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Wink Martindale dissects Michigan’s defense: ‘Losing is learning’

Posted on by Pranco
Wink Martindale dissects Michigan’s defense: ‘Losing is learning’

ANN ARBOR – Wink Martindale is in his first year on Michigan’s staff but is aware of the program’s defensive prowess over the past three seasons.

The Wolverines have finished in the top-10 in scoring defense and top-20 in total defense each of the last three years, including No. 1 in both categories during their 2023 national championship campaign.

Many expected Michigan’s defense to remain at an elite level when Sherrone Moore hired Martindale to be his defensive coordinator this offseason. The 61-year-old had spent the last two decades at the NFL level and was the self-proclaimed “OG” of the defensive system installed at Michigan by the previous two coordinators – Mike Macdonald in 2021 and Jesse Minter in 2022-2023.

But those excellent defensive numbers of the past three years have plummeted in 2024. The Wolverines are 5-4 and rank 56th in points allowed and 48th in total defense. Their offense didn’t provide much help either, ranking 116th in scoring and 127th in yards per game. The defense was on the field almost two minutes longer per game, which contributed to more explosive opponents.

“When you lose the games you lose, you’re disappointed,” Martindale told reporters on Wednesday. “But even if you’ve done it as long as I’ve done it, there are seasons like this where things just happen. I told the defense before the season started that it’s going to be a different year. It’s going to be a different season. Keep trying to reach our depth. I think there are some guys that are finally taking it a step further now that you don’t have to play as many guys for so long, but it’s one of those things where it’s a tough place for the position coaches, and for myself as well. When the game is on the line, you want Mason (Graham), you want (Kenneth Grant), you want your guys in the game. We’ve been playing a lot of these games lately, the game has been on the line for four quarters, so it’s hard to find that sweet spot (of resting players).

Michigan lost eight defensive players with starting experience from last season but returns three projected first-round picks at key positions: Graham and Grant at defensive tackle and All-American Will Johnson at cornerback.

Up front, Grant has already played more snaps than he did in last season’s 15 games, while Graham is just a few away from surpassing last year’s total. Michigan had the luxury of using Kris Jenkins, a second-round pick, and Cam Goode at center last season, but the depth isn’t as plentiful in 2024.

On the perimeter, Josaiah Stewart, Derrick Moore and the now-departed Braiden McGregor and Jaylen Harrell each played a similar number of snaps in 2023, but Stewart and Moore, who have both missed a game due to injury, have had their numbers called more often this season with little experience behind him.

Meanwhile, the secondary school has been broken for most of the year. Johnson has missed three games due to injury, including the past two, while fellow starting corner Jyaire Hill also did not play in last week’s 38-17 loss to No. 1 Oregon. All-Big Ten safety Rod Moore is still recovering from offseason surgery, while safety Jaden Mangham, a transfer from Michigan State, hasn’t played since the season opener. Versatile defenseman Ja’Den McBurrows also suffered a season-ending injury in Week 3.

“From what I expected before the season, you always expect to win,” Martindale said. “As a coach you know that anything can happen. What I always talk about with the players: losing is learning. That has always been the case. Different ways you can do things, different ways they can prepare, different ways we can prepare. Injuries are something that crop up throughout the season, which is why in college football you really need to be three deep, not two deep. I know that’s where our success was the two previous years, the depth we had.

“You see all the guys starting now were backups. Those are facts. We just have to keep doing our utmost to continue to bring depth here.

The Wolverines have faced a tougher schedule in 2024, with several teams featuring high-octane offenses. Michigan has been prone to giving up chunk plays, passing 116 for 10 or more yards, which ranks No. 85 in FBS.

Early on, it was explosive passing plays that broke down Michigan’s defense. The Wolverines have addressed their pass defense issues over the past three weeks, but it has come at the cost of stopping the run. They have allowed more than 160 yards on the ground each of the last three weeks after allowing an average of 76.3 rushing yards per game through the first six games.

“I think some quarterback scrambles hurt those stats,” Martindale said. “We have to do a better job of keeping them in our pockets. It’s a work in progress. It will remain a work in progress until we play that last one. I think in terms of coaches and players we have exactly the guys for the challenge, and that’s what makes me come to work every day and enjoy the job I have.

Martindale is in the first season of a three-year contract he signed in February. He resigned as defensive coordinator of the New York Giants in January and is back in the college ranks for the first time since 2003.

He was asked about his future on Wednesday during a tough first season for the Wolverines.

“I didn’t think about the long term,” he said. “When you’re 61, you just try to think about tomorrow. But yeah, I’m glad I’m here. I like the players we have. I think (college football) is obviously a different game, but it’s a lot better than being 2-7 in some places (Giants’ current record).”