
Ravens OC Todd Monken says Lamar Jackson is 'just scratching the surface'
Ravens OC Todd Monken says Lamar Jackson is 'just scratching the surface' The year that he had, I think Lamar Jackson is still just scratching the surface of where he's headed," Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken said on "The Lounge Podcast."
Lamar Jackson nearly won his third MVP award last season, and offensive coordinator Todd Monken believes the best is yet to come for his All-Pro quarterback. While a guest on the Ravens-produced "The Lounge Podcast," Monken said Jackson was "just scratching the surface" of his enormous potential.
"The year that he had, I think he's still just scratching the surface of where he's headed," Monken said on "The Lounge Podcast." "It may not statistically show up that way, but I know he's only the scratching the surface."
"Lamar is an unbelievably humble superstar," Monken said. "That doesn't mean he's not competitive, doesn't want to be great. Lamar just wants to win. But he also knows that him playing well … your chances of winning go up exponentially if you have a great quarterback."
Last season, the 28-year-old Jackson set career highs in touchdown passes (41), passing yards (4,172), and quarterback rating (119.6) while throwing just four interceptions. Monken is entering his third season coaching Jackson and expects the quarterback's growth to continue and reach another level as he enters the prime of his career.

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USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
NBA Finals Game 7 keys to victory: It all starts with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
The 2024-25 NBA season – through the promise of a fresh start in October to the dog days of late January to the late-season push for the postseason in late March, early April to the two-month playoffs schedule to determine a champion – comes down to one more game. Game 7 between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals on Sunday, June 22 (8 p.m. ET, ABC). Forty-eight minutes – possibly more – between two talented, deep, well-coached and exhausted teams. "One game for everything you ever dreamed of," Thunder star and this season's MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. "If you win it, you get everything. If you lose it, you get nothing. It's that simple." Simple in theory. Difficult in practice. Because winning a championship isn't easy. It shouldn't be. One more game. The 20th Game 7 in NBA Finals history. Pacers-Thunder. Indiana has never won an NBA title; since relocating to Oklahoma City from Seattle in 2008, the Thunder have never won a title. "Just really focused on Game 7 and trying to take it just a moment at a time," Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton said. "Really enjoying what we're doing. Understanding this is going to be one of the biggest, if not the biggest, game most of us ever play in in our lives, and for our organization from a historical standpoint, as well. That's something that you don't take for granted and you enjoy as a competitor." Here's how each team can win Game 7: How Thunder can win NBA Finals Game 7 The MVP needs to play like the MVP, and he can't have more turnovers than made shots as he did in Indiana's Game 6 victory. Making mid-range shots, getting to the rim and free throw line, knocking down the occasional 3-pointers and making sure his teammates are involved. The Thunder are at their best when Gilgeous-Alexander scores around 30 points, five assists, two steals and attempts 10 free throws and has no more than three turnovers. In Indiana's Game 3 victory, the Thunder committed 19 turnovers, and in Indiana's Game 6 victory, the Thunder turned the ball over 21 times. It's one thing if shots are falling, it's another to have that many possessions with a field goal attempt. The Thunder don't need 40 points from Williams like they got from him in Game 5. However, an efficient Jalen Williams who is attacking the basket off the dribble and in transition and scoring 20-plus points while rebounding and collecting assists gives the Thunder a much better chance of winning. It's clear Holmgren needs to be involved offensively. He had just six points in the Game 1 loss and four points in the Game 6 loss and was 4-for-18 from the field in those two games. He's averaging 12.7 points and 10.7 rebounds in Finals victories and 10 points and 7.3 rebounds in Finals losses. The Thunder have used depth to their advantage all season. Getting 3s from Cason Wallace, Alex Caruso and Aaron Wiggins is important. Caruso has scored just two points in the past two games and was scoreless in Game 6. Wallace, Caruso and Wiggins were 1-for-6 on 3s in Game 6 and 7-for-14 in Game 5 and 14-for-26 in Game 2. The Thunder are not immune to home losses – they lost Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals to Denver and Game 1 of the NBA Finals to Indiana at home. However, they were 35-6 at home during the regular season and 10-2 during the playoffs. Oklahoma City provides one of the best home crowds in the league, and the Thunder can use that energy. LeBron James often said home-court advantage doesn't mean anything until a Game 7. How the Pacers can win Game 7 Haliburton has a strained calf, and if this were the regular season and even earlier in the playoffs, he might not be playing. But in Game 6 and Game 7 of the Finals, he is. He only played 23 minutes in the Pacers' Game 6 blowout victory and had 14 points, five assists and two steals. That kind of per-minute production should keep the Pacers in the game with a chance to win. The Pacers' improved defense is a major reason they are in this position. They like to pressure the basketball, sometimes full court, and that kind of intensity for four quarters wears down an opponent. Indiana wants to force turnovers, limit Oklahoma City's offensive opportunities and keep Gilgeous-Alexander from dominating with his scoring. In Game 6, the Pacers held the Thunder to 91 points, which is the Thunder's lowest-scoring game of the playoffs and just the second time they didn't reach 100 this postseason. The Pacers have been the best 3-point shooting team percentage-wise in the playoffs (.390) and have made 36.4% against the Thunder in the Finals. In their three Finals victories, they have outscored the Thunder 126-87 on 3-pointers. Aaron Nesmith, Andrew Nembhard, Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner, Obi Toppin and Haliburton need to combine for about 15 3-pointers. The Pacers average 14 made 3s in their Finals victories and 12 in their Finals losses. When T.J. McConnell, Bennedict Mathurin and Toppin are providing quality minutes, the Pacers are tough to beat. McConnell's bulldog mentality is an important part of Indiana's success. Siakam is the only Pacers player with championship experience (Toronto Raptors, 2019), and he has been a fantastic two-player in this series. If the Pacers win the title, he just might be Finals MVP. He's averaging 19.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.3 blocks and shooting 46.4% from the field and 82.5% on free throws. Carlisle has extracted the maximum from this roster. Can he yield another victory? He has a great coaching staff, and Carlisle and his assistants have assembled outstanding game plans for this series. He has found ways to get points against Oklahoma City's top-rated defense and slow down the Thunder's No. 3 offense. It's no secret he's one of the league's best coaches over the past two decades, and he has been at the top of his game during the past two seasons with Indiana.


