DeBord, Offense Focusing on Little Things
8/12/2017 4:24:00 PM | Football
By: Nick Reith
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana offensive coordinator Mike DeBord is taking a patient approach in his first preseason camp with the Hoosiers.
When it comes to the preseason, DeBord knows the challenges of getting an offense to operate as a cohesive unit. That's especially true for the freshmen, who have to overcome an extra obstacle in their first collegiate camp.
"With freshmen, everything we're telling them is another language," DeBord said after Friday's practice. "Whatever they called it in high school, I guarantee we're calling it something different. So when they walk in here, the language and terminology is totally different."
Despite the steep learning curve, there are some new faces drawing DeBord's attention as the Hoosiers eye their Thursday night home opener at the end of the month. Freshman Harry Crider is making plays on the interior line that aren't typical of a freshman, according to DeBord. And new running back Morgan Ellison is drawing some buzz beyond the watchful eyes of the coaching staff.
"We see a guy that has the ability to make quick up-cuts and get the ball up the field whenever the defense stretches," DeBord said regarding Ellison. "He also does a really good job of leveling off, his shoulder pads are down and he levels off that way. He's like a lot of freshmen now, their heads are spinning right now as we've gotten a lot of offense in during training camp, but he'll improve."
By focusing on the little things, DeBord is crafting a culture of managing expectations to take a step-by-step approach towards their final goal. And with the hype surrounding DeBord's highly-touted receiving corps and fifth-year senior quarterback Richard Lagow, that mindset will help the Hoosiers stay the course if they don't immediately hit their marks.
But DeBord agrees with the claims that Indiana's receivers could be among the best in the Big Ten and across the country.
"I think first of all, they're great kids, and the second thing is they've got ability," DeBord said. "They have speed and size, and when you have both of those things that's tough for a defense to handle. I think they can be one of the best in the country, but they have to play at that level all the time."
Everyone on offense, from freshmen to upperclassmen, is learning DeBord's new offensive mindset and schemes in the coordinator's first year with Indiana. It's a lot to digest, DeBord said, so he's looking for the basics early on: technique, consistency, and execution.
"I want to see that we're assignment competent, that we can handle and use our techniques while playing at a fast tempo," DeBord stated as his goals. "That doesn't mean we're moving fast all the time, but that we're getting back and lined up quickly as well."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana offensive coordinator Mike DeBord is taking a patient approach in his first preseason camp with the Hoosiers.
When it comes to the preseason, DeBord knows the challenges of getting an offense to operate as a cohesive unit. That's especially true for the freshmen, who have to overcome an extra obstacle in their first collegiate camp.
"With freshmen, everything we're telling them is another language," DeBord said after Friday's practice. "Whatever they called it in high school, I guarantee we're calling it something different. So when they walk in here, the language and terminology is totally different."
Despite the steep learning curve, there are some new faces drawing DeBord's attention as the Hoosiers eye their Thursday night home opener at the end of the month. Freshman Harry Crider is making plays on the interior line that aren't typical of a freshman, according to DeBord. And new running back Morgan Ellison is drawing some buzz beyond the watchful eyes of the coaching staff.
"We see a guy that has the ability to make quick up-cuts and get the ball up the field whenever the defense stretches," DeBord said regarding Ellison. "He also does a really good job of leveling off, his shoulder pads are down and he levels off that way. He's like a lot of freshmen now, their heads are spinning right now as we've gotten a lot of offense in during training camp, but he'll improve."
By focusing on the little things, DeBord is crafting a culture of managing expectations to take a step-by-step approach towards their final goal. And with the hype surrounding DeBord's highly-touted receiving corps and fifth-year senior quarterback Richard Lagow, that mindset will help the Hoosiers stay the course if they don't immediately hit their marks.
But DeBord agrees with the claims that Indiana's receivers could be among the best in the Big Ten and across the country.
"I think first of all, they're great kids, and the second thing is they've got ability," DeBord said. "They have speed and size, and when you have both of those things that's tough for a defense to handle. I think they can be one of the best in the country, but they have to play at that level all the time."
Everyone on offense, from freshmen to upperclassmen, is learning DeBord's new offensive mindset and schemes in the coordinator's first year with Indiana. It's a lot to digest, DeBord said, so he's looking for the basics early on: technique, consistency, and execution.
"I want to see that we're assignment competent, that we can handle and use our techniques while playing at a fast tempo," DeBord stated as his goals. "That doesn't mean we're moving fast all the time, but that we're getting back and lined up quickly as well."
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