Indiana University Athletics
Tuesday Notebook: Quarterbacks Share the Love
9/19/2017 8:54:00 PM | Football
By: Pete DiPrimio
BLOOMINGTON, Ind - Once upon a time, when power football ruled the college offensive world, coaches preached a message that if you played two quarterbacks, you really didn't have a quarterback. In that pre-spread offense line of thinking, quarterback rotations bred, if not contempt, then mediocrity.
Richard Lagow and Peyton Ramsey are proving that wrong.
Lagow looked like the second coming of Tom Brady in the opening loss against Ohio State. Ramsey was the difference maker in the win at Virginia.
Both will have key roles Saturday when Indiana (1-1) hosts Georgia Southern (0-2).
If you think this makes them enemies, think again.
"We're very supportive of each other," Ramsey says. "We have a great relationship. We talk each other through plays, through concepts, through different things. What we're seeing out there.
"We'll continue to support each other, compete every day in practice and earn opportunities to play and make plays every Saturday."
Both push the Love Each Other (LEO) concept coach Tom Allen demands, but still, as fierce competitors, both want to win in everything they do.
Sharing a position isn't necessarily winning it -- except, Lagow says, it is.
"(Making it work) is easy because we don't care who gets the credit at all. It's simple. It's the whole philosophy that Coach Allen has instilled in us.
"It doesn't matter if Peyton plays 95 snaps and I come in for one play to take a knee at the end of the game. If we win, cool. I'm just as happy."
Lagow sure looked happy on the sidelines at Virginia, even though Ramsey thrived over the final three quarters.
"Ask any of my teammates or coaches, I was by far happier after the Virginia game because we won than I was after the Ohio State game. Personal performance aside, winning makes everything better."
Or, as Ramsey puts it, "We talk about not caring who gets the credit. That's one thing that's hard as competitors, but in the end we just want to win games and we'll do what we can to help the team win."
Lagow is basically a passing quarterback, while the dual-threat Ramsey adds a running element. Playing both can stress a defense far more than just playing one.
"It's kind of a 1-2 punch," Ramsey says. "Defenses have to prepare for different things from both of us. It's beneficial that we have different styles of play."
Adds Lagow: "We do complement each other well. Whatever the coaches scheme up, (Ramsey) and I will be 100 percent on board with."
UNEXPECTED PUNTER
Punter Haydon Whitehead has made quite a first impression.
Two games into his college career, the Australia native is already on the Ray Guy Watch list, which means he's considered one of the nation's top punters.
Whitehead already has had seven punts land inside opponents' 20-yard line, and four inside the 10. While a left-footed punter, he can punt with his right leg if necessary. Overall, he averages 42.1 yards a punt, with a long of 56.
Apparently 15 years of playing Australian Rules Football goes a long way. So does a certain humility.
The 21-year-old Whitehead says he took up American-style football a couple of years ago after his brother, Nick, starting playing quarterback for an American-style club in Australia.
"I took an interest in it. I developed a passion for it.
"I can't throw a ball. I'm not very fast or strong, so the only position I could play was punter. After my Australia football background, I figured I'd give it a crack."
He figured right.
DETAILS MATTER FOR CRAWFORD
Junior defensive back Jonathan Crawford continues to make a major impact. He has 15 tackles and a pass breakup through two games.
He wants more.
"For me, it's detail. It's doing the little things. I've been here; I'm experienced; I have to follow up on that and watch more film. Keep learning from my mistakes."
Crawford is a veteran film watcher.
"I've been watching myself since I was in Little League," he says. "I'm always recording games. I still love to do it."
BRANDON KNIGHT IS BACK
Look for veteran offensive lineman Brandon Knight to be in the lineup Saturday for his season debut. The 6-5, 305-pound junior has been sidelined since early in fall camp with an unspecified injury. He traveled and warmed up with the team at Virginia, but didn't play.
"I think that he's progressed well," Allen says, "and I fully expect him to play and get his first action. He's ready to go."
INSIGHT BOWL TEAM LESSONS
IU will honor the 2007 Insight Bowl team on Saturday. Those Hoosiers made the postseason for the first time in a generation (clinching a bid on kicker Austin Starr's game-winning 49-yard field goal against Purdue), and finished with a 7-6 record.
What can the current Hoosiers learn from that team?
"They were able to do some things that had not been done in a long time," Allen says.
"Just understanding the history of that and what they accomplished, and really what they did in memory of (former coach Terry Hoeppner). His goal was to get them to that bowl game, and to be able to do that with Coach (Bill) Lynch and their staff was really special and a big part of what we are trying to recreate.
"It's a great reminder of the challenges we've had here to be able to get to that level and play to that level and to recreate that, and that's part of a breakthrough for us.
"We want to get to where we understand how to play at that level and win the number of games you have to win and play at a consistent level that they were able to do to get to that point.
