Indiana University Athletics
Notebook: Indiana Focuses Attention to Charleston Southern
10/2/2017 9:02:00 PM | Football
By: Andy Graham
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Nobody who knows Indiana football coach Tom Allen would evince surprise that he likes a quarterback who has a "linebacker mentality."
Allen is defense-oriented by both coaching pedigree and inclination. But he announced a big move for IU's offense Monday in elevating redshirt freshman Peyton Ramsey to the starting quarterback role in place of fifth-year senior Richard Lagow.
While professing his "love for both guys" and emphasizing he was not comparing the two, Allen said this about Ramsey:
"There's a grit to him. There's a toughness to him that he's got a linebacker mentality in how he works and how he handles adversity and all that. I've noticed that since he's been here (during) our leadership training. So those are the kind of things that I always saw that he had in him. So those need to come to the forefront. That's what leaders do."
While Lagow was the designated starter till now, Ramsey has played in every game through IU's 2-2 start, completing 29-of-48 passes (.604) for 316 yards and four TDs with just one interception.
Ramsey also ranks as IU's second-leading rusher with 117 net yards and 34 carries (3.4), while the less mobile Lagow has a net minus-30 rushing primarily due to absorbing sacks.
Allen indicated there is no plan to script shared snaps at quarterback moving forward. It is Ramsey's job unless something unforeseen arises.
"You look back at the first four games," Allen said "and (at) our ability to move the football and score points and build a team around whoever I feel gives us the best opportunity to have success on game day. And I feel like and our staff feels like that Peyton Ramsey is the person for that responsibility.
"And so he's going to be our starting quarterback. And Rich will be a great teammate and continue to work really hard and be ready to go when called upon."
Lagow started the season shining, completing 40-of-65 throws (.615) for 410 yards and three TDs (with two picks) in the opener against No. 2 Ohio State. Subsequently, however, he is just 18-of-38 (.474) for 251 yards, one TD and one interception.
Allen said the decision to change starting QBs evolved over the course of the campaign so far, not simply from Saturday's 45-14 loss at No. 4 Penn State, during which Lagow had a 5-of-6 start but finished 7-of-15 as Ramsey ended up taking most of the day's snaps.
"It would be collective," Allen said. "It really wasn't even just this game. It was just the build up over time and just other things that you see from both situations.
"And so it's just -- I've already commented previously, love both guys, awesome people -- I do think Peyton has that look in his eye about him that's different."
Ramsey has shown that all along, including during his days playing for father Doug at perennial prep power Cincinnati Elder. He showed it while leading IU to its first victory this season, the 34-17 road win at Virginia. And he has demonstrated he can tally with both his arm and his legs.
"He gives you the ability to open up things in the run game a little more," IU offensive coordinator Mike DeBord said Monday of Ramsey, " … and that helps you control the ball more.
"He's also a guy who can do things on the move, as well. He's (relatively inexperienced but has) played in games that already had great value. He's handled that well."
DeBord noted that while playing two quarterbacks with differing skill sets, Indiana had a split personality rather than an identity on offense. He hopes to fashion a more consistent ID now.
"We've had, in some ways, a little bit of two offenses," DeBord said. "We've done things with Rich that have been different than (with) Peyton.
"It will enable us to kind of build everything around (Peyton) now, and add to a little bit more that way, too … now that the quarterback decision has been made, we can zero in on that and just put more emphasis on what Peyton can do."
Allen agreed that needed to happen.
"Yeah, I think it has to be a situation where we build our offense around what Peyton does best, the throws that he makes and can make and will make," Allen said, "and (to) be able to force the defense to have to account for him in the run game as well as (his ability to be) extending plays.
"That's for sure his strength, and getting those balls to those guys."
The guys to whom Allen alluded were receivers, a corps constituting a major asset of IU's attack.
The Ohio State game saw starting wideouts Simmie Cobbs Jr. and Donavan Hale and tight end Ian Thomas combine to post 21 catches for 269 yards and the three scores on the receiving end of Lagow throws – many of them deep back-shoulder sideline aerials that were well-placed.
Thomas had a career-high 91 yards on five catches against Penn State, but 54 of those yards came as Lagow rolled right and delivered a perfect strike, before Ramsey's advent into the game.
