Yeah, it’s me, the “basketball guy”, back for more. It’s time for my annual attempt to predict how the University of Michigan’s football season is going to go.
Last Season (2021)
My Prediction: 7-5 (5-4 in Big Ten) Actual Results: 12-2 (8-1 in Big Ten)
Comments: For the 2019 season, I was perfect at predicting the results. Since then, I’ve been terrible at it. I was optimistic for 2020, which was a disaster, then I was pessimistic for last season (2021), which was one of Michigan’s best seasons in years.
This Season (2022)
My Prediction: 10-2 (7-2 in Big Ten) Comments: I can talk myself into predicting anywhere from 12-0 to 8-4, so I split the difference and went with 10-2 (7-2 in Big Ten). The 3 non-conference games all look pretty straightforward, and 5 of the Big Ten games look pretty winnable (Maryland, Indiana, Rutgers, Nebraska, and Illinois). The other 4 Big Ten games are much trickier, and I think we’ll have a tough time at Iowa and Ohio State. We should beat Penn State and Michigan State in Ann Arbor. If we don’t win another game, we absolutely have to beat Michigan State this year. Their rabid fans make life unbearable when they win.
Q: What’s the difference for you this year, going into your third year compared to some of other years as far as your approach and knowing that you were vying for a starting spot?
Moten: I mean, really, I just got to attack each and every day like it’s the same, you know, I gotta take care of my body a lot better than what I did the past two years. I got to study the game a lot better than what I did, understand the defense, understand the offense we’re playing that week. I’m really just doing everything another notch higher than the year before.
Q: Obviously, the team had a lot of success last year, what will it take to take the next step?
Moten: Everybody’s just got to do their 1/11 whether it’s on special teams, whether it’s on offense, defense, we all just got to you know, know what we’re supposed to do like that one person, and then everything will click.
Q: We’ve heard a lot in the last couple of days from both coaches and other players, Luke Schoonmaker was talking about how when he lines up against you guys everyone’s screaming. And then the coach is talking about obnoxious communication. What does that look like to you? And how different is that or similar to what the past defenses you’ve been a part of?
Moten: Obnoxious communication just comes from everybody understanding, like I said what 1/11 is, and you’ll see us out there, we’re pre snap communication, we’ll see something that somebody’s doing and then we’re all saying oh, he’s about the motion. Alright, so what’s that check we’re going to in…it just shows we’re all on the same page, we all understand what’s about to happen and what we’re supposed to do.
If we have obnoxious communication, I think we can be the best defense in the nation.
Q: Do you feel like you has that in some of you other years?
Moten: Freshman year- not really, last year a little bit but this year since it’s our second year in the defense everybody’s comfortable and it definitely has stepped it up.
Q: Coach Harbaugh has mentioned that there are some pieces of the defense that are further along now than they were at this time last year it’s outside of the obnoxious communication what pieces are those?
Moten: I really don’t know, I feel like every everything’s just the way it’s supposed to be you know we understand the defense, our tackling has gotten better, coverage obviously has gotten better. We’re able to put like little little things in, I really think we know the whole defense is just like what it’s supposed to be right now.
Q: Going against your two quarterbacks how much does that help prepare you for the season? And how much of a challenge do you think it’ll be for other teams to cope with both of those guys?
Moten: I mean, they’re two different quarterbacks so you know, you got one that you know JJ who likes to rollout and run so we obviously you got to know that when he does that, we got to plaster, find our man. I think that you know, game planning for both of them will be obviously hard, because they both have a different style of play. So one can do one thing and one can do the other. But I think game planning for them will be a lot harder this year for sure.
Q: Ronnie Bell was elected captain last year then he has the injury and how hard was that for y’all to see that and do you admire how he was able to maintain his leadership role?
Moten: Oh, yeah. 100% you know, going into last year, everybody knew Ronnie was gonna have a big year. You know, that was one thing that he made known. But seeing him go down that first game really hit home, and, you know, just seeing that he never hung his head made us never hang our heads. He’s just been putting in the work getting rehab done. And I think this year will his year.
