NOTEBOOK: Hoosiers Media Day
8/1/2017 5:17:00 PM | Football
By: Andy Graham
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Some role-reversal surfaced during Tuesday's Indiana Football Media Day interview sessions.
Fifth-year senior quarterback Richard Lagow wore tight end Ian Thomas' jersey No. 80 and Thomas wore Lagow's No. 21.
Second team All-Big Ten cornerback Rashard Fant sat down amid the reporters adjacent to Thomas and, recorder in hand, proceeded to conduct his own interview.
"Last question," self-appointed scribe Fant told Thomas. "In camp, you're going to catch a lot of balls … if Rashard is coming to tackle you, now, will you be planning on running him over? Or what are we going to do there?"
Thomas stared straight into Fant's eyes but couldn't repress a grin.
"It just depends on whether he goes at my ankles again," Thomas replied. "We might see about a stiff-arm this time."
It wasn't a new gambit for Fant, who also played reporter with first-year Hoosier head coach Tom Allen during last week's Big Ten Football Media Days in Chicago.
And Fant – the NCAA's career active leader and IU's all-time leader in pass-breakups with 44 – is just one of nine starters back on a defensive unit that reversed its role last season, moving from team liability to team strength under then-first-year defensive coordinator Allen.
Role-reversal also seems a pretty good theme to which Indiana can adhere as it hosts the Aug. 31 season and league opener against Ohio State, the media's unofficial preseason pick to win the Big Ten.
IRON HOOSIERS
Brandon Knight and fellow tackle Coy Cronk, who earned Freshman All-Big Ten and All-American honors last year, seemingly made their time in the weight room count this past offseason. Knight is up to 305 pounds from last year's roster listing at 294 pounds, and Cronk has gone from 286 to 305.
And Cronk was looking chiseled, not heavy, Monday. He credited strength and conditioning coaches Keith Caton and Rick Danison.
"They sat me down and told me, 'If you want to take the next step in your career, you can't do what you did last year," Cronk said. " … I just didn't really know (coming in as a true freshman) … it was kind of just growing up for me, a little bit. It was, 'Well, I can't pull the 'true freshman card' anymore.' That's out the window.
"I knew that playing at 200-whatever pounds wasn't going to be acceptable this year. And as far as the workouts go, Coach Rick (Danison), jeez louise, he helped me immensely. Some of the circuits are unbelievable, but I just have full faith in him, and know what he's done with previous offensive linemen. Jason (Spriggs of the Green Bay Packers) and Dan (Feeney of the Los Angeles Chargers) will tell you."
Coach Allen noted that senior defensive end Greg Gooch and redshirt junior guard Wes Martin were given the "Iron Hoosier Award, which is really the MVPs of the summer in terms of work ethic, mindset, leadership, all those things."
Others recognized for their offseason work, by position units were:
Simon Stepaniak (offensive line); Ian Thomas (tight ends); Alex Rodriguez (running backs); Richard Lagow (quarterbacks); J-Shun Harris II (wideouts), Jacob Robinson (defensive line), Chris Covington (linebackers), Chase Dutra (safeties) and Ben Bach (cornerbacks).
"Had a super summer," Allen said. "Kids really worked extremely hard. Very, very proud of the effort of our strength staff, Coach Caton and his guys. Did a great job of getting our young men physically and mentally ready for the start of fall camp."
BALLIN'
Among the individuals eliciting praise for work ethic from Allen during his podium address Monday was Marcelino Ball, who plays the hybrid safety-linebacker "Husky" position and, like Cronk, earned both Freshman All-American and Big Ten All-Freshman honors last fall.
"My office overlooks the stadium (and) I don't know if there was ever a day that went by where he wasn't out there doing something extra on his own," Allen said of Ball. "Whether it was back pedaling, change-of-direction drills, different cone drills, whatever. Just consistently, by himself many times, on the weekends. He's just a very driven individual. He expects to elevate, he expects more from himself.
DEPTH CHARGE
Coach Allen has seen depth develop among IU's defensive back seven, connoting that the secondary positions were especially well-stocked with experience and ability heading into this season. He also cited the wide-receiver corps as the deepest unit on offense.
Allen expects fifth-year senior Jayme Thompson, who originally attended Ohio State and has dealt with injuries since arriving in Bloomington, to help back up Ball at the Husky spot. And Allen is also interested to see if true freshman Bryant Fitzgerald of Avon can get into that picture.
"Bryant Fitzgerald is another one that I think he's pretty special," Allen said. "I do. Have always felt that way. So he's obviously young coming here (but) I thought just in terms of offense, defense, special teams, I thought he was the best (prep) player in Indiana last year."
MR. MIKE
With middle linebacker Marcus Oliver departing early for a shot at the NFL, the spot next to All-American Tegray Scales is open, and Allen sees Chris Covington as the likely candidate to step into Oliver's role.
'Right now in my mind, he's our Mike linebacker," Allen said of Covington, a converted quarterback. "I think he and Tegray are two guys that can play side-by-side and be a very strong linebacker corps. I think he's had opportunities in the past, played well this past season … needs to be more consistent. That was the challenge, leadership-wise, on the field, off the field, staying healthy.
