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Posted on by Phil Callihan

Michigan Football Camp Report – Co-Defensive Coordinator Steve Clinkscale (Defensive Passing Game Coordinator/Defensive Backs)

Q:
Coach Harbaugh has mentioned a couple of times that the defense is ahead of where it was at this point last year. Do you agree with that? In what ways do you think it might be?

Clinkscale:
I agree with it. In the perspective that, you know, a lot of these guys have been in the system already, you know, it wasn’t something that was kind of new to him starting off the summer, last year, even though it had a little bit of a spring previous to last fall’s camp, and we still put in a lot of stuff in the summertime. So most of the menu that we have, a lot of our players have already experienced it, it’s a lot easier for the coaches as well, to communicate it, and understand all the nuances and all the know what’s what’s going to happen and try to predict or anticipate the issues, if you can coach like that, and your players can think like that, and then it helps them stay further ahead with communication with effort with, you know, knowing their responsibility. So, I would agree with that, you know, especially, you know, just for our understanding of the game a lot better.

Q:
You already had three of your freshmen on campus from the secondary. For the spring, you added Zeke and Damani. What have you seen from all of them now that you’re in a fall camp? Where are they in development?

Clinkscale:
I think the young men that were here in the spring have an advantage to understanding system. The two other gentlemen who just got here this summer they, you know, they’re in academics, in class, so, adding that to their plate, with playing football and still in school right now, it’s a little challenging for them. They’re performing you know, Zeke especially he’s performing to a level that you can see his instincts, you can see why we recruited him and why he’s gonna be able to do but for Will, Myles, and Kody, you definitely see that they’re a little bit further ahead than the freshmen were last year that we were able to get except for Rod Moore, he was he was different last year, but those guys are all developing where we need them to, we’re going to ask all of them to help us at some point. The capacity is going to be really up to them what they know and what they understand and how they can execute.

Q:
What about Keon?

Clinkscale:
He has done a great job. You know, he’s got probably the hardest job with a bunch of those four, because he has to know both safeties. He knows what he’s doing it’s now just taking that step forward on the field and applying it and in being able to let loose and make some plays. Yesterday, we thought he had a pretty good practice, and he’s keep getting better every week and every day. Out of all of them, he really has the biggest load playing corner. The biggest possibility is not getting beat on nickel you know, you got to understand the nuances but safety, he has to know what everybody’s doing, make all the checks and for him being a freshman, I think he’s doing a great job.

Q:
You have a lot of experience back in the secondary this year. What is that next step for them as a group?

Clinkscale:
The biggest thing is always the communication piece we’re always talking about since I started coaching, to me, that’s like, the number one thing. If you can’t get lined, you can’t make the checks, you can’t execute your assignment. The coach has something in his mind what he wants, and the players have to understand what we’re communicating to then to go out and do their job. The other thing I’ve seen a little bit more in the secondary, is just that personality, they’re kind of vibing off of me. I tell people all the time, by nature where I’m from you have to have aggressiveness you got to have a mentality that you know, you’re going to take it to him and not get hit in the mouth. They’re doing that they’re playing, they’re covering a lot better. And they’re being a lot more aggressive. They understand what they’re doing. You hear me say that word all the time understanding, understanding. To me, that’s a big piece of coaching and teaching. But I see those guys, definitely a lot better as a unit now than they were last year.

Q:
Did it take some time to get the vibe?

Clinkscale:
Yeah, I think the previous defense was a really good scheme and everything, but we added so much more and we’ve done things a little different, giving them a little bit more responsibility. I think once they were able to get a year under their belt, you know, they understood the expectations and to have the season we had last year, they know in order to win all our games to do the things we want to do our groups got to play better. We’ve got to create more takeaways, we got to eliminate big plays and eliminate confusion

Q:
We hear so much about Mikey at Nickel what is he doing and then who are some of the guys pushing him?