Most of Ramsey's throws on Saturdays so far have involved shorter routes. DeBord was asked Monday if he felt Ramsey had the arm strength to make all the throws necessary to fully utilize the Hoosier receivers, and replied that he's seen it in practice.
"That is something we will we continue to build upon," DeBord said. "We'll look to do that. We're going to have to do that. He's done it in practice and we'll have to do more of it. We did more of it with Rich … but Peyton is going to have to do that as well."
DeBord noted that opposing defenses can sometimes dictate how often IU looks downfield, too, or finds success underneath.
"Everybody has played their corners different against us (from game to game)," DeBord said. "Going back to the first game, we were able to throw fades all day. The next ballgame was totally different.
"(Penn State is) a bit blitz team and we weren't sure about having to hold out (on pass protection) in terms of putting the ball downfield. We'd like to throw it downfield more than we did."
But IU now will deploy a starting quarterback more clearly in a dual-threat mode.
"We've got to build what we do from day one around the strengths of what Peyton brings," Allen reiterated, "… (and) there's a leadership piece that he has to step into, and all that that entails.
"I just feel like at this time, where we're at and what we've evaluated and the body of work that we've been able to examine, that this is the best decision for our program."
THE DEFENSE DID NOT REST
The final score at Penn State obscured how effectively Indiana's defense played.
The Hoosiers limited PSU to 39 net rushing yards (1.1 per carry) despite the presence of All-American back Saquon Barkley. They recorded 11 tackles for loss and, officially, five sacks. Penn State came in averaging 497 yards per game of total offense but managed just 370 against IU.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
While IU's coaches cited no offensive "Player of the Game" for the Penn State contest, the Special Teams Player of the Game honor went to Jonathan Crawford (who blocked a PSU field goal attempt) and the defensive nod went to
All-American linebacker Tegray Scales, who supplied a team-high 11 tackles (including eight solos) and three sacks.
Since the start of his junior season, Scales has 11 double-digit tackling games, is tied for the top spot nationally in solo stops with 117 and is second nationally in tackles for loss with 29.
"Tegray Scales was phenomenal," Allen said. "Effort was what you always expect (and) was off the charts. But also just the way he produced with multiple sacks and tackles for loss."
Scout Team Players of the Week included running backs Alex Rodriguez and Ahrod Lloyd, quarterback Nick Tronti and linebacker Thomas Allen.
INJURY UPDATES
Coach Allen surmises that J-Shun Harris II, Morgan Ellison and Brandon Knight – all of whom left the Penn State game with injury issues – are likely to play Saturday against Charleston Southern. And he feels running back Mike
Majette is set to return. But he doesn't expect defensive backs Marcelino Ball and A-Shon Riggins to be back this week.
TRENCH WARFARE
While special team fiascos and four turnovers helped turn Saturday's loss at Penn State lopsided, Allen took some solace that Indiana went toe-to-toe and more than held its own with the No. 4-ranked Nittany Lions in the trenches.
"Defensively, we won the line of scrimmage," Allen said. "(We recorded) 16 total plays behind the line of scrimmage … that's a lot.
"Offensively, we gave up one sack against a really, really talented defensive line (and) ran the ball 181 yards, 4.7 yards a carry. And we held them to 1.1 yards a carry. So we outrushed them by over 100 yards. I thought our offensive line is coming together. Coach (Darren) Hiller is doing a really good job with a group that's learning to gel together, work together. And they need to. We need to be able to run the football."
A GOOD JOE
After expressing his thoughts, prayers and concerns regarding the tragedy in Las Vegas that transpired so horrifically Sunday night, Allen was also asked about the recent passing of celebrated former Purdue coach Joe Tiller, whose introduction of the spread offense revolutionized Big Ten football.
"He did so many innovative things that people weren't doing," Allen said. "But when you talked to him he was just such a practical person. And he just cared about people. He always made us feel so welcome as high school coaches (when Allen was coaching at Ben Davis and Marion).
"I know we're rivals and all, but … you appreciate what he did for our conference, what he did for our state. Such a quality man. I know (IU assistant defensive coordinator) Mark Hagen worked with him. And it's tough to hear of his passing … so my heart and thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family.