Q: I know he’s playing in front of you. But how much have you seen Junior Colson evolve from when he first arrived last year to where he’s at right now?
Moten: 100%…evolved he understands the game a lot more. He’s vocal a lot more, you know, you see him covering now on running backs, tight ends and he’s just all around the ball like anywhere the ball is. The ball could be here on one play and the next play, he’s gonna be here. So he’s, he’s doing a good job.
Q: Is there anything that he can do that maybe we haven’t seen yet in games that we don’t know about?
Moten: Jr. can do it all? Do it all. I promise you that.
Q: You mentioned, finding ways to take care of your body better, prepare better than you have in the past? I was wondering is that was that the decision to embrace those things was that linked at all to last year with you and Rod battling for playing time and maybe realizing that every little thing adds to where your standing might be on the depth chart? Or was it not connected to that?
Moten: Oh, yeah, every little thing matters. Like, no matter, like everything I do, whether it’s in the game or not, whether it’s how I sleep, everything matters like if you want that starting job or not…
Q: What goes in to taking better care of your body?
Moten: Getting in the ice tub every day, you know, actually getting into the treatment room and even if something feels sore to telling them like, hey, this is sore and not pushing it aside…
Q: Coach Clinkscale mentioned that there’s an emphasis on creating more takeaways, why don’t you think you guys were able to do that this year? And what are you doing to improve that number this year. Why do we think it didn’t happen last year? And what are you doing to improve this year?
Moten: That’s a hard question. Really, what we’re doing is every time that you know, the ball is thrown or ran, we’re just taking shots at the ball, you know, you’ll see us a practice, punch out the ball, you know, to create that habit in my mind every time you know, if you’re the second guy in punch at the ball, punch at the ball…I mean, we did it last year, too. So I mean, I don’t know how to answer that part of the question like, how that could have been different. But yeah you’ll see as we’re doing a lot more ball drills…and that’s really just punching at it and trying to strip it out.
Q: Do you think it’s also has to do with positioning, I guess maybe just being in a spot? I mean, as a safety or, or whatever. I mean, it is that something that maybe can be improved just by the fact that you guys are in the second year of this system?
Moten: Do I think it’s harder?
Q: Yeah. I mean, like the position that, you know, being in a position, the right position to make the play…being in the second year of the system?
Moten: Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah, definitely being able to understand, you know, defense a lot better I can get ahead of the play. If that’s what you’re asking. Yeah, for sure.
Q: Do you think it’s fair to describe this defense as a no star defense?
Moten: We’re all stars. Swear, everybody, every person that will play this year is a star. I don’t care what the critics say, I don’t care what anybody else says, we will be the best defense in the nation.
Q: What makes you so confident?
Moten: We all know what we’re doing and we’re a lot hungrier, you know and everybody you know, is chasing that same goal. Like I said, that obnoxious communication comes along with it. We all understand what we’re doing. We all understand, you know, our parts and we’re just, we’re just ready. Yeah.
Q: How similar is the defense despite being a different defensive coordinator?
Moten: It’s the same thing, just a couple of tweaks, some different terminology.
Q: We asked Ronnie this but when you’re looking at such a packed receiver room, is there someone who may surprise us this year?
Moten: Our receiver room is deep. I think every every receiver in that room has has an opportunity to you know make a couple plays this year. I don’t really like to single out just one person. I think I’ve seen a lot from all of them and I’ve gone against all of them almost. But I think obviously room- they’re all like they all are playmakers.
Q: Who has made the most impressive play so far?
Moten: Impressive play, probably Ronnie. I don’t know if y’all saw the pictures the other day, but right I think Gemon tipped the ball like, Ronnie made a one handed catch like, barely in the endzone but yeah, I think that was the most impressive play this year.
