Indiana University Athletics
Monday Notes -- Challenges Loom Everywhere in Bucket Battle
11/20/2017 7:14:00 PM | Football
By: Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The challenge is there, for Indiana coach Tom Allen and Purdue coach Jeff Brohm.
Yes, the focus will be on the teams, the rivalry and the winner-take-all stakes.
Bowl eligibility rides with Saturday's Old Oaken Bucket game at Ross-Ade Stadium. Both teams come in with 5-6 records and needing one more victory to secure a postseason bid.
But beyond that comes coaching intrigue. Allen is known for his defensive prowess, Brohm for his offensive ingenuity.
It's a coaching matchup rich with possibilities, although Allen downplays it.
"I've never ever tried to make a big deal about, 'Hey, I'm going against this coach.' It's not me versus him. It is not that. What I do enjoy, I enjoy the schematic challenge of going against a guy like this because it's hard. He does such a great job."
For the record, IU averages 27.1 points to Purdue's 23.5. Defensively, the Boilers allow 18.9 points to the Hoosiers' 24.8.
Allen stresses that stopping the Boilers will take a collective effort from coaches and players.
"It's all of us against their offense. It's our offense versus their defense. Our special teams versus their special teams. That's what matters most.
"But from what you get out of it as a coach, working and working and working to try to find a way to scheme against these guys, yeah, that's kind of the rush you get as a coach. You enjoy that for sure.
"Their system is challenging. They do a great job. They create a lot of conflicts and put you in binds and do a great job understanding what you're doing and trying to expose weaknesses.
"We're trying to do the same thing with them. It's the chess match that coaches go through. We're working hard as a staff to find the best way to get our guys in great positions. Our guys have got to make plays. Yeah, that's the fun part of this."
HOT TEAMS
IU and Purdue are on a roll. The Hoosiers have two straight. The Boilers have won two of their last three, including an impressive win at Iowa last Saturday.
It adds intensity to one of the nation's top rivalries. Indiana has won the last four meetings. Purdue leads the series 72-41-6.
"It's going to be an absolute dogfight, and that's the way it should be," Allen says.
"The Bucket is a huge priority to our program. We take a lot of pride in this game.
"We're blessed to be a part of one of the top rivalries in the country. I've been several places where we have had some trophy games -- not every place has this kind of a rivalry game with this much passion and intensity.
"We fully understand the magnitude of the game. We understand that both teams have five wins and know what is at stake for both sides. Love that."
In his first season, Brohm has restored respectability to the Boiler program after four years of struggles under former coach Darrell Hazell.
"I have a ton of respect for Coach Brohm and what he's done at Purdue in a very short time," Allen says. "He has really transformed them. They're playing with a ton of confidence. Their defense is extremely talented and playing well. Their offense -- he's a tremendous play caller. Just does a good job schematically and has maximized the talent he has.
"We understand we have to be at our very best."
O-LINE DOMINATES
Has IU ever had more dominant offensive line play?
Perhaps, but it would be hard to top the effort against Rutgers. The line, under coach Darren Hiller's direction, was a huge reason the Hoosiers ran for a season-high 267 yards. Plus, the line didn't allow a sack or commit a false start or holding penalty.
"I don't think so," offensive coordinator Mike DeBord says about ever having been part of that kind of performance. "Usually you have something in there.
"It was great focus by our players. One day we practiced outside in miserable weather. When you have to concentrate in practice and the conditions are the same in the game, it's a bonus. Sometimes teams go inside in weather like that, but we stayed outside. That helped in preparation."
As a result, Hoosier coaches awarded the entire line -- Coy Cronk, Hunter Littlejohn, Mackenzie Nworah, Brandon Knight, Wes Martin and Delroy Baker -- as offensive players of the game.
"Being able to effectively run at the end (of the game) and move the chains and score a couple of touchdowns off that was big," Allen says.
"I'm really proud of their performance. They still have things to continue to work on, but … it was a great job."
FIELDS, GOOCH HONORED
The defensive players of the Rutgers game were defensive back Tony Fields and defensive end Greg Gooch.
In one sequence, which followed a Hoosiers turnover, Gooch forced a fumble and Fields recovered it.
"That was a huge takeaway after a sudden change," Allen said. "That's just team football that I thought was excellent."
Gooch finished with four tackles and two sacks. Fields added four tackles and one sack.
"They continue to improve," Allen says. "Tony has been so huge for us in stepping in with the injury to Marcelino (Ball) and allowing him at that position to just really blossom and play extremely well.
"Greg has been such a complete leader, player, tough guy, and cares so much about this program. So to see him play so well and do such a great job was huge."
