Deep Safety Group a Good Problem to Have for IU
8/23/2017 8:31:00 PM | Football
By Andy Graham
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Noah Joseph still has his third and fourth fingers on his left hand taped together.
The Indiana safeties coach broke a finger while tubing on Lake Monroe during a gathering for football staff and their families before preseason camp commenced.
And while big fun was reportedly had by all, Joseph's finger wasn't the lone casualty that day. He said head coach Tom Allen incurred injured ribs and a staffer's spouse sustained a possible concussion.
"The injury report … was bad that following Monday," Joseph quipped Wednesday. "That's for sure."
Fortunately for Joseph and the Hoosiers program, knock on wood, his players aren't on the current injury report with the Aug. 31 opener against No. 2 Ohio State just a week away.
And he's got a lot of players.
There are returning starters at every safety spot – sophomore Marcelino Ball at husky, junior Jonathan Crawford at strong safety and seniors Chase Dutra and Tony Fields, both former starters, back at free safety.
Joseph isn't sure which free safety will take the first defensive snap next Thursday night versus OSU and doesn't think it matters much. In a good way.
"Right now, we haven't named a starter and, in my mind, they're both starters," Joseph said of Fields and Dutra. "They're both going to play a ton. Who takes that first snap, we're not entirely sure right now.
"They're both on about every special team. And we feel very comfortable and confident with them … it's a good problem to have. It's a good situation where I think, to be an elite program, that's what we need more of – where guys can play."
IU has made real progress in that regard since Dutra matriculated in 2013 as an all-state standout from Brownsburg and earned honorable mention Freshman All-Big Ten honors.
A year after Crawford was a 2015 Campus Insiders Freshman All-American, Ball was named Freshman All-American by 247Sports. Both were also named Freshman All-Big Ten by BTN.
"When I first got here, it was pretty rough -- not much depth at all," Dutra recalled. "Over time, it's just evolved, and we keep getting great players in year after year.
"In the free safety spot, we're just strong. Because me and Tony are two really experienced guys, two good ballplayers. It doesn't matter which one of us is in, you're going to get the same type of person."
Or, perhaps, the same type of performer. Because the personalities are a bit different.
"Chase is natural leader," Crawford noted. "Very vocal. Likes to have fun. Tony is more of a stick-to-business kind of guy. He doesn't talk much. But both can make plays. Definitely.
"Both of them want it. They want it bad. And that shows on special teams, too. Having them on special teams is very … special."
Indeed, both are special team standouts, and those units are broadly benefiting from the increased depth culled from improved recruiting by erstwhile Hoosiers head coach Kevin Wilson and successor Allen.
Dutra, who was twice IU's Special Teams Player of the Week last season, said of special team duty: "I love it. It's more opportunities to be on the field, to make plays. You can make a living out of special teams. There are people who do it in the NFL. It just shows you're more versatile, that you can play a lot of different positions.
"You just want to get out on the field and be out there as much as you can. In high school, I never came off the field, and I like that. At the end, you're tired, you're exhausted, and you should feel like (that) … that's just my mindset, to go out there and play as much as I can."
And, Joseph notes, Dutra does it all with maximum effort.
"That's how he plays," Joseph said. "He's probably always going to be banged up because it doesn't matter what the score is, or what (point) in the game, when he plays, it is balls to the wall.
"He's throwing his body (in there) and giving everything he has. It's a testament. And it is his personality. And I think our defense, and really our team, kind of feeds off of that. And it's going to give him an opportunity to play beyond this football season."
But since Dutra and Fields figure to share time at free safety, even with maximum effort and their additional special teams duties, both should stay fresh and therefore more capable of making key plays down the stretch.
"Instead of playing 90 snaps a game, they're playing 45 or 50," Joseph said, "(and) are making more plays when we have a chance to win those close games in the fourth quarter."
Joseph sees that sort of depth throughout his unit, too.