Q: You guys obviously lost the playmakers last year Aiden, David, and Dax, but when you hear your coach come out and say that this defense could be better than last year, what does that mean, you guys in just in terms of confidence?
Moten: Let me figure out how to say is- we all we all are confident, you know, I’m saying most of us played in a couple games last year, we got a couple new guys getting ready to play this year. But I think that with the leadership that the guys that have been in the fire before, I think that we’ll be able to all compact as a defense and you know, be better and see bigger than last year.
Q: Maybe one of the only knocks on last year’s defense was some of the struggles with tempo were lining up, you know, in avoiding some of the too many men on the field penalties. With the defense being the same how does Coach Minter attack some of those things so that it doesn’t repeat itself this year?
Moten: We’ll do those scenarios and practice so it’d be like two minute, and then we’ll know like now okay, we can’t sub in two minutes or like certain situations we can’t sub, we can sub or like certain situations he knows he’s got to get the call out faster. So we’ll, we’ll do all those scenarios in practice.
Q: How are feeling being back, do you feel like you’re back to full go like you were a year ago?
Bell: I would say yes, I do, I feel blessed man. I’m beyond excited about every single day and I feel really good. My body feels great. Making plays, and it’s fun, man, it’s a lot of fun.
Q: How difficult is it to kind of get back into the swing in the sense of, you know, you’ve been laid up for a while? How difficult is it to just trust that you’re healed or you’re testing certain parts out?
Ronnie Bell post injury 2021
Bell: Oh, it definitely was like that the first couple of days was like that. It was very rusty. You know, I mean, like having people around you as you’re running around. I’ve been running routes for months, but I didn’t run routes with people around me. So kicking off the rust of being comfortable with people around you and then I don’t know what day but I finally jumped up and made a play on the ball, like one of the early days in camp and it was like, once that happened, it was like the biggest weight lifted off my shoulder that I think I’ve ever had. So since then I feel like I’ve been back and rolling.
Q: Sherrone mentioned that you’d even set some personal records in some physical stats. Do you feel like you’re even stronger in some aspects than you were before the injury?
Bell: Yes, I do. Um, and yeah, I even honestly shocked myself because I had a PR that I had set a couple of years ago that I couldn’t break. And I ended up beating that and I was super excited about that. Just rehabbing everyday focusing on yourself for nine straight months. Like I told myself whenever it all happened if I didn’t come out on the other end stronger, I was doing something wrong. So that was the goal for sure and I’m glad that that’s kind of how it went.
Q: What was that PR?
Bell: The L cone?
Q: Does it feel like it maybe helps your game a bit this year to having spent the last year essentially being a player coach, you know, working kind of more on the coaching side helping players along understanding the game. Do you feel like that aids you this year?
Bell: Yeah, for a couple of things like one definitely, you know, just the constant film, you know, that I’m getting in with, like being with the coaches and watching the film. And, you know, hearing their ideas and hearing what they’re looking at, what they’re seeing, and just different little details from that standpoint. I think that helped me a lot. And then also just like, on how to how to lead, you know, I mean, or communicate with guys because like, last year, I felt like I was in a funny situation, because I wasn’t necessarily playing. I was trying to help guys out and like, tell them where and what to do and stuff. I always kind of felt kind of funny, because I couldn’t go out there and show you what to do. But so like me being able to handle that last year and being able to do that while not playing it’s helped me now because now I can you know, like, you got to run it like this and then I’ll go out there and I can run it like that and be able to help guys out at times.
Ronnie Bell 2021
Q: Are there any DBs that you when you’re going up against them one on one you feel like it’s gonna be a bit of a challenge?
Bell: Yeah, all the DBs man, they all of them so far I’ve been really really well with their technique. DJ Turner, Gemon both of them have been like I think have been playing really, really well these first few days of camp like in one-on-ones or in a one-on-one situation. Like they just you can tell how comfortable they are and like they do a good job.
Q: Do you want to return again?
Bell: I do.
Q: Have you been working?