"Athletically, he's as talented as any we've had, 35-inch vertical guy. That's unusual. Explosive for a guy at that position, for sure. I want it so bad for him because he wants it so bad, has made some real positive changes."
Allen also mentioned junior Dameon Willis Jr. and sophomore Reakwon Jones among the linebacking candidates. "It's going to take several," he said.
FRESH FROSH FACES
Some incoming freshmen who drew mentions from Coach Allen at some point in Chicago last week were defensive back Juwan Burgess, linebacker Mo Burnam, defensive back Bryant Fitzgerald, defensive lineman Juan Harris, tight end Peyton Hendershot, wideout Whop Philyor, quarterback Nick Tronti and punter Haydon Whitehead.
Asked Monday about redshirt freshmen who have already gotten his attention, Allen mentioned defensive end Allen Stallings IV – whose development now is especially crucial with Nike Sykes out – wideout Taysir Mack, and quarterback Peyton Ramsey.
"Feel he's got a lot of special qualities about him," Allen said of Ramsey. "Not even just on the field, but the way he carries himself, all the things he does off the field.
Allen said if freshmen are ready to play, they'll play, but also expressed a desire to redshirt a fair amount of freshmen annually.
"I'm a guy that would love to be able to redshirt a lot of our freshmen," Allen said. "I think that's the best policy for maturity, for development, for just across the board in the classroom to on the practice field, game field.
"If they're ready to play, we're going to play them. I believe in that. But I know big picture-wise, program development, where I see our program being year after year after year, that's what I'd like to be able to do, have that luxury to get those guys that extra year if we can."
SCHEDULING FOR SUCCESS
Coach Allen said he will start Indiana's regular morning practice sessions a bit later this year, with an eye toward more consistent sleep patterns and more "rest and recovery" time for the players' physiques. He also plans to work in more team-wide meetings.
More time to share the love.
Lagow feels that allows Allen's foundational philosophy of "Love Each Other," which he brought to one side of the ball as defensive coordinator last year, to pervade the entire squad.
"We all saw it, when it was happening with him over on the defensive side of the ball," Lagow said. "As soon as he took over (as head coach in December), we tried to incorporate that on our side of the ball. It was a smooth transition. Everybody loves Coach Allen.
"So it wasn't hard for us, but it took some time to get that L.E.O. in everybody's blood, in everybody's DNA, to be a part of who they really are. That took a little bit of time but I think, by the time spring ball ended, everybody had really bought into it. And now that summer workouts have ended, you can really see it."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Some role-reversal surfaced during Tuesday's Indiana Football Media Day interview sessions.
Fifth-year senior quarterback Richard Lagow wore tight end Ian Thomas' jersey No. 80 and Thomas wore Lagow's No. 21.
Second team All-Big Ten cornerback Rashard Fant sat down amid the reporters adjacent to Thomas and, recorder in hand, proceeded to conduct his own interview.
"Last question," self-appointed scribe Fant told Thomas. "In camp, you're going to catch a lot of balls … if Rashard is coming to tackle you, now, will you be planning on running him over? Or what are we going to do there?"
Thomas stared straight into Fant's eyes but couldn't repress a grin.
"It just depends on whether he goes at my ankles again," Thomas replied. "We might see about a stiff-arm this time."
It wasn't a new gambit for Fant, who also played reporter with first-year Hoosier head coach Tom Allen during last week's Big Ten Football Media Days in Chicago.
And Fant – the NCAA's career active leader and IU's all-time leader in pass-breakups with 44 – is just one of nine starters back on a defensive unit that reversed its role last season, moving from team liability to team strength under then-first-year defensive coordinator Allen.
Role-reversal also seems a pretty good theme to which Indiana can adhere as it hosts the Aug. 31 season and league opener against Ohio State, the media's unofficial preseason pick to win the Big Ten.
IRON HOOSIERS
Brandon Knight and fellow tackle Coy Cronk, who earned Freshman All-Big Ten and All-American honors last year, seemingly made their time in the weight room count this past offseason. Knight is up to 305 pounds from last year's roster listing at 294 pounds, and Cronk has gone from 286 to 305.
And Cronk was looking chiseled, not heavy, Monday. He credited strength and conditioning coaches Keith Caton and Rick Danison.
"They sat me down and told me, 'If you want to take the next step in your career, you can't do what you did last year," Cronk said. " … I just didn't really know (coming in as a true freshman) … it was kind of just growing up for me, a little bit. It was, 'Well, I can't pull the 'true freshman card' anymore.' That's out the window.
"I knew that playing at 200-whatever pounds wasn't going to be acceptable this year. And as far as the workouts go, Coach Rick (Danison), jeez louise, he helped me immensely. Some of the circuits are unbelievable, but I just have full faith in him, and know what he's done with previous offensive linemen. Jason (Spriggs of the Green Bay Packers) and Dan (Feeney of the Los Angeles Chargers) will tell you."
