Tag: Jesse Minter

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Michigan Football Camp Report – Defensive Coordinator Jesse Minter

Availability 8/11/22

Q:
We’ve heard some of the players say, both offense and defense, stuff about Mazi’s leadership then Luke Schoonmaker was talking about how when they line up against your defense everyone’s communicating, that everyone’s screaming at each other…What brought that about that seeing that entire group become more cohesive in that light?

Minter:
I think, you know, we always have said a loud defense is a good defense.

One of our pillars of our defense is obnoxious communication…a lot of our calls, it might be rotation of coverage, it might be where’s the pressure coming from, it might even be just hey, they’re lined up like this, alert for this.

I think our group has just bought into that being a foundation of how we want to play defense…they started to do that but as they continue in the second year and have a lot of carryover, it allows them to do that with a lot of confidence. The more confidence you have, the louder you communicate. So when you look at the younger guys, sometimes it’s quieter, it’s not as goo and so the more that the more of those guys gain confidence…knowing what their assignment is, knowing what they’re doing, the louder it becomes.

Q:
Jim has called this defense and the no star defense how does that manifest in practice?

Minter:
One of the things we’ve talked about is, you know, we’re not worried about replacing whoever, you know, there are certainly some really, really good players.

We want to have the best 11 players on the field for the given situation that’s occurring. When our guys buy into that, and they play really hard, they’re not worried about who makes the play. When somebody makes a play, we all make a play. You know, I’ve been very, very pleased and just the mentality in that regard. They also we’re going to move people around, we’re going to try to create matchups given the opponent.

And I look at it like this, whatever it looks like going into the year, I hope we have a bunch of stars at the end of the season.

Q:
Sacks are not everything and a team effort to get a sack but at the end of the year, who are a few guys that you think will be at the top of the sack list?

Minter:
I hope that that it’s multiple guys. I think we have some edge players, Mike Morris, Braiden McGregor, Taylor Upshaw, Jaylen Harrell, that have the capabilities of being good rushers, I think Chris Jenkins, Mazi Smith have the ability to push from inside, I think Mason Graham, Cam Goode, a new guy, has all these guys have capabilities of being good rushers. It’ll fall into situationally who we have out there.

They’re all capable of taking advantage of opportunities, I think it’s our job to just make sure we try to put each guy in the best position to have that success. And then the other thing is, because it might not be one guy, it’s, it’s given us the ability to maybe move people around more, maybe a guy that rushes a lot, one week drops the next week, and it sort of changes our tendencies. So I think the guys are really bought into that. We wantto have a high total at the end of the year but you know, we’d love for it to be a lot of different people with multiple sacks.

Q:
Kind of on the flip side of that who was some of those edge guys that are doing pretty well in coverage and it that drop stuff in rushing the passer?

Minter:
You know, I think all those guys as they’ve learned a second year, as we’ve progressed, they understand how to drop now. And you know, I think when you when you talk about edge position, it’s like, can you rush the passer? Can you set the edge? And then can he be in the right spot, we asked him to drop?

We don’t want to put them in bad situations where they could be in a bad matchup. But it’s like a lot of times, maybe a simulated pressure or something to where we’re asking him to cover a quick throw, really just be in the right spot. Don’t screw it up. Don’t overthink it. All those guys have done a really good job of going into second year of understanding where they need to be

Q:
Jesse, obviously every every situation is different. How much of what you did last year at Vanderbilt carries over to what you doing here and how much of that was kind of specific to the team, personnel, and the league that you were in there?

Minter:
Yeah, I think every every situation is its own. You know, the system we ran at Vanderbilt was built for Vanderbilt. You know, we had a defensive head coach, we put some stuff together but based off of both of our past histories. So honestly not not a lot of terminology carryover certainly like there’s there’s only so many structures of defense you can play. So there were some things we did that probably look the same but now it’s kind of back into the system we had built in Baltimore from a terminology standpoint.

There’s carryover and how you play defense and what’s important to play good defense. But, you know, definitely probably two different systems.

Q:
Is there some comfort for you coming back into that system that you know, really well?

