ANN ARBOR — There has been talk that the strength of Michigan’s defense will be its line, but the truth may be a bit deeper on the field as the Wolverines’ secondary, particularly the corners, has the benefit of a group of experienced, talented players.
Cornerbacks coach Jernaro Gilford believes Michigan has four corners who could prove impactful this fall in Jyaire Hill and Zeke Berry, both starters last year for the Wolverines; veteran transfer Smith Snowden, a starter at Utah; and sophomore Shamari Earls, a four-star recruit who played in six games last season.
“I’m very self-confident, so I feel like all my groups can be a leader of the defense, whether we’re young, old, whatever the case may be,” Gilford told reporters this week. “I’m very confident in what I bring to the table. I’m very confident in (defensive coordinator) Jay Hill because he is a DB. I’m very confident in what he brings to the table and what he’s taught me under his tutelage for the last three years, so there’s never been a down moment for me in my group.
“I always feel like we can be one of the top groups, but with these guys, 100% the expectation is to be one of the top groups in the country. That’s our expectation.”
This is the time of year, the days before the start of the season, when coaches and players throw out lofty expectations. Gilford and his group certainly have a legitimate shot at living up to them. There’s versatility in the secondary and Jay Hill and Gilford have shown a willingness to be creative in how they use the players.
“Being around Coach Hill for the last few years, that’s what we do — put three corners out there,” Gilford said. “We’ve even had packages of four corners when they come with 10 personnel and have four wideouts. We have those guys. There’s no doubt about it, this year we have four guys who can go out there and play man-to-man, play zone, whatever the case may be.”
Jyaire Hill and Berry have the edge in terms of zone coverage, because they’ve played it and, more importantly, know the ins and outs.
“They’ve been playing zone for the last few years and they understand everything from an IQ standpoint, how to jump certain concepts that are coming,” Gilford said. “Not saying that Smith and Shamari aren’t as good, but if you just ask me off the top of my head, I would probably say those two because they’ve been playing so much zone over the past few years.”
If the situation calls for man-to-man coverage, Snowden and Earls have stood out.
“Just from a sticky standpoint, always being around a guy, always touching up coverages,” Gilford said. “Just being in your grill.”
The coaches have worked different players at nickel, including Berry, Hill and Snowden, and Gilford said they’ll use all three because they’re “interchangeable.” Berry likely will be more leaned on.
“From a tackling standpoint, inside from a nickel standpoint, I would probably say Zeke, just because he is a physical kid,” Gilford said. “He can come off the edge from a blitz standpoint, not afraid to fill a B-gap, doing things like that from an outside standpoint. (Hill) is very physical taking on blocks, not afraid to tackle. From an inside-outside standpoint, those two. But at the end of the day, Shamari’s not afraid to tackle and either is Snowden.”
Jyaire Hill recently told reporters that all the corners are learning how to play different spots and that has proven valuable.
“We're all corners, we’ve all got to play at every position on the defensive backside,” Hill said. “To get better too, and know the playbook in and out.”
Hill could be the most important piece in the secondary. He started every game last season and had an interception. The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder was described by Gilford as a “high-IQ” player who quickly took to Jay Hill’s scheme and Gilford’s coaching. Jyaire Hill said he’s taking a championship mindset into this season, which he suggested could be his last at Michigan, saying he wants to prepare for the NFL and “go all out” this fall.
“Since I’ve been here, every year there’s a new coach,” Hill said. “I’m prepared for it and got to deal with it. Got to learn it. Ain’t very difficult to me.”
Jay Hill said his defense is complicated and has fully installed what he intended this fall. He plans to show different looks and disguises and hopes to confuse opposing quarterbacks. There’s clearly, as any defensive coordinator would say, a focus on getting to the quarterback and forcing turnovers.
Gilford said having veterans like Jyaire Hill, Berry and Snowden have accelerated the learning among the defensive backs because they’ve been able to teach and show the younger players.
“For guys who have played a lot of ball and are students of the game, they kind of understand it,” Gilford said. “That’s why I’m very blessed to have three veteran guys who have played a lot of football, because they totally understand it.”
achengelis@detroitnews.com
@chengelis
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Michigan secondary expects to be 'one of the top groups' in the nation
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