Sometimes it’s a fun league. Especially when it comes to research coaching.
Take, for example, the curious case of Ravens defensive coordinator Wink Martindale. The man can train hard, he continues to oversee an elite defense in Baltimore – although this one isn’t exactly loaded with passing throwers – and he just put in an absolutely masterful performance against a coordinator that the six teams are looking. a head coach wanted an audience. Yet not a single request to interview Martindale. Beyond, weird, for me.
This, a year after the Giants quarreled over finalizing a deal with Martindale to panic instead about Mississippi state (yeah, that Mississippi state), possibly hiring the Patriots’ special teams coordinator, 38-year-old Joe Judge and decided to basically give him the job instead of waiting to see how far the Ravens advanced in the playoffs (they turned out to have lost in the division round after their bye Wild Card). Martindale continued to lead Baltimore to a top defense in many key metrics, although he played much of the season without getting his best defensive linemen on the pitch with consistency due to Covid and injuries, he has the strong backing of the Ravens head coach. John Harbaugh, and he’s more than ready to take over an NFL team.
Alas, apparently it is not the flavor of this year. The defensive side of the ball tendency is decidedly younger, not that Martindale, is by any means over the hill at 57; in fact, his fire, his ability to connect with very young players, and his unique teaching style should be exactly what draws him to NFL teams. To say nothing of his ability to call up a football game, put great pressure on the opposing quarterback despite an outside passer with superior shots. He’s aggressive and creative with his blitz packages, and maybe someone interviewing Smith should watch the movie of last Sunday’s game. It was the first time in two years that the young offensive coordinator looked his age, and he had no response to the mass approach to stifle Titans 2000-yard running back Derrick Henry.
Consider that the Titans held the ball for more than 10 minutes of the first quarter … then 15:59 of the last 45 minutes of the game. Tennessee ran 22 times for 51 yards. Nearly two-thirds of Henry’s (11) 18 rushes were two yards or less, four went for zero yards or negatives, and only two went over five yards (with a long eight). The Titans racked up 121 yards in 20 games with 10 points in the first quarter, Martindale changed covers and games, passed AJ Brown, changed assignments in tight ends, and Tennessee could only muster 88 Amazing yards in 29 games. during the last three quarters.
Unfathomable.
Perhaps the ultimate sign of respect – or surrender – was that Smith called two passing games on second and second for the Baltimore 40, with 10 minutes left and just 17-13 then coach Mike. Vrabel started the fourth try. . From the Baltimore 40 !. Was Martindale’s defense in their heads on the opposite sideline? On a day when they couldn’t run with Henry, there weren’t any real races or bootlegs designed for Ryan Tannehill. No real deep hits or calculated adjustments. The Titans were 5 of 5 for 68 yards and a tight touchdown in the first half and attempted a pass for them in the second half. Teams, like the Titans as recently as November, have occasionally crushed the Ravens in screen play, but the Titans’ third fullback has seen very little.
Martindale may have had his best moment, during a visit to Baltimore which did not miss it. Maybe a curious owner or GM might want to know a little more about what goes into their game plans and what makes them tick. Sure, the window to interview him easily (this week) has passed and you’ll have to wait until the Ravens lose – or the Super Bowl off week – to get an audience with him, but it might be worth it. . Wait.
The fact that no team has yet launched Wednesday afternoon on one of the “hot” candidates making the rounds seems quite revealing. Martindale is more than ready and deserving.
Carroll’s vision complicates the search for coordinators
Regardless of who gets hired as the Seahawks’ next offensive coordinator, you have to wonder about the outcome. It’s pretty clear that Pete Carroll is more focused on managing football now than he’s ever been before, and it’s a shocking statement if you’ve been paying attention to his career because running the ball has always been. in the foreground of his mind.
There isn’t a lot of leeway here. Creativity has its place, in moderation. Brian Schottenheimer, and the quick process he was hired through three years ago, was by no means a bold pick or robust search, but Schottenheimer’s reach was always going to be somewhat limited. And I’m told things eventually fell apart between Carroll and his attacking caller at season review meetings when it was clear their philosophies on how to straighten out an attack that unfolded south in the second half of the season were very far away. Essentially, the mandate was to find ways to keep hammering the boulder, and a change that was not originally intended happened quickly.
There is certainly some skepticism within the coaching ranks about how attractive the position is, even with talent like Russell Wilson to work with (and those receivers). If I were the Seahawks, I would contact Chiefs quarterback Mike Kafka and Ravens quarterback coach James Urban and Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott. I’d be looking for the most inspired choice to find ways to attack all quadrants of terrain in the air and harness Wilson’s unique skills. But it’s fair to say that there is skepticism within the industry about this research actually happening this way.
More insider notes on the NFL
- I’m happy to see the Texans contact Leslie Frazier about their head coach opening. I was very surprised not to have had any offers in the first round of interviews and he is more than qualified for the job.
- Luke Fickell of the University of Cincinnati is a name to watch in NFL circles. The teams really love him and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Eagles chase him.
- Brian Daboll would make a lot of sense with the Chargers. The Bills’ offensive coordinator continues to impress, despite a sagging Buffalo defense and knowing he has to score in batches to win.
- Don’t underestimate the Lions’ chances of seriously considering retaining interim coach Darrell Bevell.
- The young defensive coach that intrigues me the most is Rams Brandon Staley. Lots of quality contenders, including 49ers Robert Saleh, on whom the Jets are very high. But the work Staley has done and his experience with Vic Fangio is remarkable to me.
- Most people in this industry expected at least half of the coaching vacancies to be filled by Wednesday, and instead at noon there were actually more vacancies (seven ) than a week ago. Like I said, sometimes it’s a fun affair.
