Chargers News: Jesse Minter Welcomes Challenge Of Competing In AFC
New Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is getting his first opportunity to serve as an NFL DC this coming season.
Though Minter has experience as an NFL defensive backs coach and was tremendous at Michigan in limiting the best offenses in college football like Ohio State, he's going to face a different kind of challenge as an NFL DC, especially in the AFC.
The AFC is loaded with talented quarterbacks, including Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Aaron Rodgers, Joe Burrow, C.J. Stroud, Trevor Lawrence, and of course Patrick Mahomes, who the Chargers face twice a year.
However, Minter is embracing the challenge of facing these types of quarterbacks in the NFL.
"To become the best, you want to go through the best and beat the best. I feel like we got a great quarterback here, too, that gives us a chance in those type of matchup games. But as we really kind of evolved the defense and try to build the defense late in my tenure in Baltimore, it was to be able to defend these types of teams and these types of quarterbacks. I feel like at Michigan, same type of deal where you were trying to build the defense to beat Ohio State and Washington and these lethal passing attacks. I look at it as a tremendous opportunity. Excited about the challenge, excited about those matchup games no matter who it is. But there's certainly those guys that, as you look at the schedule, you get excited to get a chance to defend those guys."
— Jesse Minter, via Eric Smith of Chargers.com
This mentality will serve Minter well, who already has plenty of experience scheming against the best college football teams with Michigan to help them win the National Championship. Minter's defense held both Alabama and Washington's offenses from taking over the game.
If the Chargers are to go on to become the champion-level team Jim Harbaugh is striving for, Minter's defense will be key.
