Seahawks Coach Mike Macdonald Trash Talked by Michigan’s Wink Martindale for Ohio State Based Reason
The Michigan Wolverines’ defense is expected to be one of the best in the Big Ten this fall with players returning across the board from the defensive line to the linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties.
Defensive coordinator Wink Martindale opted to return to Ann Arbor after NFL interest, and is expected to enter the season with a reputation for being one of the best assistant coaches in the country after a dominant 13-10 win over the Ohio State Buckeyes last season in Columbus, Ohio. On Monday, Martindale revealed his preliminary thoughts on the Wolverines’ defense heading into the season, revealing how he teased former Michigan defensive coordinator and current Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald in a hilarious way.
“Do I tease (former Wolverines defensive coordinators) Jesse Minter and Mike Macdonald that I held Ohio State to 10 points and they didn’t? Of course I do,” Martindale said at a press conference. Michigan has won four straight against the Buckeyes, giving up 27, 23, 24 and 10 points in the last four years against coach Ryan Day’s team.
Martindale predicted a big season for defensive end Derrick Moore in 2025 while predicting that linebacker Jaishawn Barham may see more time as an edge rusher with Josaiah Stewart headed for the NFL and Michigan in need of production from new faces at the position.
Ohio State’s Jack Swayer Given First Round Evaluation From Pro Football Focus Analyst
The Ohio State Buckeyes overcome two Big Ten Conference losses during the regular season to reel off four straight wins in the College Football Playoff, winning the national championship over Notre Dame in the last game of the season. The Buckeyes run was the product of several outstanding performances from players including quarterback Will Howard and defensive end Jack Sawyer, whose famous strip-sack on former OSU quarterback Quinn Ewers against the Texas Longhorns sealed arguably the most important win of the season outside of the title game. On
Monday, Sawyer was given a surprising first round evaluation from a Pro Football Focus analyst amid talk of the Buckeyes star slipping to the second of third rounds of the 2025 NFL draft. “One of the highest floor players in this class, really good fundamentals, incredibly sound in all areas” the analyst stated. “He’s going to be a dominant force (as a run defender), going to set the edge in the run game…I’m a big fan of this guy, I can’t quit him,” the analyst said, stating that he believes Sawyer is a “high character guy” who should be graded out as a first round pick with potential as a pass rusher. “Third round talk is way, way too low for him,” the analyst added about the Buckeyes star, who tallied 25 solo tackles, nine sacks and three forced fumbles for coach Ryan Day’s team last season.
