Wink Martindale recently issued a challenge to his critics, almost handing out pens, paper, and charting supplies to prove them wrong.
Following a motivational talk to his players on Friday morning, the Giants’ defensive coordinator addressed the skeptics who emerged after the team missed 16 tackles in their previous game, resulting in a staggering 201 yards after catches by the 49ers.
“Suddenly, there is a wildfire raging about our tackling abilities,” Martindale stated. “Come out on Monday night and chart them.”
Martindale may have been speaking to cameras and tape recorders before practice, but his words were meant for the locker room as well.
The message was clear: He expects fewer missed tackles and fewer mistakes overall in their upcoming game against the Seahawks.
“Clearly, we have been missing a lot of tackles, which is unacceptable,” said defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence in an interview with The Post. “I believe there is a challenge among the players. We know what we need to do to bring opponents down – the first guy wraps him up, the second guy goes for the ball. It’s crucial for us, and the coaches are closely monitoring it.”
This is not the first time Martindale has faced such criticism.
He shared his experience as the Ravens defensive coordinator during the 2019 season when they allowed the Browns to accumulate a 12-year high of 530 offensive yards, causing panic in Baltimore as they dropped to a 2-2 record.
“We then won [12] straight games,” Martindale recalled. “I’m not saying that will happen now, but I’m telling the players that we control the narrative of our careers and lives. We have the power to shape our destinies.”
Martindale’s approach may seem softer than expected considering the Giants’ current struggles. Their defense has allowed a conversion rate of 48.7% on third downs, generated the fewest quarterback pressures (16) in the league, and recorded only two sacks and no takeaways.
The Giants are giving up an average of 28.3 points (about a touchdown more than last season) and 361.7 yards per game.
One recurring issue from last season is their vulnerability to receiver screens when blitzing on third-and-longs, leaving defenders in one-on-one tackle situations.
“The challenge lies within us,” said safety Jason Pinnock in an interview with The Post. “Tackling is the key. It’s our main focus. Everyone wants to be an excellent tackler.”
During practice, the Giants have dedicated time to improving their tackling techniques, including breaking down stiff arms, driving ball-carriers out of bounds, and executing clean tackles on quarterbacks to avoid roughing the passer penalties similar to Leonard Williams’ recent incident.
“I’m not the type of coach who constantly screams on game day or during practice. I believe you can approach someone calmly and still deliver a powerful message,” Martindale explained. “Sometimes, that has a greater impact. You won’t see me exploding on the sidelines. At least, I hope not. If I do, there must be something seriously wrong.”
The Giants have not reached that stage yet.
Even after practice, players were discussing Martindale’s message in small groups in the locker room.
Safety Jason Pinnock stated, “We were just talking about how in no other sport do you have fans and everyone acting as if each week is the end of the world. We have the potential to go 12-0 as well. Anything is possible. If we lose sight of that, it’s all over. We need to avoid negativity at all costs.”
The players have always appreciated Martindale’s aggressive play-calling and position-less schemes during their successful moments last season.
Now, the question is how they respond to his coaching methods during this period of adversity?
“He has earned a lot of respect from everyone in the room,” said Dexter Lawrence, referring to Martindale’s impressive resume. “We want to listen to a guy like him, play for him, and trust his guidance.”
So, what is Martindale’s ultimate message?
“We may not be there yet, but we are on our way,” Martindale declared. “The most important thing for me is that I love challenges. If you don’t, you shouldn’t be in this profession. We embrace challenges and are ready to tackle them head-on. I know what the challenge is, I’ve been here before, and we won’t back down.”
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