Bell: Yes, I have to go earn the spot.
Q: Why do you I mean, you know a lot of people say well, that’s where you got injured. I mean, why would you want to get back in?
Bell: I’ve always been a punt returner, I feel like I’m comfortable being a punt returner so that’s something I want to do.
Q: Did you volunteer to do that?
Bell: Yeah, I mean, I just went back there again.
Q: How did your chemistry feel with Cade when you guys were able to get back out there again this fall- did it take a couple days to get back into it because you had a couple of years of banked reps?
Bell: I mean it was with all the quarterbacks really just to know like I said I was rusty the first day or two of camp and it’s been a lot better since though. So yeah, just took reps, just needed live reps. We have some bullets flying so once we got a couple of those that are about I think all of us are feeling really good.
Q: Which wide receiver is going to surprise people this year?
Bell: I wouldn’t be surprised if the receiver that surprises people this year is Peyton O’Leary.
Q: Why is that?
Bell: Because he has had one hell of a camp.
Q: You were voted a captain last season and then you talked about being a leader learning to be a leader differently, not being on the field. How much did that help you in terms of this year becoming a leader? Continuing as a leader?
Darrius Clemons
Bell: So yeah, that’s kind of what I was saying, like for me to figure out last year kind of how to communicate with guys and get through to guys without being able to necessarily show them physically, like, what I’m trying to, you know, trying to get accomplished. Like, I feel like that was, I feel like that was kind of what made last year that kind of awkward for me as I was leaving. And so like this year now, like, it’s just a lot more, I guess it just flows a lot smoother, you know, I mean, because it’s like, like, yeah, Ronnie saying that. Okay, but then Ronnie is also doing it. So like, you know, I mean, like, I feel like guys are able to, you know, stay with it.
Q: With the room that that has maybe 7, 8, 9 guys that would be capable of contributing this year, what do you think is the key to keeping everybody happy as games go and snap counts vary week to week?
Bell: I mean, it just comes down to making plays and just what you put on film. We’ve got the whole room capable of that so that’s really what it comes down to. I feel like it’s a great position to be in you know when you got that many guys that you feel that comfortable with, so no complaining now.
Q: How much do you think the offense changed after you got hurt in that first game? And what do you what was it like watching the offense kind of evolve last season?
Ronnie Bell 2021
Bell: It just change…my favorite part about last year was watching the receivers grow every week. Like, you know, the game right after was Washington. And I mean, I don’t think we threw the ball in the second half and then the next week, and then by the time we got to Wisconsin, you know, you see CJ play the way he did and Roman the way he did, like, watching the receiving room just evolve throughout….I mean everybody stepped up and started making plays. So that was my favorite part about last year. So like the offense maybe hit like a speed bump, you know, I mean, but they just got rolling, and just started dominating. My favorite part about it definitely was the way the receiver room stepped up.
Excited is an understatement…I’ve been thinking about playing the game for a year now…I’m like beyond excited, man, I’m ready to go.
Ronnie Bell
Q: And what was it like walking back in I guess, you know, with the kind of team leadership dynamics changing with your absence, some guys emerged, obviously, over the course of the year, I mean, what was that like to kind of walk back into the situation where you are, again, integrated into the mix again?
Bell: Man….excited is an understatement, I was so ready to go…we had mentioned how like, games are probably like, three weeks out, or whatever it is and I’m like, man, I’ve been thinking about playing the game for a year now. Like, I’m like beyond excited, man, I’m ready to go.
Q: What do you think distinguishes Cornelius’ game?
Bell: Definitely, just how explosive he is. And you know, he used his body really well, when he’s getting open, and kind of awkward situations, but a DB. And those are like, two of the things I feel like separate him. I mean, he’s very explosive, though.
Q: How have the young receivers done so far?
