Tag: Steve Clinkscale

Steve Clinkscale updates progress of Michigan football freshman DBs in fall camp

People are sleeping on some of these new corners and safeties! #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Of all the position groups where Michigan football is bringing in first-year players as part of the 2022 recruiting class, none is more impressive from top-to-bottom than in the secondary.

The Wolverines brought in six defensive backs — five-star Will Johnson, four-stars Zeke Berry, Keon Sabb, and Kody Jones, as well as three-stars Myles Pollard and Damani Dent. While some will play corner and others will play safety, it’s a versatile group that can transcend a traditional role in one or the other.

Johnson is contending for the starting cornerback job opposite DJ Turner, but the group as a whole is performing well in fall camp. However, the bigger question isn’t about Johnson, Sabb, Jones, or Pollard — as the foursome has been on campus since January and participated in spring ball. Of equal importance is how Berry and Dent are acclimating.

In the eyes of co-defensive coordinator and defensive pass game coordinator Steve Clinkscale, so far so good, across the board.

“I think the young men that were here in the spring have a slight advantage as far as understanding the system,” Clinkscale said. “The two other gentlemen who got here in the summer are under academic — they’re in class. So, adding that to their plate with football, still in school right now, it’s a little challenging for them. They’re performing — Zeke (Berry) is especially performing to a level where you can see his instincts. You can see why we recruited him and what he’s gonna be able to do.

“But as far as Will, Myles, and Kody, you definitely see they’re a little further ahead than the freshmen were last year. We were able to get — except for Rod Moore, he was different. Those guys will develop right to where we need them to. We’re going to ask all of them to help us at some point. The capacity is really going to be up to them, what they know, what they understand, how they can execute.”

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Considering that Clinkscale mentioned every other name, we asked him specifically about Sabb, especially considering that he was once rated a five-star — he finished at No. 84 overall in the 247Sports Composite, but he was ranked as high as No. 5 overall in his initial ranking in 2019. He was ranked No. 22 just 13 months ago — which was around the time of his visit to Ann Arbor — before getting passed by a number of other high-profile recruits.

Clinkscale says that he’s liked what he’s seen ranging from spring ball into fall camp, but given that he’s locked into the position of safety, and he’s learning both the free and strong roles, it’s been a little more challenging for him than most.

“Keon’s done a great job. He’s probably got the hardest job of the bunch, of those four, because he has to know both safeties,” Clinkscale said. “He knows what the safeties are doing, now it’s just taking that step forward on the field and applying it. And being able to let loose and make some plays.

“Yesterday, he had a really good practice and he keeps getting better every week and every day. He’s really evolving and he’s really got the biggest load. Playing corner, the biggest responsibility is not getting beat deep. Nickel, you’ve gotta understand the nuances. But safety, he’s gotta know what everybody’s doing, make all the checks. And for him being a freshman, I think he’s doing a great job.”

We’ll get to see what, likely, all of the above look like early in the season, starting with Michigan football’s first game on Sept. 3 against Colorado State.

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Michigan football defense propelled by ‘obnoxious communication’

This is really good stuff to hear. #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — On the ‘In the Trenches’ podcast earlier this week, Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh said that he feels the defense is further along than last season’s ballyhooed group at this time last year.

It’s a notion that co-defensive coordinator/defensive pass game coordinator Steve Clinkscale echoes.

“Oh yeah, I agree with it,” Clinkscale said on Thursday. “In the perspective that a lot of these guys have been in the system already, it isn’t something that’s new to them, starting off in the summer last year — even though I had a little bit of a spring previous to last fall camp, we still put in a lot of stuff at the same time. Most of the menu that we have, a lot of our players have already experienced.”

But why has it looked better? The Wolverines lost the bulk of their departees on the defensive side of the ball, thus, most pundits anticipate that Michigan will take a step back on that front.

However, like we heard from players on Tuesday, the biggest step has been communication — which is borne from knowledge.

“Communicating and understanding all the nuances, what’s gonna happen, to predict and anticipate the issues,” Clinkscale said. “If you can coach like that and your players can think like that, it helps them stay further ahead with communication, with effort, with knowing your responsibility.

“I would agree with that, especially as far as understanding the game a lot better.”

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This notion wasn’t explained solely by the second-year secondary coach. First-year defensive coordinator Jesse Minter led off his Thursday media availability by explaining how the coaches have been preaching ‘obnoxious communication’ on defense.

