Indiana University Athletics
Tuesday Notebook: Indiana Heads to Virginia
9/5/2017 6:41:00 PM | Football
By: Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Forget history repeating itself.
Defensive back Marcelino Ball aims to help build a new Indiana football history.
So do the rest of the Hoosiers.
When IU (0-1) heads to Virginia (1-0) on Saturday, there is one over-riding priority.
Finish.
Oh, and then win.
"Finishing is keeping the same physicality and intensity," Ball said. "It's doing it consistently until the clock hits zero. That's something that as I've matured, I've learned we need. We need to finish."
The Hoosiers were close against second-ranked Ohio State in last week's season opener, pushing the Buckeyes to the late-third-quarter brink before fading. They've had similar close calls with other heralded teams in recent years, which is why coach Tom Allen has emphasized finishing from the moment he got the job last December.
Allen continues that emphasis. These Hoosiers, Ball said, are ready to deliver.
"Being able to finish is what we've lacked. That's what we have to get better at. If not, we'll have the same outcomes we've had before."
He paused.
"We're going to get better at it."
That means bouncing back in a big way from the Ohio State defeat, and doing it on the road. It means displaying toughness and maturity amid disappointment.
"The past is the past," Ball said. "It's on to the new now.
"Ohio State and Virginia are different teams. It's a different day. You've got to forget about the past. Even if we had won, forget about it. You can't go in with a big head if you win, and you can't go in thinking about the last game you lost."
SPECIAL TALENT
Losing standout receiver Nick Westbrook on a season-ending knee injury against Ohio State hit his teammates hard. Westbrook had totaled nearly 1,000 receiving yards last season. He was hurt on the opening kickoff.
"With Nick, I told him to keep your head up," quarterback Richard Lagow said. "That was my last game playing with him because this is my last year. That's sad.
"We were looking forward to big things this year. I told him to keep his head up. He's a special kid and talent.
"It happens. It happened to Simmie (Cobbs Jr.), to J-Shun (Harris II). It happens to guys all throughout college football. You have to think injuries can't stop you if you put in the work and keep your mindset the way it needs to be so that when you recover, you're ready to go."
Even without Westbrook, IU is loaded at receiver with Cobbs, Luke Timian, Donavan Hale, Taysir Mack and Harris, plus tight ends such as Ian Thomas and Ryan Watercutter.
"It's next man up," Lagow said. "I trust all the receivers. A lot of guys have to start making plays. They're excited about it. They're looking forward to it.
"With our depth at wide receiver, don't push the panic button yet. We have a number of guys who are capable of making great plays."
TWO BETTER THAN ONE
A funny thing about the one-hand catching wonders Cobbs displayed against Ohio State.
They broke one of receivers coach Grant Heard's pass-catching commandments:
Thou shall catch passes with two hands.
So if you thought Heard was ready to heap a ton of praise for Cobbs' highlight moments, think again.
"Our coach hates it," Timian said. "When we were watching the Ohio State film of Simmie, I thought (Heard) was going to say 'Nice play,' but he said, 'You can get two hands on it.'
"He's not a big fan. We definitely don't practice it. You try to get two hands as often as you can, but sometimes a DB will grab your arm and you have make a one-hand catch."
Regardless of the number of hands used, Cobbs' spectacular plays highlighted a career performance – 11 catches, 149 yards, one touchdown.
"I was making plays my teammates needed me to make," Cobbs said. "When the ball was up for me to get it, I made the play. None of it would have happened without the quarterback and the offensive line."
RUN SUCCESS COMING
Don't give up on IU's running game just yet, Lagow said.
The Hoosiers managed just 17 rushing yards on 27 carries, with most of that coming in the final minutes.
For one thing, that came against an Ohio State defense that likely will rate among the nation's best against the run.
For another, IU coaches called for 18 more running plays, but Lagow switched to passes because Ohio State's defense was loaded to stop the run. Eleven of those passes were completed, offensive coordinator Mike DeBord said, for an average of more than nine yards per completion.
"Any time you can run, it opens up the passing game," Lagow said.
"A lot was made of the run game the last few days, but a lot of the throws I had were runs that (Ohio State was) stacked in the box. Instead of running into a seven-man box, I threw one-on-one to Simmie.
"We might not get those one-on-ones this week. Our running backs might get a bigger chance.
