Tag: Steve Clinkscale

Chargers DBs coach Steve Clinkscale prioritizing versatility in the secondary

Steve Clinkscale is prioritizing versatility in the defensive backfield.

Chargers defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale had his first media availability of the offseason. Clinkscale laid out some of Jesse Minter’s defensive vision as well as his expectations for the secondary.

First, he spoke about Minter’s system:

The beauty with Jesse is that he’s a defensive back guy himself. We speak the same language. I can anticipate the issues that he wants, his pet peeves, my pet peeves. It’s been an easy transition to teach those guys what Coach Minter is looking for. With him being a back end guy, we do put a lot of responsibility on the secondary. We put a lot of work into those guys. We want to make sure that they’re going to do things right. That’s a reflection of him and I, right away, the secondary. His vision on the defense is that we’re going to communicate. We’re going to destroy blocks. We’re going to disrupt the ball. We’re going to have great effort and angles. We’re going to finish and make tackles. That’s what we want to put on film week-in and week-out. If you do those fundamental things, whatever he calls, we should be able to work. Sometimes, they’re going to give us something that’s going to be an issue for the coverage, but as long as what our guys know what to go to when in doubt with the check, then when the ball is snapped to enforce our separators, our fundamental approach to the game, we’ll be fine.

Clinkscale also spoke at length about newly signed cornerback Kristian Fulton and what he’s seen from him so far:

I’ll be honest with you, he’s got kind of the rookie mentality. ‘Coach, teach me. Whatever it is, I want to learn. I want to learn. I want to get better at this.’ This is a new lease on life for him. You see it out there. He moves very fluid. You can tell he’s experienced. He’s able to adjust. He’s able to put it in our language fast. He’s a pro. When I got here, you think, ‘Oh, college is different.’ The pros want to learn just like [S] Derwin James [Jr.]. They want to learn. [S] Alohi [Gilman], they all want to get better and look at things a little different way so they can be successful. It’s been great because we all meet together. That’s what we do. We’re all DB coaches. [Safeties] Coach [Chris] O’Leary coaches the nickels, corners, safeties. We’re all together in the room. Just bringing those guys together, getting them on one page — it’s been special. I believe in the mentality has to be right. Working with Kristian and anybody in there, it’s just been special for those guys to come in and know that we’re going to work, I’m going to hold them accountable, now. I’m going to get on them if they’re not doing things right, but they’re going to go out there and they have the ability to execute for our defense to be special.

Clinkscale was asked about what specific roles he envisions for both Fulton as well as Asante Samuel Jr. Regarding slot and outside corner distinction, the former Michigan coach made it clear that everyone in the secondary has to be prepared to do both. “They are all going to rotate in there…I’ve rotated them at corner and at nickel, like I said, so that they have that versatility.”

Clinkscale hit on theme of versatility several times in his preser. Another quote on that subject that drove the point across: “All of the corners have to know nickel and all of the safeties have to know nickel and dime as well as the safety position.” The issue of potential injuries and preparing for that by having secondary players cross-trained for those potential circumstances was also a clear motivating factor for this coaching staff’s approach.

When it came to Derwin James, Clinkscale also mentioned his versatility and potentially putting him at weakside linebacker and slot corner at times. He mentioned the usage of the safeties at Michigan in that context.

It’s still too early to tell who the starters will be in the secondary and at which spots, but it’s clear that this defensive staff wants to be able to move their defensive backs around while not pigeonholing themselves in regards to depth.

Report: Defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale leaving Michigan for Chargers

Jim Harbaugh is bringing another coach from Michigan.

After reportedly telling his players he was staying at Michigan earlier in the week, it seems that defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale has reversed course.

Tony Garcia of the Detroit Free Press reports that Michigan’s former co-defensive coordinator is jumping ships with Jim Harbaugh.

Clinkscale is the latest Michigan coaching staff member to reportedly leave with Harbaugh to Los Angeles. Others include Ben Herbert, Jesse Minter, Dylan Roney, and Mike Elston.