Bell: They’ve done great. There’s Clemens, Amorion Walker, and Tyler Morris, all three of them. They got here in the spring, or January, I mean, so they were here for spring ball. You know, spring ball was a little rough. You know, you’re trying to learn the playbook and also you think about all your high school friends you know, everything switches around real quick. And so far throughout this camp, though, all of them have made plays and like it’s been pretty cool to see how much more comfortable they are especially Amorion he’s like, night and day from like, a standpoint of just like getting lined up, you know, like something like a small is that…they all have taken big, big steps, but him especially he’s come a long way.
Q: Are you surprised with how quickly Mike Saintristil made the transition to defense?
Bell: No, I’m not and I think I talked about this when he first switched over because for last few years he’s always like, just randomly back in spring ball randomly or fall camp but he was playing defensive one day. Mike has always flirted with playing on the defensive side of the ball and he’s always been good at it. So, but he’s also really good at receiver, like, you know, pick and choose and so no, I didn’t shock me in the slightest to see how comfortable he was playing on that side of the ball.
Q: How comfortable are you now? I mean, not to help. I got probably a whole time working with Ron Bellamy as a designated position coach?
Bell: Yeah, he’s done a good job…it’s really cool having like our guy that, you know, played receiver, especially here. So it’s like pretty cool, and he’s done a good job with the whole receiving group and bringing us all in and you know, coaching us up.
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.
Moore: How’s everybody doing? Open up to questions.
Q: So what’s been the transition for you, especially now starting for your first fall camp as offensive coordinator?
Moore: Everything’s been good, man. It’s been fun, enjoying the process. You know, the staffs been great, coach has been great. When you go through the summer, when you’re working through things you’re doing recruiting, and then you get into July, we get a little time off. Spend time with the family doing those things. Now get back with the players, it’s just been refreshing to get back with them. It’s been great. So been loving it. Busy, but good.
Q: Are you doing the same stuff you were doing last year with Coach Gattis? Or are there some different things on your plate now?
Moore: Yeah, different things, you know, part, you know part of the play call now. So it’s a little bit different. And but it’s been good man, it’s been an easy transition. I tried as much as I could to be a part of that last year. And, you know, be involved in that. And it’s super collaborative, how we do things. It’s fun. It’s great. And, you know, we everybody bounces ideas off of each other. But it’s been good. No, it’s just, it’s a little different, a little bit more. But it’s been great for me,
Q: In terms of the mechanics of calling the plays on game days how do you anticipate that’s going to work?
Moore: Yeah, we’ll be collaborative. We have a method to how we’re doing things, we’ve been pretty smooth so far. And it’s just been rolling, the kids have really adjusted and everything’s been good.
Q: What are the expectations of this offense this year, given all the pieces you guys have back?
Moore: You know, we have our goals, right? The same goals that coach set out, we got the teams that we want to beat and we know we want to be at the end of the day. Well, for us right now, we just want to focus on those days focus on each day and not try to look too far ahead. Because when you start to do that, you start to forget the little details that you got to do, and put in place that and so we’ve been trying to just harp on every little thing that we can now we know we can be as good as anybody, but we need to we got to work to get there.
It’s not going to be handed to us. We got to go take it. So we’ve been working every day to just get better.
Q: Sherrone, Cade was asked at the Big 10 media days what the identity of the offense is. When do you guys anticipate figuring that out?
Cade McNamara
Moore: I think just goes through fall camp, you just figure it out. As you go, you start to figure out you put the installs in, you know, we’re only day four of practice. So you don’t really know yet. We’ve only have pads on for two days. But you can kind of see things and how they develop. You don’t you don’t the identity of what it’s gonna look like when the ball is snapped on game one. So we’re trying to figure that out. And we’ll we will take our time getting there.
Q: When did you guys think you had it figured out last year?
Moore: I don’t even know how I couldn’t even tell you. I think it was just a rhythm. I think the kids just figured it out at some point maybe would have been a little later in camp towards then, or after we got out after those first three games. I think the guys figured out kind of who we were gonna be. And we just took it from there.