"You feel good," he said. "You've got Chase and Tony at the free safety spot. You've got Khalil Bryant – who had a great spring and then has picked up right where he left off – at free safety (behind Crawford). And at the Husky spot, we've got Ben Bach and Jayme Thompson backing up (Marce)lino right now."
Crawford has no qualms about sophomore Bryant stepping in for him on the field when circumstances call for it: "He's ready."
And Crawford feels IU's entire defense, with nine returning starters from 2016 and also experience among many of the reserves, is ready.
"The understanding is better," Crawford said. "When I was younger, I didn't know much. I feel like, all over with us now, with the experience we have, we understand offenses and understand the defense more.
"It gives everybody the edge. I feel I'm a smarter player. Understanding the offense, what it's doing or trying to do, is huge."
The irony that IU's 2017 defense will first face an offense orchestrated by Wilson, their former head coach, is obviously not lost on Crawford, Dutra or their teammates.
"Especially being with Coach Wilson the past couple of years, that's going to be fun," Crawford said, "just knowing your old head coach is with the other team and calling some shots."
Not that Dutra expects OSU's attack to look overly familiar or predictable.
"Obviously, it's the first game and you don't know how they're going to come out," Dutra said. "They're not going to show much in their spring game or fall camp … I've played against (Wilson in practice) and you know what Coach (Urban) Meyer has done in the past with their offense.
"We have a good idea of what we think they're going to do but, just as with any other game, you have to stay on your toes and adjust throughout the game and see what they're giving you."
And the Hoosiers defense is better equipped now, with its experience and depth, to make necessary adjustments "on the fly" during games.
"The experience we have helps us," Dutra said. "With our 2s as well. You have a lot of people who might not have started but who've had a lot of playing time. We have a good 1, a good 2, and, for the most part, a good 3.
"It just helps us all around, too. It helps us with confidence. It helps with the coaches' confidence, instead of worrying about who they're putting in. That's all to our advantage."
That's putting a finger on it.
And whatever else happens, chances are Joseph won't have to tape together a fractured depth chart this season.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Noah Joseph still has his third and fourth fingers on his left hand taped together.
The Indiana safeties coach broke a finger while tubing on Lake Monroe during a gathering for football staff and their families before preseason camp commenced.
And while big fun was reportedly had by all, Joseph's finger wasn't the lone casualty that day. He said head coach Tom Allen incurred injured ribs and a staffer's spouse sustained a possible concussion.
"The injury report … was bad that following Monday," Joseph quipped Wednesday. "That's for sure."
Fortunately for Joseph and the Hoosiers program, knock on wood, his players aren't on the current injury report with the Aug. 31 opener against No. 2 Ohio State just a week away.
And he's got a lot of players.
There are returning starters at every safety spot – sophomore Marcelino Ball at husky, junior Jonathan Crawford at strong safety and seniors Chase Dutra and Tony Fields, both former starters, back at free safety.
Joseph isn't sure which free safety will take the first defensive snap next Thursday night versus OSU and doesn't think it matters much. In a good way.
"Right now, we haven't named a starter and, in my mind, they're both starters," Joseph said of Fields and Dutra. "They're both going to play a ton. Who takes that first snap, we're not entirely sure right now.
"They're both on about every special team. And we feel very comfortable and confident with them … it's a good problem to have. It's a good situation where I think, to be an elite program, that's what we need more of – where guys can play."
IU has made real progress in that regard since Dutra matriculated in 2013 as an all-state standout from Brownsburg and earned honorable mention Freshman All-Big Ten honors.
A year after Crawford was a 2015 Campus Insiders Freshman All-American, Ball was named Freshman All-American by 247Sports. Both were also named Freshman All-Big Ten by BTN.
"When I first got here, it was pretty rough -- not much depth at all," Dutra recalled. "Over time, it's just evolved, and we keep getting great players in year after year.
"In the free safety spot, we're just strong. Because me and Tony are two really experienced guys, two good ballplayers. It doesn't matter which one of us is in, you're going to get the same type of person."
