Indiana University Athletics
Monday Notes -- In a Word, These Indiana Hoosiers are ‘Hungry’
11/13/2017 4:31:00 PM | Football
By: Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - IU coach Tom Allen's motivational button pushing includes a weekly word.
For this week, with a bowl bid still on the line, the word is as simple as it is defining.
"Hungry."
"I want a hungry team to take the field on Saturday against Rutgers," Allen said. "I think that experiencing that success on the road, getting a Big Ten win, increases that hunger to be able to want have to that feeling again after the game is over, and play really well doing it."
IU (4-6) kept its bowl hopes alive by winning at Illinois 24-14 last Saturday to snap a four-game losing streak and invigorate players. If it beats Rutgers (4-6) on Saturday at Memorial Stadium and then wins at Purdue (4-6) the following Saturday, it will play in its third straight bowl.
The last time the Hoosiers played in three straight bowls was from 1986-88 under coach Bill Mallory.
"There's an excitement for sure when you win," Allen said. "I thought our practice (Sunday) was highly spirited, which is great to see. I think that comes from just the feeling you get after you win a game.
"Then also I think that they know we didn't play our best. We were tough on them in the film sessions, and in the right way, just because we have high standards here and I believe we can play a lot better. I really do.
"We'll see how they approach (Tuesday's practice). I expect them to be locked in and ready to have a great week."
GEST BURSTS OUT
Redshirt freshman running back Cole Gest earned team offensive player of the week honors after rushing for a team-high 82 yards against Illinois on 13 carries. He added three catches for 27 yards.
Guest has rushed for 284 yards this season while averaging a team-leading 5.0 yards per carry.
"What I love about him is his burst," Allen said. "He just does such a great job. He gets top speed really, really fast. His ability to get that one cut and go.
"For him it's been just to stay healthy. Last year he struggled with some injuries and could never get to that point.
"So just keep him healthy and get him in the flow, feeling comfortable with the offense so he can stay out on the field in the throw game, whether we're throwing him the football -- which he's shown the ability to catch it, and also the pass protection. That's a big part of the development of a running back, especially a young one.
"We need him to step up. Cole is a guy that I always thought had a chance to be a really good one."
RIDING THE HOT HAND
True freshman tailback Morgan Ellison has battled injuries while rushing for 539 yards and four touchdowns. The 6-1, 225-pound freshman had 49 yards on 13 carries against Illinois.
"He ran really hard downhill (against Illinois)," Allen said. "He puts his foot in the ground.
"I'm really encouraged by his toughness. He's battled through injuries in his high school career. That was the question mark coming in. I'm sure it had an impact on his recruiting. But we believed in him and he chose us.
"He's a physical, physical guy that has a great lateral quickness and good burst. He's got some size, too. He's only going to get bigger. He's young."
This leads to a key question – who gets the most carries on Saturday, Gest or Ellison?
"I think you ride the hot hand," Allen said. "It's the flow of the game. You like to keep it as balanced as you can. You want to keep those guys fresh. They'll rotate in and out based on what happens on the previous play and if they get a long run.
It's definitely who is feeling it and how they're handling the game."
LAGOW REMAINS THE STARTER
Richard Lagow is back where he started, and is playing like it will stay that way
The fifth-year senior will start his third straight game, and for the eighth time this season, on Saturday.
Since taking over for the injured Peyton Ramsey in the fourth quarter at Maryland, he's completed 62.1 percent of his passes for 646 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions.
"I'm encouraged by Richard's play and the way that he's responded," Allen said. "He just needs to continue to do what he's doing and play at a high level, with confidence, and run the offense and the team."
For the season, Lagow has completed 59.4 percent of his passes for 1,327 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions.
"I've kept him in that role as captain all through this whole process because his leadership has never wavered," Allen said. "That's a tribute to him. I see him just moving forward."