BIG TEN HONORS ELLISON
Tailback Morgan Ellison has once again made a significant Big Ten impression.
Ellison won his second conference freshman-of-the-week honor for his Rutgers' performance. He rushed for 149 yards on just 15 carries. The true freshman had two touchdown runs and a career-long 45-yard rush.
He also won the award in late September after rushing for 186 yards and two TDs against Georgia Southern.
Ellison shared this week's award with Wisconsin tailback Jonathan Taylor. He leads IU with 688 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Those six TDs are second in the Big Ten among true freshmen tailbacks.
This is the third time this season a Hoosier freshman has been honored. Receiver Whop Philyor won it for his Maryland performance.
Tailback Cole Gest didn't win an award, but he did rush for 104 yards and a touchdown against Rutgers.
BEWARE THE D-LINE
IU's defense is peaking at the right time. It's allowed just 14 points in the last two games. A big reason is the play of the defensive line, which has totaled 12 sacks while shutting down the run.
For this, Allen says, credit defensive line coach Mark Hagen.
"He does a tremendous job with our defensive line. He's such a bulldog in technique and drills. He's just relentless."
Players such as Jacob Robinson, Allen Stallings IV, Robert McCray III and Gooch have benefited.
"Their production has really elevated," Allen says. "It's a matter of staying the course and getting better.
"It goes back to Coach Hagen staying with it, staying with it, staying with it, and not allowing them to ever let up in practice."
IU had a similar strong finish last year, Allen's first at running the Hoosiers defense.
"We have a system we believe in," he says. "We coach to that system. The kids have bought in, and I expect them to be playing their best ball at this time of the year. That's what we want."
TRICK PLAYS COMING
Purdue's Brohm is known for his offensive creativity. That includes a few trick plays for every game.
Allen knows they are coming.
The key question -- how do you stop them?
It starts, Allen says, by looking at a lot of film.
"You can't rep every one of them. We would be practicing for a couple weeks if we did that. I have played against him in the past. Saw it up close and personal how he likes to run those. He's so very creative with all of them.
"You just got to work in concept, which is not that unusual. You teach concepts and you use walk-throughs to review. You show video and just be conscientious of what they do and where they can run them.
"They do so many that you're not going to get a bead on them all. It's a gift to know when to call them. That's probably the biggest thing you have to deal with.
"You want to play physical, play fast, and react. That, to me, that is what you got to do. You've got to react to those kind of plays."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The challenge is there, for Indiana coach Tom Allen and Purdue coach Jeff Brohm.
Yes, the focus will be on the teams, the rivalry and the winner-take-all stakes.
Bowl eligibility rides with Saturday's Old Oaken Bucket game at Ross-Ade Stadium. Both teams come in with 5-6 records and needing one more victory to secure a postseason bid.
But beyond that comes coaching intrigue. Allen is known for his defensive prowess, Brohm for his offensive ingenuity.
It's a coaching matchup rich with possibilities, although Allen downplays it.
"I've never ever tried to make a big deal about, 'Hey, I'm going against this coach.' It's not me versus him. It is not that. What I do enjoy, I enjoy the schematic challenge of going against a guy like this because it's hard. He does such a great job."
For the record, IU averages 27.1 points to Purdue's 23.5. Defensively, the Boilers allow 18.9 points to the Hoosiers' 24.8.
Allen stresses that stopping the Boilers will take a collective effort from coaches and players.
"It's all of us against their offense. It's our offense versus their defense. Our special teams versus their special teams. That's what matters most.
"But from what you get out of it as a coach, working and working and working to try to find a way to scheme against these guys, yeah, that's kind of the rush you get as a coach. You enjoy that for sure.
"Their system is challenging. They do a great job. They create a lot of conflicts and put you in binds and do a great job understanding what you're doing and trying to expose weaknesses.
"We're trying to do the same thing with them. It's the chess match that coaches go through. We're working hard as a staff to find the best way to get our guys in great positions. Our guys have got to make plays. Yeah, that's the fun part of this."
HOT TEAMS
IU and Purdue are on a roll. The Hoosiers have two straight. The Boilers have won two of their last three, including an impressive win at Iowa last Saturday.
It adds intensity to one of the nation's top rivalries. Indiana has won the last four meetings. Purdue leads the series 72-41-6.
"It's going to be an absolute dogfight, and that's the way it should be," Allen says.
"The Bucket is a huge priority to our program. We take a lot of pride in this game.
"We're blessed to be a part of one of the top rivalries in the country. I've been several places where we have had some trophy games -- not every place has this kind of a rivalry game with this much passion and intensity.
"We fully understand the magnitude of the game. We understand that both teams have five wins and know what is at stake for both sides. Love that."
