Indiana Defense Steps Up Late After Early Struggles
11/21/2015 4:27:00 PM | Football
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Not more than 10 minutes into Indiana's 47-28 win over Maryland, it appeared the Hoosiers' defense was in for a long day.
Then as quickly as things seemingly fell apart, they came back together again.
The Hoosier defense strung together one of its best stretches of the season, holding Maryland to just seven points over the final 50:32 after allowing three quick touchdowns in the game's opening minutes. Their defensive stand was more than enough for the offense to work with as the Hoosiers went on a 44-7 run to close out their win.
"To settle down and play three strong quarters on the road that late in the year was good," head coach Kevin Wilson said. "Once the D settled down and got the stops, it really accelerated the offense."
Indiana nearly shut the Terrapins out for the final three quarters altogether had it not been for a 75-yard score by Maryland running back Brandon Ross 42 seconds into the third quarter. Ross accounted for 259 of his team's 489 yards of offense between 250 rushing yards and nine receiving yards, but was slowed in the second half.
"We saw an increase in pressure," Maryland offensive lineman Ryan Doyle said. "They definitely wanted to stop the run because that's how we were getting points."
Indiana's ability to bounce back from early struggles is a positive sign for the Hoosier defense. In a scenario where some past teams would have crumbled, the defense responded with some of its best play to date.
The Terrapins' passing attack was contained for most of the day without usual starting quarterback Perry Hills, who missed the game with an illness. Back-ups Caleb Rowe and Shane Cockerille combined to complete 21-of-41 passes for 170 yards.
"You have to credit Indiana," Maryland head coach Mike Locksley said. "This is a team that fought back from a first quarter deficit and continued to play."
Sudfeld, Cobbs lead Indiana passing attack
What a difference a year made for Nate Sudfeld.
Indiana's senior quarterback finished with 385 yards and four touchdowns on 23-of-35 passing in IU's 19-point victory against Maryland. A year ago, Sudfeld managed just 126 yards against the Terrapins on 14-of-37 passing in a 22-point loss in Bloomington.
Sudfeld connected with eight different receivers on the day, with sophomore receiver Simmie Cobbs, Jr., and redshirt junior receiver Mitchell Paige leading the way as the only two receivers with more than three catches.
"Anytime you give a quarterback like their kid time to throw the ball, he's a good passer and he's going to take advantage of that," Locksley said.
Cobbs did most of the work, hauling in nine catches for a career-high 192 yards. He managed to beat the Maryland defensive backs in multiple ways, whether it be using his speed and to take a screen 14 yards for a first down, reaching out and snagging a one-handed grab over the middle as he fell to the turf or find space down the field for one of his four catches of 25 yards or more.
"That was impressive," Wilson said of Cobbs' day. "I think it's a sign, because he's a second-year kid now, he's just growing up."
The efficiency of the passing game was a welcome sight for the Hoosiers after leading rusher Jordan Howard was limited to just three carries with an injury. It proved to be a non-factor, with Sudfeld's passing attack providing more than enough offense to lead the Hoosiers to their first Big Ten win of the season.
"We weren't nervous. We knew we just had to make some plays," Cobbs said. "Early in the game, we weren't making the plays we needed to make. We left some plays on the field. Finally, we got into our motion, and started scoring."
IU recovers another onside kick
Wilson took a gamble in the second quarter, electing to call an onside kick after the Hoosiers pulled within four points of Maryland.
The risk paid off. Redshirt sophomore cornerback Rashard Fant fell on the loose ball near the sideline without any Maryland players nearby.
Redshirt sophomore kicker Griffin Oakes has proven to be quite the threat on onside tries. The Hoosiers have recovered 5-of-6 of his onside kicks over his career.
Wilson's Word: "That's just how good teams prepare for games in November; every game counts. We've played some close games and coming up short. But we keep saying that we are a good team and if you are, you finally start pushing through that. So we've tried to coach and prepare our team because we think we've played enough good football the way a winning football team prepares. It has not been very negative, it's been very strong preparation. We showed some video last week during meals of just us playing on TV. We've played some good football. Now we don't like some of the outcomes, but we've got a team that has played some good football. To go on the road and win, you've got to play good football. I think it's a sign of good things and I think it's one of the better comebacks in school history. But again what happened for three quarters is the best team ball we've played since early in the year and it's good to see, and credit that to the seniors, they're a great group of guys."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Not more than 10 minutes into Indiana's 47-28 win over Maryland, it appeared the Hoosiers' defense was in for a long day.