Minter:
Absolutely. Coach Lee and I at Vandy had built it together, I said, hey, paint me a picture of what you want the defense to look like. So then we were able to put it together. Here, you know, it was same, same conversation- Coach Harbaugh, paint me a picture of what you want the defense to look like from your perspective as the head coach? Okay, now let’s get our paint brushes out so we can make it happen.

Q:
Besides Junior Colson, what is your linebacker group? How has that kind of coalesced?

Minter:
I think Junior’s having a really good camp so far growing understanding of what we expect. I think Nikhai is having a really good camp. I think Michael Barrett is having a really good camp. Kalel, as you guys have heard is splitting time. He’s doing well a linebacker, he’s a guy that can probably have roles on both sides…the two freshmen that neither one were early enrollees Jimmy Rolder and Deuce Spurlock, I think they have flashed, and you can tell why they were recruited here, they certainly have a lot on their plate of learning but I’m pretty pleased with that group right now.

Q:
At Big 10 media days, DJ Turner almost was sort of laughing at how similar he thought you and Coach McDonald were. Do you agree with that assessment? And what are what are some similarities and differences between you guys?

Minter:
You know, people said that about us, when we were in Baltimore that we were just similar. There was a time where he was in the DB room, and then he moved to the linebackers. And I moved into the DB room. I think I think we both look at the game similar.

We both have probably a fairly calm demeanor about us, that allows us to stay in the moment and not not kind of ride the wave of emotion.

But, you know, some, we’re different people, you know, and we look at the game different times, like he had moved to the linebackers, he might have looked at things a little more front to back, as a DB coach, my whole career pretty much kind of see things from the back to the front. And know, so there’s definitely similarities, you know, but I think we’re two different people as well.

Q:
So obviously, there’s a quarterback competition and those two quarterbacks are pretty different. JJ with the legs, Cade more so in the pocket, how much does that help your defense to see both of those looks? And how might that prepare you for the season? Given that you’ll see two different kinds of quarterbacks each practice?

Minter:
Yeah, I think they’re, you know, it’s not my job to evaluate them, but they’re both exceptional players.

I think one of the things about Cade is I think he’s actually more athletic than maybe people talk about he moves around really well in the pocket. JJ can certainly take off and, and make plays, but you know, they’re both really good. They both present different challenges.

We talk to our edge guys about which one is in there sort of how to rush different versus those types of quarterbacks. So it’s great work in that regard of having to recognize some teams might play two quarterbacks where you got to recognize how we rush one guy a certain way. One guy you might not mind if he gets out, one guy you definitely want to keep in the pocket.

So tremendous opportunity for us to go against not only those two, but our entire offense. Coach Weiss, Coach Moore, Coach Harbaugh- some tremendous talent over there, tremendous scheme that we get to go against. So it’s a blessing for us to try to get better every day.

Q:
You already have this under your belt having called plays last year at Vanderbilt. How difficult is it going into a first season? Not having done that before and helped? How much more comfortable are you now calling plays?

Minter:
I called plays for six years before I went to Baltimore as well. So I have a lot of confidence in myself in the regard of just staying in the moment, I think. I remember, as a first time play caller of 2011, I was young and you sort of ride the emotion of the game at times when you first start and I think it’s the ability to sort of take yourself out of the good and bad focus on the next play.

Just like you want the defensive players to have the next play mentality. I think as a play caller, the more you do it, the more you sort of understand like, you know, one play is not gonna make the difference. So it’s putting the guys in the best position every play and not being emotional. I think sometimes play callers can be emotional with a response and sometimes that’s not the best thing for that situation. So I’m confident my ability to do that.

Q:
Have you ever been emotional in your response?

Minter:
Absolutely. I think the more you do it, the more you sort of figure that out. My demeanor over the years has changed, probably to be calmer. So, you know, it’s definitely something that I focus on.

Q:
Jesse, can you talk about Mazi Smith, your first impressions of him, how that assessment has evolved, now, since you’ve had a chance to work with him for a while?

