Michigan Football: Tyree Kinnel, DBs Are Ready To Lead
Junior safety Tyree Kinnel acknowledges with the rest of the world Michigan’s personnel losses from 2016, but that’s where the concessions stop.
He puts up a stone wall when it comes to buying into a narrative that the Wolverines therefore can’t compete at a championship level.
“People will say that because we DID lose a lot,” he offered. “That’s obvious. The talent is still there. The system is still there. So I don’t think we lose that much.”
It’s much the same when people insist that while Michigan’s front seven will be staunch, the secondary remains a big question mark.
Once again, Kinnel wasn’t backpedaling.
“No, it doesn't bother me,” he said. “The talent’s still there. I think we’ll be good. We’ll be just fine.”
Kinnel is the clear leader of a group featuring all new starters. He insists he’s not alone in that regard.
In fact, he noted many defensive backfield performers are pitching in to make their voices heard.
“I do take that leadership role, and I feel like I’ve done a good job this camp, as well as [sophomore safety] Josh Metellus,” Kinnel said. “He’s been taking leadership. So has [redshirt junior cornerback] Brandon Watson. So has [redshirt sophomore cornerback] Keith Washington. We’re all communicating together, and you can tell. We’re talking, even the freshmen.”
In that regard, Kinnel likes the looks of early enrollee defensive backs J’Marick Woods and Jalen Kelly-Powell. Kinnel insists the difference from spring to fall is palpable.
“They’re getting even better, which is a really good thing,” he said. “They came in the spring, and it’s a good thing they came in the spring. Now they came in knowing the plays, knowing what they have to do. Now they’re playing much faster in Coach Brown’s system as well.
“You can tell, especially the guys that came in the spring, or that played in the games last year. You can tell the game is starting to move just a little bit slower for them. We’re just trying to take every rep we can — mental reps, physical reps and get better each day.”
Metellus is one of those who got a taste last season and is back for much more. Kinnel noted his safety sidekick and he are working well together.
“Oh, definitely,” Kinnel said. “He’s doing really well. We trust each other. That’s the key. We’ve got to communicate back there, and just trust each other. That’s what me and Josh have been doing. It’s working out really well.”
And overall? It’s no time to fall behind, Kinnel warned.
“You can tell, watching the film from every day in practice, everyone is going hard,” he said. “There are no loafs. It’s high expectations, as Coach [Don] Brown always says. Competition brings out the best in us. We’re competing.”
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