Ramsey is rehabbing with the hope he can back up Lagow if needed. Otherwise, the Hoosiers might have to waste Nick Tronti's freshman redshirt status if he has to play. There isn't another Big Ten-ready quarterback on the roster.
"We've got to get to where Peyton is ready to play," Allen said. "I feel like he's getting a little closer. He was definitely in a position where if we had to have him (at Illinois), I think we would've felt like he could've got us through some snaps, but I don't think he would've felt great if it was a long-term situation. So that will continue to progress."
ROBINSON, COVINGTON SHARE HONORS
Junior defensive end Jacob Robinson and senior linebacker Chris Covington were the team's top defensive players for the Illinois game.
Robinson had a career-high seven tackles, including 3.5 for loss, two sacks and his first career forced fumble. Covington had eight tackles and a career-best 1.5 sacks against the Illini.
"Jacob Robinson had a great day with multiple sacks," Allen said. "We had seven different players that got sacks, eight on the day, which is second-most in school history. We've had nine twice and eight now once."
BALL STILL OUT
Husky Marcelino Ball remains sidelined due to injury. He has 20 tackles in three games, but hasn't played since the Sept. 23 Georgia Southern win.
It's possible he might not play against until the 2018 season.
"It's getting close to that point," Allen said. "If he doesn't play this weekend, it would be hard to justify playing for the last game and then a bowl."
THE CHALLENGE OF RUTGERS
Rutgers has won three of its last five games. It averages 20.9 points and allows 25.9.
The defense is led by linebackers Deonte Roberts and Trevor Morris. They both have 81 tackles.
Quarterback Giovanni Rescigno has thrown for 450 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Tailback Gus Edwards has rushed for 673 yards and six touchdowns.
Like Allen, Rutgers coach Chris Ash has a defensive background. He was the defensive coordinator at Ohio State, Arkansas and Wisconsin prior to coming to Rutgers. He's 6-16 in his second season.
"Coach Ash does a tremendous job," Allen said. "He's rebuilding that program. He's recruited well and has guys playing hard. They run to the football well and play good defense and have good special teams play."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - IU coach Tom Allen's motivational button pushing includes a weekly word.
For this week, with a bowl bid still on the line, the word is as simple as it is defining.
"Hungry."
"I want a hungry team to take the field on Saturday against Rutgers," Allen said. "I think that experiencing that success on the road, getting a Big Ten win, increases that hunger to be able to want have to that feeling again after the game is over, and play really well doing it."
IU (4-6) kept its bowl hopes alive by winning at Illinois 24-14 last Saturday to snap a four-game losing streak and invigorate players. If it beats Rutgers (4-6) on Saturday at Memorial Stadium and then wins at Purdue (4-6) the following Saturday, it will play in its third straight bowl.
The last time the Hoosiers played in three straight bowls was from 1986-88 under coach Bill Mallory.
"There's an excitement for sure when you win," Allen said. "I thought our practice (Sunday) was highly spirited, which is great to see. I think that comes from just the feeling you get after you win a game.
"Then also I think that they know we didn't play our best. We were tough on them in the film sessions, and in the right way, just because we have high standards here and I believe we can play a lot better. I really do.
"We'll see how they approach (Tuesday's practice). I expect them to be locked in and ready to have a great week."
GEST BURSTS OUT
Redshirt freshman running back Cole Gest earned team offensive player of the week honors after rushing for a team-high 82 yards against Illinois on 13 carries. He added three catches for 27 yards.
Guest has rushed for 284 yards this season while averaging a team-leading 5.0 yards per carry.
"What I love about him is his burst," Allen said. "He just does such a great job. He gets top speed really, really fast. His ability to get that one cut and go.
"For him it's been just to stay healthy. Last year he struggled with some injuries and could never get to that point.
"So just keep him healthy and get him in the flow, feeling comfortable with the offense so he can stay out on the field in the throw game, whether we're throwing him the football -- which he's shown the ability to catch it, and also the pass protection. That's a big part of the development of a running back, especially a young one.
