Indiana University Athletics
Tuesday Notes – Ramsey Benefits from Steep Learning Curve
10/24/2017 8:29:00 PM | Football
By: Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Peyton Ramsey faces his steep Big Ten quarterback learning curve without blinking.
Wisdom through pain is part of the process, and Indiana's redshirt freshman gets his share of both.
He makes plays you need from a dual-threat quarterback. He'll break a 26-yard run for a touchdown here, complete a 45-yard pass there. Nearly 63 percent of his passes are caught for nearly 1,000 yards. He offers, coach Tom Allen says, IU's best chance to win each week.
And yet …
Sometimes Ramsey misses receivers or reads. He directs drives that cut through defenses between the 20-yard lines and fizzle in the red zone. Touchdowns become field goals. Potential victories turn into fist-in-the-gut losses.
Youth is not always an advantage in the take-no-prisoners Big Ten East.
Through it all, offensive coordinator Mike DeBord says, Ramsey's confidence doesn't waver. His future is bright.
"Peyton is very strong mentally. He knows he's going through a learning process. He's young. He's handling that in a very mature way. I don't believe you can break Peyton."
And then ...
"He's only had a few starts. He's a young guy. I've never gotten frustrated with him, and I never will. He'll continue to get better as he goes through the season. He's played against two of the best defenses (Michigan and Michigan State) in the country. He'll get better in time. We understand that."
Adds Ramsey: "I've gotten a lot better. I think I've developed."
Starting the last three games, he says, "Let's my brain slow down and go out and play football. That's been the biggest thing. My head was kind of spinning at the beginning of the year. Now that I've played and had experience against really good teams, it's helped me out tremendously."
Ramsey doesn't make excuses. He missed on potentially difference making passes to receivers J-Shun Harris II and Simmie Cobbs Jr. in last Saturday's Michigan State loss, and didn't blink when asked about them.
"I just missed the throws and that's something I have to be better at. That's all it comes down to."
IU misfired inside the 5-yard line at key times in nail-biter losses to top-20 teams Michigan and Michigan State in consecutive weeks. Touchdowns might have meant victories. Just getting one field goal resulted in more disappointment against ranked opponents – IU is 0-4 against Big Ten powers Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan and Michigan State.
"Our biggest issue when we get in the red zone is we have to be better on first and second downs," Ramsey says. "We can't live in the third-and-long world. It's about executing better and not shooting ourselves in the foot on first and second downs.
Some of the red zone struggles are due to the quality of the defenses from Michigan and Michigan State.
"The defense has been really good," Ramsey says, "but if we're better on first and second down, and we're at third-and-4 or third-and-4 in the red zone, it will make our world a lot easier."
IU (3-4) plays at Maryland (3-4) on Saturday.
TOUGHER THE BETTER
After a brutal Big Ten scheduling run (4 ranked teams in the first 4 games), the schedule lightens.
Of IU's final five games, only one comes against a ranked team – No. 5 Wisconsin (7-0), which comes to Memorial Stadium on Nov. 4.
The other teams -- Maryland, Illinois (2-5), Rutgers (3-4) and Purdue (3-4).
Fifth-year senior safety Chase Dutra says the Hoosiers (3-4) won't overlook Maryland, which has lost three straight games while averaging just 16.0 points, or any team.
"We have a challenge," he said. "Any time you play a Big Ten team, it's a challenge."
"Maryland is another great team. Any time you play a Big Ten team, you have to prepare like anyone else and take it seriously."
As for the tough early schedule, Dutra said, in so many words, bring it on.
"I would want to go through that schedule again, because that's the best teams. I like playing the top teams. It's the best atmosphere. They're high-pressure games. You see who really steps up."
STINGY DEFENSE
In the last three games, IU's defense is allowing just 14.7 points, 81.0 passing yards and 245.7 total yards. It ranks second nationally in forcing three-and-outs, at 6.9 a game.
