Monday night's matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers will be a little different for Baltimore Ravens head coach Jesse Minter. After spending two seasons with the Chargers, Minter will face his former team for the first time since leaving to become Baltimore's head coach.
Minter has plenty of respect for the people he worked with in Los Angeles, including head coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz. He described his time with the organization as gratifying, but the focus now is on preparing the Ravens for an important game.
The reunion will take place in Baltimore, where the Ravens host Los Angeles on Monday night. Minter enters the matchup trying to stop a four-game losing streak, while the Chargers are searching for their first
victory. Those circumstances give the evening a more immediate significance than the opportunity to reconnect with former colleagues.
When asked what it would mean to face his former team, Minter talked about the relationships he built during his time with the Chargers.
"I just have so much respect and love for the people in that building. I think sometimes it's different depending on why you leave a place. It was a very, very gratifying two years for me there with [Chargers head coach] Jim [Harbaugh] and [Chargers general manager] Joe Hortiz and the staff, both sides of the ball, all the players [and] the strength coaches."
Minter also pointed out that some of those relationships go back even further, with several people having worked alongside him at the college level.
There is an interesting dynamic here. Minter knows the Chargers' coaching staff and has spent time working with many of the players, but that familiarity doesn't necessarily make the matchup easier. In fact, facing people you know well can make the competitive side of the game even stronger.
Minter acknowledged the opportunity to face his former team.
"And so that part of it's fun [because] it feels like you're going against somebody you care a lot about, which sometimes makes it even more competitive. I know how Jim feels about it, I'm sure. So, I'm excited about the challenge. I think after the game it's great to be able to catch up and say hey to a bunch of those guys. But obviously, [there's] major, major focus on our team, our players [and] getting our team ready to play at a high level."
Minter also expressed excitement about playing in primetime in front of Baltimore's fans. His return to Los Angeles will bring back plenty of memories, but the Ravens have a game to win.
Their shared background also means familiarity runs in both directions. Minter understands Harbaugh’s expectations, but the Chargers know the defensive principles their former coordinator values. Any advantage will depend on how each staff applies that knowledge to its current personnel and responds when the game moves beyond the opening plan.
Minter's biggest challenge is making sure the emotion surrounding the reunion doesn't become a distraction. He knows the people on the other sideline, but his responsibility is to prepare Baltimore and give the team a chance to come away with a win. For the Ravens, that's what matters most on Monday night.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Jesse Minter faces familiar Chargers with Ravens seeking an urgent win
