Indiana University Athletics
Quoted: Indiana vs. Wisconsin
11/1/2017 4:28:00 PM | Football
By: Nick Reith
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Hoosiers return to the comforts of home this weekend for their third top-5 conference contest of the season. Indiana (3-5) encounters the unbeaten No. 4/4 Wisconsin Badgers (8-0) on Saturday, Nov. 4, with the game scheduled for a 12:00 p.m. ET (ABC) kickoff at Memorial Stadium.
"I'm really excited to see our team respond with the toughness and the grit and the mindset we have to have to play in this league," said Indiana head coach Tom Allen. "So to be able to respond from that and be able to pull together as a team and to work through the challenges of this part of the season with injuries and all that goes along with it, to be able to come together and do something special for each other, that's what we plan to do."
Allen and the Hoosiers were frustrated by how last Saturday went. The offense, especially the aerial attack, gave a winning effort in Allen's eyes as three receivers hauled in double-digit receptions for the first time in school history. Peyton Ramsey tossed three touchdowns for 279 yards and split snaps with Richard Lagow, who threw two touchdowns in the second half.
But big plays doomed the Hoosiers in a narrow three-point loss on the road. The Terrapins returned a blocked punt for a touchdown. They gained another score on a big kickoff return. Those momentum-swinging plays erased Indiana's early lead and allowed Maryland to prevail in a back-and-forth battle.
There's no time to dwell on the what-ifs and missed opportunities of weekends' past in the Big Ten, so Indiana's response is at the forefront of Allen's priorities. The Hoosiers are the only team in the nation to face three top-five teams this year.
"I thought he did a good job. When he caught the ball out there and made the guy miss, that was a big play for us," offensive coordinator Mike DeBord commented on redshirt freshman running back Cole Gest. "Cole has been consistent like that, so we expect that when he comes in to play."
Gest answered the bell last Saturday when DeBord asked his second-year tailback to enter the offense as the main option behind center, filling the big shoes of Morgan Ellison and Mike Majette. As a result, Gest provided a dynamic option out of the backfield that created space for the IU offense with 66 all-purpose yards and a score. That touchdown came on a 23-yard catch in the flat, where Gest bulldozed the Maryland defender on his way to the end zone.
With just over 200 yards at an average of 5.1 yards per carry, Gest is making his mark during his first full season with the Hoosiers.
"They're a very sound defense that listens to their coaching," said redshirt junior receiver Simmie Cobbs Jr. on his matchup with the Badgers. "If they have to be two yards outside of a receiver, they'll be where they need to be. They have a strong secondary, a big and aggressive defensive line.
Cobbs has given everything to the cause this season and amassed another significant afternoon last weekend, achieving double-digit receptions for the third time this season with his first career game with more than one touchdown. The 6-4 deep threat is a favorite target for Indiana's quarterback tandem, and his 60 receptions rank in the top-15 nationally.
Cobbs will need his best effort to turn his targets into downfield yardage. The Badgers lead the conference in interceptions (12 – 8th FBS), red zone defense (0.680 – 6th FBS), and defensive touchdowns (4 – 2nd FBS).
"I don't like talking as much as other people do, so I'd rather just show my work ethic," said fifth-year senior defensive tackle Nate Hoff. "I believe people will follow you if you lead by example, so that's how I like to do it."
Hoff and Indiana's defensive line unit have made an impact in the trenches over the last month. The largely veteran group is galvanized in their second season with assistant defensive coordinator Mark Hagen, and the results have shown in the Hoosiers' ability to stuff their opponents' backfields. That group has the Hoosiers amongst the Big Ten's top five defenses for third down-conversion defense (0.305 – 18th FBS) and passing yards allowed (180.1 – 19th FBS).
Hoff, amidst his final season in Bloomington, is leading from the front with one sack, four tackles for loss, and 15 total stops. He is encouraged by the growth he's seen from Mike Barwick Jr., Greg Gooch and Jacob Robinson.
"They've been helping me ever since I got here," Whop Philyor commended the upperclassmen in the receiving corps. "They're helping me get the plays down while making me feel like I'm at home here."
Philyor put a definitive stamp on his recent rise over the last month, receiving the Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor after grabbing 13 catches—the most by an IU true freshman in program history—for 127 yards and his second touchdown of the season. Philyor has 19 of his 21 catches, and both of his touchdown grabs, over Indiana's last four games.