“We always have said a loud defense is a good defense. One of the pillars of our defenses is obnoxious communication,” Minter said. “And so, 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. And so I think our group has just bought into that being a foundation of how we want to play defense. I think they started to do that but I think, as they continue in the second year, and have a lot of carryover, that 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 good. And so the more that the more of those guys gain confidence in them, knowing what their assignment is, knowing what they’re doing, the louder it becomes.”

What makes said communication obnoxious? And why is it good? While Minter didn’t elaborate, Clinkscale had answers on that front.

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

Could that pay dividends this fall? We’ll find out when the season opener against Colorado State comes Sept. 3.

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What Steve Clinkscale said about the Michigan football defensive backs in fall camp

Really, really love his insight! #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — One of the pleasant surprises last fall was how improved the secondary was from the previous year. Granted, there was nowhere to go but up, but new defensive pass game coordinator Steve Clinkscale got his unit ready.

Since, Clinkscale has added the co-defensive coordinator title to his resume. And while he has to replace both starting safeties from a year ago, as well as cornerback Vincent Gray, he’s pleased with the progress of the back end. With DJ Turner expected to star, same with safety Rod Moore, there are some veritable playmakers. But what has he seen from the rest of the defensive backfield?

He shared his thoughts on Thursday, now having had a full season, spring, and now being embroiled in another fall camp. Here is everything he had to say.

New Michigan defensive coordinator already embracing Ohio State rivalry

Love his attitude toward the rivalry already! #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Any time that a new head coach or coordinator comes in at either Michigan or Ohio State, it’s fair to ask of their understanding of the importance of the rivalry. Some coaches get it, but others didn’t embrace it — and their records reflected that, fairly or not.

Jim Harbaugh always embraced the rivalry, but it took him until 2021 to get his first win over the Buckeyes as a coach. Now, of course, the Wolverines would like to make it two in a row when the maize and blue head south on the last Saturday of November later this year.

But, if that’s to happen, winning a second-straight over OSU, it will likely mean that the defense is operating at a similar level as to last year with Mike Macdonald at the helm.

Macdonald’s gone, having gone back to the Baltimore Ravens, but Jesse Minter — who is also from the John Harbaugh coaching tree — has come in to replace him. Minter says that little will change on defense from a schematic standpoint. The Buckeyes are set to feature one of, if not the most, vaunted offenses in college football, so the onus will be on Minter to slow down their attack.

And already, he’s embracing his role, knowing that there’s one team on the schedule more important than others.

“It’s a huge piece of this position. It’s beat Ohio, I think we talk about it every day,” Minter said. “We do drills that are dedicated towards trying to win that game and I’m excited just to be a part of it. And I think the players, it was great for them to get that feeling and get to know what it felt like to win that game and certainly what it did for the season — catapult them into the Big Ten Championship, into the playoff.

“So yeah, the rivalry is a huge piece of college football and you don’t back down from it. So there’s a couple on the schedule that we got to make sure we handle our business.”

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Co-defensive coordinator Steve Clinkscale knows just how important the pass defense will be again this year.

Last year, despite struggling on offense, seemingly, Ohio State managed 394 yards through the air. Clinkscale doesn’t want to see that happen again in 2022 — easier said than done with QB C.J. Stroud, as well as Jaxon Smith-Njigba and other talented wideouts returning.

“Well, I think because you had success, you gain confidence. Now the biggest thing is not to be complacent,” Clinkscale said. “And even though we have players who made plays last year, and some of those guys are returning in the secondary, we still feel that we can make more. We still feel like we can help the team more, we can leverage the ball better on the perimeter. We can continue to keep the big plays in front of us. We beat the team the last game of the year and we still gave up a lot of yards passing. We want to continue to minimize that, can’t give him any, any room to breathe. So we always want to keep focusing on that.”

Michigan fans will get a chance to see the revamped defensive attack on April 2, when the Wolverines host the annual spring game at The Big House.

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What Steve Clinkscale said about the Michigan football secondary in spring ball

This is really, really encouraging stuff! #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — One thing that was perhaps a big surprise for Michigan football last year was the vast improvement of the secondary. In particular, the corners in 2020 were — let’s just say — suspect, though there were some bright moments.

But in 2021, the unit took a giant step forward. And though there are some personnel losses — Dax Hill, Brad Hawkins, and Vincent Gray all moved onto the NFL — there is still a lot of optimism in Ann Arbor as to the future of the unit.