Minter:
He’s a freak, I think there’s a list that came out that, you know, he was number one in the whole country. The thing that I enjoy the most about Mazi is just how good he wants to be. He works really hard. He studies film. He’s very meticulous in his technique. He’s meticulous in how he trains, huge credit to our strength staff for not only with Mazi, but what they’ve done with our whole team.

He’s just a humble, really hard worker knows he has some ability, but wants to be really, really good. He wants to expand on his role from a year ago, you know, that was like one of our first conversations was, hey, we’ve lost this stuff and he wants to be on the field more. He averaged 41 snaps a game last year. I don’t know what the number will be but any critical situation in the game, when we have Mazi out there, we’ll have a great opportunity.

Q:
Last season Ojabo and Hutchinson had, like 73% of the sacks, how much [of replacing] that will be democratic? It sounds like from the players that essentially that they feel like it’s a an eleven man defense. How much do you think that’s going to be spread out, how much have you schemed that out going forward?

Minter:
With the sort of the inexperience in game situations with our edge, guys, I think it’ll play itself out. Because, yeah, we’ll certainly scheme things up, move people around, pressure, different people try to get other guys involved in pressure.

But at the same time, you know, if one of those guys just emerges as a great one-on-one rusher, then it’s our job to continue to put him in the situations to be a one-on-one rusher. So, you know would I love for one guy to have 19 sacks at the end of the year? Absolutely. You know, but I just don’t know yet…A lot of these guys haven’t rushed the passer consistently in live situations. I think that’ll sort itself out, especially over the first couple games of the year.

Q:
They also said that basically now it’s just kind of building on the concepts of last year, where do you see this defense maybe taking the next step?

Minter:
It’s just a level of comfort that they have within what we’re trying to do. There’s things that we’ll do a little different, there’s things that we might do more of, there’s schematic things that we may have added. I’ll try to let the first few opponents figure that out.

Q:
Kenneth Grant was also on that freaks list, where is his development and what what makes him such a freak?

Minter:
He’s Mazi’s Jr. First and foremost, because of his attitude, very, very humble, very, very detailed. And his approach which is extremely unique. For a freshman that that wasn’t here in the spring. He’s taken to everything Coach Elston has tried to teach him and get him to do at a very impressive level for a young player. Same thing in the weight room.

Over the course of June and July, like you could sort of see him transform and take exactly what Coach Herb and the staff wanted him to do. And then on top of that, he’s extremely gifted he’s, he’s a 350 plus pound human being that moves really well, that is really, really strong, naturally.

And some of the things that we test those guys in I mean, it’s pretty freakish to watch him go off the plyo steps or move laterally move side-to-side. So blessed that we have him and I think he’s got a really, really high ceiling.

Q:
You talked about being in the moment as a play caller. Do you spread that message to the players about being in the moment not during the game during practice and what kind of message and how does that process go?

Minter:
Yeah, 100% I think I think great defenses [have a] next play mentality.

You can gain momentum as a defense and that’s good to use, you know, make a good play, everybody gets excited, you make another good play, you keep that energy up. The really, really good defenses that I’ve been around that I’ve watched that I’ve studied, it’s what happens when a bad play happens. How do they respond? I’ve been pleased with how we’ve responded at times in practice.

It’s just a mentality of, you know, it’s always the next play is the most important play. And the way I always looked at it, as, you know, when you go back and watch games, everybody’s always like, hey, there’s these five or six plays made the difference, good or bad. The thing is, you don’t know what five or six plays those are as the game is occurring. It’s important to just play the next play, lock in.

You know, especially as an old secondary coach, like, hey, guys gotta give up a catch. It’s how do you respond? How do you come back and play? How do you stay locked in every play?

So I think the guys have done a good job of sort of embracing that mentality. And hopefully we can carry it carried over…we will face adversity, you know, and so it’s how do you handle adversity? How do you handle it look at last year and study what happened and it’s the first drive of the season, they go down and score a touchdown. Well, they responded really well, you know, so at some point over the first month of the year, we’ll be in some adverse situations, and I’ll be anxious to see how we respond.

Edits made for clarity.

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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.