Indiana University Athletics
Mangieri Leading, Transitioning Back to DL
9/3/2015 3:50:00 PM | Football
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
Heading into his senior season, Nick Mangieri had to hit the reset button.
Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson moved Mangieri to the defensive line in spring practice after playing the bandit position last year.
Now Mangieri is learning--or rather, re-learning--how to play on the defensive line with goals of being named All-Big Ten and leading Indiana to the postseason.
"The more you're there, the more comfortable you get," Mangieri said. "It's funny, you kind of see things now that you didn't see when you were younger like stances, other formations or just how to do certain things. Even though I've been away from it, I feel like I've still grown as a defensive lineman anyway."
Mangieri's switch back to his old position comes after one full season playing bandit after Indiana switched to a 3-4 base defense under now second-year defensive coordinator Brian Knorr.
He wasn't moved because he wasn't successful, Knorr said, but rather because they thought it was obvious that he was better as a true pass rusher.
"I just think he's more comfortable," Knorr said. "It's not that he was necessarily uncomfortable at the bandit, but we thought he could make a bigger impact for us returning back to the defensive line and disrupting the pass game. He's athletic enough and smart enough where it wasn't too much to ask of him."
Even though he has past experience playing on the defensive line, Mangieri said playing the position in the 3-4 isn't quite the same as playing in the 4-3. The 4-3 involves more vertical pass rushing while the 3-4 relies more on lateral movements and rewards speed and agility.
"The change should work out in my favor as far as my quickness and athleticism goes," Mangieri said. "I'm comfortable with the transition. Once you get comfortable, you start looking at the offense and their tendencies. That's how you get better."
While Mangieri has spent the better part of the last year working to improve himself, he said he's also put an increased emphasis on helping to make his teammates better.
After spring practice ended, Wilson announced that Mangieri had earned the Defensive Leader Award. One of his closest friends and roommates, senior quarterback Nate Sudfeld, earned the Offensive Leader Award.
Mangieri said he aims to lead young defensive players much in the way Sudfeld leads the offense. He likes to lead by example, setting the tone early in practice and setting the standard for how Indiana players need to play.
"You just want to show them the right way and just be in their ear and let them know what the right thing to do is," Mangieri said. "But really, you've got to lead by example. Everybody can talk, but if you don't back it up by your actions, nobody is going to follow you."
Mangieri has seen firsthand the peaks and valleys the defense has had.
As a senior leader, Mangieri takes it upon himself to ensure Indiana continues to make progress in 2015. The key, he said, is for everyone to be more consistent across all defensive positions.
"We had a good spring where we were able to build on the last few games of last season where we started to come together and play as a defense," Manieri said. "I think we were able to add a few more things this fall that should make us even better as long as we keep doing the things we need to do."
Mangieri, like many of his teammates, said he's excited for the start of the new season and a chance to hit someone else.
The Hoosiers open up the year at Memorial Stadium against Southern Illinois.
A win in the opening game could be crucial for veterans like Mangieri who know they're running out of chances to put together the winning season they believe they're capable of.
"My time is ticking," Mangeiri said. "You never think this time would come as a freshman, but now it's here."
IUHoosiers.com
Heading into his senior season, Nick Mangieri had to hit the reset button.
Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson moved Mangieri to the defensive line in spring practice after playing the bandit position last year.
Now Mangieri is learning--or rather, re-learning--how to play on the defensive line with goals of being named All-Big Ten and leading Indiana to the postseason.
"The more you're there, the more comfortable you get," Mangieri said. "It's funny, you kind of see things now that you didn't see when you were younger like stances, other formations or just how to do certain things. Even though I've been away from it, I feel like I've still grown as a defensive lineman anyway."
Mangieri's switch back to his old position comes after one full season playing bandit after Indiana switched to a 3-4 base defense under now second-year defensive coordinator Brian Knorr.
He wasn't moved because he wasn't successful, Knorr said, but rather because they thought it was obvious that he was better as a true pass rusher.
"I just think he's more comfortable," Knorr said. "It's not that he was necessarily uncomfortable at the bandit, but we thought he could make a bigger impact for us returning back to the defensive line and disrupting the pass game. He's athletic enough and smart enough where it wasn't too much to ask of him."
Even though he has past experience playing on the defensive line, Mangieri said playing the position in the 3-4 isn't quite the same as playing in the 4-3. The 4-3 involves more vertical pass rushing while the 3-4 relies more on lateral movements and rewards speed and agility.
"The change should work out in my favor as far as my quickness and athleticism goes," Mangieri said. "I'm comfortable with the transition. Once you get comfortable, you start looking at the offense and their tendencies. That's how you get better."
While Mangieri has spent the better part of the last year working to improve himself, he said he's also put an increased emphasis on helping to make his teammates better.
After spring practice ended, Wilson announced that Mangieri had earned the Defensive Leader Award. One of his closest friends and roommates, senior quarterback Nate Sudfeld, earned the Offensive Leader Award.
Mangieri said he aims to lead young defensive players much in the way Sudfeld leads the offense. He likes to lead by example, setting the tone early in practice and setting the standard for how Indiana players need to play.
"You just want to show them the right way and just be in their ear and let them know what the right thing to do is," Mangieri said. "But really, you've got to lead by example. Everybody can talk, but if you don't back it up by your actions, nobody is going to follow you."
Mangieri has seen firsthand the peaks and valleys the defense has had.
As a senior leader, Mangieri takes it upon himself to ensure Indiana continues to make progress in 2015. The key, he said, is for everyone to be more consistent across all defensive positions.
"We had a good spring where we were able to build on the last few games of last season where we started to come together and play as a defense," Manieri said. "I think we were able to add a few more things this fall that should make us even better as long as we keep doing the things we need to do."
Mangieri, like many of his teammates, said he's excited for the start of the new season and a chance to hit someone else.
The Hoosiers open up the year at Memorial Stadium against Southern Illinois.
A win in the opening game could be crucial for veterans like Mangieri who know they're running out of chances to put together the winning season they believe they're capable of.
"My time is ticking," Mangeiri said. "You never think this time would come as a freshman, but now it's here."
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