Martindale hired as DC
February 9th, 2024 at 8:15 AM ^
Seems a little old and not necessarily qualified? But hey, seems like a Patriot and a god fearing man so... who are we to judge? I'm sure he'll relate well to the players and will be a real force on the recruiting trail.
February 9th, 2024 at 8:28 AM ^
Not super pumped about this, but I guess it's about the best case scenario given the circumstances. If it's just a 1-2 year rental to get Clink fully prepared to take over like many suggest I suppose that might work out ok.
February 9th, 2024 at 9:08 AM ^
I am not as down on this as some are, but like you said given what was out there it's not a bad hire. The NFL has caught on to the Ravens assistant route we used so we had an uphill battle to find and lure away the next guy on that tree.
For me the success of this hire boils down to whether he can groom Clink, or someone else, to be able to gameplan and call plays on their own.
Next year was gonna be a *big step back given all the success we've had the last three years and the gauntlet of a schedule we have. Wink seems like a decent stop-gap hire until our next up and comer DC is ready to take the reins.
*FWIW, when I say big step back I don't mean I think we suck next year but even a 10-2 season and losing to OSU would be a step back. We only lost 3 games the last three years, we could lose 3 games next season.
February 9th, 2024 at 8:28 AM ^
A+ home run hire. This would have been Harbaugh's hire in LA if he couldn't have gotten Minter or Fangio. Not sure if the occasional internet complaint about him being Don Brown or citing random one year samples of his NFL defense ranks is trolling or stupidity. But he is definitely one of the better NFL DCs over the last decade. And will bring continuity (maybe short term) from the previous defense.
February 9th, 2024 at 8:58 AM ^
I doubt he'd have been the hire if it wasn't Minter.
The complaint about his blitzing a lot was exacerbated by a shitty Giants roster, but by all accounts he likes to blitz a lot with man to man behind it. It's a legit concern but given the DL talent we have maybe he won't feel he needs to be Don Brown 2.0 here.
February 9th, 2024 at 8:32 AM ^
For what it's worth I believe this almost guarantees a top 3 defense next year.
Now hopefully we slap co-DC on Clink or another young lb or dline coach so we can start breeding future DC's because the one thing we know Wink can do is teach, see MM & JM as examples.
We need to make sure we are covered as I'm sure Harbaugh will be hiring Wink away once Minter gets his HC job (that we should've given him)
February 9th, 2024 at 8:40 AM ^
once Minter gets his HC job (that we should've given him)
Please elaborate. Minter was here for ONE YEAR. Moore has been here 6 (?). And has worked his way up the ranks. And players LOVE him. Please explain how Minter would have been a better choice?
February 9th, 2024 at 8:55 AM ^
We had Minter for two actually.
February 9th, 2024 at 9:17 AM ^
Not clear he’d have been better but there’s a good case to be made that Minter was the best Xs and Os guy on the staff. He produced a generationally good defense the likes of which we may not see again in our lifetimes at Michigan. Meanwhile did Moore ever crack the top 5 in offensive S&P+?
doesnt make him the best for the CEO spot tho. Moore may (probably does?) have better qualities there
February 9th, 2024 at 9:02 AM ^
For what it's worth I believe this almost guarantees a top 3 defense next year.
I doubt that. Top 10, sure but we lost so much talent on D from last year it's almost impossible to repeat that success.
We lose half the starters, and more importantly the depth we used so well. So yes, we have some uber talented players coming back but the depth will not be nearly as good and that was a big factor for us in a lot of games - having fresh legs out there at the ends of games helped the boa constrictor do its thing.
I think we'll be good but top 3 again is ridiculous to assume. You're gonna be let down if you think we'll be that good again.
February 9th, 2024 at 9:18 AM ^
Not so sure. Is there a better starting 4 on DL? Show me
and the critical pieces for the defense for the scheme are in the secondary. LB much more replaceable in the scheme I think. And our safeties and CB1 are going to be insane next year
February 9th, 2024 at 9:55 AM ^
I mean it is a very likely, I mean you arguably have the best d-line in the country, two good linebackers in Hausman and Bennett to replace what was lost, an All-American at CB, and a fantastic experienced safety duo with good young depth behind them. Really the only question is replacing the CB2 and slot corner spots but there is still raw talent there to step up and grow and worse case you have the spring transfer portal to find another Wallace like corner. Personally I think if anything the defensive front could be even better this year, at least the starters. Moore feels like a guy who has only scratched the surface of what he can do and a one year older Grant and Graham is just a frightening combo.
