Don "Wink" Martindale is one of the best defensive coordinators in the NFL. He is will respected around the league for being an aggressive defensive coordinator and really one of the best situational coaches in the league. The Ravens usually were top 5 in pressure rate, meaning they would send 5 or more. They did it with both zone and man concepts. They were always ranked very high on 3rd down with their defensive sub packages. Last year, was one of the few years the defense struggled, as injuries decimated the secondary and effected their performance defensively.
Since taking over the Ravens the #'s dont lie. He also has turned the giants into the top ranked defense that they are:
2017 #5 scoring defense, 18.9 points per game
2018 #2 scoring defense, 18 points per game
2019 #3 scoring defense, 18.2 points per game
2020 #1 scoring defense, 18 points per game
2021 #18 scoring defense, 23 points per game (half the team was injured)
2022 #9 scoring defense, 19 points per game
This past year was one of their worst but they still had an outstanding 3rd down package. They are always excellent in this category and have been for years.
2022 NY Giants 3rd down defense 2nd in NFL
2021 #3 3rd down conversion percentage allowed
2020 #2 3rd down conversion percentage allowed
Let's look at some of the schemes you will from Coach Wink Martindale. Let's start with the fronts.On Early Downs you will see a ton of 3-4 from Coach Martindale.
Fronts
vs 12 personnel
You'll see some 3-4 personnel with very sound defense on early downs. Using the safety to play the extra gap. Here 44 is the c gap player to the weak side. You'll see some under, some 3-4 and the safety brought into the picture as an extra gap run defender.
Below: They are in an under front declaring to their right
#44 is a c gap player. Mike #6 has A gap to the defensive left and #56 is the C Gap player.
vs 21 personnel( 2 RB, 1 tight ends and 2 wr)
Also will go 3-4 vs. 21 teams
They will play traditional with 3 down lineman and 4 LBS. You see again them bring the safety down to be the c gap/cut back player.
vs 13 personnel
3-4 personnel Saw some under fronts vs the Browns. They play the under front and use the safety to play the Dt to the left in a 2i with the rt dt in a 3. 36 is your d gap player with mike playing 2 gaps. B strong or A weak.
vs 11 personnel (1 tight end and 3 wr)
This is when you will see the Ravens sub Here's some of their 4-2 package vs the Dolphins in 11 personnel. They play the safety down to the tight end side as the C gap player. They will often play with 5 defensive backs against 11 personnel.
Zone Coverages on early downs:
The coverages I've seen include the following:
vs traditional 11, 12 and 21 formations, you'll see more 3 weak and 3 strong. Traditional means tight end is on the line of scrimmage or in an h back position.
cover 3 weak
cover 3 weak clips vs the Broncos
Cover 3 strong
vs spread formations, 2x2 or 3x1 you may see cover 2 concepts on early downs as well but these are the 3 primary zone coverages I've seen from them. They are no different from the majority of NFL Teams out there.
cover 2 clips
3rd down defense
The Ravens were 3rd in 3rd down efficiency in the NFL two years in a row. They are very good at bringing pressure or simulating pressure off different fronts and looks.The Ravens will often show mug looks and bring pressure on 3rd down. Excellent at disguising coverages and overload pressures and that's what makes his defense so tough. They show to one side and then rotate the other way often changing from the presnap coverage look to a different coverage. They are so good on 3rd down at mixing things up and causing confusion on their schemes.
Also, a key stat and one of the reasons his defenses have been successful over the years..
The best thing about their 3rd down package is they cause confusion with blocking schemes and force favorable 1x1 matchups in the protection. They run one of the best 3rd down packages in the league. They get to those situations, you will see some exotic, pressures as well.
Here's a perfect example.
3rd and 5
The Browns put Landry a WR, in the backfield. You know he's releasing so it's a 5 man protection with the possibility of the tight end staying in. Wink sends the LB opposite Landry which forces the 1x1 matchup with the Tight End on a great rusher. DE wins, they get a hit on the QB and force the field goal.
3rd and 10 vs the Steelers
They bring a 5 man pressure that turns into 6 when the RB blocks. They get an overload, a nice hit on Big Ben and almost an interception. Wink not afraid to get after it regardless of the situation.
3rd and 7 vs The Steelers
They run a great fire zone pressure with 4 to a side. They show cover 0 and bring the safety to the deep 1/3. Nice Design.They create a 2x1 on the RB and the pressure gets home untouched.
3rd and 5 vs the Chargers in 2021.
They bring the safety off the edge in a nice 5 man mug similar pressure but play cover 2. The Sam comes clean as the nice cover 2 coverage gives the Chargers problems. They get the sack.
They bring the safety down to the middle of the field to help on crossing routes. The safety is a hole defender. Now the ILB and CB are passing off any inside routes . The ILB passes his man off to the CB and vice versa. The ILB sees the shallow and causes issues with the throw as there is a very tight window and he is there to knock it away.
Here are some clips and coverages they ran this year.
3rd and 5 vs the Chargers in 2021.
They bring the safety off the edge in a nice 5 man mug pressure. The Sam comes clean as the nice cover 2 coverage gives the Chargers problems. They get the sac
vs Steelers 2021
Wink runs a couple mug odd looks vs the Steelers. The first is a 3 under 3 deep fire zone.
Here's a few more clips.
They go combo coverage on a 3rd and 6 vs the Rams. Man to the single side, zone to the field with a 4 man pressure.
I hope you enjoyed this article and what Coach Wink Martindale brings to the table. Please check out my 3rd down post as well about more of his defense and strategies on the $$ down.
