deficiencies.

But if he can’t?

Well, we’re probably looking at massive change in Baltimore.

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