The New York Giants will face their MetLife Stadium co-tenants, the New York Jets, this Saturday night in the 2023 preseason finale.
Jobs are on the line but that’s not going to be the headline this week. The Jets are starting future Pro Football Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers at quarterback for the first time.
Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale was asked how his defense would fare against Rodgers but reminded everyone that he doesn’t know which of his players will be available and which ones won’t.
“I think that you call the game to win each game you have,” Wink explained. “That’s what we will do, with who’s in there, what I think they can execute. You know they are going against a titan of quarterbacks (Rodgers). It’s going to be a great experience for some of these younger guys because he’ll evaluate your team for you as well with the way he plays quarterback.”
It will be special for Martindale, too, as he is one who loves to match wits with the ‘titans’ of the game.
“I get excited every time I am going against him because he is a titan of the league, he is one of the titans of the league and we all know that. You see the energy he brought to the city,” Martindale said. “I really do like him, I want him to have a bunch of success except when we are playing against each other and he knows that and hopefully, he feels the same way.
“I just think that he’s one of the best and it’s always, as players and coaches, just like you saw in London, it’s fun playing that chess match with him. There are so many little things that you have got to cover when you are going against him. I know if I was a rookie, I would be jacked, you know like the two corners, to go against Aaron Rodgers because it’s one of the best of the best.”
Asked if he’ll dial up some blitzes this week against Rodgers, Martindale wouldn’t say.
“We’ll see,” he replied.
