Don Martindale generated some buzz as a potential head coach after he orchestrated one of the best defensive showings from the Baltimore Ravens in the John Harbaugh era. It looks like Martindale is coming back:
It’s almost surprising that the Baltimore Ravens haven’t lost defensive coordinator, Don Martindale to a head coaching search of another team. He is a long-time NFL linebackers coach that is impressing in his second go as a defensive coordinator. The 55 year old coach seems to be well received by the defensive players on the Ravens roster and he is qualified and then some for a head coaching job.
When the regular season ended their where eight coaching vacancies. Offensive minded coaches ruled the day. Freddie Kitchens was promoted to the head coaching ranks by division rivals, the Cleveland Browns. Adam Gase got a second shot in the AFC East, this time with the New York Jets. Cliff Kingsbury went from being USC’s offensive coordinator to the next head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. On and on, offense driven coaches got jobs.
Vic Fangio got hired by the Chicago Bears so it’s not a complete run on offensive coordinators and quarterback coaches, but there is a definite trend going on. It used to be that an up and coming defensive coordinator always got snatched up from Baltimore. Marvin Lewis (who left to be the Washington Redskins defensive coordinator), Mike Nolan, Rex Ryan and Chuck Pagano all got a head coaching job after leading the Baltimore defense.
The ability to keep Martindale in charge of the defense is huge. Martindale got the perfect chance to prove his worth as a defensive coordinator in 2018. When Dean Pees left, most of the defensive talent remained the same. Martindale took a decent defense and turned it into the league’s best.
Other than a fantastical 4th and 9 conversion by Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, the defense held strong when it needed to. The 2018 season came down to the Ravens getting a stop with the Browns past the 50 yard line. Martindale called the right shots and purple and black stopped Baker Mayfield. That was an example of a defensive coordinator making a difference.
The Ravens defense finished first in yards allowed per game and second in points allowed per game. They had a game where they sacked Marcus Mariota 11 times. They had a game sealing interception in three games this season. C.J. Mosley sealed the deal in week 17, Marlon Humphrey closed the deal against the Buccaneers and Anthony Levine Sr. picked off Ben Roethlisberger to ge the win in week four. Credit has to go to the players, but Martindale obviously gets them in the right position in the big moments.
Marlon Humphrey took the next step in being an elite cornerback. Players like Za’Darius Smith, Michael Pierce, Patrick Onwuasor and Tony Jefferson had their best season with the team. Tyus Bowser started to contribute to the defense. Martindale got more out of the players than Pees ever did. Martindale’s biggest success is how well he has molded with the players. You get the sense that he knew how he would do it if he had Pees’s job, and now he’s seeing it through.
With the coaching carousel basically completed, it looks like the Ravens got away with one. Martindale should return as the defensive coordinator, which will be good news for the purple and black. Martindale is as valuable maestro of the defense.