February 9th, 2024 at 10:20 AM ^
Lack of depth on DL is what concerns me, not the talent level of our starters. We had the luxury of rotating two full DL's worth of starter quality players. We don't have that anymore.
Our starting 4 are elite and there may be no better DL in college football, but will we get the same level of depth we had last year? Highly doubtful.
Replacing Wallace and Sainristil is also a big unknown. Can we? Maybe, but feels more likely we take a step back and are only a top 10 defense next year.
February 9th, 2024 at 12:38 PM ^
Portal time
February 9th, 2024 at 8:46 AM ^
Hopefully, he brings the same energy as he did when hosting Tic Tac Dough
February 9th, 2024 at 10:07 AM ^
Is that his real hair?
February 9th, 2024 at 9:23 PM ^
All 1970's hair looked like that. You just woke up with it.
February 9th, 2024 at 8:53 AM ^
Martindale against college OCs? Idc how long he’s been out of college, give me Wink every day of the week. The guy still has more knowledge on how to run a defense than you could imagine. Good hire. Task number 1, retain our defensive players!
February 9th, 2024 at 9:01 AM ^
Wink for 2 or 3 seasons then Clink time. Welcome to Team 145 and beyond!
February 9th, 2024 at 10:01 AM ^
Cautiously optimistic, having a ton of experience is never a bad thing but hoping he can dial back the blitzball tendency given the talent in the front four as others have said. Also this being a good hire is reliant to me on him being able to get the next guy on staff ready to step in since it does seem like another flight risk situation. I am going to give him the benefit of the doubt on the clashing with the Giants HC stuff since that guy seems to be an incompetent HC.
February 9th, 2024 at 10:15 AM ^
I am not sure "going back to the NFL in a couple of years" is any concern. Macdonald was here for 1 year before going back, and Minter was here for 2.
February 9th, 2024 at 12:56 PM ^
Honestly my ideal scenario is for Wink to train up Clink to replace him in 1-2 years. I want a fully armed and operational Clinkscale running our defense for a good few years.
February 9th, 2024 at 10:15 AM ^
Solid hire...
Only concern I have is whether a 60+/- NFL coordinator can relate with kids and whether he is going to actually go on the road to recruit.
Schematically, while it isn't quite the same as MacDonald and Minter, they learned defense under him. Language is supposed to be the same, just different philosophy on deploying it.
February 9th, 2024 at 9:26 PM ^
Also, can he adjust to tempo without it unnecessarily costing a couple of games?
He needs to know before he steps foot on the field: It's coming. Be ready.
You know Chip Kelly is going to bring it at OSU.
February 9th, 2024 at 10:26 AM ^
Idk how exactly this will work out, but two things:
1) Given the speed of the hire, I believe reports about Wink bonding with both coaches and players to a notable degree
2) A veteran NFL guy versus most college OCs we face will be chess versus checkers
February 9th, 2024 at 10:32 AM ^
I think the biggest thing is from reports this move prevents attrition of our key guys. Which is really the most important thing in terms of next year. And the we have enough talent on defense next year that running the same scheme with the tweaks that Martindale is going to bring in should still mean we are pretty good on defense.
And to the extent it's a concern long term, he's not likely to be here longer than a year or two.
February 9th, 2024 at 10:33 AM ^
1.He won’t be expected to recruit which is fine.
2. He isn’t going to be here for very long just as McDonald and Minter weren’t.
3. He does have a lot of players with experience to work with so that should help a ton. Clink returning is critical.
February 9th, 2024 at 10:50 AM ^
Who are you and what have you done with the real Sal?
February 9th, 2024 at 10:37 AM ^
LFGOOOOOOO! My favorite DC and the professor of that Ravens defensive scheme.
February 9th, 2024 at 10:40 AM ^
Successful coordinators don't stay around forever. I'm shocked Wink left the NFL, but IMO this is a home run hire.
Enjoy him while he's here (which I don't think will be for very long).