Clinkscale:
Mikey is still playing both sides. He’s doing a great job of understanding and embodying what we want on defense and to be honest with you, man, he’s so natural. Sometimes I when watch film, I’m like, wow, he’s only been over here with us for a few months, just to see his personality and see him just take heed to the leadership, we asked him to be a leader on the team in a lot of different ways- offense, defense, special teams with the young guys just to see him grow. It’s been awesome. He’s really been a good leader in that room with the nickels. DJ Turner has given us some nickel reps, Will Johnson, Kody, and of course, Rod Moore, you know, then well, everybody knows it. You know, it’s to be honest with you, you know, both the Green brothers, all the safeties, they all know nickel, we’ve done a good job of just teaching everybody the position. Now who’s ever going to play it will be game-to-game and definitely their ability in camp and what they’re doing. Mike has done a great job and we’ve seen so many guys do some good things in there we’ll keep breeding that position.

The way I look it corners need to know how to play nickel, safeties to know how to play dime, if safeties can play dime then when we go against teams that have really good tight ends, then we don’t have to create defenses to match up. And if the corners can play nickel that gives us gives us more guys out there that can be versatile, it also expands the knowledge of the unit.

Q:
When you’re talking about them that they’re vibing off of you, you’re obviously not mixing it up with them is it something you’re saying to them, the way you carry yourself? How do you think they’re picking up on it?

Clinkscale:
I think personalities are contagious. I think if you if you’re just kind of a boring person, the people around you’re gonna be bored. I’m not a boring person whatsoever and, you know, I have a standard of respect in our room but we also have a standard of understanding, you can talk to us about anything. We will stop meetings and we’ll talk about how you should sit in class, sit in the front, sit up, act interested, lean forward, nod your head, track the professor, to that professor, maybe teaching Swahili for example that’s the most important thing in their life. You know, same thing as a coach, like give them that respect that they feel like you’re not interested, they don’t want to be there. We teach them life lessons. You know, here at Michigan, we also just teach them the opportunity that you can relate to me you can talk to me, I can be that father figure, brother, uncle, but when you’re on the field, that’s our world. We’re all together and embody the aggressiveness that I bring to the table or, you know, just being able to relate and have that communication and relationship, I think is huge. Whenever you feel like you can relate to somebody you work with, for, or their leading you, I think you always give more.

Q:
How’s the battle for starting safeties playing out especially considering Moten having been out and Makari having had that whole spring?

Clinkscale:
Makari has definitely continued to grow so far. That was always our question- how will he continue to grow in the fall? So so far, he has not taken a step back. Same thing with RJ Moten. He’s also done a great job of continuing to take steps forward. Rod as well- you can see the first couple of days Rod getting the dust off, a little bit, and now he’s starting to get back in the groove of things. His knowledge of the game, he’s a coach out there, all three of them to be honest with you but his instincts on the field I think will continue to push all of them together and to have him at nickel helps us to get our best players on the field.

You saw in the spring game, Makari went out and played corner because we were down some guys can we split the team. We’re gonna teach everybody in that room to know every position now what skill level give them the ability to play it all game? Maybe, maybe not but can I put Makari at a corner? Yes, and then put Rod at safety? Correct. So we want to continue to make them versatile.

The fight there is going to continue all season long like it’s going to be who’s up, who had a better game we’ll just keep rotating those guys. It’s a long season. We want to be national champs, we got a lot of games to play…we need to be need to be our best in November and December and January.

Q:
Seems like DJ’s established himself as kind of a number one cornerback, is it competitive at the other spots and who are some guys you’ve seen flashes at cornerback?

Clinkscale:
Oh, yes. Very, very competitive. Gemon Green I felt had a better spring than DJ and we challenged DJ for the spring. He got better at the end of spring and this summer. Just getting back with him you can see that the challenge between him in German and possibly having a young guy like Will and definitely Mikey. Mikey, he plays corner as well. Those guys have really really pushed each other. So no one feels like that they’re just the guy even though though he’s a freak – and number 31 freak in the country? You know, I think they all are freaks, they all have great ability to push one another and the camaraderie is awesome. So I think Gemon has definitely shown that he’s where we always want him to be and he’s continuing to grow. DJ will continue to push but DJ to be in camp so far has really really really been impressive to me in certain situations. So I want to see him continue to grow as well.