New York Post
3 hours ago
- New York Post
LeBron James says he can't play ‘much further' as retirement speculation deepens
King James is almost ready to pass the crown. LeBron James, 40, was asked during Fanatics Fest at the Javits Center on Saturday about his retirement plans. He just finished his 22nd season in the NBA and was playing against players as young as those born midway through his third season. Advertisement 'I can't play that much further,' James said. LeBron James dunks against the Knicks this past season. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST Advertisement Well, duh. Without a definition of 'that much,' James is essentially avoiding the question. Does he mean one season? Two? Or will he try to push the G.O.A.T. limits and push to 45 like Tom Brady did before retiring? So, what could push James to retirement? Advertisement He joked that freaks like 7-foot-3 Victor Wembanyama – who was sitting near James on the stage – making life difficult could be the impetus for his exodus. 'The more and more time that I play,' James said, 'as long as he keeps smacking my f–king shots into the stands, it's going to make me retire.' LeBron James speaks onstage during Fanatics Fest NYC 2025 at Javits Center on June 21, 2025 in New York City. Getty Images Like Brady, James is still playing at a high level at an age that defies Father Time and does no disservice to the memory of his MVP heyday. Advertisement He made the All-NBA Second Team and led the Lakers to 50 wins and the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference playoffs this past season. James achieved one career goal that Brady never could. He played alongside his son, Bronny, on the Lakers when Bronny played in 27 games as a rookie. Wembanyama revealed during Fanatics Fest that he looks to James, Kevin Durant and Nikola Jokic as role models and goes to the three former NBA champions when he has questions. He had a 45-minute conversation with Jokic during All-Star weekend, according to Sports Illustrated. James already is the leading scorer in NBA history and one of four players to win championships with three different franchises (Cavaliers, Heat and Lakers). He has been answering — or dodging — retirement questions for what feels like a decade.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
NFL rumors: Jaire Alexander considered Falcons, Dolphins before Ravens deal
The post NFL rumors: Jaire Alexander considered Falcons, Dolphins before Ravens deal appeared first on ClutchPoints. Shortly after his release from the Green Bay Packers, Jaire Alexander became the newest member of the Baltimore Ravens. However, while the move seemed obvious, Alexander also reportedly considered signing with the Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins before putting pen to paper. Advertisement While the Ravens were always the frontrunners, Alexander did not commit to them until he was physically at the team's facilities, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported. In the meantime, he kept in contact with the Falcons and Dolphins before making his decision. 'Jaire agreed to visit the team but didn't make any commitment until he was on-site,' Fowler said on SportsCenter. 'He just had great chemistry with everybody. They were heavily recruiting him. The Falcons, he was considering, Miami Dolphins, he was also considering. But Baltimore had the clear edge throughout that process.' Alexander reunited with former Louisville teammate Lamar Jackson by signing with the Ravens. The quarterback openly campaigned for his team to sign Alexander on multiple occasions. The process ended with a one-year, $6 million deal. Advertisement The Dolphins could have used his services the most, particularly after opting not to re-sign Kendall Fuller. Miami still has former All-Pro Jalen Ramsey locking down the outside, but is currently slated to begin the year with Storm Duck as its other starter. Duck posted a subpar 55.5 player grade on Pro Football Focus as a rookie, ranking in the bottom 30 percent of eligible cornerbacks. Jaire Alexander joins Ravens' improving defense Mark Konezny-Imagn Images While Alexander has the connection to Jackson on the Ravens, he will have to earn a starting job in the offseason. Baltimore previously signed Chidobe Awuzie to fill the vacant starting spot left behind by the departing Brandon Stephens. Regardless, Alexander will undoubtedly enter training camp with the upper hand. Advertisement The Ravens' secondary took a slight step back in 2024. Baltimore's defense struggled with injuries all season, following an unfortunate trend in recent years. As a result, they allowed the sixth-most passing yards per game on the year. Alexander is the second significant addition to Baltimore's defense in the 2025 offseason. The Ravens drafted former Georgia star safety Malaki Starks with their first-round pick. Starks figures to immediately slot into the starting lineup next to two-time All-Pro Kyle Hamilton. Related: Tom Brady's WWE-style Fanatics Fest entrance interrupted by Eli Manning Related: 3 hottest Seattle Seahawks takes takes coming out of 2025 minicamp