"We need him to step up. Cole is a guy that I always thought had a chance to be a really good one."
RIDING THE HOT HAND
True freshman tailback Morgan Ellison has battled injuries while rushing for 539 yards and four touchdowns. The 6-1, 225-pound freshman had 49 yards on 13 carries against Illinois.
"He ran really hard downhill (against Illinois)," Allen said. "He puts his foot in the ground.
"I'm really encouraged by his toughness. He's battled through injuries in his high school career. That was the question mark coming in. I'm sure it had an impact on his recruiting. But we believed in him and he chose us.
"He's a physical, physical guy that has a great lateral quickness and good burst. He's got some size, too. He's only going to get bigger. He's young."
This leads to a key question – who gets the most carries on Saturday, Gest or Ellison?
"I think you ride the hot hand," Allen said. "It's the flow of the game. You like to keep it as balanced as you can. You want to keep those guys fresh. They'll rotate in and out based on what happens on the previous play and if they get a long run.
It's definitely who is feeling it and how they're handling the game."
LAGOW REMAINS THE STARTER
Richard Lagow is back where he started, and is playing like it will stay that way
The fifth-year senior will start his third straight game, and for the eighth time this season, on Saturday.
Since taking over for the injured Peyton Ramsey in the fourth quarter at Maryland, he's completed 62.1 percent of his passes for 646 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions.
"I'm encouraged by Richard's play and the way that he's responded," Allen said. "He just needs to continue to do what he's doing and play at a high level, with confidence, and run the offense and the team."
For the season, Lagow has completed 59.4 percent of his passes for 1,327 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions.
"I've kept him in that role as captain all through this whole process because his leadership has never wavered," Allen said. "That's a tribute to him. I see him just moving forward."
Ramsey is rehabbing with the hope he can back up Lagow if needed. Otherwise, the Hoosiers might have to waste Nick Tronti's freshman redshirt status if he has to play. There isn't another Big Ten-ready quarterback on the roster.
"We've got to get to where Peyton is ready to play," Allen said. "I feel like he's getting a little closer. He was definitely in a position where if we had to have him (at Illinois), I think we would've felt like he could've got us through some snaps, but I don't think he would've felt great if it was a long-term situation. So that will continue to progress."
ROBINSON, COVINGTON SHARE HONORS
Junior defensive end Jacob Robinson and senior linebacker Chris Covington were the team's top defensive players for the Illinois game.
Robinson had a career-high seven tackles, including 3.5 for loss, two sacks and his first career forced fumble. Covington had eight tackles and a career-best 1.5 sacks against the Illini.
"Jacob Robinson had a great day with multiple sacks," Allen said. "We had seven different players that got sacks, eight on the day, which is second-most in school history. We've had nine twice and eight now once."
BALL STILL OUT
Husky Marcelino Ball remains sidelined due to injury. He has 20 tackles in three games, but hasn't played since the Sept. 23 Georgia Southern win.
It's possible he might not play against until the 2018 season.
"It's getting close to that point," Allen said. "If he doesn't play this weekend, it would be hard to justify playing for the last game and then a bowl."
THE CHALLENGE OF RUTGERS
Rutgers has won three of its last five games. It averages 20.9 points and allows 25.9.
The defense is led by linebackers Deonte Roberts and Trevor Morris. They both have 81 tackles.
Quarterback Giovanni Rescigno has thrown for 450 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Tailback Gus Edwards has rushed for 673 yards and six touchdowns.
Like Allen, Rutgers coach Chris Ash has a defensive background. He was the defensive coordinator at Ohio State, Arkansas and Wisconsin prior to coming to Rutgers. He's 6-16 in his second season.
"Coach Ash does a tremendous job," Allen said. "He's rebuilding that program. He's recruited well and has guys playing hard. They run to the football well and play good defense and have good special teams play."
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