Then as quickly as things seemingly fell apart, they came back together again.
The Hoosier defense strung together one of its best stretches of the season, holding Maryland to just seven points over the final 50:32 after allowing three quick touchdowns in the game's opening minutes. Their defensive stand was more than enough for the offense to work with as the Hoosiers went on a 44-7 run to close out their win.
"To settle down and play three strong quarters on the road that late in the year was good," head coach Kevin Wilson said. "Once the D settled down and got the stops, it really accelerated the offense."
Indiana nearly shut the Terrapins out for the final three quarters altogether had it not been for a 75-yard score by Maryland running back Brandon Ross 42 seconds into the third quarter. Ross accounted for 259 of his team's 489 yards of offense between 250 rushing yards and nine receiving yards, but was slowed in the second half.
"We saw an increase in pressure," Maryland offensive lineman Ryan Doyle said. "They definitely wanted to stop the run because that's how we were getting points."
Indiana's ability to bounce back from early struggles is a positive sign for the Hoosier defense. In a scenario where some past teams would have crumbled, the defense responded with some of its best play to date.
The Terrapins' passing attack was contained for most of the day without usual starting quarterback Perry Hills, who missed the game with an illness. Back-ups Caleb Rowe and Shane Cockerille combined to complete 21-of-41 passes for 170 yards.
"You have to credit Indiana," Maryland head coach Mike Locksley said. "This is a team that fought back from a first quarter deficit and continued to play."
Sudfeld, Cobbs lead Indiana passing attack
What a difference a year made for Nate Sudfeld.
Indiana's senior quarterback finished with 385 yards and four touchdowns on 23-of-35 passing in IU's 19-point victory against Maryland. A year ago, Sudfeld managed just 126 yards against the Terrapins on 14-of-37 passing in a 22-point loss in Bloomington.
Sudfeld connected with eight different receivers on the day, with sophomore receiver Simmie Cobbs, Jr., and redshirt junior receiver Mitchell Paige leading the way as the only two receivers with more than three catches.
"Anytime you give a quarterback like their kid time to throw the ball, he's a good passer and he's going to take advantage of that," Locksley said.
Cobbs did most of the work, hauling in nine catches for a career-high 192 yards. He managed to beat the Maryland defensive backs in multiple ways, whether it be using his speed and to take a screen 14 yards for a first down, reaching out and snagging a one-handed grab over the middle as he fell to the turf or find space down the field for one of his four catches of 25 yards or more.
"That was impressive," Wilson said of Cobbs' day. "I think it's a sign, because he's a second-year kid now, he's just growing up."
The efficiency of the passing game was a welcome sight for the Hoosiers after leading rusher Jordan Howard was limited to just three carries with an injury. It proved to be a non-factor, with Sudfeld's passing attack providing more than enough offense to lead the Hoosiers to their first Big Ten win of the season.
"We weren't nervous. We knew we just had to make some plays," Cobbs said. "Early in the game, we weren't making the plays we needed to make. We left some plays on the field. Finally, we got into our motion, and started scoring."
IU recovers another onside kick
Wilson took a gamble in the second quarter, electing to call an onside kick after the Hoosiers pulled within four points of Maryland.
The risk paid off. Redshirt sophomore cornerback Rashard Fant fell on the loose ball near the sideline without any Maryland players nearby.
Redshirt sophomore kicker Griffin Oakes has proven to be quite the threat on onside tries. The Hoosiers have recovered 5-of-6 of his onside kicks over his career.
Wilson's Word: "That's just how good teams prepare for games in November; every game counts. We've played some close games and coming up short. But we keep saying that we are a good team and if you are, you finally start pushing through that. So we've tried to coach and prepare our team because we think we've played enough good football the way a winning football team prepares. It has not been very negative, it's been very strong preparation. We showed some video last week during meals of just us playing on TV. We've played some good football. Now we don't like some of the outcomes, but we've got a team that has played some good football. To go on the road and win, you've got to play good football. I think it's a sign of good things and I think it's one of the better comebacks in school history. But again what happened for three quarters is the best team ball we've played since early in the year and it's good to see, and credit that to the seniors, they're a great group of guys."
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