Indiana University Athletics
Allen Pushing “Takeaways” However He Can
4/11/2016 1:02:00 PM | Football
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - New IU defensive coordinator Tom Allen has made it clear that forcing turnovers—he prefers calling them "takeaways"—is a priority, and he takes any opportunity he can to provide reminders.
Take, for example, the signs posted in the inside and outside of each defensive position room inside the North End Zone practice facility at Memorial Stadium. Each day, Allen makes sure there's a piece of paper that reads, "HOOSIER TAKEAWAYS, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE BALL" listing the amount of turnovers his defense forced the last time they were on the field.
"You get what you emphasize," Allen said. "I want it to be very visual so we don't just talk about it. They come in every single day and the number of takeaways is posted on every single door on both sides of the door so they see it coming, and they see it going."
So far, the signs appear to be doing exactly what Allen intended.
"It's impossible to miss," redshirt junior defensive lineman Nate Hoff said.
The takeaway tracker doesn't just stop at listing total takeaways, either. It goes beyond that.
The production sheet is also posted on the doors listing all the strip attempts, forced fumbles, fumble recoveries and other key areas related to producing the takeaways Allen values so highly. Allen wants IU to be productive in turning opponents over as much as he wants to see an increase in fumble recoveries and interceptions.
"It's great because now they know each and every day when they come to the meeting room, their production," cornerbacks coach Brandon Shelby said. "At the end of the day, as a corner, as a defensive stopper, it's production when it comes your way."
Indiana has seen signs of growth in the takeaway department after finishing sixth in the Big Ten last season with 12. Of those, four came from sophomore safety Jonathan Crawford via interceptions and another four came via redshirt junior linebacker Marcus Oliver's four forced fumbles.
Allen was pleased to see redshirt sophomore husky Will Dawkins return an interception for a touchdown just last Thursday. It wasn't just a welcome sign for Dawkins as an individual, but the husky position as a whole that's still getting implemented into IU's defense.
"We're working on getting a great D-line rush," Shelby said. "A lot of corners who have big-time interceptions, they can sit on routes because they know that D-line is going to be there and that ball is going to come out in one and a half seconds. Hopefully for us, once we start getting new blitzes and zone blitzes in, our corners will be able to sit on blitzes knowing the ball is going to come out."
When they do, it could lead to turnovers. But don't call it that if you're part of IU's staff. Allen doesn't like that word.
He prefers calling them "takeaways" so much that those who say differently will be punished with 25 pushups for every offense. Linebackers coach William Inge can attest after owing Allen 50 last Thursday for using the word Allen considers unspeakable not once, but twice.
"Coach Inge comes up to me all fired up, and he used the T-Word—twice," Allen said. "It cost him…It happens. We're going to be aggressively taking that ball away."
If Indiana can't, it won't be from a lack of understanding.
By now, "takeaways" are just about engrained into everything the Hoosiers defense does.
"These guys are going to understand how important it is," Allen said.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - New IU defensive coordinator Tom Allen has made it clear that forcing turnovers—he prefers calling them "takeaways"—is a priority, and he takes any opportunity he can to provide reminders.
Take, for example, the signs posted in the inside and outside of each defensive position room inside the North End Zone practice facility at Memorial Stadium. Each day, Allen makes sure there's a piece of paper that reads, "HOOSIER TAKEAWAYS, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE BALL" listing the amount of turnovers his defense forced the last time they were on the field.
"You get what you emphasize," Allen said. "I want it to be very visual so we don't just talk about it. They come in every single day and the number of takeaways is posted on every single door on both sides of the door so they see it coming, and they see it going."
So far, the signs appear to be doing exactly what Allen intended.
"It's impossible to miss," redshirt junior defensive lineman Nate Hoff said.
The takeaway tracker doesn't just stop at listing total takeaways, either. It goes beyond that.
The production sheet is also posted on the doors listing all the strip attempts, forced fumbles, fumble recoveries and other key areas related to producing the takeaways Allen values so highly. Allen wants IU to be productive in turning opponents over as much as he wants to see an increase in fumble recoveries and interceptions.
"It's great because now they know each and every day when they come to the meeting room, their production," cornerbacks coach Brandon Shelby said. "At the end of the day, as a corner, as a defensive stopper, it's production when it comes your way."
Indiana has seen signs of growth in the takeaway department after finishing sixth in the Big Ten last season with 12. Of those, four came from sophomore safety Jonathan Crawford via interceptions and another four came via redshirt junior linebacker Marcus Oliver's four forced fumbles.
Allen was pleased to see redshirt sophomore husky Will Dawkins return an interception for a touchdown just last Thursday. It wasn't just a welcome sign for Dawkins as an individual, but the husky position as a whole that's still getting implemented into IU's defense.
"We're working on getting a great D-line rush," Shelby said. "A lot of corners who have big-time interceptions, they can sit on routes because they know that D-line is going to be there and that ball is going to come out in one and a half seconds. Hopefully for us, once we start getting new blitzes and zone blitzes in, our corners will be able to sit on blitzes knowing the ball is going to come out."
When they do, it could lead to turnovers. But don't call it that if you're part of IU's staff. Allen doesn't like that word.
He prefers calling them "takeaways" so much that those who say differently will be punished with 25 pushups for every offense. Linebackers coach William Inge can attest after owing Allen 50 last Thursday for using the word Allen considers unspeakable not once, but twice.
"Coach Inge comes up to me all fired up, and he used the T-Word—twice," Allen said. "It cost him…It happens. We're going to be aggressively taking that ball away."
If Indiana can't, it won't be from a lack of understanding.
By now, "takeaways" are just about engrained into everything the Hoosiers defense does.
"These guys are going to understand how important it is," Allen said.
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