The Chargers boast one of the NFL's top defenses more than midway through the 2024 season.

A big reason? That play of the defensive backs, a group that is led by secondary coach Steve Clinkscale.

Clinkscale spent the past three seasons at Michigan before joining Jim Harbaugh's staff this offseason.

Here is our Coaches' Corner with Clinkscale:

Thanks for your time, Steve. We're more than halfway through the season, your first in the NFL. How are things going?

"We're winning. I'm always good when we win. Of course there are always things to clean up in the secondary coaching-wise, teaching-wise, understanding the execution. I'm always just hungry to continue to find a way to get better every week."

For fans that don't know you well, how would you describe your coaching style?

"I think coaching is teaching. So I really pride myself on finding different ways to learn how to teach better and not being comfortable with, 'Well, this work for this person or this group of people.' What can work for the guys I'm coaching now? And I'm direct. I'm a direct coach. If I feel it, I say it, you know? But I say it in a way that they can learn from it. I want them to understand where they stand and where I see them and what I see their potential being."

How have you used that teaching style this year with all of the moving pieces in the secondary?

"Well, we teach everybody every position. You would like to have guys cross train but we're at the point now where we got some new guys and it's not where we would like it. I like to teach them the whole approach so that way they can understand where the help is and if they understand where the help is, they know how to execute their assignment better."

Coach Harbaugh gave you a game ball after the Week 9 win over the Browns. What did that mean to you?

"It always means something to me but at this point, what it really means is I appreciate it. I'm very thankful. You do this a long time and sometimes you don't feel like you get appreciated or thanked for the situations that you're in. So, I definitely appreciate it and it definitely makes me want to strive to be even better. The way Coach approaches it, he enjoys his victories because they're hard to get. But I want them to continue to notice that we're doing better and doing well. It just really gave me a little bit more motivation."

Safeties coach Chris O'Leary also got a game ball. What do you like about working with him?

"He's a smart guy. He's the same way, driven like me. We don't have egos in there. Working with Chris, I learn from Chris and he learns from me. We all learn from Jesse [Minter]. But people say, 'Oh, you're the DB coach, he's the safeties coach.' We're both DB coaches. I coach the entire secondary and so does he. Even [defensive quality control coach] Robert Muschamp, he's another one I have to mention. He does all the work that gets no credit. During OTAs with the rookies, I let Robert lead some of the meetings with those guys. It just gives him another feather in his cap towards that step of being an individual coach."

What has impressed you the most about Derwin James from the time you arrived here?

"I heard that he was a really good player. But when I first met him, he's an even better person. He's a more motivated person than you would think with somebody with the accolades that he's had. He's always trying to get better. He practices like he's on a rookie contract, like he's undrafted. I felt that right away. He really motivates me to want to come to work and just give guys that extra effort. He challenges the coaches and the players just to match that energy. He's not demanding about anything but just like, 'Hey, follow me.' He's at such a high level and following him also makes you lead at a higher level as well. I love working with him. He's been great on the field and off the field. Just a really good leader in that room, good leader on the team. And he just really wants to win. He's been here a long time, wants to put things together and have a legacy that has the defense that's physical, smart and creates momentum for the team. Just leave that legacy and stack it year to year."

Elijah Molden has hit the ground running since the team traded for him in August. How has he done that?

"He's a veteran. He also came from a defense [in Tennessee] that is pretty much a very similar defense to us. He was able to jump right away. A couple different terms other than that, he was right on it. He's a very cerebral guy, he's very smart. He sees the big picture before they attack us. And with his communication out there, his awareness has put him in position to make plays."

How has Kristian Fulton looked to you in his first year on the Bolts?

"I think he's playing the best ball right now because I think he's where he wants to be. But he wants to keep getting better and I'm happy with the performances he's given. I think he's got even more in the tank and if this is the best football he's playing, we want to keep playing even better. A great addition, so major credit to Joe Hortiz and Chad Alexander and the scouts because they all did a great job finding guys to come in and really help us."

You've started two rookies at cornerback the past month in Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart. We'll start with Tarheeb … was there a point where you knew he was going to be solid?

"I think you always got to go and prove it every week. He's got to go prove it this week. But yes, you see the talent and you're drafting guys that you feel can come in and help. Did we know they were going to play this much? No, but that's what you're preparing for. I told them when they got here that you never know when your number is going to be called. You never know when you're going to be a full-time starter. But watching his and Cam's film and seeing the talent that they have, I'm really pleased with them."

Cam is 6-foot-2 and 207 pounds. What does his size do for you guys in the secondary?

"Well, it allows you to, to match him up with bigger receivers and tight ends. It allows him to be physical on the perimeter, which he really showcased [against Cleveland]. And then we'll continue to work in coverage. It's understanding the big picture and seeing things to help him improve his game."

Final one for you, what do you want the mindset of your room to be in the final two months of the season?

"It's 0-0 every week, every play, every series. Are you going to go out there and improve and be your best when your best is needed? Have a bad play? Go to the next play. Just continue to grind out the details. Our angles on tackling needs to improve but it gets covered up with the pursuit and effort, but I want to continue to clean that up. We want to set the edge, eliminate perimeter plays. We're not going to be satisfied. Don't be satisfied with what happened last series. We forced a three-and-out? Let's go, one play and let's get an interception. I want to continue to get them to understand that our ceiling is really high. We can really do well as an entire defense, but as we go as the defensive backs go."