Tag: DJ Turner

Michigan football defensive backs thriving off newfound confidence

They’ll be tested more than ever come Saturday night.

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. — When you’re a cornerback, you have to have a short memory. If you give up a big play, you have to quickly forget it and move onto the next.

But what about year over year?

Last season, the Michigan defense was the worst it’s been since the RichRod era, when it was near the bottom in most categories. Thus far this season, a year after being the 90th-rated pass defense, through five games the Wolverines are sitting at No. 16. It’s a huge turnaround, and third-year cornerback DJ Turner says that the big change has been in the group’s confidence — in themselves and in each other.

“We have a lot,” Turner said. “This year, you know the guy next to you is going to do their job. That’s just belief and confidence. Once you know the guy next to you is going to do their job, it’s just the energy of it.”

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A big part of that is also the coaching changes.

Michigan moved on from Mike Zordich, despite him fielding multiple top-rated pass defenses in his tenure. Last year, the front seven wasn’t getting much push, but this year, it is. Turner credits the entirety of the coaching staff for making it easier for the players to cover, as well as knowing better the nuance that he and his compatriots in the defensive backfield need to have on any given play.

Though there was an intermittent switch, as spring ball defensive backs coach Mo Linguist quickly departed for the Buffalo coaching post, with Steve Clinkscale in the fold, it’s made the unit better, Turner says.

“A lot, a lot comes from it. Listening to what has to say, you just take the coaching, he knows what he’s talking about,” Turner said. “Do what he says and you’re in the right spot to make a play.”

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But was this a group that didn’t have confidence? Turner says the newfound energy resurgence is real, and the downtrodden attitude wasn’t specific to the defensive backs.

“To a certain extent, but I think this was a whole team thing,” Turner said. “This team is just different this year.

“It’s hard to describe. It’s just on the team — you just feel it. It’s a different energy, the environment of being in Schem, being around the team. It’s just a different environment. It’s hard to describe.”

Michigan will certainly be tested this week when it travels to Lincoln to face an up-and-coming Nebraska at night. The Huskers have the No. 11 offense and 40th-rated passing offense — the highest the Wolverines will have seen thus far.

“Good offense, we’re gonna have to come locked in this week,” Turner said. “Another Big Ten dual-threat quarterback. We gotta come locked in, big environment.”

When it comes to taking down Adrian Martinez, Turner says the group must be prepared to be fundamentally sound.

“Just make tackles,” Turner said. “That’s the main thing, getting the quarterback to the ground.”

All that said, this team is not looking back. If it starts to find itself in trouble, there won’t be a ‘here we go again’ mentality, because they’re taking everything as it comes — game-by-game, week-by-week, snap-by-snap.

What happened in the past remains in the past, and that’s where the defense is content leaving it.

“At this point, we don’t even look at last year,” Turner said. “We just go week-by-week. Try to go 1-0 every week.”

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Where the Michigan football CB competition currently stands

Some really interesting stuff here! #GoBlue

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. — At Big Ten media days, when Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh sat at his hour-long podium session, he noted the players who had locked up starting roles entering fall camp. Though they would get that opportunity to run with the ones at first, it didn’t mean that they would finish there.

So, while Gemon Green had been the sole corner to have a proverbial ‘starting job’ throughout the offseason, new defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale says hold on just a minute — that still has to be earned.

That’s not to say that Green won’t be the starter or that he hasn’t performed up to expectations. To the contrary, Clinkscale says that those in battle for positions within the secondary must continue to fight for their position on any given day. So, for now, there’s been a rotation, and along with Green, incumbent starter Vincent Gray and upstart third-year CB DJ Turner have separated themselves.

And there’s a chance they could stay locked in a three-way battle, even in the season.

“In life, nothing’s locked up,” Clinkscale said. “I tell the players all the time, if I don’t get my job done, there will be somebody here to replace me. You’ve gotta feel that pressure. So I’m rotating everybody. Get some of the young guys the opportunity to show what they can do. But those three – Gemon, DJ and Vince – have really set a rotation with each other. We’ve got a couple of other guys: George, he’s coming along – a couple other young guys. But there’s nobody, in my opinion, that is solid where they’re gonna be the guy, for sure. I feel like Gemon has done some really good things, I feel like Vincent has, DJ, as well as a couple of other guys. So I think the more we keep that where it’s a challenging situation (and) they’re always competing, I think we can elevate everybody’s game.

