Ex Ravens DC Wink Martindale Perfect Fit in Michigan - Fox Sports Analyst Joel Klatt

Former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Don "Wink" Martindale is making the transition back to the college game after last serving at the collegiate level as the linebackers coach and defensive coordinator for Western Kentucky from 2000 to 2003.

Former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Don "Wink" Martindale is making the transition back to the college game after last serving at the collegiate level as the linebackers coach and defensive coordinator for Western Kentucky from 2000 to 2003.

The game has changed a lot at that level since then, but the philosophy remains intact, "defense wins championships." And Martindale knows defense.

Martindale was hired by new head coach Sherrone Moore to lead a defense that has his fingerprints all over it, and Fox analyst Joel Klatt thinks he's a good fit.

“You can claim that ‘Wink’ Martindale is more blitz-heavy than what [former Michigan defensive coordinator] Jesse [Minter] was last year. But ‘Wink’ is going to do what is appropriate to win games,” FOX analyst Joel Klatt said on the ‘Joel Klatt Show.’

While with the Ravens, Martindale's defenses led the league in blitz rate on passing downs in his first three seasons and were never lower than eighth over the last six seasons. At Michigan, they're used to blitzing too, with a 44 percent rate under Minter. 

Klatt says the Martindale hire at Michigan provides continuity for an already cohesive defense.

“Michigan needed to make a defensive coordinator hire after Jesse Minter followed [head coach] Jim Harbaugh to the Chargers,” Klatt said. “Jesse was great, obviously, and former Michigan defensive defensive coordinator and then Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald got the Seattle Seahawks job. And these guys are stars.

“We all know how successful that style and philosophy was for Michigan over the last three years. Run wall, hard edges, hybrid players in coverage — that’s a philosophy. Reduced down to its most minimal form, that’s the philosophy.

“So, who do they go hire? Sherrone Moore gets the head job, promoted from within, loses all of the defensive staff and yet gets to hire ‘Wink’ Martindale, who comes from Baltimore and [head coach] John Harbaugh. Both Mike Macdonald and Jesse Minter coached, cut their teeth, were mentored by ‘Wink’ Martindale. So, philosophy wise, I don’t think a lot is going to change.

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“The crucial part is, they’ve been recruiting to and developing to a very specific system and philosophy, and they get to stay in that very specific system and philosophy. I think that’s an important piece.”

The Wolverines have lost a bit on defense since hoisting the national championship trophy last season, but they're also returning a ton. Martindale shouldn't have any problems keeping the defensive pressure intact in the Big Ten.