Indiana University Athletics
#IUFB Notebook: A Standard Set
8/16/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
 Photos |  Coach Wilson | Coach Johns | Coach Knorr | Richardson | Sudfeld |
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Following Thursday's practice, offensive coordinator Kevin Johns talked about how high the standard is to play offense at Indiana. After setting seven offensive team records in 2013, the bar has been raised for good reason, but it also leaves more to be desired during preseason camp.
"We're a little bit off there quite honestly," head coach Kevin Wilson said following Saturday's scrimmage at Memorial Stadium. "Whether Nate (Sudfeld) isn't sure or a little bit late throwing, just our timing and ball placement getting it exactly on target where a three-yard play is five, a seven-yard play is 10 and you can move the chains faster. I think we're completing some plays but sometimes to me, I think we're working a little bit more (than we should)."
And that's what preseason camp is for. With two weeks left until Indiana's season opener vs. Indiana State, the Hoosiers know where they have to improve to be game-ready on Aug. 30.
"We really need to have a balanced run game and we need guys like Nate and those receivers to get in sync," Wilson said. "Right now we're good but not as good as we need to be."
"I think I'm reading the defense pretty well right now," Sudfeld said. "I just have to be 100 percent consistent on my throws. I just have to iron that out and get the arm fresh to where I can make all the throws on the field."
While the offense has room for growth, Wilson didn't go without giving the defense some much-deserved credit.
"The way they're dropping eight, blitzing both sides, up the middle, attacking, a lot of pressure up front with the D-Line, coverage is getting better, they're getting more confident and they're playing faster," Wilson said.
REASON FOR THE RED?
A big, or a few big reasons rather, the defense has commonly been seen in red this fall has been the evolution of the defensive line.
"We have a lot of experience up front," defensive coordinator Brian Knorr said. "We have big physical kids and we count on them pushing the pocket and making the quarterback move."
One of those kids is senior defensive tackle Bobby Richardson, who has taken pride in what his unit has provided for the defense this fall.
"Every defense starts with the defensive line," Richardson said. "We all have to have energy. We all have to push each other. If we can do good and we can get the guys behind us to do good, we'll be a solid defense."
When asked about the performance of the offensive line after Thursday's practice, Johns first complimented the other side of the trenches.
"I think our defensive line is much improved from a year ago," Johns said. "I think that we're blocking a much better front, a much bigger, a much stronger front. Our defensive line is winning a lot of battles right now because those guys have put on some muscle and they're doing a great job in Coach Knorr's scheme."
THE FOCUS TURNS
Wilson, Johns and Knorr all acknowledged to IUHoosiers.com following Saturday's scrimmage that their attention would begin turning towards IU's first opponent, the Sycamores of Indiana State.
The Hoosiers kick off the 2014 season at home vs. ISU at noon ET on Saturday, Aug. 30. Click here to purchase tickets.
Click here for complete coverage in Fall Camp Central.