Coach Allen noted that senior defensive end Greg Gooch and redshirt junior guard Wes Martin were given the "Iron Hoosier Award, which is really the MVPs of the summer in terms of work ethic, mindset, leadership, all those things."
Others recognized for their offseason work, by position units were:
Simon Stepaniak (offensive line); Ian Thomas (tight ends); Alex Rodriguez (running backs); Richard Lagow (quarterbacks); J-Shun Harris II (wideouts), Jacob Robinson (defensive line), Chris Covington (linebackers), Chase Dutra (safeties) and Ben Bach (cornerbacks).
"Had a super summer," Allen said. "Kids really worked extremely hard. Very, very proud of the effort of our strength staff, Coach Caton and his guys. Did a great job of getting our young men physically and mentally ready for the start of fall camp."
BALLIN'
Among the individuals eliciting praise for work ethic from Allen during his podium address Monday was Marcelino Ball, who plays the hybrid safety-linebacker "Husky" position and, like Cronk, earned both Freshman All-American and Big Ten All-Freshman honors last fall.
"My office overlooks the stadium (and) I don't know if there was ever a day that went by where he wasn't out there doing something extra on his own," Allen said of Ball. "Whether it was back pedaling, change-of-direction drills, different cone drills, whatever. Just consistently, by himself many times, on the weekends. He's just a very driven individual. He expects to elevate, he expects more from himself.
DEPTH CHARGE
Coach Allen has seen depth develop among IU's defensive back seven, connoting that the secondary positions were especially well-stocked with experience and ability heading into this season. He also cited the wide-receiver corps as the deepest unit on offense.
Allen expects fifth-year senior Jayme Thompson, who originally attended Ohio State and has dealt with injuries since arriving in Bloomington, to help back up Ball at the Husky spot. And Allen is also interested to see if true freshman Bryant Fitzgerald of Avon can get into that picture.
"Bryant Fitzgerald is another one that I think he's pretty special," Allen said. "I do. Have always felt that way. So he's obviously young coming here (but) I thought just in terms of offense, defense, special teams, I thought he was the best (prep) player in Indiana last year."
MR. MIKE
With middle linebacker Marcus Oliver departing early for a shot at the NFL, the spot next to All-American Tegray Scales is open, and Allen sees Chris Covington as the likely candidate to step into Oliver's role.
'Right now in my mind, he's our Mike linebacker," Allen said of Covington, a converted quarterback. "I think he and Tegray are two guys that can play side-by-side and be a very strong linebacker corps. I think he's had opportunities in the past, played well this past season … needs to be more consistent. That was the challenge, leadership-wise, on the field, off the field, staying healthy.
"Athletically, he's as talented as any we've had, 35-inch vertical guy. That's unusual. Explosive for a guy at that position, for sure. I want it so bad for him because he wants it so bad, has made some real positive changes."
Allen also mentioned junior Dameon Willis Jr. and sophomore Reakwon Jones among the linebacking candidates. "It's going to take several," he said.
FRESH FROSH FACES
Some incoming freshmen who drew mentions from Coach Allen at some point in Chicago last week were defensive back Juwan Burgess, linebacker Mo Burnam, defensive back Bryant Fitzgerald, defensive lineman Juan Harris, tight end Peyton Hendershot, wideout Whop Philyor, quarterback Nick Tronti and punter Haydon Whitehead.
Asked Monday about redshirt freshmen who have already gotten his attention, Allen mentioned defensive end Allen Stallings IV – whose development now is especially crucial with Nike Sykes out – wideout Taysir Mack, and quarterback Peyton Ramsey.
"Feel he's got a lot of special qualities about him," Allen said of Ramsey. "Not even just on the field, but the way he carries himself, all the things he does off the field.
Allen said if freshmen are ready to play, they'll play, but also expressed a desire to redshirt a fair amount of freshmen annually.
"I'm a guy that would love to be able to redshirt a lot of our freshmen," Allen said. "I think that's the best policy for maturity, for development, for just across the board in the classroom to on the practice field, game field.
"If they're ready to play, we're going to play them. I believe in that. But I know big picture-wise, program development, where I see our program being year after year after year, that's what I'd like to be able to do, have that luxury to get those guys that extra year if we can."
SCHEDULING FOR SUCCESS
Coach Allen said he will start Indiana's regular morning practice sessions a bit later this year, with an eye toward more consistent sleep patterns and more "rest and recovery" time for the players' physiques. He also plans to work in more team-wide meetings.
More time to share the love.
Lagow feels that allows Allen's foundational philosophy of "Love Each Other," which he brought to one side of the ball as defensive coordinator last year, to pervade the entire squad.
"We all saw it, when it was happening with him over on the defensive side of the ball," Lagow said. "As soon as he took over (as head coach in December), we tried to incorporate that on our side of the ball. It was a smooth transition. Everybody loves Coach Allen.
"So it wasn't hard for us, but it took some time to get that L.E.O. in everybody's blood, in everybody's DNA, to be a part of who they really are. That took a little bit of time but I think, by the time spring ball ended, everybody had really bought into it. And now that summer workouts have ended, you can really see it."
Players Mentioned
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