Hoosiers Back to Practice After Spring Break
3/21/2017 3:06:00 PM | Football
By: Ben Segelbaum
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana football team returned to practice after spring break and the wide receivers got back to making big plays.
"Today was a good day," passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach Grant Heard said. "We still have a long way to go, but they came out and competed. We made some plays and offensively that's what makes it fun. When the guys come back and compete and make plays. We start feeding off of that."
Taking part in those big plays is junior Nick Westbrook. In his second season, Westbrook led the Hoosiers in yardage, touchdowns and yards per reception.
"Things are going great," Westbrook said. "Seeing all these young guys step up. Last year, we didn't see what they could do, what they were capable of. This spring, everybody is making plays and they have to. Everyone has to be out there playing. It's really great to see these guys. Taysir's (Mack) stepping up, Phil Benker's stepping up, Jonah (Morris) is stepping up, Justin Berry. Everybody is stepping up and making plays when they need to. It's really fun to see everyone competing."
In practice, the Hoosiers have the opportunity to practice against the most improved defensive in that nation one season ago.
"Any practice in general, if you are competing against somebody great on defense," Westbrook said. "Iron sharpens iron. We are going to keep getting better. If you think about it like today's a day to get better instead of a grueling practice, everybody's going to keep getting better."
The receivers and offense as a whole are still adjusting to a new staff. This all is a focus for IU spring turns into summer.
"This spring is really about the timing," Westbrook said. "With our new coaching staff, it's getting things how they want to be done and breaking old habits we used to have. This is huge for that. Getting that new system in place and working out the kinks there."
Heard not only want to instill the system that Westbrook alluded to, beyond the field he wants to build relationships with his receivers.
"Being a new offense, we hope they have a grasp of what we're trying to get done," Heard said. "Then just get a feel for who I am and who we are as offensive coaches. If we can do that, and they can go into summer with the stuff we taught them, keep working and improving, we'll have a chance in the fall."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana football team returned to practice after spring break and the wide receivers got back to making big plays.
"Today was a good day," passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach Grant Heard said. "We still have a long way to go, but they came out and competed. We made some plays and offensively that's what makes it fun. When the guys come back and compete and make plays. We start feeding off of that."
Taking part in those big plays is junior Nick Westbrook. In his second season, Westbrook led the Hoosiers in yardage, touchdowns and yards per reception.
"Things are going great," Westbrook said. "Seeing all these young guys step up. Last year, we didn't see what they could do, what they were capable of. This spring, everybody is making plays and they have to. Everyone has to be out there playing. It's really great to see these guys. Taysir's (Mack) stepping up, Phil Benker's stepping up, Jonah (Morris) is stepping up, Justin Berry. Everybody is stepping up and making plays when they need to. It's really fun to see everyone competing."
In practice, the Hoosiers have the opportunity to practice against the most improved defensive in that nation one season ago.
"Any practice in general, if you are competing against somebody great on defense," Westbrook said. "Iron sharpens iron. We are going to keep getting better. If you think about it like today's a day to get better instead of a grueling practice, everybody's going to keep getting better."
The receivers and offense as a whole are still adjusting to a new staff. This all is a focus for IU spring turns into summer.
"This spring is really about the timing," Westbrook said. "With our new coaching staff, it's getting things how they want to be done and breaking old habits we used to have. This is huge for that. Getting that new system in place and working out the kinks there."
Heard not only want to instill the system that Westbrook alluded to, beyond the field he wants to build relationships with his receivers.
"Being a new offense, we hope they have a grasp of what we're trying to get done," Heard said. "Then just get a feel for who I am and who we are as offensive coaches. If we can do that, and they can go into summer with the stuff we taught them, keep working and improving, we'll have a chance in the fall."
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