Indiana University Athletics
Defense Steps Up in Second Scrimmage
4/7/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 7, 2007
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Indiana football team continued its spring practice with a 100-play intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. After the offense turned in an impressive showing at last week's scrimmage, it was the defense's turn this day.
On the first play of the morning session, the defensive line collapsed the pocket on sophomore quarterback Kellen Lewis as sophomore defensive end Jammie Kirlew recorded the defense's first sack of the day. Sophomore defensive lineman Emile Bass followed that up by tackling running back Demetrius McCray for a 5-yard loss.
The second team offense moved the ball well behind the arm of redshirt freshman Ben Chappell and the legs of running backs Bryan Payton and Trea Burgess. Chappell led the team into field goal range during its first drive of the scrimmage.
When the first group of offense returned to the field, McCray set the tone with a 15-yard run. The defense responded when freshman redshirt freshman defensive tackle Kevin Burrus burst through to record a sack.
During his second drive, Chappell connected with junior wide receiver Brandon Walker-Roby for a gain of nearly 20 yards before the offense stalled at the 10-yard line.
Burgess gained some valuable experience with a few runs midway through the morning. He scampered free for a gain of 12 yards to help the offensive group.
Junior Marcus Thigpen began where he left off last season with a 50-yard kick return down the right sideline, ending near the opposing team's 35 yard line.
The offense came to life on its third series, gaining double-digit yardage on a pair of reverses. Lewis showed his blocking skills on a double reverse as sophomore wide receiver Andrew Means capped off the play with a nice gain. The offense later ran another reverse, this time to sophomore wide receiver Ray Fisher for a 29-yard pickup.
The defense did not allow one offensive touchdown the entire scrimmage and kept the offense out of rhythm all morning.
Junior defensive tackle Greg Brown
On the success of the defense during the scrimmage:
"Coach really emphasized coming out and playing with intensity. They wanted us to make an issue right away instead of waiting five or ten plays into it. It was really important for us to make some good plays from the beginning to set the tone for the defense. As far as success, we just came out and executed and did what we needed to do."
On the defensive line being able to collapse the pocket:
"We basically applied everything that we've practiced. Applying all of the hand drills that we do in practice and doing it on the field, we just did that today and it helped us."
Senior cornerback Tracy Porter
On his corner blitz to stop the running back during the scrimmage:
"We corners, we love to blitz. Coming off the edge, we just try to disguise it a little bit and confuse the offense. They got a handle on it a couple of times, but we did a good job of disguising it when I hit him in the backfield. That is a feeling that you can't pass up."
On the defense's play as a whole:
"We felt like last year we weren't always as enthusiastic as we should be. So we figured coming out on the first play, first snap, we would be enthusiastic, talk and get hyped up for any play that happens in our favor. When things started going in our favor, we just carried that on and it is working for us so far."
On his final year of spring football:
"This is my last college spring practice. This spring practice, we are trying to take advantage of everyday that we have. We only have a limited amount of days left before we are done. So I come out and go as hard as I can to get all the guys involved."
Freshman quarterback Ben Chappell
On feeling comfortable during the scrimmage:
"I felt really comfortable today. We had a pretty good day out there, and we really got what we wanted to get done on offense. We really wanted to try to run the ball, and I thought we had a pretty good day out there."
On his progress this spring:
"Spring has helped me a ton. Just being able to get reps and go out there and run our plays has really helped me a lot."
