Wink Martindale on blitz percentages, etc. — ‘Keep writing that … they're wrong’
Michigan defensive coordinator Wink Martindale has been pleased with his defense’s progress through four games, especially against an explosive USC team. While “experts” continue to offer opinions on his style, he pushed back Monday on the notion that all he wants to do is blitz.
For weeks, writers and podcasters, etc., have been breaking down blitz percentages, pointing out flaws, etc. Martindale countered Monday.
“Every game is different. We’ve already talked about the strength of schedule we had to start off with … we played really well in situational football against S.C.” Martindale said. “You saw it at the end of the half and you saw it at the end of the game. But people don’t understand that … that there are actual calls you call in those situations so you can get a sack before halftime, or stop the passing game going right down the field on you when they’re in the fourth quarter.
“I’ve been doing this for 40 years. Yeah, Sark [Texas coach Steve Sarkisian] is a good offensive coordinator. He’s got a really good quarterback. Yeah, [USC coach] Lincoln Riley has another really good quarterback. That’s just the challenge of college football … and it’s the challenge of pro football, period. We’ve adapted and played what we thought was best to win the game. At the end of the week, we want to be 1-0, just like this week.”
This week is a different game and a different quarterback, more max protection and establishing the run early, he said of Minnesota. But his defense had a great practice Tuesday, he added, and they’re on the ascent.
Those who want to criticize his play calling, etc., should continue to, Martindale continued. If opposing coaches listen, they’ll be surprised by what they see on Saturdays. On Will Johnson’s pick six vs. USC, for example — all credit goes to No. 2, Martindale said, but he predicted Johnson was going to get one based on the USC offensive adjustments to the defense they thought they were running.
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“We zagged when they thought we were going to zig,” Martindale said. “There are punches and counterpunches. … All credit to Will with how he plays and studies the game … it would be like me taking credit for an Aaron Judge home run.
“ … I think it’s a narrative people have wanted to create with myself personally, and that’s fine. It keeps every offense up all night. There are different things that just because you send a nickel and drop an end, that’s still a four-man rush. All the great people at all — where you get all the information from that have all these percentages — they’re wrong. Just keep writing and believing and reading, keep doing all that stuff you want to do. It’s just flat out wrong. Like I said, it really helps us.”
Asked to expand, he said he didn’t want to “give credit to it.”
“It’s one of those things everyone wants to talk about your pressure rates and everything else. The people who are keeping count don’t know the difference between pressure, simulation, or four-man rush,” Martindale said. “It would be like me reading one of your articles and saying you use bad grammar.
“I’m not very good in English. I don’t know the difference between a good article and a bad article, report, podcast, whatever. It’s the same thing. But it’s all part of the profession.”
And none of it matters at the end of the day other than winning.
“I’m really excited where we’re at and were we’re going,” Martindale said.
That’s the bottom line.
