Jihad Ward hopes to earn Wink’s approval.
The Giants signed Ward as their first edgeman added during free agency, thinking a second-round reunion of the former draft pick with defensive coordinator Wink Martindale could lead to a cost-effective production at the position of significant need.
“I wanted to go somewhere where they make me feel free and Wink is one of those coaches where he basically makes me extend my career so I’m the best I can be,” Ward said. Monday from Giants headquarters. “Wink is one of the coaches who did a hell of a job with me when I was Raven, so now I’m here and ready to win some games.”
After racking up four sacks in 21 games for the Ravens in 2019-20, Ward, 27, was signed to a one-year, $2.5 million free agent deal with the Jaguars. He added two more sacks and 17 pressing to 457 defensive snaps – his most with 636 as a Raider rookie – in 17 games.
Ravens defenseman Jihad Ward, 53, fires Giants quarterback Daniel Jones in 2020. AP
“I can bring a lot to the team,” Ward said. “The most important thing I can suggest is just trying to win games, dominate the lead and then dominate the D-line. I believe that I can be one of the best and one of the best D-line players. So when you play Giants, the D-line will be mentioned.”
The Giants’ main investment in their defensive line is a pair of tackles – former first-round pick Dexter Lawrence and former professional bowler Leonard Williams – that account for $31.5 million in the 2022 salary cap. Edge Rusher has been a desert (excluding Marcus Golden’s 10-sack season in 2019) since Jason Pierre-Paul was traded and the Giants moved to a 3-4 base front in 2018.
Martindale inherited outside linebackers Aziz Ojulari and Quincy Rocha after promising rookie seasons. But if Martindale is going to establish its style – its Ravens have led the league in blitz percentage in three of the last four seasons – then depth and fresh legs are important.
Defensive coordinator Don “Vink” Martindale watches from the sidelines for the Ravens last season.
“Basically, it’s just aggression,” Ward said of Martindale’s philosophy. You don’t know when we will arrive. This is his type of style. We’re going to attack you.”
Sounds easy. Is not. Not even for Ward, who says he can take any position on the front lines.
“The only thing about the rest of the D-line that’s here, we just have to basically understand its different types of fronts,” Ward said. “This is quite difficult for us and we will change the scheme based on what kind of staff. it will be a lot [creating] confusion and diversity.
Ward grew up as an Eagles fan in Philadelphia, but his football development began at the now-defunct Global Institute of Technology, located on Manhattan’s Seventh Avenue. He took the bus, ferry, and subway from his home to pick up workout equipment—all worth it when an Illinois recruiter spotted his film for college juniors.
“It was part of being an adult,” Ward said. “That’s how I describe it. It took me three hours every day to go to school, so now that I have some money, things are very different. It’s harder when you don’t have money. So when I come back here, I just think about those times: “Damn, I really got out of here after working for two years.” Although I will always like it here. I’m glad to be back.”