"But he was a great person. You love to see guys that are good people do well. You know, he treated people right … just a tremendous coach, tremendous person and will be missed greatly. Appreciate everything he did for our game."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Nobody who knows Indiana football coach Tom Allen would evince surprise that he likes a quarterback who has a "linebacker mentality."
Allen is defense-oriented by both coaching pedigree and inclination. But he announced a big move for IU's offense Monday in elevating redshirt freshman Peyton Ramsey to the starting quarterback role in place of fifth-year senior Richard Lagow.
While professing his "love for both guys" and emphasizing he was not comparing the two, Allen said this about Ramsey:
"There's a grit to him. There's a toughness to him that he's got a linebacker mentality in how he works and how he handles adversity and all that. I've noticed that since he's been here (during) our leadership training. So those are the kind of things that I always saw that he had in him. So those need to come to the forefront. That's what leaders do."
While Lagow was the designated starter till now, Ramsey has played in every game through IU's 2-2 start, completing 29-of-48 passes (.604) for 316 yards and four TDs with just one interception.
Ramsey also ranks as IU's second-leading rusher with 117 net yards and 34 carries (3.4), while the less mobile Lagow has a net minus-30 rushing primarily due to absorbing sacks.
Allen indicated there is no plan to script shared snaps at quarterback moving forward. It is Ramsey's job unless something unforeseen arises.
"You look back at the first four games," Allen said "and (at) our ability to move the football and score points and build a team around whoever I feel gives us the best opportunity to have success on game day. And I feel like and our staff feels like that Peyton Ramsey is the person for that responsibility.
"And so he's going to be our starting quarterback. And Rich will be a great teammate and continue to work really hard and be ready to go when called upon."
Lagow started the season shining, completing 40-of-65 throws (.615) for 410 yards and three TDs (with two picks) in the opener against No. 2 Ohio State. Subsequently, however, he is just 18-of-38 (.474) for 251 yards, one TD and one interception.
Allen said the decision to change starting QBs evolved over the course of the campaign so far, not simply from Saturday's 45-14 loss at No. 4 Penn State, during which Lagow had a 5-of-6 start but finished 7-of-15 as Ramsey ended up taking most of the day's snaps.
"It would be collective," Allen said. "It really wasn't even just this game. It was just the build up over time and just other things that you see from both situations.
"And so it's just -- I've already commented previously, love both guys, awesome people -- I do think Peyton has that look in his eye about him that's different."
Ramsey has shown that all along, including during his days playing for father Doug at perennial prep power Cincinnati Elder. He showed it while leading IU to its first victory this season, the 34-17 road win at Virginia. And he has demonstrated he can tally with both his arm and his legs.
"He gives you the ability to open up things in the run game a little more," IU offensive coordinator Mike DeBord said Monday of Ramsey, " … and that helps you control the ball more.
"He's also a guy who can do things on the move, as well. He's (relatively inexperienced but has) played in games that already had great value. He's handled that well."
DeBord noted that while playing two quarterbacks with differing skill sets, Indiana had a split personality rather than an identity on offense. He hopes to fashion a more consistent ID now.
"We've had, in some ways, a little bit of two offenses," DeBord said. "We've done things with Rich that have been different than (with) Peyton.
"It will enable us to kind of build everything around (Peyton) now, and add to a little bit more that way, too … now that the quarterback decision has been made, we can zero in on that and just put more emphasis on what Peyton can do."
Allen agreed that needed to happen.
"Yeah, I think it has to be a situation where we build our offense around what Peyton does best, the throws that he makes and can make and will make," Allen said, "and (to) be able to force the defense to have to account for him in the run game as well as (his ability to be) extending plays.
"That's for sure his strength, and getting those balls to those guys."
The guys to whom Allen alluded were receivers, a corps constituting a major asset of IU's attack.
The Ohio State game saw starting wideouts Simmie Cobbs Jr. and Donavan Hale and tight end Ian Thomas combine to post 21 catches for 269 yards and the three scores on the receiving end of Lagow throws – many of them deep back-shoulder sideline aerials that were well-placed.
Thomas had a career-high 91 yards on five catches against Penn State, but 54 of those yards came as Lagow rolled right and delivered a perfect strike, before Ramsey's advent into the game.