Q: What are the biggest strengths of Olu’s game and how you know how he kind of fit in now these are a little, little while.
Moore: Yeah. First, his experience. He’s played started 36 games in college football. And that’s invaluable experience. He’s strong. He’s smart. When he came here, it was like he’s been here for four years already. He’s an outstanding young man on and off the field. great human being, but he’s an outstanding player. So he just has a great all around game and what he can do, obviously the accolades that he had last year, speak to that. He just takes it day by day and tries to tries to get better. That’s it. So he’s really stepping up as a player trying to be a leader for the experience that he’s had in his college football career, as well.
Q: There’s kind of a plug and play with a guy with that much experience. How does that work?
Moore: Yeah, you know, you implement the offense, you see what you got, and then you keep going from there. So you know, day four, what we’re doing. It’s not just him, but it’s everybody. It’s the whole line. It’s the receivers, it’s the running backs. So we know who those players are and we’ll continue to shape and mold everything to their strengths as we go.
Q: In Indianapolis, Jim talked about wanting to run the ball similar to what you guys did last year. But he also said he can envision a scenario where the passing game takes steps forward or is involved more frequently. I guess if that has to happen. Do you have to adjust anything in terms of the way you distribute reps in practice?
Moore: No, we try to be 50/50 Try to balance it out. We don’t ever want to be one way, one pass one run. You got to continue to work on everything because we’re not ever going to be a finished product in the run game, so you can’t just go with that and do more pass gam. We always trying to be as balanced as possible in everything we do
Q: Obviously pretty early yet, but what have you seen from the guys that were vying for that third running back position?
Moore: Oh, they’ve been great man. You know, again early, we’ve had two days in pads, so not much to go on but the guys are working their tails off. All those guys are getting reps. They’re working hard. So you know, you don’t really know this early or this early in the game especially where we really haven’t done much tackling stuff yet. That’s when you really figure out what you’re what you’re going to do.
Q: What’s the challenge that comes with trying to replace Hassan Haskins and his skill set and is there anyone on the roster that can fulfill that potential?
Hassan Haskins
Moore: Yeah, I mean, Hassan was an elite player in college football so you know, it’s hard to replace them but you know guys like Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards obviously we have those two and now you have Tavis, CJ Stokes even Kalel getting reps like he did in spring. Those guys have done a great job for us so far. And I just watching these guys continue to progress. Just have to see what we’re gonna have to do.
Blake Corum
Q: The battle at right tackle what are you seeing from from Karsen and Trente?
Moore: Trent ended the spring as a starter started camp as the starter. Karson though has has made tremendous strides. And he’s right there. He’s done a heck of a job, he’ll play for us this year. He’s the guy that we can play on either side. He’s played in his career all four positions besides center so he’s gotten stronger, more physical, more twitchy. They all look phenomenal. So Herb and his staff has done an outstanding job. So he’s done a heck of a job for us. And he’s going to continue to, to push and play for us this year.
Trente’s had an outstanding four days, he’s a really good player, but Karson is definitely pushing.
Q: In Indianapolis Jim Harbaugh called [Donovan Edwards] a once in a generation type player. What do you see that he brings to the running game and to the offense?
Donovan Edwards
Moore: Yeah, I mean, the first thing he brings his energy, because if he walked through right now you’d hear him yelling. And beyond the energy, the presence that he has, he’s an infectious personality. But he’s an electric player and he’s still learning to do things, he’s by no means a finished product. So he continues to strive to get better, and he just wants to be pushed to get better. But he has a great skill set to be an elite player in college football. And we have high expectations of him. And he has high expectations of himself. So I’ll just continue to push him to try to get better.
Q: Could you could see him and Blake on the field at the same time?
Moore: Yeah, we’ll see.
Q: How involved you are with those guys that have done a transition from from tackle to tight end like Trent did a little bit last year. Is there another jumbo guy who throws on an “80” jersey?