In his first season, Brohm has restored respectability to the Boiler program after four years of struggles under former coach Darrell Hazell.
"I have a ton of respect for Coach Brohm and what he's done at Purdue in a very short time," Allen says. "He has really transformed them. They're playing with a ton of confidence. Their defense is extremely talented and playing well. Their offense -- he's a tremendous play caller. Just does a good job schematically and has maximized the talent he has.
"We understand we have to be at our very best."
O-LINE DOMINATES
Has IU ever had more dominant offensive line play?
Perhaps, but it would be hard to top the effort against Rutgers. The line, under coach Darren Hiller's direction, was a huge reason the Hoosiers ran for a season-high 267 yards. Plus, the line didn't allow a sack or commit a false start or holding penalty.
"I don't think so," offensive coordinator Mike DeBord says about ever having been part of that kind of performance. "Usually you have something in there.
"It was great focus by our players. One day we practiced outside in miserable weather. When you have to concentrate in practice and the conditions are the same in the game, it's a bonus. Sometimes teams go inside in weather like that, but we stayed outside. That helped in preparation."
As a result, Hoosier coaches awarded the entire line -- Coy Cronk, Hunter Littlejohn, Mackenzie Nworah, Brandon Knight, Wes Martin and Delroy Baker -- as offensive players of the game.
"Being able to effectively run at the end (of the game) and move the chains and score a couple of touchdowns off that was big," Allen says.
"I'm really proud of their performance. They still have things to continue to work on, but … it was a great job."
FIELDS, GOOCH HONORED
The defensive players of the Rutgers game were defensive back Tony Fields and defensive end Greg Gooch.
In one sequence, which followed a Hoosiers turnover, Gooch forced a fumble and Fields recovered it.
"That was a huge takeaway after a sudden change," Allen said. "That's just team football that I thought was excellent."
Gooch finished with four tackles and two sacks. Fields added four tackles and one sack.
"They continue to improve," Allen says. "Tony has been so huge for us in stepping in with the injury to Marcelino (Ball) and allowing him at that position to just really blossom and play extremely well.
"Greg has been such a complete leader, player, tough guy, and cares so much about this program. So to see him play so well and do such a great job was huge."
BIG TEN HONORS ELLISON
Tailback Morgan Ellison has once again made a significant Big Ten impression.
Ellison won his second conference freshman-of-the-week honor for his Rutgers' performance. He rushed for 149 yards on just 15 carries. The true freshman had two touchdown runs and a career-long 45-yard rush.
He also won the award in late September after rushing for 186 yards and two TDs against Georgia Southern.
Ellison shared this week's award with Wisconsin tailback Jonathan Taylor. He leads IU with 688 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Those six TDs are second in the Big Ten among true freshmen tailbacks.
This is the third time this season a Hoosier freshman has been honored. Receiver Whop Philyor won it for his Maryland performance.
Tailback Cole Gest didn't win an award, but he did rush for 104 yards and a touchdown against Rutgers.
BEWARE THE D-LINE
IU's defense is peaking at the right time. It's allowed just 14 points in the last two games. A big reason is the play of the defensive line, which has totaled 12 sacks while shutting down the run.
For this, Allen says, credit defensive line coach Mark Hagen.
"He does a tremendous job with our defensive line. He's such a bulldog in technique and drills. He's just relentless."
Players such as Jacob Robinson, Allen Stallings IV, Robert McCray III and Gooch have benefited.
"Their production has really elevated," Allen says. "It's a matter of staying the course and getting better.
"It goes back to Coach Hagen staying with it, staying with it, staying with it, and not allowing them to ever let up in practice."
IU had a similar strong finish last year, Allen's first at running the Hoosiers defense.
"We have a system we believe in," he says. "We coach to that system. The kids have bought in, and I expect them to be playing their best ball at this time of the year. That's what we want."
TRICK PLAYS COMING
Purdue's Brohm is known for his offensive creativity. That includes a few trick plays for every game.
Allen knows they are coming.
The key question -- how do you stop them?
It starts, Allen says, by looking at a lot of film.
"You can't rep every one of them. We would be practicing for a couple weeks if we did that. I have played against him in the past. Saw it up close and personal how he likes to run those. He's so very creative with all of them.
"You just got to work in concept, which is not that unusual. You teach concepts and you use walk-throughs to review. You show video and just be conscientious of what they do and where they can run them.
"They do so many that you're not going to get a bead on them all. It's a gift to know when to call them. That's probably the biggest thing you have to deal with.
"You want to play physical, play fast, and react. That, to me, that is what you got to do. You've got to react to those kind of plays."
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