"They've been playing well," Ramsey said. "We need to bail them out sometimes. They've helped us tremendously. At some point, we want to turn the table and help them out."
KICKING FOR SUCCESS
Fifth-year senior kicker Griffin Oakes is 10-for-11 on field goals this season, with his only miss coming when the blocking broke down and the kick was blocked. His 90.9 percent success rate leads the Big Ten.
It's a huge turnaround from last season when he was just 16-for-26 on field goals after being named Big Ten kicker of the year as a sophomore (24-for-29).
He said he watched film from his successful 2015 season to help spark his comeback performance.
"The thing that was weird to me is my field goal steps last year were the same as they were in 2015," he said. "Everything was the same.
"It came down to mindset. Things spiraled out of control. Everybody is human. No one likes to struggle. It gets to you after a while."
ON MARYLAND
Maryland opened the season with an impressive 51-41 win at then No. 23 Texas, and then a 63-17 win over Towson. Injuries began to add up, especially at quarterback. Sophomore Max Bortenschlager, a former Indianapolis Cathedral standout, started the season No. 3 on the quarterback depth chart.
His play has improved in the last few games. He's thrown for seven touchdowns against three interceptions.
Tailback Ty Johnson has rushed for 571 yards while averaging 6.8 yards a carry. Receiver D.J. Moore has 47 catches for 668 yards and seven touchdowns. He averages 14.2 yards a catch.
"They have a great backfield with a combination between their backs of speed and power," Dutra says. "It's a lot different than what we've seen the last two weeks with Michigan and Michigan State. They were more power and run downhill right at you. Maryland has that, but it also tries to get the ball in the air more, get it in space, with a little bit of tempo."
RED ZONE TOUCHDOWNS
Touchdowns after getting in the red zone has become a top practice priority this week, tailback Ricky Brookins said.
"We're trying to score when we get in the red zone," he said. "We have to score. That's our objective.
"We know we can get down there. We can make the shots when we need to. We can get the first downs. But when we get into the red zone, we always seem to stop, or something doesn't go our way or we have a penalty. We're trying to correct things like that."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Peyton Ramsey faces his steep Big Ten quarterback learning curve without blinking.
Wisdom through pain is part of the process, and Indiana's redshirt freshman gets his share of both.
He makes plays you need from a dual-threat quarterback. He'll break a 26-yard run for a touchdown here, complete a 45-yard pass there. Nearly 63 percent of his passes are caught for nearly 1,000 yards. He offers, coach Tom Allen says, IU's best chance to win each week.
And yet …
Sometimes Ramsey misses receivers or reads. He directs drives that cut through defenses between the 20-yard lines and fizzle in the red zone. Touchdowns become field goals. Potential victories turn into fist-in-the-gut losses.
Youth is not always an advantage in the take-no-prisoners Big Ten East.
Through it all, offensive coordinator Mike DeBord says, Ramsey's confidence doesn't waver. His future is bright.
"Peyton is very strong mentally. He knows he's going through a learning process. He's young. He's handling that in a very mature way. I don't believe you can break Peyton."
And then ...
"He's only had a few starts. He's a young guy. I've never gotten frustrated with him, and I never will. He'll continue to get better as he goes through the season. He's played against two of the best defenses (Michigan and Michigan State) in the country. He'll get better in time. We understand that."
Adds Ramsey: "I've gotten a lot better. I think I've developed."
Starting the last three games, he says, "Let's my brain slow down and go out and play football. That's been the biggest thing. My head was kind of spinning at the beginning of the year. Now that I've played and had experience against really good teams, it's helped me out tremendously."
Ramsey doesn't make excuses. He missed on potentially difference making passes to receivers J-Shun Harris II and Simmie Cobbs Jr. in last Saturday's Michigan State loss, and didn't blink when asked about them.
"I just missed the throws and that's something I have to be better at. That's all it comes down to."