"You respect what they did. We want to be the next group to do that."
BLOOMINGTON, Ind - Once upon a time, when power football ruled the college offensive world, coaches preached a message that if you played two quarterbacks, you really didn't have a quarterback. In that pre-spread offense line of thinking, quarterback rotations bred, if not contempt, then mediocrity.
Richard Lagow and Peyton Ramsey are proving that wrong.
Lagow looked like the second coming of Tom Brady in the opening loss against Ohio State. Ramsey was the difference maker in the win at Virginia.
Both will have key roles Saturday when Indiana (1-1) hosts Georgia Southern (0-2).
If you think this makes them enemies, think again.
"We're very supportive of each other," Ramsey says. "We have a great relationship. We talk each other through plays, through concepts, through different things. What we're seeing out there.
"We'll continue to support each other, compete every day in practice and earn opportunities to play and make plays every Saturday."
Both push the Love Each Other (LEO) concept coach Tom Allen demands, but still, as fierce competitors, both want to win in everything they do.
Sharing a position isn't necessarily winning it -- except, Lagow says, it is.
"(Making it work) is easy because we don't care who gets the credit at all. It's simple. It's the whole philosophy that Coach Allen has instilled in us.
"It doesn't matter if Peyton plays 95 snaps and I come in for one play to take a knee at the end of the game. If we win, cool. I'm just as happy."
Lagow sure looked happy on the sidelines at Virginia, even though Ramsey thrived over the final three quarters.
"Ask any of my teammates or coaches, I was by far happier after the Virginia game because we won than I was after the Ohio State game. Personal performance aside, winning makes everything better."
Or, as Ramsey puts it, "We talk about not caring who gets the credit. That's one thing that's hard as competitors, but in the end we just want to win games and we'll do what we can to help the team win."
Lagow is basically a passing quarterback, while the dual-threat Ramsey adds a running element. Playing both can stress a defense far more than just playing one.
"It's kind of a 1-2 punch," Ramsey says. "Defenses have to prepare for different things from both of us. It's beneficial that we have different styles of play."
Adds Lagow: "We do complement each other well. Whatever the coaches scheme up, (Ramsey) and I will be 100 percent on board with."
UNEXPECTED PUNTER
Punter Haydon Whitehead has made quite a first impression.
Two games into his college career, the Australia native is already on the Ray Guy Watch list, which means he's considered one of the nation's top punters.
Whitehead already has had seven punts land inside opponents' 20-yard line, and four inside the 10. While a left-footed punter, he can punt with his right leg if necessary. Overall, he averages 42.1 yards a punt, with a long of 56.
Apparently 15 years of playing Australian Rules Football goes a long way. So does a certain humility.
The 21-year-old Whitehead says he took up American-style football a couple of years ago after his brother, Nick, starting playing quarterback for an American-style club in Australia.
"I took an interest in it. I developed a passion for it.
"I can't throw a ball. I'm not very fast or strong, so the only position I could play was punter. After my Australia football background, I figured I'd give it a crack."
He figured right.
DETAILS MATTER FOR CRAWFORD
Junior defensive back Jonathan Crawford continues to make a major impact. He has 15 tackles and a pass breakup through two games.
He wants more.
"For me, it's detail. It's doing the little things. I've been here; I'm experienced; I have to follow up on that and watch more film. Keep learning from my mistakes."
Crawford is a veteran film watcher.
"I've been watching myself since I was in Little League," he says. "I'm always recording games. I still love to do it."
BRANDON KNIGHT IS BACK
Look for veteran offensive lineman Brandon Knight to be in the lineup Saturday for his season debut. The 6-5, 305-pound junior has been sidelined since early in fall camp with an unspecified injury. He traveled and warmed up with the team at Virginia, but didn't play.
"I think that he's progressed well," Allen says, "and I fully expect him to play and get his first action. He's ready to go."
INSIGHT BOWL TEAM LESSONS
IU will honor the 2007 Insight Bowl team on Saturday. Those Hoosiers made the postseason for the first time in a generation (clinching a bid on kicker Austin Starr's game-winning 49-yard field goal against Purdue), and finished with a 7-6 record.
What can the current Hoosiers learn from that team?
"They were able to do some things that had not been done in a long time," Allen says.
"Just understanding the history of that and what they accomplished, and really what they did in memory of (former coach Terry Hoeppner). His goal was to get them to that bowl game, and to be able to do that with Coach (Bill) Lynch and their staff was really special and a big part of what we are trying to recreate.
"It's a great reminder of the challenges we've had here to be able to get to that level and play to that level and to recreate that, and that's part of a breakthrough for us.
"We want to get to where we understand how to play at that level and win the number of games you have to win and play at a consistent level that they were able to do to get to that point.
"You respect what they did. We want to be the next group to do that."
Players Mentioned
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