Indiana University Athletics
#IUFB Notebook: Day Off Energizes Hoosiers
8/19/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 19, 2014
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Indiana football team entered its final two-a-day of preseason practice Tuesday morning, but not after a rare day off Monday. With just one day off previously since August 4, it was a nice reward for all of the hard work the Hoosiers have put in this month.
"It's pretty big," senior running back D'Angelo Roberts said of the rest. "Mainly, at this point it's just mental. You're used to having a little bit of free time to yourself. Right now, our mindset is strictly football. It's good to get a day off to just recuperate your legs and get ready to practice again."
IU took the afternoon off to go see a movie as a team before returning to the practice fields this morning.
"It was great and energized," redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Ralph Green III said. "Coach Wilson got us going. We got it going on both sides of the ball, offense and defense. A lot of enthusiasm and a lot of swagger out there."
With 11 days left until Indiana opens the season against Indiana State at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, August 30, the Hoosiers put a good effort together Tuesday morning.
"It's a mindset," tight ends and fullbacks coach James Patton said of training camp. "Pushing through two-a-days and the third week going into it, guys start dragging a little bit so you have to change it up a little bit. Throw them a curveball and get their mind right. And then they have to come out and work. That's what we did this morning. Guys handled it pretty good. Had a little downtime. Get rested up and some fresh legs. Now we have to finish the rest of training camp."
RUNNING ROBERTS
Roberts, who enters his senior season with 795 rushing yards, is competing for playing time in the backfield once again in 2014. The Bloomington, Ind., native relishes the competition within his position group.
"We love each other," Roberts said of IU's running backs. "We're best friends. We're brothers. We cry for each other. I think our room is probably the closest room I know of. We have a great coach. He lets us know every day, `One missed play is another man's opportunity.' It's pretty important in our room. An error can cause you a position on the depth chart. Everybody knows that. We have to focus and work hard as an RB group."
Roberts, exuding a high level of confidence, feels primed to have his best season yet at Indiana.
"For me, it's more of just knowing where I'm at," Roberts said. "Now isn't like freshman, sophomore year where you kind of know where you're at but you kind of second-guess yourself. Now, I know the holes. Now, I know defenses. I look at the stretch and I can tell what gap the D-Lineman is in and all type of stuff like that.
" It's an advantage that I know defenses way more than I possibly ever did before. That helps me a lot with my run-reads. I have a great coach who teaches how to run downhill. I'm just excited for the season to start."
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Knowing the work we put in as a team, we have a chance to beat anybody we play. I'm not saying that just to say it. I'm just saying that because of confidence with the work we put in, the things we do with the coaches we got and the confidence building with the way Coach Wilson is treating us now, we're set up for success."
-RS Sophomore Defensive Tackle Ralph Green III
 Photos |  Coach Knorr | Green III | Fall Camp Central |
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Indiana football team entered its final two-a-day of preseason practice Tuesday morning, but not after a rare day off Monday. With just one day off previously since August 4, it was a nice reward for all of the hard work the Hoosiers have put in this month.
"It's pretty big," senior running back D'Angelo Roberts said of the rest. "Mainly, at this point it's just mental. You're used to having a little bit of free time to yourself. Right now, our mindset is strictly football. It's good to get a day off to just recuperate your legs and get ready to practice again."
IU took the afternoon off to go see a movie as a team before returning to the practice fields this morning.
"It was great and energized," redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Ralph Green III said. "Coach Wilson got us going. We got it going on both sides of the ball, offense and defense. A lot of enthusiasm and a lot of swagger out there."
With 11 days left until Indiana opens the season against Indiana State at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, August 30, the Hoosiers put a good effort together Tuesday morning.
"It's a mindset," tight ends and fullbacks coach James Patton said of training camp. "Pushing through two-a-days and the third week going into it, guys start dragging a little bit so you have to change it up a little bit. Throw them a curveball and get their mind right. And then they have to come out and work. That's what we did this morning. Guys handled it pretty good. Had a little downtime. Get rested up and some fresh legs. Now we have to finish the rest of training camp."
RUNNING ROBERTS
Roberts, who enters his senior season with 795 rushing yards, is competing for playing time in the backfield once again in 2014. The Bloomington, Ind., native relishes the competition within his position group.
"We love each other," Roberts said of IU's running backs. "We're best friends. We're brothers. We cry for each other. I think our room is probably the closest room I know of. We have a great coach. He lets us know every day, `One missed play is another man's opportunity.' It's pretty important in our room. An error can cause you a position on the depth chart. Everybody knows that. We have to focus and work hard as an RB group."
Roberts, exuding a high level of confidence, feels primed to have his best season yet at Indiana.
"For me, it's more of just knowing where I'm at," Roberts said. "Now isn't like freshman, sophomore year where you kind of know where you're at but you kind of second-guess yourself. Now, I know the holes. Now, I know defenses. I look at the stretch and I can tell what gap the D-Lineman is in and all type of stuff like that.
" It's an advantage that I know defenses way more than I possibly ever did before. That helps me a lot with my run-reads. I have a great coach who teaches how to run downhill. I'm just excited for the season to start."
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Knowing the work we put in as a team, we have a chance to beat anybody we play. I'm not saying that just to say it. I'm just saying that because of confidence with the work we put in, the things we do with the coaches we got and the confidence building with the way Coach Wilson is treating us now, we're set up for success."
-RS Sophomore Defensive Tackle Ralph Green III
SEASON OPENS IN 11 DAYS
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.
Players Mentioned
DL
/ Football
RB
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