AP Photo/Seth Wenig
Giants first-year defensive coordinator Don ‘Wink’ Martindale served as an assistant coach for the Baltimore Ravens from 2012-21, the last four as their defensive coordinator.
This week he answered all the questions about his time with the Ravens and had nothing but positive things to say about the organization and all of the great friends and relationships he left behind there.
One other question he was asked — perhaps the most pertinent one — was how he planned on defending against star quarterback Lamar Jackson, a player he obviously knows very well.
“I love the guy. I think that it’s another great challenge,” Martindale said. “We went from Aaron Rodgers, league MVP, to now we’re going to Lamar Jackson, league MVP back in ’19. I was with him when he did that, and he is an unbelievable player. For anybody that wants to say anything, that he’s not, ok. Because he’s unbelievable and he’s playing at an MVP caliber right now like he was back in ’19.
“It’s different sitting in the chair now instead of at practice when you’re watching it. It’s like I told (outside linebacker coach) Drew Wilkins, all those times we were going against him, and a guy said, ‘oh, I got him’, because you’ve got to stay away from the quarterback, ‘oh I had him.’ We’re going to find that out on Sunday, whether or not they got him or not. I know it’s different guys, but it’s the truth with him because not only could he beat you with his arm, which he’s throwing the ball really well, but he can beat you with his legs, his mind, and everything else. He’s playing at a high level.”
