Indiana University Athletics
Practice Report: March 23
3/23/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - On Wednesday afternoon, the Hoosiers took to Mellencamp Pavilion for the second day of 2005 spring practice in what Indiana head coach Terry Hoeppner called a teaching day. The word of the day was improvement, and Hoeppner felt the team did just that on day two.
The second day of practice saw the entire offensive and defensive units together. The Hoosiers defense worked on zone blitzing, while the offensive side of the ball worked on the passing game inside the 10-yard line and on its own goal line.
In seven-on-seven and one-on-one drills, the wide receivers and defensive backs each had their moments against one another. Redshirt freshmen wide receivers Marcus Thigpen and James Bailey showed their speed and pass catching ability during the drills. Thigpen made some catches over the middle, but his best reception came on a quick burst to the sidelines on a 25-yard pass from sophomore Blake Powers. Bailey and senior defensive back Damien Jones displayed their speed in a one-on-one drill. After catching the ball along the left sideline, Bailey cut back across the field with Jones running along side of him. Senior defensive back Will Lumpkin and sophomore wide receiver Ryan Skelton both had strong showings during the drills as well.
While the defensive backs, linebackers, receivers, running backs and quarterbacks were taking part in seven-on-seven drills, the offensive and defensive line did some one-on-one work. The battle between senior defensive end Ben Ishola and sophomore offensive lineman Brandon Joyce was a good one as both players got in some good shots. Ishola demonstrated speed around Joyce during one drill, while Joyce fired back with a pair of pancake blocks on Ishola. Junior defensive end Kenny Kendal showed good speed off the corner as well, beating a few offensive linemen on the outside.
Senior running backs Yamar Washington and Chris Taylor each performed well in the running game during 11-on-11 drills. Washington went 15 yards before being touched over the left side. Taylor followed that up with a big run down the right side line that included a nice cut back inside.
The Hoosiers capped practice with special teams. Every facet got an opportunity for work. The special team part of practice started with field goals, punts, fielding kickoffs and fielding punts. The segment ended with blocking for both field goals and punts.
Indiana head coach Terry Hoeppner, senior linebacker John Pannozzo and junior offensive lineman Chris Mangiero commented on the second day of spring practice.
Head Coach Terry Hoeppner
On the second practice of the spring:
"It was a teaching day in helmets only, so we wanted to make sure we had a teaching environment. Tomorrow, we will be in pads, probably in the stadium. The word of the day was improve. I felt today was a better overall practice. The players knew what more to expect and the coaches were better. We just have to constantly make that improvement. If we challenge ourselves to make that improvement, we have a chance."
On throwing a lot at the players early in spring practice:
"We were zone blitzing on defense in day two of spring practice. We added a lot of things on offense. I think it was a credit to the players that they were able to pick it up. It wasn't perfect, but that is what we decided we needed to do as a staff. We needed to not ease them into things, but challenge them to be able to learn at the pace we want them to learn at. I thought we did better today in terms of the overall execution."
On the defensive line being a point of improvement:
"Offensive line and defensive line, the game is won in the trenches. So, we put a lot of emphasis on that not only in recruiting, but in player development. I love competition, and it is a position where we look to make some moves. We made some subtle moves in there so far. The defensive line is a position that needs to play well, develop this spring and play well in the fall. "
Senior linebacker John Pannozzo
On the adjustment to linebacker after playing it in high school:
"I think it will be pretty tough because high school is not college. There is a lot more stuff going on and it is a lot more fast paced. It helps me out that I played it in high school, but it will still be a challenge."
On competing at linebacker
"I am out here competing. There are a lot of good players out here. Whoever is out there, will help us compete more and become better players."
On learning a new defensive compared to learning a new offense:
"I am not really sure of the specifics. If I were learning a new offense, I would have had three years behind me. With defense, I am learning it from scratch."
Junior Offensive Lineman Chris Mangiero
On the offensive line:
"We have paid our dues the last few years. We are ready to work, and we are fired up. We have some experience coming back in the fall. I am real exited about the 2005 season. I think we are going to have a good one, and it is going to start up front."
On the difference compared to last year:
"It is still football, not a lot has changed. We have a different coaching staff and a couple differences. We had good coaches before, and we have good coaches now."