Moore: I can’t tell you that right now. We’ll see there a possibility of that.
Q: What are the challenges of running an offense with multiple play callers, potentially, two quarterbacks? How have you planned out to attack those challenges?
J.J. McCarthy, Blake Corum
Moore: We set our plan and we have the plan. We’ll just try to execute it as best as we can and we’ve continued to do that. It’s all about finding a rhythm and that’s what we’re doing. And we feel like we’re in a really good place. And we’re just going to continue to strive and to make that perfect for game one.
Q: I know you said it’s early, but how do you foresee the wide receiver personnel rotation playing out? Do you foresee a lot of rotation there?
Darrius Clemons
Moore: I think in general with that position, you got to play at least 6, 7, 8 guys because they’re running a lot. So you know, we’ll see who the guys are. And we’ll continue to push them but we obviously have some studs, and we’re just ready to put their skill set on display. We got a lot of guys in that room, a lot of guys in the tight end room and running back room. So you know, it’s just gonna be our job to make sure we get them in the right places at the right time. And just continue to make sure one that they’re in the right place and two that they’re fresh while they’re doing it.
Andrel Anthony
Q: How has Ronnie Bell been progressing?
Moore: He’s been great. His mindset has been great, his leadership is great and he looks like his old self again. So he’s been he’s been outstanding.
Q: How do you guys manage tackling? Do you tackle to the ground?
Moore: It’s a mix. We mix it up and you know, coach does a great job. Sometimes it’s live sometimes it’s stuck sometimes it’s not live it’s not always the same. So we do enough where we get the physical work and guys know how to tackle on defense. We know how to break try to break tackles and do things that so it’s a good mix.
He is going to play in the next level for a long time. He has all the physical traits.
Sherrone Moore on TE Erick All
Q: Having followed Erick All, as his position coach, you’ve seen him in high school. From then to this point, what are the biggest differences that you’ve seen?
Erick All
Moore: Everything. Erick couldn’t get lined up when he first came here he was a mess- he’ll tell you that. He’s a beautiful human. He is going to play in the next level for a long time. He has all the physical traits. Playbook wise, he knows everything inside, from a fundamental standpoint, in the run game, he’s always wanted to just never really know how to do it. So continue to teach him that and then in the passing game, he always had the ability to run great routes, but he now he knows when to run them and how to run them and what the specific details and all those routes are, he’s just been great. He’s like 260 pounds, he came in at like 219 or 215. He looks like a grown man walking around now.
Q: The previous previous two cycles, you know, you’ve been one of the more able recruiters How would you assess recruiting in this cycle? And how much are you able to devote to recruiting with the added responsibilities that you take? The offensive coordinator?
Moore: Yeah, I try to do as much as I can, as much as I did before, obviously, you know, with the responsibilities now, there’s a little less than that kind of gets divvied up to other people. So I’m still doing my part, but I’m on the other side of it, trying to make sure that from an offensive standpoint, that we are where we need to be.
Q: And overall, how would you assess kind of how you guys have attacked recruiting?
Moore: We’ve been good, we’ve been good. It’s been, you know, just a steady pace and excited to see where it goes, especially if he’s, you know, when the dead period is done, and we can get rolling again. So
Q: I was gonna ask you about Erick also, but now let’s switch gears to defensive line what is your perception of someone like a Mazi Smith and where he is grown, and how is the defense looking without Aidan?
Moore: Yeah, they’ve been great. There’s been a lot of give and take. There’s been days like, Oh, dang, they’re getting it or we’re getting it and it’s just battles back and forth. So the defensive line has been progressing and coach Elston has been doing an outstanding job. They’re playing physical, fast, playing downhill, attacking the edge. Guys are coming off the edge sometimes it feels like last year. Excited to see where they go and how they’re progressing. But it’s been great. It’s been great competition has been physical. So they’ve been really progressing and Mazi has done an outstanding job. He’s a big strong dude, and they’re very hard to move, very excited for his future.