Michigan’s CFP National Championship-winning secondary included the likes of great contributors like Mike Sainristil, Rod Moore, and Will Johnson. Johnson and Moore will be returning to Michigan for 2024, but Sainristil at nickel corner could be a name to watch come April for the Chargers.

Assuming that Clinkscale keeps the same role in the pros, the Chargers will have their defensive backs coach position on their staff figured out. Yesterday, the hiring of former All-Pro NaVorro Bowman as linebackers coach was reported. As mentioned earlier, Elston is also reportedly making the jump to be the Chargers’ defensive line coach. The defensive coaching staff is coming into focus for LA.

So far, Harbaugh has pulled deep from his past at both the pro and college levels to fill out his staff with many Niners/Michigan connections. However, in building this “all-star” staff, as he calls it, the new Chargers head coach has also hired some names sans previous personal connections, like passing game coordinator Marcus Brady.

Steve Clinkscale to leave Michigan football after all

NOT GOOD.

It appeared as if Sherrone Moore was getting his ducks in a row when it came to finalizing his coaching staff, but changes continue to keep coming.

The reports over the past few days indicated that while Michigan football lost defensive line coach Mike Elston to Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers, secondary coach Steve Clinkscale would remain in Ann Arbor. With the hire of defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, a favorite mantra has been ‘Wink and Clink.’ But now it’s just Wink.

According to multiple reports, Clinkscale reconsidered Harbaugh’s offer and will depart the Wolverines for the NFL after all.

While the maize and blue lose a lot of coaching talent, the good news is that Wink Martindale has produced a lot of underlings who have excelled not only working directly under him, but elsewhere. Case in point: both of Michigan’s most recent defensive coordinators coached under him while he was with the Ravens.

While Martindale wasn’t the one who hired Macdonald and Minter, it’s at least an indication that he can mentor those who work under him. We’ll see where the Wolverines go from here.

Michigan football has one last, big obstacle to face in Washington pass offense

This team is built for this. #GoBlue

HOUSTON — No matter the drama, no matter the adversity, Michigan football doesn’t flinch.

Jim Harbaugh suspended the first three games of the season? Three dominant wins. J.J. McCarthy has an off-game in Week 3? The team bounces back and dominates anyway. The Connor Stalions saga overtakes not only the Wolverines but becomes the dominant story in college football? Michigan continues winning by huge margins. Jim Harbaugh is suspended again on a flight to Penn State, and McCarthy is injured midgame? The Wolverines would just run 30-plus straight times aginst the toughest opponent seen to date. Chris Partridge is fired a week later for obstructing the NCAA investigation into Stalions, all while McCarthy is even more banged up? And Maryland takes the maize and blue to the brink? The defense steps up and makes timely plays. An interim coach is on the sideline for Ohio State? Doesn’t matter, same result as the last two years. A sloppy game against Alabama where the Tide have all the late momentum? That’s a Rose Bowl win.

No matter what’s been thrown at these Wolverines, they’ve persevered. They’ve won all their games and now have the toughest test yet against the only remaining undefeated team in Washington in Monday’s national championship game.

So, what’s the secret? As defensive pass game coordinator Steve Clinkscale puts it, there’s been one goal: win the national championship. And nothing was going to keep this team from reaching its goal this year.

“I like to say we’re all excited, but this is the game we’ve been prepared for,” Clinkscale said. “We left last season saying this is where we want to be. All those other games in between, those were stepping stones, but this is where we wanted to be.

“We’re here, and now we have to execute and do our job and manage the moment. Don’t take it in too much, like get overwhelmed. Understand we have to go out there and execute against the best team we’re going to face all year.”

The big obstacle now is a Washington team that’s the best in the country in passing the ball. The good news for Michigan is that it has the best pass defense in the country to go up against it.