On the most important thing for an offensive lineman this spring:
"We have a new system, we have to get on top of it. We need to get the line together. We have a couple different starters from last year. We had some injuries last year, and we just need to get back to where we were."
The second day of practice saw the entire offensive and defensive units together. The Hoosiers defense worked on zone blitzing, while the offensive side of the ball worked on the passing game inside the 10-yard line and on its own goal line.
In seven-on-seven and one-on-one drills, the wide receivers and defensive backs each had their moments against one another. Redshirt freshmen wide receivers Marcus Thigpen and James Bailey showed their speed and pass catching ability during the drills. Thigpen made some catches over the middle, but his best reception came on a quick burst to the sidelines on a 25-yard pass from sophomore Blake Powers. Bailey and senior defensive back Damien Jones displayed their speed in a one-on-one drill. After catching the ball along the left sideline, Bailey cut back across the field with Jones running along side of him. Senior defensive back Will Lumpkin and sophomore wide receiver Ryan Skelton both had strong showings during the drills as well.
While the defensive backs, linebackers, receivers, running backs and quarterbacks were taking part in seven-on-seven drills, the offensive and defensive line did some one-on-one work. The battle between senior defensive end Ben Ishola and sophomore offensive lineman Brandon Joyce was a good one as both players got in some good shots. Ishola demonstrated speed around Joyce during one drill, while Joyce fired back with a pair of pancake blocks on Ishola. Junior defensive end Kenny Kendal showed good speed off the corner as well, beating a few offensive linemen on the outside.
Senior running backs Yamar Washington and Chris Taylor each performed well in the running game during 11-on-11 drills. Washington went 15 yards before being touched over the left side. Taylor followed that up with a big run down the right side line that included a nice cut back inside.
The Hoosiers capped practice with special teams. Every facet got an opportunity for work. The special team part of practice started with field goals, punts, fielding kickoffs and fielding punts. The segment ended with blocking for both field goals and punts.
Indiana head coach Terry Hoeppner, senior linebacker John Pannozzo and junior offensive lineman Chris Mangiero commented on the second day of spring practice.
Head Coach Terry Hoeppner
On the second practice of the spring:
"It was a teaching day in helmets only, so we wanted to make sure we had a teaching environment. Tomorrow, we will be in pads, probably in the stadium. The word of the day was improve. I felt today was a better overall practice. The players knew what more to expect and the coaches were better. We just have to constantly make that improvement. If we challenge ourselves to make that improvement, we have a chance."
On throwing a lot at the players early in spring practice:
"We were zone blitzing on defense in day two of spring practice. We added a lot of things on offense. I think it was a credit to the players that they were able to pick it up. It wasn't perfect, but that is what we decided we needed to do as a staff. We needed to not ease them into things, but challenge them to be able to learn at the pace we want them to learn at. I thought we did better today in terms of the overall execution."
On the defensive line being a point of improvement:
"Offensive line and defensive line, the game is won in the trenches. So, we put a lot of emphasis on that not only in recruiting, but in player development. I love competition, and it is a position where we look to make some moves. We made some subtle moves in there so far. The defensive line is a position that needs to play well, develop this spring and play well in the fall. "
Senior linebacker John Pannozzo
On the adjustment to linebacker after playing it in high school:
"I think it will be pretty tough because high school is not college. There is a lot more stuff going on and it is a lot more fast paced. It helps me out that I played it in high school, but it will still be a challenge."
On competing at linebacker
"I am out here competing. There are a lot of good players out here. Whoever is out there, will help us compete more and become better players."
On learning a new defensive compared to learning a new offense:
"I am not really sure of the specifics. If I were learning a new offense, I would have had three years behind me. With defense, I am learning it from scratch."
Junior Offensive Lineman Chris Mangiero
On the offensive line:
"We have paid our dues the last few years. We are ready to work, and we are fired up. We have some experience coming back in the fall. I am real exited about the 2005 season. I think we are going to have a good one, and it is going to start up front."
On the difference compared to last year:
"It is still football, not a lot has changed. We have a different coaching staff and a couple differences. We had good coaches before, and we have good coaches now."
On the most important thing for an offensive lineman this spring:
"We have a new system, we have to get on top of it. We need to get the line together. We have a couple different starters from last year. We had some injuries last year, and we just need to get back to where we were."
Players Mentioned
RB
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