RAVENS PART WAYS WITH DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR DON MARTINDALE
The Baltimore Ravens announced on Friday that the organization had parted ways with defensive coordinator Don ‘Wink’ Martindale. The information comes as a surprise, as many insiders expected offensive coordinator Greg Roman to leave his post rather than Martindale. Martindale signed a massive three-year contract with the Ravens in 2020 and had one year left on his deal.
Don Martindale has been with the Ravens since the 2012 season and helped the Ravens win the “Blackout Bowl” in Super Bowl XLVII. He served as the team’s linebackers coach for six years, after which he was promoted to defensive coordinator taking over for Dean Pees ahead of the 2018 season. The Ravens defense ranked top five in three of the four seasons that Martindale was the defensive coordinator and helped establish Wink as one of the more respected defensive minds around the league.
In a statement released by the Ravens, head coach John Harbaugh said that the organization and Martindale had decided to move forward in separate directions and that Don had done a great job as defensive coordinator for the Ravens.
The Ravens defense struggled throughout the year leaving fans frustrated with the Ravens D-line play and Wink’s inability to use 2021 first-round pick Odafe Oweh effectively in his schemes. Oweh was touted to be defensive rookie of the year candidate in the first few games and finished his first season second on sacks on the team with 5. The Ravens had a total of 34 sacks, their fewest since 2016, while finishing 24th in pressure rate and a 19th ranked defense.
The Ravens finished the season ranked 32nd in pass defense and allowed nearly 280 passing yards per game with injuries playing a big factor in Baltimore’s slump on defense this year. The secondary took a major hit with season-ending injuries to starting cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Marlon Humphrey, backup corners Khalil Dorsey and Iman Marshall, safeties Deshon Elliot and Ar’Darius Washington, and the loss of backup corner Anthony Averett for the last two games.
Don Martindale and head coach John Harbaugh had a great relationship and it appears as though that will continue. Wink was instrumental in helping John get one over his younger brother Jim in the “Har-Bowl” in 2012, and previously worked with John’s dad Jack Harbaugh at Western Kentucky University between 2000 and 2003. Baltimore was not going to offer Martindale an extension after the 2022 season so rather than play out his deal, Don decided to leave in pursuit of a long-term contract now rather than taking his chances in 2023. It seems the organization decided not to stand in his way.
Martindale will enter the market and won’t be short on offers with numerous head coaching opportunities available across the league. His name is popular in coaching circles and he’s always been linked to coaching jobs in the past.
He also received head coach buzz as recently as last month with former Ravens quarterback Robert Griffin III thinking he would be a good fit for the Jacksonville Jaguars head coaching job.
Ravens fans won’t be pleased to see Martindale leave, but will be keen on seeing what scheme their new DC can put together with a healthy roster in 2022.
Baltimore will now shift their attention to the NFL Draft and seek a replacement for 58-year old Martindale. The Ravens love promoting from inside the organization and haven’t recruited an outside defensive coordinator since Marvin Lewis was named the team’s DC in 1996.
This could create an opportunity for defensive line coach Anthony Weaver and pass game coordinator Chris Hewitt, who has long been viewed as Martindale’s successor. Whether general manager Eric DeCosta and John Harbaugh look outside or inside the organization, this offseason will prove to be one of the more interesting offseasons for a team that went through a lot in 2021.
-Maher Abucheri
Twitter: @pabloikonyero