Indiana University Athletics
Mangieri, Shaw Leading Indiana Pass Rush
10/14/2015 4:56:00 PM | Football
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Head coach Kevin Wilson made the decision in the offseason to get seniors Nick Mangieri and Zack Shaw on the field together as often as possible.
That meant moving Mangieri from bandit to defensive end to open up more snaps for Shaw at bandit. Both natural pass rushers, Wilson's theory was that Indiana would be stronger with Mangieri and Shaw lined up opposite one another.
Six weeks into the season, Wilson's move is paying off.
Shaw and Mangieri combined for four sacks at Penn State last weekend. On the season, they've accounted for 10 sacks, 54 total tackles and 12 tackles for loss.
"It's cool having Zack and I out there consistently," Mangieri said. "He's making plays. I'm making plays. It's just fun out there."
It's more fun because they're having more success, Shaw said.
Mangieri ranks sixth in the nation with seven sacks. Shaw sits second on the team behind Mangieri with three sacks. Last year, Indiana's sack leader was current New Orleans Saints defensive end Bobby Richardson, who had 5.5 sacks.
IU's leading pass rushers have reached a point where they're competing to take sacks away from one another in practice and in games.
On some plays, it's not enough to just get around the opposing blocker. They need to worry about beating the other to the ball carrier to make the play.
"With him on the other edge, you've got to fight to be the first one there," Shaw said. "We kind of made a joke about it on Saturday. We really push to be one of the best pass rushing teams in the Big Ten, and I think we've really started to get after it."
Statistically, Indiana isn't quite there yet, but the Hoosiers are getting closer.
IU is tied for No. 6 in the conference with 16 total sacks. Mangieri's seven sacks puts him third among individuals. Shaw's three puts him in a tie for 18th, but defensive coordinator Brian Knorr was quick to point out he nearly had a fourth sack against Penn State before Christian Hackenberg was able to escape at the last possible moment.
Shaw said Mangieri's success is making his job easier, evident in his two sacks last weekend against the Nittany Lions. He said when offenses focus too much effort on Mangieri, it leaves players like himself with open lanes at the quarterback.
"Nick's playing as well as he has," Shaw said. "When we're both getting after it, (the quarterback) isn't really sure who to look at."
When the quarterback isn't sure who's coming, he's more susceptible to making mistakes. Sometimes, all it takes is one hard hit from either Mangieri or Shaw to make him think twice before stepping up in the pocket, Shaw said.
"They're both amazing pass rushers, so it helps having them both out there," redshirt sophomore linebacker Marcus Oliver said. "They're getting more freedom as they're growing, and I think that's great too because it's allowing them to play how they want to play. They're more comfortable."
They've become comfortable making opposing quarterbacks uncomfortable. Lined up on opposite edges, Shaw and Mangieri are quickly developing a reputation for being among the best pass rushers in the conference.
And in the seniors' final seasons, their success couldn't have come at a much better time.
"Both of them over their careers have been very good edge pass rushers," Knorr said. "Both of them, seniors, have played a lot of football and are probably playing their best right now."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Head coach Kevin Wilson made the decision in the offseason to get seniors Nick Mangieri and Zack Shaw on the field together as often as possible.
That meant moving Mangieri from bandit to defensive end to open up more snaps for Shaw at bandit. Both natural pass rushers, Wilson's theory was that Indiana would be stronger with Mangieri and Shaw lined up opposite one another.
Six weeks into the season, Wilson's move is paying off.
Shaw and Mangieri combined for four sacks at Penn State last weekend. On the season, they've accounted for 10 sacks, 54 total tackles and 12 tackles for loss.
"It's cool having Zack and I out there consistently," Mangieri said. "He's making plays. I'm making plays. It's just fun out there."
It's more fun because they're having more success, Shaw said.
Mangieri ranks sixth in the nation with seven sacks. Shaw sits second on the team behind Mangieri with three sacks. Last year, Indiana's sack leader was current New Orleans Saints defensive end Bobby Richardson, who had 5.5 sacks.
IU's leading pass rushers have reached a point where they're competing to take sacks away from one another in practice and in games.
On some plays, it's not enough to just get around the opposing blocker. They need to worry about beating the other to the ball carrier to make the play.
"With him on the other edge, you've got to fight to be the first one there," Shaw said. "We kind of made a joke about it on Saturday. We really push to be one of the best pass rushing teams in the Big Ten, and I think we've really started to get after it."
Statistically, Indiana isn't quite there yet, but the Hoosiers are getting closer.
IU is tied for No. 6 in the conference with 16 total sacks. Mangieri's seven sacks puts him third among individuals. Shaw's three puts him in a tie for 18th, but defensive coordinator Brian Knorr was quick to point out he nearly had a fourth sack against Penn State before Christian Hackenberg was able to escape at the last possible moment.
Shaw said Mangieri's success is making his job easier, evident in his two sacks last weekend against the Nittany Lions. He said when offenses focus too much effort on Mangieri, it leaves players like himself with open lanes at the quarterback.
"Nick's playing as well as he has," Shaw said. "When we're both getting after it, (the quarterback) isn't really sure who to look at."
When the quarterback isn't sure who's coming, he's more susceptible to making mistakes. Sometimes, all it takes is one hard hit from either Mangieri or Shaw to make him think twice before stepping up in the pocket, Shaw said.
"They're both amazing pass rushers, so it helps having them both out there," redshirt sophomore linebacker Marcus Oliver said. "They're getting more freedom as they're growing, and I think that's great too because it's allowing them to play how they want to play. They're more comfortable."
They've become comfortable making opposing quarterbacks uncomfortable. Lined up on opposite edges, Shaw and Mangieri are quickly developing a reputation for being among the best pass rushers in the conference.
And in the seniors' final seasons, their success couldn't have come at a much better time.
"Both of them over their careers have been very good edge pass rushers," Knorr said. "Both of them, seniors, have played a lot of football and are probably playing their best right now."
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