Indiana University Athletics
Fast or Slow, IU Offense Makes It Work
9/23/2015 3:56:00 PM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Football, at its core, is a game of advantages.
It's why a Heisman-caliber player can carry a program. It's why mid-majors with good personnel can upset Division I powerhouses. It's why seemingly every season, there's a new scheme or style developing that catches national attention like the Wildcat Offense or Pistol Options have in years past.
Every team has something.
Throughout head coach Kevin Wilson's tenure, Indiana's "something" has been an up-tempo, no-huddle offense. Last season, the Hoosiers ranked No. 21 in the country in pace, snapping the ball every 22.7 seconds.
The goal of the quick offense is to put stress on opposing defenses, forcing them to play quickly and into mistakes. Indiana wasn't alone in playing at high speeds, but the Hoosiers certainly did it better than most.
Then last week happened.
Seemingly out of nowhere, Indiana slowed down its tempo. Senior quarterback Nate Sudfeld led long, meticulous drives going as long as nearly six minutes. The change in pace seemed sudden, but it was all according to plan.
"What really hurts a defense is the teams that can play at different gears," Wilson said an old NFL colleague told him. "If you're just a huddle team, if you're just a no huddle team, when you can do both, that's harder to prepare for."
Indiana offensive line coach Greg Frey called the transition a process years in the making. He said sometimes, teams who excel in the no-huddle offense like Indiana has got too caught up in perfecting their speed and they forget about their other options.
The Hoosiers have shown they're capable of running up and down the field, but that's not always the best option.
Take for example the 5:56 drive the Hoosiers used to protect their three-point lead over Western Kentucky. Instead of risking giving the Hilltoppers the ball, the Hoosiers kept possession and ran the clock out.
There was nothing Western Kentucky could do.
"We're coming up with ways that help enhance our offense and our strengths," Frey said. "I think that's sort of the natural progression of our offense, to be quite honest with you. If you need to go fast, you go fast. If you need to slow down, you slow down."
One of the nuances about what Indiana is doing now is that opponents can never be quite sure whether Indiana is playing fast or slow. Defenses also need to keep in mind that the IU offense could flip the switch whenever Wilson says to.
Sudfeld doesn't prefer one or the other. He said playing quickly can force defenses into mistakes, but slowing down allows him to pick apart coverages more easily.
Wake Forest will need to be prepared to see both. The Demon Deacons' defense is one of the better third-down defenses in the country, priding itself in ending the long, grinding drives Indiana used to burn clock in last week's win.
The Hoosier offense has Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson's attention. He was quick to point out Indiana's Big Ten-leading 40.7 points per game, calling IU one of the most dynamic offenses he's seen.
"This is one of the most potent offenses in the country," Clawson said. "That is no exaggeration."
That's exactly what Sudfeld and his Hoosiers offense want to hear.
"We can be methodical, but we could also be extremely fast," Sudfeld said. "It's going to make us tough to defend."
It's why a Heisman-caliber player can carry a program. It's why mid-majors with good personnel can upset Division I powerhouses. It's why seemingly every season, there's a new scheme or style developing that catches national attention like the Wildcat Offense or Pistol Options have in years past.
Every team has something.
Throughout head coach Kevin Wilson's tenure, Indiana's "something" has been an up-tempo, no-huddle offense. Last season, the Hoosiers ranked No. 21 in the country in pace, snapping the ball every 22.7 seconds.
The goal of the quick offense is to put stress on opposing defenses, forcing them to play quickly and into mistakes. Indiana wasn't alone in playing at high speeds, but the Hoosiers certainly did it better than most.
Then last week happened.
Seemingly out of nowhere, Indiana slowed down its tempo. Senior quarterback Nate Sudfeld led long, meticulous drives going as long as nearly six minutes. The change in pace seemed sudden, but it was all according to plan.
"What really hurts a defense is the teams that can play at different gears," Wilson said an old NFL colleague told him. "If you're just a huddle team, if you're just a no huddle team, when you can do both, that's harder to prepare for."
Indiana offensive line coach Greg Frey called the transition a process years in the making. He said sometimes, teams who excel in the no-huddle offense like Indiana has got too caught up in perfecting their speed and they forget about their other options.
The Hoosiers have shown they're capable of running up and down the field, but that's not always the best option.
Take for example the 5:56 drive the Hoosiers used to protect their three-point lead over Western Kentucky. Instead of risking giving the Hilltoppers the ball, the Hoosiers kept possession and ran the clock out.
There was nothing Western Kentucky could do.
"We're coming up with ways that help enhance our offense and our strengths," Frey said. "I think that's sort of the natural progression of our offense, to be quite honest with you. If you need to go fast, you go fast. If you need to slow down, you slow down."
One of the nuances about what Indiana is doing now is that opponents can never be quite sure whether Indiana is playing fast or slow. Defenses also need to keep in mind that the IU offense could flip the switch whenever Wilson says to.
Sudfeld doesn't prefer one or the other. He said playing quickly can force defenses into mistakes, but slowing down allows him to pick apart coverages more easily.
Wake Forest will need to be prepared to see both. The Demon Deacons' defense is one of the better third-down defenses in the country, priding itself in ending the long, grinding drives Indiana used to burn clock in last week's win.
The Hoosier offense has Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson's attention. He was quick to point out Indiana's Big Ten-leading 40.7 points per game, calling IU one of the most dynamic offenses he's seen.
"This is one of the most potent offenses in the country," Clawson said. "That is no exaggeration."
That's exactly what Sudfeld and his Hoosiers offense want to hear.
"We can be methodical, but we could also be extremely fast," Sudfeld said. "It's going to make us tough to defend."
Players Mentioned
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