“And you need it. I’ve been in a conference where you can’t just play with two guys. You need two, three, four – you need guys to be able to build off it. Some games maybe are good matchups for one, maybe not the other. You continue to build off of that and put those guys in the right position. But I think what they all have done is they’ve shown me that they have the capacity to learn our defense. They have the ability to execute the things I know they can execute and I need them to execute and I’m excited about continuing to challenge them. And they’re accepting that challenge! It’s amazing – the attitudes. They take the coaching, there’s no talkback. Everybody goes down and executes anything I bring up during meetings. They go out and they fix it. I think in that aspect, I think everybody has the opportunity to show what they have.”

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We already have a pretty good idea of what Green and Gray bring to the table, but Turner is a player we’ve seen mostly only on special teams. Of what he’s seen from him specifically, Clinkscale notes: “He’s got great awareness. Physically he’s fine. He’s picking things up for us. He gives us another element, too. He’s very similar to Dax in that aspect in that he’s a guy that can play corner and nickel as well.”

Beyond that, Turner is eminently coachable, quick to learn and correct mistakes, and eager to improve on a daily basis, Clinkscale says.

“I coached a couple players that don’t make the same mistakes and DJ is one of those guys,” Clinkscale said. “He corrects himself and he challenges himself. When we were in a couple of situations, we were doing a two-minute situation, and they went after him a few times in a row, he defended the ball very well and he understood what was about to happen. He understands the situation. We just had a couple speakers in and a lot of people talk about visualizing and the mindset and the understanding and the knowledge of the game. And DJ is one of those young players, he has that as a characteristic. And I think you see it in his play in practice.

“I’m very excited about all of these young men – all the safeties, all the corners – I really am. But they all are really taking ownership and leadership. And, like DJ, they’re trying to continue to not make the same mistakes. That’s been our challenge, that’s been our goal. And he’s definitely a player that hasn’t made the same mistakes over and over.”

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Two unheralded Michigan football defenders standing out to senior leader

According to Michigan football senior captain Josh Ross, two unheralded Wolverines are making an impact during spring ball.

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Every year in college football, for nearly every team, there will be those players who come seemingly out of nowhere, unknown to the average fan and unheralded, making a big impact once the season rolls around. Those reps and the reputation are built more in the offseason, as said up-and-comers establish to the coaching staff that they’re worthy of playing time.

For Michigan football, on the defensive side of the football in particular, there’s certainly an area of opportunity, with a number of players moving onto the NFL, and a lot of starting jobs not exactly safe, whether it be due to play in 2020 or the new coaching staff coming in and reevaluating the various roles on that side of the ball.

One player, assuredly, will be a starter in 2021, in middle linebacker Josh Ross, who was voted a team captain a year ago. When it comes to defensive players who have caught his eye this spring, two stand out in particular.

“A couple names come to my mind,” Ross said. “One: DJ Turner. He’s been playing really, really well and having a great spring ball. And the other is Nikhai Hill-Green. He’s gotten so much better. He’s in my position group and he’s been playing really, really well and doing a lot of good things. It’s been a pleasure to see him get better and grow and learn.

“Also, just as far as a lot of our young players: just getting better and learning. We are learning a new scheme and we are learning new things. But the privilege of being able to learn and grow and build off of certain mistakes and mishaps from last year has just been a blessing to see. I’m looking forward to next year.”

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So, what about those two has been so impressive in his eyes?

While both Turner and Hill-Green are his unheralded standouts through a month of spring practice, it appears that Hill-Green is leaving a lasting impression on the fifth-year linebacker.

“The way they’re playing and performing,” Ross said. “Specifically with Nikhai, the way he approaches every single day. He’s such a hard worker and he’s so willing to learn and wants to learn and wants to get better and wants to improve and wants to get an edge. And that’s been a pleasure to be around guys like that and see that in such a young guy every single day. Definitely, with him, he’s gonna be a good player.”

Don’t just take it from Ross, though.