Clinkscale is concerned, as anyone would be, but as he sees it, his players have the skills, the knowledge, and the ability to cover any pass Michael Penix Jr. throws at them. But it’s still the most daunting challenge that the maize and blue will have all season long — despite the long list of obstacles thrown in their way.

“I think understanding the game plan. We have very smart players,” Clinkscale said. “I think, first, we talk about their receivers. I think you guys have to go backwards a little bit. Their offensive line is extremely good. They do a great job of pass protecting. They move well. Their left tackle is one of the best we’ve seen all year. They do a great job even in the run game.

“The receivers do a great job of setting up the run game with the perimeter blocking and cracks and all that stuff they do, just building off of that. Again, the quarterback, his timing and knowing where to go with the ball is what makes them great. He knows where to go.

“You see him sometimes. He’ll throw the ball, feel pressure, kind of turn his body. Won’t even see the ball all the way thrown, and it’s complete because he knows where the guys are going to be.

“Their chemistry together is the biggest challenge for us. It’s not just going to be one group on that offense. It’s going to be the entire offense.”

There are obstacles on the way to anything meaningful. Washington is the last obstacle to a national championship. The game is set to kick off at NRG Stadium at 7:30 p.m. EST.

Steve Clinkscale assess DB injuries, happy with Amorion Walker’s attentiveness

Really encouraging stuff here, all around. #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — After a full offseason when there have been touted defensive backs, new and old, fans got something of an unexpected look on Saturday when Michigan football trotted out some other faces in Week 1 than what was maybe anticipated back in the spring.

The idea was that we’d see the two usual starting safeties, Rod Moore and Makari Paige, nickel Mike Sainristil, and corners Will Johnson and Amorion Walker. But the Wolverines only had two of the above, Paige and Sainristil, play at all, and even Paige was limited. Instead, we saw Keon Sabb and Zeke Berry mostly at safety, transfer cornerback Josh Wallace and former walk-on Keshaun Harris working the other corner spot.

There was a lot of excitement about Walker, particularly, in the spring, especially when Jim Harbaugh and his fellow coaches referred to him as ‘a unicorn’ after switching him from wide receiver to defensive back. But Walker has been seen walking on crutches since relatively early in fall camp and hasn’t been available to practice since sustaining his injury.

However, his position coach, Steve Clinkscale, has been impressed with his attitude and demeanor as he’s working back to health, noting that his approach should help him be even better once he is able to get back onto the field.

“Well, Amorion is a special talent — we all know that,” Clinkscale said. “But what I see for him now — so spring doesn’t matter, this summer doesn’t matter. What I see for him now is he’s locked in. He’s in here. He’s not able to practice, but he’s watching film, he’s taking notes — you should see his notes. I take his notes and show them to everybody. He’s taking notes like he’s — everything. If I burp, he writes down burp.

“He’s taking notes, he’s listening to everything. He’s being a sponge, and that’s what you want from your players. If they’re not able to do it physically, do it mentally, right? And that way, now when a younger guy wants to talk to him, he can give them the right answer.

“So I’ve been proud of him about how he’s handled this. It’s not been an emotional deal where you can disappear, you don’t see him while he’s injured. He’s here every day all the time. We text and communicate every day. So I think that when he does come back, it’ll help him just kind of just catapult to where he was and maybe even surpass it. So looking forward to big things from all those guys. I think they’ve done a great job.”

What about the other defensive backs, safety Rod Moore and cornerback Will Johnson? Both dressed on Saturday, but neither played.

Jim Harbaugh said both were close and could potentially play this upcoming week against UNLV, but wasn’t definitive in his assessment. However, Clinkscale said both practiced on Monday and could be ready to go against the Rebels at 3:30 p.m. EDT.

“Yeah, they’re getting closer and closer every day,” Clinkscale said. “I kind of stay out of the training room with them, so when they’re out there on the field, I coach them. Yesterday, they were both at practice, so that was awesome. They’re getting closer and closer every day, they’re feeling —

“The big thing with those guys and having the issues that they have is not to rush them back, to make sure they’re comfortable, especially when you’re a DB and you’re out on the island, you rush the guy back too fast, it can really set him back a little bit. So I think coach has done a great job and our training staff has done a great job with bringing those guys back the way they need to be right on time. Not too fast, not too slow. So I’m excited about seeing them out there this year.