Q:
Coach Minter was talking about just being in the moment is play caller. How does that translate to the players as well in the field- how mentally advanced is this team- how much of an advantage is that?

Clinkscale:
I think this has been the best program I’ve been around from teaching that to the entire team, you know that the entire team knows how I teach block destruction. They know how I teach man coverage, we know how the o-line teaches pulling, or how we’re going to defend the puller. So I think our knowledge of the game is what makes us hungry team to always want to learn more about the defense, well, why are we doing this? And where’s my help? And who am I helping? So I think if we continue to do as a defense as a team, we’ll continue to exceed expectations. So I think that starts with Coach Harbaugh. And it’s been, it’s been an excellent experience.

Q:
You talked about relating to players, but how do you think the dynamics of recruiting have changed in the last year with the introduction of NIL?

Clinkscale:
I think we’ll find out during a signing period, of course, I think the first year was you still have the relationships with everyone because of COVID still weren’t able to do all the trips as much. I think this summer, everybody is able to get out and those relationships actually are helping, you know, for us especially. We’re not making NIL the only thing, the only factor. So I think it’s way more than that. I think with anybody its about development, for your son when he comes to play for us. How’s he going to leave here? Okay, maybe he’ll leave with a couple more commas in his bank account. I’m not sure if. however, he’ll definitely leave here better man, educated man, better football player. And so I think those relationships have continued to help. I think relationships always help.


Q:
Is Ja’Den back to 100%

Clinkscale:
Not 100%, but he’s back with us. Ja’Den is like Junior Clink- he’s coaching out there. I love Ja’Den- he’s really grown up a lot for us. He’ll stand on one sideline while I’m on the other sideline, and he’ll help the young guys and make sure they line-up correctly, that they know their assignment and they’re communicating. He has worked out a little bit like with the training staff, not with us. And I think he’s right there where he needs to be. And we look forward to get him back when he’s able to be back with us.

Q: Do you think it’ll be this year, at some point?

Clinkscale:
I think medically speaking he has a chance. I’m not exactly sure. But when he is if he’s available and able to go out there and you know, do his job, he’ll definitely have a part in the secondary.

Q: What did he show you before he got hurt?

Clinkscale:
He showed me that he’s physical, he’s super quick and fast. Now he’s showing me that he understands the game more in the defense. So that’s going to gain more trust. With freshmen the biggest thing is not always their skill set. It’s about do they know what they’re doing out there? And there’s a lot of factors too. There’s a lot of moving parts. And I know that he knows what he’s doing. I felt that way a little bit last year. I’m very reassured now that he does. So he’s when 100% I think he’ll definitely contribute and be a big asset for us.

Q:
I think you heard Jesse say that when there’s more competence, the defense gets louder. I was just wondering, Mike Morris was talking about that the other day. What are you seeing from the guys up front? I mean, are they sort of leading the way, how loud is it?

Clinkscale:
Well, really, Mike is very loud. He’s definitely a leader. Mazi is not that vocal all the time but when when Mazi speaks, everybody listens. He pulls guys in and he has his way of things. But I think sometimes loud on a field demonstrates confidence and that we know what we’re doing. But Mazi is one of those guys, when you sit there, listen to him talk he knows what we’re doing in the backend sometimes, too. So it’s not always about being loud. He’s confident. So like Jesse said, just to piggyback off of that, I think the more they’re confident upfront with what we’re saying in the back end, and we’re more confident with them up front, you know, blending together and doing the things right and communicating. That’s where you see the communication. When are ones are out there, the communication is obnoxious, it’s unbelievable. The twos are getting there, you know, that ones have set the bar, and we’ll continue to bring everybody closer we get everybody there you only as good as your backup. So the closer we get all ones, twos and threes on the same level communication wise and confidence, then we’ll continue to be a dominant defense.

Q: Obnoxious is good?

Clinkscale:
Obnoxious is good on the football field. It’s gotta be crazy. You know, it’s like a fire drill. You know, like when that siren goes off and, and it’s great communication everybody knows where they’re supposed to go what they’re supposed to do so that we’re safe.

Edits made for clarity.

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