Hoosiers Scrimmage Inside Memorial Stadium
3/31/2018 8:22:00 PM | Football
By Andy Graham
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Little Richard might have liked how Saturday morning's Indiana football scrimmage at Memorial Stadium started out:
"A Whop bob alu bop, a Whop bam boom!"
IU sophomore wideout Whop Philyor helped get the Hoosiers offense going on the day's first series with an 8-yard catch in heavy traffic to convert a first down.
The next snap saw Philyor elevate over defenders to haul in Peyton Ramsey's 50-yard bomb down the middle of the field. That set up the opening score, an 11-yard Morgan Ellison TD romp.
Defensive penalties helped the offense move for a field goal in the second possession, too.
But after that, the Hoosier defense did more than its share of whopping, bopping, bamming and booming for a while.
All in all, IU's Tom Allen was able to review the scrimmage – which constituted this spring's ninth practice – as a fairly contented coach.
"It was the first really big scrimmage we've had, in terms of number of snaps," Allen said after his Hoosiers ran 102 plays, "and I thought we had, just from my observation, a lot of great things."
And he was happy see weather conducive to outdoors work for the first time in a while. Colder and wetter conditions than are normal for April had largely confined the Hoosiers to Mellencamp Pavilion's indoor facilities.
"Good to get outside!" Allen said. "Something different. It was good. Good scrimmage for us.
"The offense started fast, did some good things, then in the middle of the scrimmage, the defense starting to take control, forcing some punts, getting some 3-and-outs and getting off the field.
"Then we took a break, did some special teams work, came back and did a lot of 'plus' drives, starting from the 30 (nearest the goal line) and then inside that, to the 10, then did two-minute (drills). Just really felt like – and, you know the film will show everything – that we got a good chance to look at both sides. Got a lot of kids playing. Got a lot of reps in there."
AERIALS
Only two quarterbacks got reps Saturday, though, redshirt sophomore Ramsey and true freshman (January enrollee) Michael Penix Jr.
Both completed roughly half their throws and both exceeded 100 yards through the air – despite a currently depleted wideout corps, with regulars Nick Westbrook, Donavan Hale and J-Shun Harris II unavailable for full-contact work while rehabilitating injuries sustained last fall.
And both QBs finished strongly. Ramsey hit walk-on Justin Berry for a 17-yard TD on the day's 14th series. A couple series later, Penix helped engineer a successful two-minute drive – a situational series set up with the offense starting at its own 30, down two points, with 1:15 to play and one timeout remaining, as mandated by Allen.
"The offense was able to get the field goal," Allen said. "Big (42-yard) kick by Logan Justus, under some pressure. I thought that was really good."
Offensive coordinator Mike DeBord had good things to say about how both quarterbacks handled Saturday, and are handling things this spring, generally.
DeBord feels Penix remains an exceptionally quick study.
"Well, I really am amazed that a guy coming in here – especially a quarterback coming in here, who started in January – on just what he knows," DeBord said. "He's got great composure. He does a great job with the football right now.
"He'll continue to get better as he continues to learn. But just what he knows right now is, to me, a little bit amazing."
But Penix is still a freshman who has never taken an official college snap. On Saturday's eighth series, he threw a backward pass errantly, which made it a lateral. That turned it into a fumble, recovered by the defense.
"There was a very costly mistake … you've got all those positive things, but you've also got freshman mistakes those guys will make," Allen said. "But I do agree with Coach DeBord that he's quite a bit further along than you'd expect him to be.
"My perspective is a little different in that I don't sit in all the meetings with him at that position, but I see what happens on the field. And I'd have to say I'm pleasantly surprised with the poise, more than anything."
While enrolling in January helps put Penix in a much stronger position to vie for playing time this fall, Allen noted that it still constitutes quite a challenge for a young man who otherwise would still be in Tampa Bay Tech High School.
"I've learned in the short amount of time of having these mid-year guys that it's a much harder process than most people think," Allen said. "Most guys who do it are really excited about it but then, when they get in it, they'll say, 'Man, this is really hard.' The schedule is different. The classes. It's everything.
"He doesn't seem to be fazed by that. Doesn't seem to be overwhelmed by the schedule, by all the intensity of everything that you're doing. You're having not just to manage the classroom, but you're also picking up an entirely new offense he's never even known before.
"So I didn't really expect him to pick it up as quickly as he has. And even today, making the check-downs and throws and looking pretty poised in the pocket when they were bringing pressure. So those are positive things."
