Indiana University Athletics
Quoted: Indiana vs. Maryland
10/24/2016 5:30:00 PM | Football
By: Charlie Duffy
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana football players and coaches met with the media Monday for the Hoosiers' weekly press conference leading into Saturday's 3:30 p.m. kickoff against Maryland.
Each week we will compile five quotes and storylines recapping the previous game and previewing the upcoming one.
Junior linebacker Tegray Scales: "We just need to go out there and have fun. It is a process and winning is not easy. We have to find a way to get back in a groove. We need to get back to focusing on the little things."
Getting back to the little things includes taking the ball away. Coach Allen's defense was successful early in the season when they collected six takeaways in wins against Florida International and Ball State. Since then, the Hoosiers' defense has created just five. On three separate occasions, IU had a chance to intercept a Northwestern pass, but could not come up with the big play.
Head coach Kevin Wilson: "Maryland comes in. They've scored 54 points in the first quarter and given up 14. Maryland is a very good first quarter team. We will address that and get it figured out. It's hurt us for sure the last couple of weeks."
Maryland pounces on teams to start games. On the season, the Terrapins are plus-40 in the opening frame. The quick starts have allowed Maryland to rack up five wins in seven tries. IU has come out flat in consecutive losses to Nebraska and Northwestern. The Hoosiers fell behind the Cornhuskers 17-0 and were never able to fully recover. The following week, Indiana found itself in a 21-3 hole to host Northwestern.
Sophomore wide receiver Nick Westbrook: "They are really physical, especially on the perimeter. They play a lot of man-to-man coverage. We have to be focused on making the competitive plays. The entire wide receiver group needs to be focused and ready to make the competitive plays we need to win the game."
It will be strength against strength when Indiana has possession of the football. The Terrapins defense is stingy against the pass, allowing just shy of 175 yards per game, 13th-best in the country. The bulk of the Hoosiers yardage is gained through the air. Richard Lagow has thrown for nearly 2,000 yards and 12 touchdowns. IU puts up 290 passing yards per game, ranking 25th in the country. The man-to-man coverage will create smaller windows for Lagow to squeeze the ball in, which makes it imperative that the receivers match the physical presence of the UM defense and makes catches on contested throws.
Defensive coordinator Tom Allen: "They are well coached, play extremely hard and they are very confident. They do a tremendous job of establishing the run and they have a lot of weapons. They stretch you horizontally and make you make tackles in space."
Maryland has four backs that have at least 150 yards rushing, led by Lorenzo Harrison and Ty Johnson. Harrison has 502 yards (7.7 yards per carry) and five scores. Johnson averages 10.3 yards per carry and has 482 yards.
Quarterback Perry Hills has completed better than 66 percent of his passes for 822 yards, eight touchdowns and just two interceptions. He has also rushed 50 times for 140 yards and a couple of scores. D.J. Moore paces the Terrapins with 23 receptions for 319 yards and four TDs. Teldrick Morgan has also hauled in 23 balls for 270 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Coach Wilson: "When you are one-dimensional, it's easy to tee off on the quarterback. It's easy to rush in the pocket. To me, it all goes back to line of scrimmage play, tight end play and running back play. If you cannot run the ball for four weeks in a row, you are easy to defend."
Since Coach Wilson took over at Indiana, the running game has been a staple of the program. IU currently boasts three running backs on NFL rosters – Tevin Coleman, Jordan Howard and Stephen Houston. However, the Hoosiers are averaging 139.3 rushing yards per contest in 2016.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana football players and coaches met with the media Monday for the Hoosiers' weekly press conference leading into Saturday's 3:30 p.m. kickoff against Maryland.
Each week we will compile five quotes and storylines recapping the previous game and previewing the upcoming one.
Junior linebacker Tegray Scales: "We just need to go out there and have fun. It is a process and winning is not easy. We have to find a way to get back in a groove. We need to get back to focusing on the little things."
Getting back to the little things includes taking the ball away. Coach Allen's defense was successful early in the season when they collected six takeaways in wins against Florida International and Ball State. Since then, the Hoosiers' defense has created just five. On three separate occasions, IU had a chance to intercept a Northwestern pass, but could not come up with the big play.
Head coach Kevin Wilson: "Maryland comes in. They've scored 54 points in the first quarter and given up 14. Maryland is a very good first quarter team. We will address that and get it figured out. It's hurt us for sure the last couple of weeks."
Maryland pounces on teams to start games. On the season, the Terrapins are plus-40 in the opening frame. The quick starts have allowed Maryland to rack up five wins in seven tries. IU has come out flat in consecutive losses to Nebraska and Northwestern. The Hoosiers fell behind the Cornhuskers 17-0 and were never able to fully recover. The following week, Indiana found itself in a 21-3 hole to host Northwestern.
Sophomore wide receiver Nick Westbrook: "They are really physical, especially on the perimeter. They play a lot of man-to-man coverage. We have to be focused on making the competitive plays. The entire wide receiver group needs to be focused and ready to make the competitive plays we need to win the game."
It will be strength against strength when Indiana has possession of the football. The Terrapins defense is stingy against the pass, allowing just shy of 175 yards per game, 13th-best in the country. The bulk of the Hoosiers yardage is gained through the air. Richard Lagow has thrown for nearly 2,000 yards and 12 touchdowns. IU puts up 290 passing yards per game, ranking 25th in the country. The man-to-man coverage will create smaller windows for Lagow to squeeze the ball in, which makes it imperative that the receivers match the physical presence of the UM defense and makes catches on contested throws.
Defensive coordinator Tom Allen: "They are well coached, play extremely hard and they are very confident. They do a tremendous job of establishing the run and they have a lot of weapons. They stretch you horizontally and make you make tackles in space."
Maryland has four backs that have at least 150 yards rushing, led by Lorenzo Harrison and Ty Johnson. Harrison has 502 yards (7.7 yards per carry) and five scores. Johnson averages 10.3 yards per carry and has 482 yards.
Quarterback Perry Hills has completed better than 66 percent of his passes for 822 yards, eight touchdowns and just two interceptions. He has also rushed 50 times for 140 yards and a couple of scores. D.J. Moore paces the Terrapins with 23 receptions for 319 yards and four TDs. Teldrick Morgan has also hauled in 23 balls for 270 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Coach Wilson: "When you are one-dimensional, it's easy to tee off on the quarterback. It's easy to rush in the pocket. To me, it all goes back to line of scrimmage play, tight end play and running back play. If you cannot run the ball for four weeks in a row, you are easy to defend."
Since Coach Wilson took over at Indiana, the running game has been a staple of the program. IU currently boasts three running backs on NFL rosters – Tevin Coleman, Jordan Howard and Stephen Houston. However, the Hoosiers are averaging 139.3 rushing yards per contest in 2016.
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