February 9th, 2024 at 11:05 AM ^
Onward!
February 9th, 2024 at 11:20 AM ^
For anyone who hates this, go listen to roundtable yesterday, you will feel differently about it.
i personally wanted to see this hire, more so than Cullen. Wink wont be here long, but he will get us ready for the next guy to take over....maybe Clink.
He created the Ravens system, and with the dogs we have on the defense next year, he will have lots of tools in the play call toolbelt.
And as Brian said yesterday, now you have to get some dog position coaches who can recruit their butts off.
February 9th, 2024 at 11:37 AM ^
Not sure about why he won't be a bonus in recruiting. If a recruit wants to play in the NFL someday, would they rather play for a college DC who has never coached/called plays in the league, or a NFL DC who invented the most successful defense in recent memory?
February 9th, 2024 at 1:51 PM ^
Agreed. It is a great recruiting asset to have people on staff with long tenures in the NFL. That needs to be balanced with young, relatable coaches on the recruiting trail, but "this guy knows what it takes to be successful in the league" is a selling point. It increases a recruit's willingness to pay/play.
February 9th, 2024 at 11:40 AM ^
Homerun. Best possible hire. Our defense is going to be filthy. Players are going to love this guy.
February 9th, 2024 at 12:00 PM ^
If it's true that he included players in the interview and spent time before being hired to watch film of the Ohio State game. Two months to build chemistry with these guy before the spring portel , I'm confident going into spring..
One thing I'm super excited about is Winks experience coaching LBs. With the stout DL returning , the secondary will be crazy good. The position I was worried about was the LBs since replacing Barret and Colston.
February 9th, 2024 at 12:18 PM ^
I wouldn't be that concerned, Hausman and Bennett both are talented players and should be very good replacements. Corner #2 and slot seem to the spots where the replacements have to be figured out either through young guys developing or spring transfer portal additions if needed.
February 9th, 2024 at 1:34 PM ^
I think Sabb might fill that Nickel spot nicely.
February 9th, 2024 at 2:48 PM ^
I also believe the talent is there on the roster to fill that spot as well. Mcburrows is also another good potential option there.
February 9th, 2024 at 12:39 PM ^
Wink 1-8-2 ( defense )
February 9th, 2024 at 12:49 PM ^
Could not be anymore disappointed in this hire. Or this off-season in general.
At least we'll always have the 2023 season.
February 9th, 2024 at 12:53 PM ^
Eh, I am not in the home run camp or anything but I think this take is a wee bit dramatic. You could certainly do worse than a guy with tons of DC experience who knows the base system that you run. I mean unfortunate that it seems like another flight risk case if things go well but not a huge deal if the plan is to groom someone currently on staff like Clink to take over. I mean early reports seem to indicate the current defensive players like the hire which is really the most important thing for trying to retain them outside of the NIL.
February 9th, 2024 at 1:48 PM ^
I love that people think he'll automatically call plays the same way he did in the NFL.
That would be like if Harbaugh went to the Chargers and called plays with Justin Herbert the same way he called plays with Cade McNamara at QB.
February 9th, 2024 at 4:29 PM ^
I'm gonna love it when we still end up sandbagging everyone with spot drop cover 3 for 11 weeks.
February 9th, 2024 at 5:19 PM ^
1. I loved "Biff" Poggi, and I love "Wink" as far as nicknames go.
2. Love he was architect of Ravens defense and our two last most successful DCs based their work on his system.
3. I don't hold him singularly accountable for Giant's failures...that team sucks.
4. I think he is going to be a kid in a candy store with our talent and a recruiting "plus" as kids know he was a huge NFL coach and that's where they want to go over being this guy's best buddy.
5. There is only one Don Brown, he's no Don Brown. See point 1 above, trust burly defensive coaches with nicknames.
February 9th, 2024 at 8:00 PM ^
joker, Joker, JOKER!!
February 9th, 2024 at 8:10 PM ^
I'm good with it
February 9th, 2024 at 9:11 PM ^
Should/could be a big addition. Wink understands the amoeba and variances so well with his experience. Most importantly, his depth of experience in the NFL should enable him to download the offensive scheme & adjustments very quickly. If he adds assistants who can teach and motivate the guys, this defense can continue as elite.