Michigan sophomore running back Blake Corum came to Ann Arbor in 2020 along with Hill-Green, as the two committed to the Wolverines out of Baltimore (MD) St. Frances Academy. When it was noted that Ross was singing Hill-Green’s praises, it came of no surprise to Corum, who notes that the second-year linebacker’s work ethic has always been unparalleled, even when the two suited up for the Chesapeake Bay high school powerhouse.

“Nikhai – he’s a worker and he’s always been a worker,” Corum said. “Every day that he comes into this facility, he puts in the extra work, whether it be in the classroom or on the field or in the weight room. He’s gotten bigger and his IQ for the game is really good. What I see Nikhai doing on the other side of the ball right now is really phenomenal. He’s definitely gonna, I feel like, be an impact player.”

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Why Michigan hasn’t infused more young talent into secondary

Why we haven’t seen more of the young Michigan football defensive backs as Vincent Gray and Gemon Green have had their struggles.

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. —  One of the common things often heard from a fan base when their team is struggling is that the program should insert whatever players that aren’t playing when others are having issues on the field.

That’s certainly been the case for Michigan fans with the secondary. As first-time starters at cornerback Vincent Gray and Gemon Green have had up-and-down performances in the first four games of the season, some fans want the experiment to be over, demanding to see new blood at the position. However, there are various reasons why that won’t likely be the case.

Often times — if not all of the time — the two starters are the best players available. Sometimes, others aren’t ready. In others, there are injuries that have either hindered their development or they’re currently not 100%, which inhibits their ability to see the field at present.

For Michigan, it’s riding with Gray and Green, but as questions about their viability continue to swirl, cornerbacks coach Mike Zordich explained on Wednesday where some of the other candidates — DJ Turner, Sammy Faustin and Andre Seldon — are at this point in the season.

“They’re developing – I think that’s a great way to put it,” Zordich said. “DJ was on the move and then he had an unfortunate – I wouldn’t say an injury, but something that was nagging him that kind of put him behind. Sammy – same thing with Sammy. Moved Sammy over, loved his body type, his speed, his athletic ability – he could definitely do it (but) he had a little setback.

“And Dre — I gotta give a lot of credit to (Andre) Seldon. He’s a smart, tough guy, man. He’s coming along really well.”

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According to PFF, thus far, Turner has seen 11 defensive snaps — all against Wisconsin this past week, Jalen Perry has played 31 (MSU, Wisconsin), and Faustin played 13 on special teams, whereas Seldon and Darrion Green-Warren have yet to see playing time at any position.

That hasn’t been the case as much at safety, where true freshman Makari Paige has played in each of the four games thus far, with 107 snaps now under his belt.

3 things to watch for against No. 21 Minnesota

Michigan football looks to start the shortened season with a win as they try and defeat Minnesota, check out the three things to focus on.

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After a long summer and with the season getting canceled then reinstated, Big Ten football is back and on opening week in primetime, Michigan football takes on No. 21 Minnesota on the road. Michigan is entering the season with plenty of questions on both sides of the football, with new starters at cornerback, the offensive line, and the most important position of them all, quarterback.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines starting the season with a big win over Minnesota would be a huge confidence boost as they head into a rivalry game against Michigan State next week. With not much wiggle room in a nine-game season and no non-conference games, each game just got more intense and important for every team in the Big Ten. Michigan would love nothing more than to go into Minnesota and take down the Golden Gophers and finally see how they can play in a real game instead of just having practices.

With kickoff in less than a week finally, here are the three things to watch for Michigan against Minnesota.

1. How will Michigan’s secondary fair against Minnesota’s passing offense?

Last season, Minnesota finished as the 27th ranked offense in the country. With two wide receivers finishing with over 1,200 yards and quarterback Tanner Morgan throwing for 3,253 with 30 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The bad news for Minnesota is one of those wide receivers is now in the NFL. The good news is the other, Rashod Bateman, opted back in after opting out earlier this year. Bateman had 60 catches for 1,219 yards and 11 touchdowns last season.

Bateman’s return isn’t good for the Wolverine secondary, who lost cornerback Lavert Hill and now cornerback Ambry Thomas who opted out of the 2020 season to focus on the 2021 NFL Draft. With that, the only returning cornerback with starting experience is Vincent Gray. The other starting cornerback spot is still up for grabs as German Green, DJ Turner, and Andre Seldon are fighting it out in practice.