IU misfired inside the 5-yard line at key times in nail-biter losses to top-20 teams Michigan and Michigan State in consecutive weeks. Touchdowns might have meant victories. Just getting one field goal resulted in more disappointment against ranked opponents – IU is 0-4 against Big Ten powers Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan and Michigan State.
"Our biggest issue when we get in the red zone is we have to be better on first and second downs," Ramsey says. "We can't live in the third-and-long world. It's about executing better and not shooting ourselves in the foot on first and second downs.
Some of the red zone struggles are due to the quality of the defenses from Michigan and Michigan State.
"The defense has been really good," Ramsey says, "but if we're better on first and second down, and we're at third-and-4 or third-and-4 in the red zone, it will make our world a lot easier."
IU (3-4) plays at Maryland (3-4) on Saturday.
TOUGHER THE BETTER
After a brutal Big Ten scheduling run (4 ranked teams in the first 4 games), the schedule lightens.
Of IU's final five games, only one comes against a ranked team – No. 5 Wisconsin (7-0), which comes to Memorial Stadium on Nov. 4.
The other teams -- Maryland, Illinois (2-5), Rutgers (3-4) and Purdue (3-4).
Fifth-year senior safety Chase Dutra says the Hoosiers (3-4) won't overlook Maryland, which has lost three straight games while averaging just 16.0 points, or any team.
"We have a challenge," he said. "Any time you play a Big Ten team, it's a challenge."
"Maryland is another great team. Any time you play a Big Ten team, you have to prepare like anyone else and take it seriously."
As for the tough early schedule, Dutra said, in so many words, bring it on.
"I would want to go through that schedule again, because that's the best teams. I like playing the top teams. It's the best atmosphere. They're high-pressure games. You see who really steps up."
STINGY DEFENSE
In the last three games, IU's defense is allowing just 14.7 points, 81.0 passing yards and 245.7 total yards. It ranks second nationally in forcing three-and-outs, at 6.9 a game.
"They've been playing well," Ramsey said. "We need to bail them out sometimes. They've helped us tremendously. At some point, we want to turn the table and help them out."
KICKING FOR SUCCESS
Fifth-year senior kicker Griffin Oakes is 10-for-11 on field goals this season, with his only miss coming when the blocking broke down and the kick was blocked. His 90.9 percent success rate leads the Big Ten.
It's a huge turnaround from last season when he was just 16-for-26 on field goals after being named Big Ten kicker of the year as a sophomore (24-for-29).
He said he watched film from his successful 2015 season to help spark his comeback performance.
"The thing that was weird to me is my field goal steps last year were the same as they were in 2015," he said. "Everything was the same.
"It came down to mindset. Things spiraled out of control. Everybody is human. No one likes to struggle. It gets to you after a while."
ON MARYLAND
Maryland opened the season with an impressive 51-41 win at then No. 23 Texas, and then a 63-17 win over Towson. Injuries began to add up, especially at quarterback. Sophomore Max Bortenschlager, a former Indianapolis Cathedral standout, started the season No. 3 on the quarterback depth chart.
His play has improved in the last few games. He's thrown for seven touchdowns against three interceptions.
Tailback Ty Johnson has rushed for 571 yards while averaging 6.8 yards a carry. Receiver D.J. Moore has 47 catches for 668 yards and seven touchdowns. He averages 14.2 yards a catch.
"They have a great backfield with a combination between their backs of speed and power," Dutra says. "It's a lot different than what we've seen the last two weeks with Michigan and Michigan State. They were more power and run downhill right at you. Maryland has that, but it also tries to get the ball in the air more, get it in space, with a little bit of tempo."
RED ZONE TOUCHDOWNS
Touchdowns after getting in the red zone has become a top practice priority this week, tailback Ricky Brookins said.
"We're trying to score when we get in the red zone," he said. "We have to score. That's our objective.
"We know we can get down there. We can make the shots when we need to. We can get the first downs. But when we get into the red zone, we always seem to stop, or something doesn't go our way or we have a penalty. We're trying to correct things like that."
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