“I think having Makari for a few plays last week made a big difference, help some of those young guys kind of get their feet wet with an older guy, with a veteran out there on the field with a physical player on the field. And he kind of set the tone. And then I let the rest of the guys play the rest of the game. So getting those guys closer and closer will help us get them a few plays here and there until they’re 100% ready.”

Who’s standing out in Michigan football CB competition opposite Will Johnson?

It’s still a question mark, but there are options. #GoBlue

Michigan football is entering 2023 with essentially just one question mark: who is playing cornerback on the opposite side of the field from Will Johnson?

All spring, the hype was surrounding Amorion Walker, the former three-star wide receiver from Louisiana who flipped from Notre Dame on early signing day in 2021. Walker converted to cornerback in the winter months, though he had spent some time on that side of the ball in his freshman year. Jim Harbaugh called him ‘a unicorn,’ noting that he has a skill set you can’t teach that could make him a dominant force at the position. However, he was shaky, at best, in the spring game on April 1, leading to more questions about how everything would play out for him.

Speaking to Jon Jansen on the ‘In the Trenches’ podcast, defensive pass game coordinator Steve Clinkscale, he’s pleased with where Walker is thus far, noting that what happened this spring is part of the journey.

“I feel like Amorion is right where he needs to be,” Clinkscale said. “He had a pretty solid beginning of the spring, had a little bit of roller coaster up and down. And now he’s fighting his way back up. And that’s what you need to do as a corner, it shouldn’t be all roses. I played corner. All the guys who play corner know there’s been times where you’ve, you’ve lost the game for the team. You’ve been beat in a situation where you’d never forget about it. I’m 45 years old, I still know the times I’ve gotten beat back in the 90s. So it’s never gonna go away.

“But he’s doing a lot better job of building off of it and not letting it stop him from or stunt his growth. And so I’ve been very proud of him this summer. And his ability to focus in.”

So who will Michigan trust if Walker isn’t ready come the season opener? The good news is there are options, including a late-offseason transfer that came in from UMass.

“Josh Wallace is the guy that we brought in as well, who’s going to do a really good job for us,” Clinkscale said. “He’s been able to adapt right away. He’s we’re very willing to learn what’s going on so I’m excited by him.

“And, of course, Keshaun Harris and Ja’Den McBurrows and a slew of guys — Myles Pollard, as well as some of those young guys that were just brought in — they all have opportunity to show us what they can do and it’s wide open. So we really want to be able to solidify that spot opposite of Will, of course. But if we have any doubt, Mikey (Sainristil), like I said, he can do it all.”

The additional good news is that the Wolverines don’t exactly have a daunting schedule, particularly to start. Arguably the three toughest games in pass defense will come in the final three games of the season. So the maize and blue have some time to work the options to get the best combination of defensive backs in play.

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Will Johnson not buying into hype, working to be more dominant

Sounds like he has the perfect mindset to match his work ethic and talent. #GoBlue

Rarely does a true freshman come onto the scene the way that Will Johnson did for Michigan football.

Johnson didn’t really start getting run in his first year of playing until Week 9 in the road game vs. Rutgers, thanks in part to Gemon Green suffering an injury in the aftermath of the Michigan State game. He showed out immediately, netting an interception before getting two more in the Big Ten Championship game weeks later.

The Grosse Pointe (Mich.) South native was a former five-star, and it showed as he locked big-name receivers down when put on them — from Ohio State‘s Marvin Harrison Jr. to TCU’s Quentin Johnston. He’s done so well that PFF considers him the third-best returning cornerback entering 2023.

So far, so good, right? According to his position coach Steve Clinkscale (speaking on the ‘In the Trenches’ podcast), that’s not his mentality, whatsoever.