This inexperienced secondary will have its hands full with Bateman, but the good news for them is outside of Bateman, the receiving core for Minnesota isn’t as daunting. The next best returning wide receiver is Chris Autman-Bell who had 28 catches for 371 yards and five touchdowns last season. This secondary will be tested heavily and often by Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck. Morgan will have to find help elsewhere if Bateman finds himself in double coverage and with the Wolverines having the 10th best defense last season, even with new starters at the cornerback position, could be a tough matchup for Morgan to start the season out.

2. Will Joe Milton be the answer at quarterback?

After months of practice, quarterback Joe Milton will finally start for the first time in his career in Ann Arbor. Milton took on Dylan McCaffrey for the starting job and came out the winner, while McCaffrey would transfer out. Milton brings a different look at the position for the first time under Harbaugh with the possible playmaker that Milton can be with his arm as he can create big plays with the help of the speed he has at wide receiver.

Milton’s cannon of an arm will have to be on display as he tries to take on the Minnesota defense, which was ranked eighth last year but lost a lot of pieces. Milton will have plenty of weapons to throw to as well with a loaded backfield and receiver room, there is no lack of help for him to find on the field. The only question mark will be the offensive line and if they can keep Milton up and give him time to throw the football, Milton will be able to sling it deep on the Golden Gopher secondary.

Milton won’t need to put up big numbers in his first career start, but if his completion percentage can be positive, limit the turnovers, and avoid careless mistakes, it’s all the team can ask for if the others can do their job as well. The strong arm that Milton has will be on display and it’s something the Wolverines haven’t had in a long time. Milton making big plays can also instill more confidence in himself, especially on the road and against a ranked opponent.

3. Can Michigan get over the GameDay hump?

When all eyes are on the Wolverines, they seem to struggle. When Michigan is involved with a game that is on ESPN’s College GameDay show, they are 1-7 with their only win coming against Wisconsin in 2018. Another record that is 1-7 for Michigan is Harbaugh when he is on the road against a ranked opponent, his last win was also in 2018 against Michigan State.

Harbaugh has been able to defeat the teams they should beat, but when the challenge increases, that’s when Harbaugh and Michigan struggle. Road games are tough, but now with no fans in the crowd, there shouldn’t be too much of an advantage anymore. When the bright lights are on, Harbaugh and his team need to shine bright.

This matchup against Minnesota will be the first primetime game for the Big Ten this season and a win over an impressive Golden Gophers team would be a big help for the Wolverines who look to climb up the AP polls and be a team to talk about when the College Football Playoff polls begin on November 24. Harbaugh would get another win over a ranked opponent on the road and a win on Gameday in one week, two of his struggles taken down week one. One win won’t fix everything, but it can be the start of a huge season for the Wolverines.

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Multiple positional moves in Michigan secondary highlights versatility

Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh broke down the depth to both safety and corner, noting multiple position switches.

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Michigan’s secondary is in an odd state heading into the 2020 season opener at Minnesota.

While the safety position returns two starters in Daxton Hill and Brad Hawkins, with Lavert Hill graduating and Ambry Thomas opting out, Michigan will be breaking in two new starters at cornerback.

Speaking to Jon Jansen on the Inside Michigan Football radio program, head coach Jim Harbaugh broke down both positions, starting with the safeties. And with Hill returning, he feels like he has a special player — if not the Wolverines’ best, overall.

“It’s been a high-level, really,” Harbaugh said. “The talent – he might be our most talented player on the team, arguably. Very, very trusted, very good communicator in the backend. Really knows the safety position and also the nickel position. He’s really, really good. Playing both safety and covering in the nickel slot. He’s been really good.

“Brad Hawkins, he is playing his best football since he’s been here, too. He’s a returning starter, so that’s saying something. Doing extremely well. Makari Paige, Hunter Reynolds – those two have been really good.

“Compliment both the Green brothers – German Green playing safety and special teams and Gemon Green is competing for the staring corner position alongside Vince Gray. Been happy with both safeties. Caden Kolesar, also playing safety and special teams. Those are the ones that are right there in the mix at safety and doing a really good job.”