"And some of (the run struggles) was that I missed some of my run keys and they got hit in the backfield instead of me keeping it and running for five to six yards."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Forget history repeating itself.
Defensive back Marcelino Ball aims to help build a new Indiana football history.
So do the rest of the Hoosiers.
When IU (0-1) heads to Virginia (1-0) on Saturday, there is one over-riding priority.
Finish.
Oh, and then win.
"Finishing is keeping the same physicality and intensity," Ball said. "It's doing it consistently until the clock hits zero. That's something that as I've matured, I've learned we need. We need to finish."
The Hoosiers were close against second-ranked Ohio State in last week's season opener, pushing the Buckeyes to the late-third-quarter brink before fading. They've had similar close calls with other heralded teams in recent years, which is why coach Tom Allen has emphasized finishing from the moment he got the job last December.
Allen continues that emphasis. These Hoosiers, Ball said, are ready to deliver.
"Being able to finish is what we've lacked. That's what we have to get better at. If not, we'll have the same outcomes we've had before."
He paused.
"We're going to get better at it."
That means bouncing back in a big way from the Ohio State defeat, and doing it on the road. It means displaying toughness and maturity amid disappointment.
"The past is the past," Ball said. "It's on to the new now.
"Ohio State and Virginia are different teams. It's a different day. You've got to forget about the past. Even if we had won, forget about it. You can't go in with a big head if you win, and you can't go in thinking about the last game you lost."
SPECIAL TALENT
Losing standout receiver Nick Westbrook on a season-ending knee injury against Ohio State hit his teammates hard. Westbrook had totaled nearly 1,000 receiving yards last season. He was hurt on the opening kickoff.
"With Nick, I told him to keep your head up," quarterback Richard Lagow said. "That was my last game playing with him because this is my last year. That's sad.
"We were looking forward to big things this year. I told him to keep his head up. He's a special kid and talent.
"It happens. It happened to Simmie (Cobbs Jr.), to J-Shun (Harris II). It happens to guys all throughout college football. You have to think injuries can't stop you if you put in the work and keep your mindset the way it needs to be so that when you recover, you're ready to go."
Even without Westbrook, IU is loaded at receiver with Cobbs, Luke Timian, Donavan Hale, Taysir Mack and Harris, plus tight ends such as Ian Thomas and Ryan Watercutter.
"It's next man up," Lagow said. "I trust all the receivers. A lot of guys have to start making plays. They're excited about it. They're looking forward to it.
"With our depth at wide receiver, don't push the panic button yet. We have a number of guys who are capable of making great plays."
TWO BETTER THAN ONE
A funny thing about the one-hand catching wonders Cobbs displayed against Ohio State.
They broke one of receivers coach Grant Heard's pass-catching commandments:
Thou shall catch passes with two hands.
So if you thought Heard was ready to heap a ton of praise for Cobbs' highlight moments, think again.
"Our coach hates it," Timian said. "When we were watching the Ohio State film of Simmie, I thought (Heard) was going to say 'Nice play,' but he said, 'You can get two hands on it.'
"He's not a big fan. We definitely don't practice it. You try to get two hands as often as you can, but sometimes a DB will grab your arm and you have make a one-hand catch."
Regardless of the number of hands used, Cobbs' spectacular plays highlighted a career performance – 11 catches, 149 yards, one touchdown.
"I was making plays my teammates needed me to make," Cobbs said. "When the ball was up for me to get it, I made the play. None of it would have happened without the quarterback and the offensive line."
RUN SUCCESS COMING
Don't give up on IU's running game just yet, Lagow said.
The Hoosiers managed just 17 rushing yards on 27 carries, with most of that coming in the final minutes.
For one thing, that came against an Ohio State defense that likely will rate among the nation's best against the run.
For another, IU coaches called for 18 more running plays, but Lagow switched to passes because Ohio State's defense was loaded to stop the run. Eleven of those passes were completed, offensive coordinator Mike DeBord said, for an average of more than nine yards per completion.
"Any time you can run, it opens up the passing game," Lagow said.
"A lot was made of the run game the last few days, but a lot of the throws I had were runs that (Ohio State was) stacked in the box. Instead of running into a seven-man box, I threw one-on-one to Simmie.
"We might not get those one-on-ones this week. Our running backs might get a bigger chance.
"And some of (the run struggles) was that I missed some of my run keys and they got hit in the backfield instead of me keeping it and running for five to six yards."
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