For years, Wink Martindale coached the Baltimore Ravens as defensive coordinator. After his dismissal, he whipped the New York Giants’ defence into shape. Now he faces his former team for the first time.

Munich – This praise was even worth a separate article on the team homepage for the New York Giants.

On Tuesday, quarterback superstar Aaron Rodgers spoke highly of Don “Wink” Martindale – defensive coordinator for the team from the Big Apple – on Pat McAfee’s show.

“I have a lot of respect for Wink,” the four-time NFL MVP said after the 22-27 loss to the Giants in London. “I think he’s a fantastic coach. They have a good plan and they have really good players. On top of that, they’re aggressive, they attack you. They put pressure on you – from all sides. They throw a lot at you,” the Packers playmaker continued.

“We just didn’t have the ball that much in the second half…. I have a ton of respect for Wink Martindale & he’s a fantastic coach” ~@AaronRodgers12PMSLive ART pic. twitter.com/s7g1C2In9A

– Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 11, 2022

The Giants’ defense has been one of THE surprises of the NFL season so far. They have allowed the ninth fewest points of any NFL team (an average of 18.6 points per game), meanwhile ranking twelfth in yards allowed per game. The Giants defence performs particularly well in pass defence and is ranked eighth in the league.

Giants defence big surprise

Mainly responsible for that is defensive coordinator Wink Martindale. The 59-year-old is coaching in his 18th year in the NFL and is new to the mega-metropolis. For ten years he had previously been part of the coaching staff of the Baltimore Ravens, the last four seasons even as defensive coordinator.

Then, after last season, he was fired, which came as a surprise to many observers. On Sunday evening, Martindale will now meet his long-time employer again for the first time. He says he has no negative thoughts about the Ravens.

“I always believe that where you are is where you should be. John and I were talking about where we wanted to be and what we wanted to do long before I announced my dismissal,” he explained the background in a press briefing before the clash.

He added: “I knew there was going to be a lot of movement in the NFL and it gave me renewed energy to go to a new place and try to build something there again. John and I are a family, so there was nothing negative about this separation. It was just time. And when I say it was time, it was for both of us. “

Martindale meets Ravens for first time

Meanwhile, the defensive specialist has arrived at his new stomping ground. And how! Last season, the Giants were still one of the worst teams in the league. After five days of play, however, they have a record of 4:1 in 2022. In the surprisingly strong NFC East, this is “only” good enough for third place, but it doesn’t change anything about their strong performances.

While Martindale has been able to motivate himself in his new environment, he has not reinvented himself. For example, he still uses the same blitz-friendly playbook. According to “Next Gen Stats”, the Giants blitzed on 40 percent of dropbacks, only the Detroit Lions did it more often.

And so his longtime protege Lamar Jackson knows what’s in store for him Sunday. On the Ravens’ website, the quarterback said he is preparing for a real blitz. “Coach ‘Wink’ is known for exotic blitzes and he just does his thing. I’ve learned a lot from him and I’ve been going up against his defence in practice since my rookie season. Those guys do a great job on all types of blitzes,” the quarterback explained.

Giants appreciate their defensive coordinator

The fact that they seem to have hit the jackpot with their new defensive coordinator is something that some Giants players have already expressed.

“We’ve always had the guys to play really good defence,” said safety Xavier McKinney, for example, “But Wink brings a more aggressive mentality, which helps us because that’s what we wanted to do in the first place. It’s not like he gave us an identity. But sometimes the scheme just didn’t fit the players.” Under coach Martindale, that seems to be going much better.

The 59-year-old, after nearly two decades in the NFL, still takes to heart the saying of now-deceased former assistant coach Clarence Brooks: “The game has always been about the players and it always will be about the players.”

On Sunday, his once beloved Baltimore Ravens are expected to feel the same when they host New York’s MetLife Stadium at 7pm German time.