Early Michigan MVP, most improved candidates hail from the secondary
It’s only been two games against woeful opponents, but there’s been plenty to like about the Michigan defense. The pass rush has been relentless, linebackers Junior Colson and Jaylen Harrell have made huge steps, and the interior line is rock solid.
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The secondary, meanwhile, looks like it could be as good as last year’s — again, with the understanding that there are much bigger tests to come. It lost Dax Hill and Brad Hawkins, but two who have helped replace them — senior Mike Sainristil, coming over from offense, and junior Makari Paige — have helped eased the sting of losing them.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh went so far as to say Sainristil looked like Hill the way he was patrolling the secondary. He has been all over the field the first two games and looks the part of a natural defensive back.
The Michigan captain is capable of even more, secondary coach and co-D.C. Steve Clinkscale said Wednesday.
“He’s doing veteran things,” the Michigan second-year assistant said. “He is out there anticipating the issues and doing a very good job of disguising and understanding what they’re trying to do to attack us. 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 can do his job and [also] do someone else’s job … but make sure his job is taken care of first.
“… We see him do that with is unbelievable effort, strength, passion in just trying to make plays and do something right. He wants to be to be the best defensive back on the team; wants to be the best DB in the nation. That’s his goal. He’ll play receiver, do anything we ask him to do.”
And whatever it is, Clinkscale said, he’ll do it at a high level because he wants to be the best at it. He might just be the defensive MVP after two games — he’s graded out as well as just about anyone — and he’s only going to get better.
“It’s really just his drive and his personality,” Clinkscale said of the Michigan senior. “His mental makeup. He’s already a leader and he’s going to continue to be great in that role.
“But I continue to see him getting more of a role at corner, especially this week. You’ll see, he’s got a lot of upside. He’s very fast, strong, obviously physical. He’s kind of a coach on the field a little bit. I love having him around the room. I love being around him.”
One of the Michigan most improved is also from the secondary
Makari Paige, meanwhile, has come a long way in terms of physicality. He’s also learned the defense and put himself in position for even more snaps.
He was one of the most improved Michigan defenders in the spring and fall, and it’s finally translating to the field.
“The defense he ran in high school was a lot of man coverage, so last year was understanding more of the principles of zone. How to communicate, how he was just based on formations. I saw him grow a lot this spring, He’s carried over to the summer and done a good job this fall.
“The thing about Makari is he’s been playing physical. He had a good opportunity to get an interception in the game. He understood the coverage, how to kind of bait the guy into throwing he fade ball over there. No, he didn’t capitalize … the receiver did a good job defending the ball. But he’s understanding all the concepts very well.”
He’s another guy who could play more than one position in the Michigan secondary.
“I’ll put him at nickel sometimes. I can put him at corner,” Clinkscale said. “He understands the zone concepts there, too. So, his growth has been good. I want to keep challenging him to get a bigger role.”
Giving Michigan one more option in a secondary with lots of talent.