“Will will tell you he can improve in every phase,” Clinkscale said. “He never forgets, anytime he’s been beat, whether it’s practice, whether it’s in walk-through, whether it’s in the game. So he never feels like he’s even close to accomplishing what he wants to.

“He wants to be a dominant player every snap. I think we can continue to build on his ability to affect the quarterback more as a blitzer, because he’s a really good blitzer. Also can, his main game, we can leave him on his own a little bit. But he’s a great zone coverage guy, does a great job in all our zones in keeping good eyes, and he’s got very good instincts.”

Where are his biggest areas of improvement, in Clinkscale’s eyes?

He’s honest in that he doesn’t feel like Johnson is a big work in progress as much as he’s already on the right track. Perhaps his biggest potential pratfall is complacency, but Clinkscale doesn’t see any evidence that that will be a potential problem.

What’s more, Johnson is ignoring all of the aforementioned hype.

“I think the biggest thing for Will, for me, is just continue to coach the emotional and the mental side — in which he’s done a great job,” Clinkscale said. “But with all these expectations, and everybody telling you how good you are, he doesn’t want to hear it. We’re not trying to be complacent. And we’re not trying to fall victim of being, ‘We’re just so good that it doesn’t matter. We don’t have to show up.’

“His biggest thing is seeing how hard he works lately, has proven to me that he’s listening to all the media and all the hype. He feels like he’s got a lot to prove. And we want to win it all.”

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Steve Clinkscale raves about the two early enrollee cornerbacks in CFP practice

This is super great to hear! #GoBlue

PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. — You would think with Michigan football preparing to play in the College Football Playoff semifinal in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl that there would be little time to get the early enrollees up to speed. But that’s not how the Wolverines are approaching their preparation.

The maize and blue brought seven of their new signees to Arizona for the game, and they’re not just taking everything in. They’re participating, dressed and practicing as if they’re playing, despite having never played in a college game. And they’re getting valuable reps, too. On Tuesday, in the portion of practice the media was able to view, cornerback Cameron Calhoun made a play on a scout-team receiver, looking not much different than five-star freshman Will Johnson. Jyaire Hill, the big get during the early signing period for the Wolverines, was also involved in practice.

While you might think working to get new players up to speed in the middle of a playoff run would be an extra burden on coaches, those two players in particular haven’t inconvenienced co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale — even the slightest.

“I haven’t had to balance it because they have adjusted so fast,” Clinkscale said. “The rest of the team, their teammates, their peers, the rest of the DBs, have really accepted them very fast because they see their talent. They see their ability. I’m very open and honest with our group, everybody knows where they stand. So the players understand we got to continue to build on this, continue to bring in top-tier talent. And when you see these two guys out there doing what they do just naturally without much coaching and adjusting right now, just naturally, it kind of opens everybody’s eyes that we were heading in the right direction.

“And the players have really adjusted well with them and brought them out like little brothers, I believe DJ, Mikey are both taking them both under their wing to try to just help them navigate the time, the schedule, where to be, how to get there on time, and then how to practice. And I’ll be honest with you, it hasn’t been — we haven’t had taken one step back with these two guys. Like they practice so hard. And they do a great job. I’m excited for them.”

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Now that Hill and Calhoun are no longer high school prospects and are working out with their newfound peers, what have they looked like in practice?

Clinkscale notes that, of course, they’re still a work in progress. The good thing is established players, particularly Mike Sainristil and DJ Turner, have been mentors to the duo.

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“They’re long, athletic, they’re quick, and they pick up very fast,” Clinkscale said. “When we do a drill, they either do it naturally, or if they didn’t do it right the first time, they did the second time — they do it perfect. They’ve done a great job with picking up the scheme. We call in a couple of defenses for them, they go out there and they look at them and tell them, ‘Hey, your man or you’re a third player, you’re a quarter player, you’re playing this,’ and then they’re able to adjust with just a few days of knowledge.

