Houston Texans: 5 Candidates for head coach vacancy
By Brian Emory
Don “Wink” Martindale: Baltimore Ravens Defensive Coordinator
If you have even remotely paid attention to the 2020 season, you would fully be aware that the Houston Texans’ offense is not the reason they are currently sitting at a 4-11 record. Houston currently has one of the worst defenses in the league, as the unit is giving up a staggering 411.7 yards per game.
Of course, it is an offense-driven league these days but you still are not going to be able to build a winning team with such a porous defense. It could absolutely make sense for the Texans to zero in on a defensive-minded coach as their next leader. If they decide to go this route, Wink Martindale is my favorite choice.
While the Ravens 2020 defense maybe has not been quite as strong as their 2019 unit, they have been dealing with injuries and some bad luck. Baltimore still unquestionably has a Top-8 defense in the league that appears to be hitting their stride at the right time.
Similar to how Eric Bieniemy has been studying Andy Reid, Wink Martindale has spent the last nine years learning from Super Bowl-winning coach John Harbaugh. When selecting a head coach, it certainly makes sense to pluck one from an organization that wins consistently. The Ravens have been regulars in the playoffs over the past decade, so Martindale definitely fits the bill.
Earlier I mentioned that Deshaun Watson should be priority number one when making this hire. It is of grave importance to hire a coach that will be able to get the absolute most out of Watson as a player. Is a defensive coach really the best choice if that is your first priority? I understand the concern here.
However, on the flip, the hope here is that Martindale will not overthink things. A scheme similar to what the Ravens run could also be perfect for Watson and the Houston Texans. Also, a common practice when a coach gets hired is that they fill their staff with people they are familiar with. How about Martindale as head coach with Ravens quarterback coach James Urban as offensive coordinator?