Don Martindale is surprisingly on the market for defensive coordinator-needy teams. Some outside interest already emerged before the Ravens moved on from their four-year defensive play-caller.
After signing a three-year extension in 2020, Martindale was set to go into a contract year. The Ravens did not offer him another extension to avoid lame-duck status, according to Albert Breer of SI.com, who adds other teams noticed this and checked on Martindale’s status. The Ravens’ defensive step back in 2021 contributed to the team passing on an extension offer (Twitter link).
The Ravens have promoted from within to fill their DC position every time the franchise has filled the job. Since Marvin Lewis‘ 2003 departure to become the Bengals’ HC, Mike Nolan, Rex Ryan, Greg Mattison, Chuck Pagano and Dean Pees climbed from within to fill the post. Martindale followed suit in 2018, rising from the team’s linebackers coach position. It is not a lock that will continue, though the external candidates on Baltimore’s radar have experience working under Martindale.
Mike Macdonald left the Ravens to become Michigan’s co-defensive coordinator last year, but Baltimore’s former linebackers coach was viewed as the likely Martindale successor before doing so, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com notes. Macdonald spent seven seasons on John Harbaugh‘s staff. Presumptive one-and-done Jaguars DC Joe Cullen, who was the Ravens’ D-line coach for five seasons before following Urban Meyer to Jacksonville, looms as another possible candidate. Internally, defensive passing-game coordinator Chris Hewitt is a surefire candidate, per Aaron Wilson of the Pro Football Network (on Twitter). Hewitt has been with the Ravens since 2012, when he took over as the team’s defensive backs coach.
Despite the Ravens’ injury-catalyzed regression on defense this season, Martindale figures to generate extensive outside interest. The 58-year-old assistant had Baltimore perched as a top-10 defense from 2018-20.
Reason for termination – Burrow 525 passing yards in their final match up. 🙂
If Giants go with a somebody like Buffalo OC Dalabo. Martingale might be good choice for DC. Graham staying on, not the worst.
Agree on his fit for the Giants. As for Graham, someone who watched his defense for the past 2 years, I’ll throw out 1 stat that shows he has to go.79-0. That’s how much the Giants were out scored in the final 2 minutes of halves this season. His ‘bend but don’t break’ defense just meant we played a prevent defense the whole game and almost never forced a 3 and out. Because of the amount of plays and yardage the defense would give up by the 4th quarter they were gassed! Plus he was playing a 3-4 with players who were all better suited and came from 4-3 systems. To me he was overhyped and not that great a scheming coach. After all of he was that good, why did Miami let him go without any resistance?
I agree with you a lot on the scheme mismatch. Graham seems like he has potential, but a detailed look at the defense makes it hard to pin down what specifically gives that impression.
Kind of reminds me of what transpired in 2020 when Mike Nolan ran Dallas’ defense
Yeah, the defense actually improved dramatically the second half of the year, but then again, it was so bad to start that it was not nearly enough.
But that was an absolutely stupid hire by McCarthy. Nolan did what he was supposed to-he implemented a 3-4 scheme. The Cowboys, however, ran the most opposite defense one could from that under Marinelli. And they were good at it. Transitioning to a 3-4 for no reason other than McCarthy’s personal preference was colossally irresponsible. It would have taken a few years of acquiring the right players for that and training whichever ones stayed, and even then there was no guarantee that it would have worked-or that Nolan would have been successful as DC after the transition.
It’s a lot like when the Bills, who ran a perfect 4-3 under Jim Schwartz, hired Rex Ryan who brought in a zone 3-4. They never ended up being successful at it, and still needed a few players even after Ryan was fired after four years of trying.
If I go to Giants I want a 4 year guaranteed deal .. that team is in shambles … will take time to change it around