On Wednesday, Michigan football co-defensive coordinator and defensive pass game coordinator Steve Clinkscale met with the media for the first time since the end of the 2021 season and discussed where his unit stands more than halfway into spring ball. Here is everything he had to say.

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6 coaches Brent Venables should consider for Sooners’ vacant defensive backs job

As the Oklahoma Sooners continue to build their coaching staff, here are six names they should consider to be their next defensive backs coach.

The Oklahoma Sooners seem pretty much complete in overhauling their defensive coaching staff after none of the position coaches from the previous regime are set to return.

Only two coaching vacancies remain as defensive ends, safeties, and linebackers are all accounted for. Cornerbacks and a coach for their interior defensive line are all that remains.

We’ll look at the cornerback position to try to piece together some viable candidates.

What Steve Clinkscale said about Michigan football DBs going into Week 8

You can tell why his players love him! Really great stuff here! #GoBlue

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Though there are aspects to the Michigan football defense that remain a work in progress, the Wolverines have improved tremendously across the board.

In particular, the defensive pass game is so much better, and after six games (the total amount of games played last year), the secondary is giving up just 190.7 yards per game compared to 250.5 a year ago. That’s not only a 60-yard difference, but it’s the difference between being the No. 22 pass defense and No. 90, as it was a year ago.

Still, there are a lot of things that Michigan defensive pass game coordinator Steve Clinkscale wants to improve upon. He shared more about the secondary — the corners, safeties and nickels — what he’s seen and what he’d like to see.

Here’s everything he said on Wednesday as Michigan prepares for Northwestern.

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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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Jim Harbaugh, Steve Clinkscale comment on the latter’s hire

In the official Michigan football release, Jim Harbaugh and Steve Clinkscale comment on the latter’s hire.

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Michigan football officially announced the expected hire of former Kentucky defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale on Wednesday.

Unlike his short-lived predecessor, Maurice Linguist, Clinkscale will be considered the Wolverines’ defensive pass game coordinator as well as defensive backs coach — but he won’t carry the title of ‘co-defensive coordinator,’ though it has been reported that title could be added as soon as his second year with the program.

In the official press release of the hire, head coach Jim Harbaugh shared his thoughts on why Clinkscale is the perfect hire to work with the maize and blue’s defensive backs.

“Steve is a highly respected and talented football coach who has developed outstanding defensive secondaries at each of his coaching stops,” said Harbaugh. “I have followed and admired Steve’s coaching for years, tried to hire him a few times, and I’m glad that it all came together where we could bring Steve to Michigan. He will be a great addition to our coaching staff, and our student-athletes will benefit from Steve’s experience and instruction. Michigan Football welcomes Steve, his fiancé Elaine and his children to the Michigan Football family and university community.”

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Clinkscale also commented in the release, sharing that his relationship with Harbaugh was one of the big selling factors.

“Coach Harbaugh and I have developed a relationship over the years, and this will be a great opportunity to work together,” Clinkscale said. “I look forward to meeting our players and working with them to develop their skills on and off the field. I wish to further the tradition of excellence here at Michigan and look forward to helping make a difference in these young men’s lives. Go Blue!”

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More from the release:

Clinkscale joins the Wolverines’ staff after spending the past five seasons (2016-20) at the University of Kentucky under head coach Mark Stoops in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Clinkscale mentored the defensive backs during the entirety of his tenure and added the title of defensive pass game coordinator in 2021. The Wildcats intercepted 57 passes in his five seasons, and Clinkscale’s secondary was responsible for 43 of them (75.4 percent).

UK was top-four in the SEC in pass defense for Clinkscale’s final three seasons, leading the league in 2019 and 2020. The team also led the conference with 16 interceptions in 2020, which ranked third nationally.

Clinkscale arrived at Kentucky in 2016 and began molding a secondary that delivered all 13 of the team’s interceptions in his first year. All-SEC safety Mike Edwards, a Super Bowl champion with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, led the secondary with 100 tackles and was part of a trio of Wildcats who each intercepted three passes. In 2017, Clinkscale helped lead UK to a bowl game for the first time in eight seasons as the secondary made nine interceptions and Edwards was all-conference once again.