For all of those accomplishments, including the record 13 catches, Philyor is most disappointed that he dropped a potential 14th catch near the end of the game, according to Allen. The coaches also tracked his output and realized that Philyor covered nearly five miles in the game, including his reps on special teams. Don't expect Philyor to slow down as he gains comfortability with IU's systems and schemes.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Hoosiers return to the comforts of home this weekend for their third top-5 conference contest of the season. Indiana (3-5) encounters the unbeaten No. 4/4 Wisconsin Badgers (8-0) on Saturday, Nov. 4, with the game scheduled for a 12:00 p.m. ET (ABC) kickoff at Memorial Stadium.
"I'm really excited to see our team respond with the toughness and the grit and the mindset we have to have to play in this league," said Indiana head coach Tom Allen. "So to be able to respond from that and be able to pull together as a team and to work through the challenges of this part of the season with injuries and all that goes along with it, to be able to come together and do something special for each other, that's what we plan to do."
Allen and the Hoosiers were frustrated by how last Saturday went. The offense, especially the aerial attack, gave a winning effort in Allen's eyes as three receivers hauled in double-digit receptions for the first time in school history. Peyton Ramsey tossed three touchdowns for 279 yards and split snaps with Richard Lagow, who threw two touchdowns in the second half.
But big plays doomed the Hoosiers in a narrow three-point loss on the road. The Terrapins returned a blocked punt for a touchdown. They gained another score on a big kickoff return. Those momentum-swinging plays erased Indiana's early lead and allowed Maryland to prevail in a back-and-forth battle.
There's no time to dwell on the what-ifs and missed opportunities of weekends' past in the Big Ten, so Indiana's response is at the forefront of Allen's priorities. The Hoosiers are the only team in the nation to face three top-five teams this year.
"I thought he did a good job. When he caught the ball out there and made the guy miss, that was a big play for us," offensive coordinator Mike DeBord commented on redshirt freshman running back Cole Gest. "Cole has been consistent like that, so we expect that when he comes in to play."
Gest answered the bell last Saturday when DeBord asked his second-year tailback to enter the offense as the main option behind center, filling the big shoes of Morgan Ellison and Mike Majette. As a result, Gest provided a dynamic option out of the backfield that created space for the IU offense with 66 all-purpose yards and a score. That touchdown came on a 23-yard catch in the flat, where Gest bulldozed the Maryland defender on his way to the end zone.
With just over 200 yards at an average of 5.1 yards per carry, Gest is making his mark during his first full season with the Hoosiers.
"They're a very sound defense that listens to their coaching," said redshirt junior receiver Simmie Cobbs Jr. on his matchup with the Badgers. "If they have to be two yards outside of a receiver, they'll be where they need to be. They have a strong secondary, a big and aggressive defensive line.
Cobbs has given everything to the cause this season and amassed another significant afternoon last weekend, achieving double-digit receptions for the third time this season with his first career game with more than one touchdown. The 6-4 deep threat is a favorite target for Indiana's quarterback tandem, and his 60 receptions rank in the top-15 nationally.
Cobbs will need his best effort to turn his targets into downfield yardage. The Badgers lead the conference in interceptions (12 – 8th FBS), red zone defense (0.680 – 6th FBS), and defensive touchdowns (4 – 2nd FBS).
"I don't like talking as much as other people do, so I'd rather just show my work ethic," said fifth-year senior defensive tackle Nate Hoff. "I believe people will follow you if you lead by example, so that's how I like to do it."
Hoff and Indiana's defensive line unit have made an impact in the trenches over the last month. The largely veteran group is galvanized in their second season with assistant defensive coordinator Mark Hagen, and the results have shown in the Hoosiers' ability to stuff their opponents' backfields. That group has the Hoosiers amongst the Big Ten's top five defenses for third down-conversion defense (0.305 – 18th FBS) and passing yards allowed (180.1 – 19th FBS).
Hoff, amidst his final season in Bloomington, is leading from the front with one sack, four tackles for loss, and 15 total stops. He is encouraged by the growth he's seen from Mike Barwick Jr., Greg Gooch and Jacob Robinson.
"They've been helping me ever since I got here," Whop Philyor commended the upperclassmen in the receiving corps. "They're helping me get the plays down while making me feel like I'm at home here."
Philyor put a definitive stamp on his recent rise over the last month, receiving the Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor after grabbing 13 catches—the most by an IU true freshman in program history—for 127 yards and his second touchdown of the season. Philyor has 19 of his 21 catches, and both of his touchdown grabs, over Indiana's last four games.
For all of those accomplishments, including the record 13 catches, Philyor is most disappointed that he dropped a potential 14th catch near the end of the game, according to Allen. The coaches also tracked his output and realized that Philyor covered nearly five miles in the game, including his reps on special teams. Don't expect Philyor to slow down as he gains comfortability with IU's systems and schemes.
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