Or, perhaps, the same type of performer. Because the personalities are a bit different.
"Chase is natural leader," Crawford noted. "Very vocal. Likes to have fun. Tony is more of a stick-to-business kind of guy. He doesn't talk much. But both can make plays. Definitely.
"Both of them want it. They want it bad. And that shows on special teams, too. Having them on special teams is very … special."
Indeed, both are special team standouts, and those units are broadly benefiting from the increased depth culled from improved recruiting by erstwhile Hoosiers head coach Kevin Wilson and successor Allen.
Dutra, who was twice IU's Special Teams Player of the Week last season, said of special team duty: "I love it. It's more opportunities to be on the field, to make plays. You can make a living out of special teams. There are people who do it in the NFL. It just shows you're more versatile, that you can play a lot of different positions.
"You just want to get out on the field and be out there as much as you can. In high school, I never came off the field, and I like that. At the end, you're tired, you're exhausted, and you should feel like (that) … that's just my mindset, to go out there and play as much as I can."
And, Joseph notes, Dutra does it all with maximum effort.
"That's how he plays," Joseph said. "He's probably always going to be banged up because it doesn't matter what the score is, or what (point) in the game, when he plays, it is balls to the wall.
"He's throwing his body (in there) and giving everything he has. It's a testament. And it is his personality. And I think our defense, and really our team, kind of feeds off of that. And it's going to give him an opportunity to play beyond this football season."
But since Dutra and Fields figure to share time at free safety, even with maximum effort and their additional special teams duties, both should stay fresh and therefore more capable of making key plays down the stretch.
"Instead of playing 90 snaps a game, they're playing 45 or 50," Joseph said, "(and) are making more plays when we have a chance to win those close games in the fourth quarter."
Joseph sees that sort of depth throughout his unit, too.
"You feel good," he said. "You've got Chase and Tony at the free safety spot. You've got Khalil Bryant – who had a great spring and then has picked up right where he left off – at free safety (behind Crawford). And at the Husky spot, we've got Ben Bach and Jayme Thompson backing up (Marce)lino right now."
Crawford has no qualms about sophomore Bryant stepping in for him on the field when circumstances call for it: "He's ready."
And Crawford feels IU's entire defense, with nine returning starters from 2016 and also experience among many of the reserves, is ready.
"The understanding is better," Crawford said. "When I was younger, I didn't know much. I feel like, all over with us now, with the experience we have, we understand offenses and understand the defense more.
"It gives everybody the edge. I feel I'm a smarter player. Understanding the offense, what it's doing or trying to do, is huge."
The irony that IU's 2017 defense will first face an offense orchestrated by Wilson, their former head coach, is obviously not lost on Crawford, Dutra or their teammates.
"Especially being with Coach Wilson the past couple of years, that's going to be fun," Crawford said, "just knowing your old head coach is with the other team and calling some shots."
Not that Dutra expects OSU's attack to look overly familiar or predictable.
"Obviously, it's the first game and you don't know how they're going to come out," Dutra said. "They're not going to show much in their spring game or fall camp … I've played against (Wilson in practice) and you know what Coach (Urban) Meyer has done in the past with their offense.
"We have a good idea of what we think they're going to do but, just as with any other game, you have to stay on your toes and adjust throughout the game and see what they're giving you."
And the Hoosiers defense is better equipped now, with its experience and depth, to make necessary adjustments "on the fly" during games.
"The experience we have helps us," Dutra said. "With our 2s as well. You have a lot of people who might not have started but who've had a lot of playing time. We have a good 1, a good 2, and, for the most part, a good 3.
"It just helps us all around, too. It helps us with confidence. It helps with the coaches' confidence, instead of worrying about who they're putting in. That's all to our advantage."
That's putting a finger on it.
And whatever else happens, chances are Joseph won't have to tape together a fractured depth chart this season.
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