Michigan's Steve Clinkscale discusses 'pretty solid' depth at safety
Michigan co-defensive coordinator Steve Clinkscale would like to see his group of safeties lead from the front this year, to help the rest of the defensive backs grow and develop this season.
He has the perfect leader to help with that, as mainstay Rod Moore returns looking to have a big junior season and become one of the more vocal leaders, alongside a handful of others, on defense.
While it wasn't perfect, the play at safety was a strength for the Wolverines last season. Now, heading into another year in the same system, Clinkscale would like to see the entire defensive back unit make more plays and avoid leaving plays out on the field.
"I tell them all the time, I'm violent by nature and I want my guys to play the same way," Clinkscale said on the latest episode of the In the Trenches podcast. "I want them to be violent, aggressive and physical but also look at themselves every rep, every play, every practice, every game and what can you get better at? I think their physical nature married up with their understanding of the game, formations and tendencies and how they're trying to attack us will continue to help them elevate.
"I talk to Rod a lot about plays we left on the field last year as an entire group, not just him, because he's a leader. How we can continue to, in the summer time and the fall and during the season, continue to get better at those. They're taking ownership as leaders. They definitely want the group to elevate with them and that's a great place to be because they're really, really good players."
Outside of Moore, Makari Paige is also returning after a career year last year that saw him take a step forward that many members of the coaching staff hoped he would last season.
Outside of the two main names, Clinkscale is looking forward to see how the rest of the room develops this season.
"Our depth, we don't do free-strong, we do right-left," Clinkscale said. "You have to know every position. Our depth is actually pretty solid. You said the two initial guys, of course, in Rod Moore and Makari Paige. Quinten Johnson is doing a really good job for us. Keon Sabb is doing a great job. Zeke Berry and, Caden Kolesar, we get back as well. That kind of nucleus of the group and then you have Kody Jones who is kind of doing a little bit of corner, nickel and safety. Mixing all those guys in there together.
"We have a couple of new guys we're interested and really excited to see help us in that position. Then you have Mikey Sainrsitil who can play at safety, corner, nickel. Wherever we ask him to. He's definitely the catalyst to that group and helping those guys improve their game."
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