Most of Ramsey's throws on Saturdays so far have involved shorter routes. DeBord was asked Monday if he felt Ramsey had the arm strength to make all the throws necessary to fully utilize the Hoosier receivers, and replied that he's seen it in practice.
"That is something we will we continue to build upon," DeBord said. "We'll look to do that. We're going to have to do that. He's done it in practice and we'll have to do more of it. We did more of it with Rich … but Peyton is going to have to do that as well."
DeBord noted that opposing defenses can sometimes dictate how often IU looks downfield, too, or finds success underneath.
"Everybody has played their corners different against us (from game to game)," DeBord said. "Going back to the first game, we were able to throw fades all day. The next ballgame was totally different.
"(Penn State is) a bit blitz team and we weren't sure about having to hold out (on pass protection) in terms of putting the ball downfield. We'd like to throw it downfield more than we did."
But IU now will deploy a starting quarterback more clearly in a dual-threat mode.
"We've got to build what we do from day one around the strengths of what Peyton brings," Allen reiterated, "… (and) there's a leadership piece that he has to step into, and all that that entails.
"I just feel like at this time, where we're at and what we've evaluated and the body of work that we've been able to examine, that this is the best decision for our program."
THE DEFENSE DID NOT REST
The final score at Penn State obscured how effectively Indiana's defense played.
The Hoosiers limited PSU to 39 net rushing yards (1.1 per carry) despite the presence of All-American back Saquon Barkley. They recorded 11 tackles for loss and, officially, five sacks. Penn State came in averaging 497 yards per game of total offense but managed just 370 against IU.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
While IU's coaches cited no offensive "Player of the Game" for the Penn State contest, the Special Teams Player of the Game honor went to Jonathan Crawford (who blocked a PSU field goal attempt) and the defensive nod went to
All-American linebacker Tegray Scales, who supplied a team-high 11 tackles (including eight solos) and three sacks.
Since the start of his junior season, Scales has 11 double-digit tackling games, is tied for the top spot nationally in solo stops with 117 and is second nationally in tackles for loss with 29.
"Tegray Scales was phenomenal," Allen said. "Effort was what you always expect (and) was off the charts. But also just the way he produced with multiple sacks and tackles for loss."
Scout Team Players of the Week included running backs Alex Rodriguez and Ahrod Lloyd, quarterback Nick Tronti and linebacker Thomas Allen.
INJURY UPDATES
Coach Allen surmises that J-Shun Harris II, Morgan Ellison and Brandon Knight – all of whom left the Penn State game with injury issues – are likely to play Saturday against Charleston Southern. And he feels running back Mike
Majette is set to return. But he doesn't expect defensive backs Marcelino Ball and A-Shon Riggins to be back this week.
TRENCH WARFARE
While special team fiascos and four turnovers helped turn Saturday's loss at Penn State lopsided, Allen took some solace that Indiana went toe-to-toe and more than held its own with the No. 4-ranked Nittany Lions in the trenches.
"Defensively, we won the line of scrimmage," Allen said. "(We recorded) 16 total plays behind the line of scrimmage … that's a lot.
"Offensively, we gave up one sack against a really, really talented defensive line (and) ran the ball 181 yards, 4.7 yards a carry. And we held them to 1.1 yards a carry. So we outrushed them by over 100 yards. I thought our offensive line is coming together. Coach (Darren) Hiller is doing a really good job with a group that's learning to gel together, work together. And they need to. We need to be able to run the football."
A GOOD JOE
After expressing his thoughts, prayers and concerns regarding the tragedy in Las Vegas that transpired so horrifically Sunday night, Allen was also asked about the recent passing of celebrated former Purdue coach Joe Tiller, whose introduction of the spread offense revolutionized Big Ten football.
"He did so many innovative things that people weren't doing," Allen said. "But when you talked to him he was just such a practical person. And he just cared about people. He always made us feel so welcome as high school coaches (when Allen was coaching at Ben Davis and Marion).
"I know we're rivals and all, but … you appreciate what he did for our conference, what he did for our state. Such a quality man. I know (IU assistant defensive coordinator) Mark Hagen worked with him. And it's tough to hear of his passing … so my heart and thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family.
"But he was a great person. You love to see guys that are good people do well. You know, he treated people right … just a tremendous coach, tremendous person and will be missed greatly. Appreciate everything he did for our game."
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