Jesse Minter: This Michigan defense is not the Vanderbilt defense
Rabid Michigan fans did their homework on new defensive coordinator Jesse Minter shortly after his offseason hiring, hoping to find out what the Vanderbilt D.C. would bring to the table. Minter had called defenses for several years at Georgia State before joining the Baltimore Ravens’ staff. Last year, though, was his first calling one at the FBS level.
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His Vanderbilt group had its moments, but it struggled at times. The talent wasn’t close to what he’s got to work with at Michigan, and the competition in the SEC was stiff.
Regardless, Minter said recently, the Vanderbilt defense was never going to be exactly the same as the one he’s brought to Michigan. It’s primarily dictated by personnel, and he has plenty of outstanding options at U-M.
“Every situation is its own,” Minter said. “The system we ran at Vanderbilt was built for Vanderbilt. We had a defensive head coach [in Clark Lea], so we kind of put some stuff together based on both of our pasts, our histories. Honestly, there was not a lot of terminology carryover. There are certainly only so many structures of defense you can play, so there are probably some things we did that kind of look the same.
“But now it’s kind of back into the system we had built at Baltimore, from a terminology standpoint. I think there’s carryover in how you play defense and what’s important to play good defense. But … it’s definitely two different systems.”
This one is much more similar to Mike Macdonald’s only Michigan defense, which is to be expected. Macdonald and Minter coached together at Baltimore and know each other well.
Even so, there will be differences in this year’s defense, too. That goes beyond just replacing two elite defensive ends.
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“We both look at the game similar. We both probably have a calm demeanor about us that allows us to stay in the moment and not ride the wave of emotion,” Minter added. “But we’re different people. We look at the game differently at times. He worked with the linebackers, so he might have looked at things a little more front to back. I look at it just as a DBs coach my whole career, pretty much … I kind of see things from the back to front.
“There are definitely similarities, but I think we are two different people, as well.”
And Minter has had plenty of experience calling defenses to get to where he is now. Focusing on the next play and not getting too high or too low is a point of emphasis, and he’s all about the moment.
“Just like you want defensive players to have the next play mentality, I think as a play caller, the more you do it, the more you understand one play is not going to make the difference,” he said. “It’s putting the guys in the best position every play. Not being emotional.
“Sometimes play callers can be emotional in their response … but the more you do it, the more you figure it out. My demeanor over the years has changed to be calmer, and it’s definitely something I focus on.”
That’s going to be the same everywhere — Vanderbilt, Michigan, wherever. And in that respect only, Michigan is getting the same guy who came from SEC country.