The 2018 season was one of the best in UK history as the team posted a 10-3 record and finished No. 12 in the final Associated Press poll, both program bests since 1977. Edwards picked up his third All-SEC recognition and became the second defensive back in program history to record 300-plus tackles in his career, totaling 10 interceptions with two returned for touchdowns. He was selected in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, joining teammate Lonnie Johnson (second round, Houston Texans), Derrick Baity, and Chris Westry (undrafted free agent) as Wildcats with NFL opportunities.

The 2019 secondary replaced its top six producers from the 2018 season and still ranked second nationally in fewest touchdown passes allowed (nine) and third in passing yards allowed per game (167.8).

Clinkscale was the secondary coach at the University of Cincinnati for three seasons (2013-15) during which the team played in three consecutive bowl games. He was defensive coordinator during his final year when the Bearcats ranked third in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) in pass yards allowed.

Clinkscale worked at Illinois for one season (2012) after three years at Toledo (2009-11) where he was special teams coordinator and cornerbacks coach. UT had top-20 kickoff return (11th in 2010) and punt return (17th in 2011) units under his direction, and he mentored Eric Page into one of the top return men in the country. Page was first team All-MAC at three positions (kick returner, punt returner, wide receiver) and was the only FBS player to return three kickoffs for touchdowns in 2010. Page was a first- and third-team All-American in his final two years and was a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award given to the nation’s most versatile player.

Toledo improved defensively in each of Clinkscale’s three years, dropping points allowed by nearly 10 per game from 2009 to 2010 while upping turnovers by 61 percent (34 from 21). Under his direction, the Rockets consistently ranked among the nation’s best in turnovers (No. 5 in 2010) and interceptions (tied-8 in 2010, No. 16 in 2011).

Clinkscale joined the coaching staff at his alma mater Ashland after graduation and coached the defensive backs for seven years (2001-07), adding linebacker duties in his final season also while serving as the team’s academic liaison. Two players (Devin Conwell, Toure Carter) became All-Americans and Cactus Bowl participants during Clinkscale’s tenure, with Conwell earning 2015 GLIAC Defensive Back of the Year honors. He spent the 2008 season as defensive backs coach at Western Carolina before heading to Toledo.

A Youngstown, Ohio, native, Clinkscale was a four-year starter and team captain at Ashland University. He played in the 2000 Snow Bowl, the Division II All-Star Game that was the predecessor to the Cactus Bowl. He earned his bachelor’s degree in sports science with a concentration in therapeutic recreation in 2000.

Clinkscale has four sons: Isaiah, Elijah, and twins, Zion and Zivon.

Why Michigan football made a home run hire in Steve Clinkscale

Why Michigan football is getting the complete package with its newest coaching assistant addition.

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Kentucky did not want to lose defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale. But Michigan football — needing a replacement for Maurice Linguist — found a way to poach him away from the Wildcats.

It’s widely being lauded as a big hire, and there are several reasons why that’s true.

While Kentucky’s pass defense was only rated No. 54 in 2020, the past season was something of an aberration for a lot of teams compared to normal, given the constraints of a COVID-19 shortened season. But in 2019, Kentucky had the second-best pass defense, it was No. 18 in 2018, and it was 35th in 2016 (the Wildcats were 103rd in 2017). In 2015, when Clinkscale was Cincinnati’s defensive coordinator, the Bearcats were No. 79 nationally — middling, yes, but pretty solid for a Group of Five team.

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Clinkscale also has a solid track record of putting his defensive backs into the NFL. Cornerback Kelvin Joseph was a second-round pick in 2021 while fellow CB Brandin Echols was a sixth-round selection this year. In 2019, he put two safeties into the league, one in the second round and another in the third. So we also know he’s solid from a development standpoint. It’s worth noting that in his Michigan tenure, Mike Zordich never had a corner go above the third round.

Additionally, Clinkscale is a solid recruiter. While Kentucky is in the bottom tier of the SEC in terms of prestige — it has to recruit against the likes of Alabama, LSU, Georgia and Florida — he’s managed to bring in eight four-stars in his Wildcats tenure, including Oak Park (MI) standout Justin Rogers, as well as top-rated prospects from Tennessee, Georgia and Florida.

While this is just a snapshot, Clinkscale is the complete package: someone who can coach, develop and recruit. With Michigan’s resources compared to Kentucky, his ability to do the latter should get a big boost, while the Wolverines sorely need someone who can do the two former jobs.

For Michigan football, the Clinkscale hire is a home run, and one that comes at a perfect time, albeit with imperfect timing after spring ball.

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