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While that’s a bit of depth at safety, though Harbaugh touched on it, what more does he see at corner?

It’s evident now that third-year in-state defensive back Vincent Gray has secured on position, and while Gemon Green is competing for the other, who else could contend for playing time this season?

Harbaugh notes another player who’s switched positions during fall camp in Sammy Faustin, who’s been drawing rave reviews from defensive coordinator Don Brown the past few months.

“Corners, there’s battles going on,” Harbaugh said. “Vince Gray – who’s starting. Who’s on the other side of Vince? You got Gemon Green — Sammy Faustin has moved from safety to corner. He’s doing a really nice job the last week since he’s been there. Also: I mentioned George Johnson and DJ Turner, Eamonn Dennis, Andre Seldon. All guys that are competing very strongly at the corner position.”

There had been rumblings of Dax Hill moving to corner, but it appears, according to Harbaugh’s Monday night appearance and Don Brown’s the previous Monday, that he’s sticking with safety and nickel back. On Monday, he touched on Faustin’s move as well as George Johnson’s transition from wideout to defensive back. Hunter Reynolds is a former corner who converted to safety last season.

With all that in mind, Harbaugh is enthusiastic about having so many players who can take on multiple roles. With the variable position switches, he says it gives Michigan the best chance to succeed.

“Versatility is always a good thing, no doubt,” Harbaugh said. “The players that are the most talented and give the most effort, the cream rises to the top and I think we’re seeing that. It does allow Coach Zordich and Don Brown the ability to — when a player has versatility to do the best things for our team and get the best matchups, et cetera. I think all those things are a big bonus.”

We’ll get to see just how that versatility pans out in less than two weeks, with Michigan traveling to Minnesota for the Oct. 24 Big Ten season kickoff. The game will be nationally televised in primetime, with ABC putting it in its 7:30 P.M. EDT slot.

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Gemon Green ‘leader in the clubhouse’ as Michigan football starting CB

Could Michigan football have a surprise starting at Ambry Thomas’ vacant cornerback spot in 2020?

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While it was no surprise that Michigan got Ambry Thomas to agree to come back for his senior year after the bowl game, what was surprising that he opted out and has chosen not to return to the team after the postponement and then reinstatement of the 2020 football season. Thus, with Lavert Hill having departed after exhausting his eligibility, Michigan is looking to break in a bevy of new cornerbacks.

So who’s in contention?

Wolverines defensive coordinator Don Brown went into even more depth than he did a week ago on Monday when he spoke to Jon Jansen on the Inside Michigan Football radio program on Learfield IMG College.

“Obviously we wish Ambry nothing but success,” Brown said. “But DJ Turner’s been working really hard, Jalen Perry also working really hard. Gemon Green has really played well. He’s a guy that’s been with us for a period of time. Always had the athletic ability. Conceptually, he’s put it all together. So we feel really good about him.

“Young guys – George Johnson, Andre Seldon really doing well. This Keshaun Harris, who’s a former track guy here, he shows that track speed every day. And we got a young guy from Massachusetts, this Eamonn Dennis, that can flat-out fly. Most of his high school play was on the offensive side. Well, he’s learning to play corner. The one thing that shines is his 4.38 40. We’re trying to get him up to speed, but he’s with the best corners coach in the country, so he’ll be just fine.”

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That said, who will be the starters?

Michigan has often platooned at least one cornerback position — you can recall Jeremy Clark/Channing Stribling in 2015-16 or even working in either Brandon Watson or Vincent Gray in the past two years — but at the moment, two are standing out to Brown: the aforementioned Gray and third-year corner Gemon Green.

However, with camp still ongoing, nothing is written in stone at this juncture.

“We challenge those guys everyday,” Brown said. “Vincent Gray is the unquestionable leader and who’s gonna be the second guy? Well, that’s why we call it practice. One day, one guy looks really good. Another day, another guy looks really good. But I also lean on Gemon Green’s done a good job there. I’d say he’s the leader in the clubhouse right now. That challenge is far from over.”

We won’t know for sure whether or not Green can claim that starting role until Oct. 24, when Michigan heads to Minnesota for the Big Ten season opener.

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