DeBord feels Ramsey is handling the competition positively, too.
"Peyton is a competitor," DeBord said. "He's going to line up and he's going to compete every down, no matter what. Peyton is not a guy who looks over his shoulder. When he's got the opportunity, he's going to go compete and play well.
"Nothing is going to bother him, that way."
???????SYKED
Fifth-year senior defensive end Nile Sykes, who missed all last season with an injury, made his presence felt quickly Saturday with a sack that torpedoed the offense's third possession.
Sykes, IU's returning sack leader from 2016 and clearly champing at the bit, also drew an offside flag early.
"Well, he gives us a pass rush, you know? When he doesn't jump offsides," Allen said with a grin. "But that sometimes (happens) with those who rush the passer well. They get you. But just the 'twitchiness' he brings, the ability it provides us not to always have to bring pressure, to bring blitzes to get pressure on the quarterback.
"And he's bigger and stronger. He's quicker. He benefited from having some time. Physical strength wasn't one of his assets a year ago. Now, having had all this time to do it and benefiting from our new strength staff, he's changed his body in a good way. He has to continue to do that. And he has to lead and make good choices and be a great teammate and do an awesome job making plays."
FURTHER D-LINE REINFORCEMENTS
The Hoosiers are also welcoming sophomore defensive tackle LeShaun Minor Jr., who missed the last six games to injury last fall, back to the fray.
"LeShaun Minor is kind of getting some more reps," said Allen, who once coached at Minor's high school, perennial Indianapolis powerhouse Ben Davis. "Getting him back squared away. That was great to see out there (today), as well."
Allen is also hoping to see senior defensive line standout and Westfield product Jacob Robinson return to active workouts before the spring concludes with the annual Cream & Crimson Game April 14.
"We've tried to monitor Jacob," Allen said. "We're hoping to get him back out there this next week. That'd be big for us. He doesn't need the contact reps, because of his age and experience, but just getting in the flow of everything – I'd feel good about it, if we're able to get him doing some real quality things before we get to the spring game."
MULTI-TASKING MAJETTE
Senior tailback Mike Majette, out the last seven games with injury in the fall, looks full go. And not just at his customary position. With the injuries affecting the receiving corps this spring, Majette is taking some reps out wide, though not for what is considered an actual position shift.
"When we were at Tennessee, we did a lot of that with Alvin Kamara (now a running back with the New Orleans Saints)," DeBord noted. "We stuck him out there as a wide receiver, as a slot, things like that. Mike has the ability to do that. So we're experimenting with him a little bit right now."
Allen is pleased to have Majette back on the field.
"Mike Majette is another guy," he said. "We're just trying to get him comfortable and situated within our offense. Just because he missed so much of last year. We're just trying to get him reps and all that.
"The other guys that you didn't see today, because it was all live, those are going to stay (limited). Those receivers (Westbrook, Harris, Hale) aren't going to be back (this spring). The one that sort of jumps out at me is Donavan Hale. He didn't get reps today, but we need to get him out there, get him going and get his body right."
Harris is rehabilitating a third ACL knee injury. Allen remains grateful to have Harris with the program and isn't betting against Harris being ready to contribute again fall.
"You talk about attitude, mindset, sense of urgency," Allen said of Harris. "With what he's going through, his leadership, his smile, his attitude, the energy he brings – he just has that aura about him when he's out there.
"So you love him around you all the time. He's never, ever down, even though he probably has every right to be discouraged a little bit. His rehab is going great. He's working hard. And I expect him, per the timetable, to be hopefully ready to roll. But he's a great young man. He's awesome to have around us, for sure."
SPECIALISTS
Allen was especially happy to get outside for some special teams work. While the results were a bit uneven – Jared Smolar had the day's other made field goal, a 39-yarder, but another attempt was foiled by a faulty snap – Allen felt the Hoosiers emerged with plenty of teaching moments.
"The thing with special teams is that we've really struggled to get quality reps, being indoors so much," Allen said. "This was the first time we'd been outside for a while. When you punt, it's not really realistic being indoors.
"We're trying a lot of different guys in there. Missed a field goal because it wasn't a good enough snap. We're trying to rotate a lot of different guys in there.
