Jim Harbaugh is to thank for Michigan spring surprise on defense

Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh is always thinking of ways to improve his team, sometimes going outside the box. Whether it’s position switches, ways to block plays, etc., he’s seen enough to offer informed perspectives on just about anything.

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That’s true on both sides of the ball, not just offense. And it’s one of the reasons Mike Sainristil is spending a lot of time at nickel corner this spring.

Not only has the Michigan veteran been playing significantly there; he’s also been performing extremely well.

 “It was Coach Harbaugh,” defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said when asked whose idea it was to move the dependable receiver. “I think he does a tremendous job. He’s a very big picture, roster [thinker], and probably because of his NFL background.

“When I got here, they were like, ‘Hey, we’re going to try this player, this particular player [on defense]’ — I didn’t know who he was — at nickel. Jay Harbaugh, who’s our safeties coach now, raved about his ability just as a tough, physical special teams player, also a blocker on offense and obviously good with the ball in his hands, too. So it was a little bit intriguing at first, like what’s it going to look like?”

As of now, it looks like a great move. Sainristil has been disruptive in the Michigan secondary, and spotters say he even had a strip sack for a touchdown a few weeks ago. A two-way player in high school, the 5-10, 185-pounder has great instincts and was even the beneficiary of quarterback Cade McNamara’s first pick of the spring.

Sainristil has made some big catches as a wide receiver, and he could play there again as a two-way player. Harbaugh even said this spring he could play three ways, including special teams in the mix.

“Mikey is a tough, smart, cerebral football player. He’s small in nature, but he’s the type of guy that can play anywhere,” Minter added. “He just has the right mindset.

“We’re very excited about what he’s brought to the table on defense, not only just from that position, but even just as an older guy that knows how to play, since we did lose some leadership. I think he’s a guy that the players trust. And we’re excited to see how he continues to develop in that role.”

That includes secondary coach Steve Clinkscale. “Coach Clink” loves guys who bring it in the secondary — players who aren’t afraid to hit.

Sainristil has been one of Michigan’s better blockers on the perimeter during his time in Ann Arbor. He’s shown many of the same traits on the other side of the ball.

“Mikey’s physical. He’ll block you at receiver … he’ll tackle [on defense],” Clinkscale said. “We’re working on him keeping his eyes up. The biggest thing coming over from offense is keeping your eyes up, but he was a great special teams player for us too. We carry over the same drills.

“Shoutout to Jay Harbaugh, who’s also doing a really good job back there with the safeties. Jay has already taught that on special teams, how to tackle. That’s been the carryover. We have a pretty good group back there and Jesse is a defensive backs guy himself, so we don’t leave anything uncovered. Guys like Mikey are bearing the fruits from guys who coached multiple positions.”

But it wouldn’t have happened without the suggestion from the Michigan head coach. Should it work out as they hope — and it looks like it will — he’s the guy to thank.

“Got to give all credit to Coach Harbaugh,” Clinkscale said. “He called me up and said he wanted to try Mikey at nickel, and that he would be really good there. I worked for a guy in Tommy Tuberville at Cincinnatti and learned that when the head coach has been doing this for a while, they see something and they come to you. Agree with them. Take it. Try it. They see things, and we get locked into our own little skillset or what we are doing. He sees things that we don’t see.

“I didn’t recruit Mikey, so I didn’t know. After day one, I went over there and said, ‘I think you’re right. I think we found something.’ So I have to give all credit to Coach Harbaugh. He put Mikey in the right position to help the team, and that’s what he’s all about.”