“So they do a good job of paying attention more than any freshman I’ve ever been around. They’re not there talking about how good they are, and how they’re gonna come and beat everybody out. They’re watching great players in front of them and they want to learn from them. So I told them when I recruited them, there’s not many people that come in to play as true freshmen. Especially, start a game as a freshman your first game. Will Johnson didn’t even start. He just kept building and building and building as the year went on. And so you guys come and learn. The best coach for you is the players in front of you. Learn from them, see how they do, see what they do. And then you will be able to take that and take it to another level with your talent and they’re taking that advice to the max.”

Though they are practicing, it is highly unlikely either will appear in the College Football Playoff given their inexperience as well as participating would officially wipe out one year on the clock for their college career.

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Why Mike Sainristil has excelled playing defensive back

He’s been a pleasant surprise on the defensive side of the ball. #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Jim Harbaugh has a history of having players switch positions and succeeding. Though some experiments haven’t gone as planned — Ben Mason as a defensive tackle didn’t exactly work out — we’ve seen numerous players excel when asking to play on another side of the ball.

His most famous conversion was probably Richard Sherman from wide receiver to cornerback at Stanford, but in Ann Arbor, Chase Winovich was a positional journeyman before settling in at edge rusher, Hassan Haskins was a linebacker for a spell before switching to running back at the end of his freshman year, and Michael Barrett was a quarterback in high school before becoming a safety then linebacker with the Wolverines.

The latest position switch has gone swimmingly, with Mike Sainristil converting from wide receiver to defensive back. He’s been everywhere, reminding Jim Harbaugh of Dax Hill with the way he’s played the nickel position. But why has he been successful?

According to his position coach, co-defensive coordinator Steve Clinkscale, he’s seeing a guy who has a good understanding of defense due to his time on offense, and has been successful when it comes to executing his position.

“He’s doing veteran things,” Clinkscale said. “He’s out there anticipating the issues and doing a very good job of disguising and in understanding what they’re trying to do to attack us. And like I say all the time, he’s doing his job, which makes him a really good player. But he’s also doing things that make him great at times — when he could do his job and do someone else’s job, but making sure his job’s taken care of. You see him do that, really, with his effort.”

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What’s more, Sainristil has thrived because he’s accepted the position switch, wholeheartedly.

A team captain this year, Sainristil famously once said he’d play offensive line if he was asked to, so it’s no surprise that he’s attacked his new position with a fervor. Clinkscale expects to see him to continue to get more and more snaps as the year goes on, which is partly due to his ability, but also due to his leadership.

“His unbelievable effort, unbelievable strain, unbelievable passion on just trying to make plays and do things right,” Clinkscale said. “He wants to be the best DB on the team, wants to be the best DB in the nation. That’s his goal. Like he’ll play receiver, he’ll do anything we’ve asked him to do. But he definitely wants to wherever it’s going to be, he wants to be the best at it. And it’s just, it’s really just his drive and his personality, his mental makeup. He’s already a leader, and he’s gonna continue to be great in that role.

“But I continue to see him getting more of a role at corner, especially this week. And you’ll see, he’s got a lot of upside. He’s very fast, very strong, always physical. But he’s kind of a coach on the field a little bit. I love having him around the room, I do. I love being around him.”

Sainristil was previously committed to Virginia Tech as a cornerback before pledging to the Wolverines as a wide receiver.

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Everything Steve Clinkscale said about the Michigan football secondary in Week 3

The No. 8 pass defense in the country. Not too bad! #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Even though Michigan football’s starters on defense have only played half a game in each of the first two games, the defensive side of the ball has excelled. Credit goes to not only the defensive front, but the secondary, as well.

Currently, the Wolverines are fielding the No. 8 pass defense in the country, allowing just 125 yards per game through the air. Defensive pass game coordinator Steve Clinkscale, who is also the co-defensive coordinator, is pleased with what he’s seen from his unit through two games, but also sees a lot to improve upon.

On Wednesday, he met with the media. Here is everything he had to say.