"The transitions (are tough) because you've got all those guys on both sides of the ball trying to get a scout look out there, between the series, and there was some good and bad. So a lot to teach off of. But I just thought it was great to be outside so we could really get everything game mode."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Little Richard might have liked how Saturday morning's Indiana football scrimmage at Memorial Stadium started out:
"A Whop bob alu bop, a Whop bam boom!"
IU sophomore wideout Whop Philyor helped get the Hoosiers offense going on the day's first series with an 8-yard catch in heavy traffic to convert a first down.
The next snap saw Philyor elevate over defenders to haul in Peyton Ramsey's 50-yard bomb down the middle of the field. That set up the opening score, an 11-yard Morgan Ellison TD romp.
Defensive penalties helped the offense move for a field goal in the second possession, too.
But after that, the Hoosier defense did more than its share of whopping, bopping, bamming and booming for a while.
All in all, IU's Tom Allen was able to review the scrimmage – which constituted this spring's ninth practice – as a fairly contented coach.
"It was the first really big scrimmage we've had, in terms of number of snaps," Allen said after his Hoosiers ran 102 plays, "and I thought we had, just from my observation, a lot of great things."
And he was happy see weather conducive to outdoors work for the first time in a while. Colder and wetter conditions than are normal for April had largely confined the Hoosiers to Mellencamp Pavilion's indoor facilities.
"Good to get outside!" Allen said. "Something different. It was good. Good scrimmage for us.
"The offense started fast, did some good things, then in the middle of the scrimmage, the defense starting to take control, forcing some punts, getting some 3-and-outs and getting off the field.
"Then we took a break, did some special teams work, came back and did a lot of 'plus' drives, starting from the 30 (nearest the goal line) and then inside that, to the 10, then did two-minute (drills). Just really felt like – and, you know the film will show everything – that we got a good chance to look at both sides. Got a lot of kids playing. Got a lot of reps in there."
AERIALS
Only two quarterbacks got reps Saturday, though, redshirt sophomore Ramsey and true freshman (January enrollee) Michael Penix Jr.
Both completed roughly half their throws and both exceeded 100 yards through the air – despite a currently depleted wideout corps, with regulars Nick Westbrook, Donavan Hale and J-Shun Harris II unavailable for full-contact work while rehabilitating injuries sustained last fall.
And both QBs finished strongly. Ramsey hit walk-on Justin Berry for a 17-yard TD on the day's 14th series. A couple series later, Penix helped engineer a successful two-minute drive – a situational series set up with the offense starting at its own 30, down two points, with 1:15 to play and one timeout remaining, as mandated by Allen.
"The offense was able to get the field goal," Allen said. "Big (42-yard) kick by Logan Justus, under some pressure. I thought that was really good."
Offensive coordinator Mike DeBord had good things to say about how both quarterbacks handled Saturday, and are handling things this spring, generally.
DeBord feels Penix remains an exceptionally quick study.
"Well, I really am amazed that a guy coming in here – especially a quarterback coming in here, who started in January – on just what he knows," DeBord said. "He's got great composure. He does a great job with the football right now.
"He'll continue to get better as he continues to learn. But just what he knows right now is, to me, a little bit amazing."
But Penix is still a freshman who has never taken an official college snap. On Saturday's eighth series, he threw a backward pass errantly, which made it a lateral. That turned it into a fumble, recovered by the defense.
"There was a very costly mistake … you've got all those positive things, but you've also got freshman mistakes those guys will make," Allen said. "But I do agree with Coach DeBord that he's quite a bit further along than you'd expect him to be.
"My perspective is a little different in that I don't sit in all the meetings with him at that position, but I see what happens on the field. And I'd have to say I'm pleasantly surprised with the poise, more than anything."
While enrolling in January helps put Penix in a much stronger position to vie for playing time this fall, Allen noted that it still constitutes quite a challenge for a young man who otherwise would still be in Tampa Bay Tech High School.
"I've learned in the short amount of time of having these mid-year guys that it's a much harder process than most people think," Allen said. "Most guys who do it are really excited about it but then, when they get in it, they'll say, 'Man, this is really hard.' The schedule is different. The classes. It's everything.
"He doesn't seem to be fazed by that. Doesn't seem to be overwhelmed by the schedule, by all the intensity of everything that you're doing. You're having not just to manage the classroom, but you're also picking up an entirely new offense he's never even known before.
"So I didn't really expect him to pick it up as quickly as he has. And even today, making the check-downs and throws and looking pretty poised in the pocket when they were bringing pressure. So those are positive things."
DeBord feels Ramsey is handling the competition positively, too.
"Peyton is a competitor," DeBord said. "He's going to line up and he's going to compete every down, no matter what. Peyton is not a guy who looks over his shoulder. When he's got the opportunity, he's going to go compete and play well.
"Nothing is going to bother him, that way."
???????SYKED
Fifth-year senior defensive end Nile Sykes, who missed all last season with an injury, made his presence felt quickly Saturday with a sack that torpedoed the offense's third possession.
Sykes, IU's returning sack leader from 2016 and clearly champing at the bit, also drew an offside flag early.
"Well, he gives us a pass rush, you know? When he doesn't jump offsides," Allen said with a grin. "But that sometimes (happens) with those who rush the passer well. They get you. But just the 'twitchiness' he brings, the ability it provides us not to always have to bring pressure, to bring blitzes to get pressure on the quarterback.
"And he's bigger and stronger. He's quicker. He benefited from having some time. Physical strength wasn't one of his assets a year ago. Now, having had all this time to do it and benefiting from our new strength staff, he's changed his body in a good way. He has to continue to do that. And he has to lead and make good choices and be a great teammate and do an awesome job making plays."
FURTHER D-LINE REINFORCEMENTS
The Hoosiers are also welcoming sophomore defensive tackle LeShaun Minor Jr., who missed the last six games to injury last fall, back to the fray.
"LeShaun Minor is kind of getting some more reps," said Allen, who once coached at Minor's high school, perennial Indianapolis powerhouse Ben Davis. "Getting him back squared away. That was great to see out there (today), as well."
Allen is also hoping to see senior defensive line standout and Westfield product Jacob Robinson return to active workouts before the spring concludes with the annual Cream & Crimson Game April 14.
"We've tried to monitor Jacob," Allen said. "We're hoping to get him back out there this next week. That'd be big for us. He doesn't need the contact reps, because of his age and experience, but just getting in the flow of everything – I'd feel good about it, if we're able to get him doing some real quality things before we get to the spring game."
MULTI-TASKING MAJETTE
Senior tailback Mike Majette, out the last seven games with injury in the fall, looks full go. And not just at his customary position. With the injuries affecting the receiving corps this spring, Majette is taking some reps out wide, though not for what is considered an actual position shift.
"When we were at Tennessee, we did a lot of that with Alvin Kamara (now a running back with the New Orleans Saints)," DeBord noted. "We stuck him out there as a wide receiver, as a slot, things like that. Mike has the ability to do that. So we're experimenting with him a little bit right now."
Allen is pleased to have Majette back on the field.
"Mike Majette is another guy," he said. "We're just trying to get him comfortable and situated within our offense. Just because he missed so much of last year. We're just trying to get him reps and all that.
"The other guys that you didn't see today, because it was all live, those are going to stay (limited). Those receivers (Westbrook, Harris, Hale) aren't going to be back (this spring). The one that sort of jumps out at me is Donavan Hale. He didn't get reps today, but we need to get him out there, get him going and get his body right."
Harris is rehabilitating a third ACL knee injury. Allen remains grateful to have Harris with the program and isn't betting against Harris being ready to contribute again fall.
"You talk about attitude, mindset, sense of urgency," Allen said of Harris. "With what he's going through, his leadership, his smile, his attitude, the energy he brings – he just has that aura about him when he's out there.
"So you love him around you all the time. He's never, ever down, even though he probably has every right to be discouraged a little bit. His rehab is going great. He's working hard. And I expect him, per the timetable, to be hopefully ready to roll. But he's a great young man. He's awesome to have around us, for sure."
SPECIALISTS
Allen was especially happy to get outside for some special teams work. While the results were a bit uneven – Jared Smolar had the day's other made field goal, a 39-yarder, but another attempt was foiled by a faulty snap – Allen felt the Hoosiers emerged with plenty of teaching moments.
"The thing with special teams is that we've really struggled to get quality reps, being indoors so much," Allen said. "This was the first time we'd been outside for a while. When you punt, it's not really realistic being indoors.
"We're trying a lot of different guys in there. Missed a field goal because it wasn't a good enough snap. We're trying to rotate a lot of different guys in there.
"The transitions (are tough) because you've got all those guys on both sides of the ball trying to get a scout look out there, between the series, and there was some good and bad. So a lot to teach off of. But I just thought it was great to be outside so we could really get everything game mode."
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