Indiana University Athletics
IU's Defense Impress Offense In Cream & Crimson Game
4/15/2016 9:47:00 PM | Football
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Fifth-year senior receiver Ricky Jones was asked to share his thoughts about how his offense played in Friday evening's Cream & Crimson Spring Game not long after leaving the field at Memorial Stadium. That much was expected.
What wasn't expected was the answer he gave.
Because before reflecting on his own team's play, Jones had to tip his cap to the players slowing him down.
"I honestly think the defense stepped it up a lot today," Jones said. "They played pretty well."
Indiana's defense created three takeaways against its offense in the annual spring scrimmage and didn't allow a touchdown until the Hoosiers started setting up red zone scenarios late in the practice.
Fifth-year senior linebacker Dawson Fletcher came up with an interception to go along with a pair of fumble recoveries to account for the three takeaways that defensive coordinator Tom Allen has put so much stock into. Even so, head coach Kevin Wilson was quick to point out that Allen was disappointed because he thought his defense should have had five.
"Everybody was flying around," junior linebacker Tegray Scales said. "The takeaways, it was good. Just knowing every day that's what our coaches have been stressing about. Doing it throughout spring and making it a natural habit for us, it'll come naturally in games."
Redshirt junior linebacker Marcus Oliver picked up where he left off a year ago with one of the most electrifying individual plays of the day. He scored the game's first touchdown by stripping redshirt sophomore running back Alex Rodriguez and picking up the loose ball in one fluid motion before running it back to the south end zone concert area for a score.
Oliver said he was happy with the play, but he was more pleased with the way the defense ended spring camp. He said the Hoosiers defense is playing with an attitude he hasn't quite seen during his time in Bloomington.
"There's a lot more confidence," Oliver said. "It's not backing down. It's, 'I'm going to win this play. I'm going to win every play.' That's something that we haven't had here from all the guys. We might have had it from some, but everybody's starting to get there. It's a swag that everybody's getting."
Jones agreed. He said he can see the confidence in the way the defense lines up opposite him.
"They have a lot more swag this year," Jones said.
Wilson said to credit Allen for the change in attitude. Just the other day, Wilson and Allen spent about three hours talking about the value of believing, playing hard and playing with passion and how the Hoosiers were going to start changing the way they play defense. It's part of Allen's personality that Wilson likes so much.
Now they're just beginning to see that attitude turn into plays, even if it is just a scrimmage in April.
"We played pretty solid as a group," redshirt junior defensive lineman Nate Hoff said. "I'm pretty stoked about it, but obviously we've got work to do."
Work to do, but progress has been made.
Because for Indiana's defense to get over whatever hump has been in its way, believing is a sure place to start. Oliver said confidence can be contagious, and the sooner the defense starts to believe in itself, the sooner the results will come.
Just ask Jones. He was one of the victims Friday.
"They're stepping it up," Jones said. "That's big time."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Fifth-year senior receiver Ricky Jones was asked to share his thoughts about how his offense played in Friday evening's Cream & Crimson Spring Game not long after leaving the field at Memorial Stadium. That much was expected.
What wasn't expected was the answer he gave.
Because before reflecting on his own team's play, Jones had to tip his cap to the players slowing him down.
"I honestly think the defense stepped it up a lot today," Jones said. "They played pretty well."
Indiana's defense created three takeaways against its offense in the annual spring scrimmage and didn't allow a touchdown until the Hoosiers started setting up red zone scenarios late in the practice.
Fifth-year senior linebacker Dawson Fletcher came up with an interception to go along with a pair of fumble recoveries to account for the three takeaways that defensive coordinator Tom Allen has put so much stock into. Even so, head coach Kevin Wilson was quick to point out that Allen was disappointed because he thought his defense should have had five.
"Everybody was flying around," junior linebacker Tegray Scales said. "The takeaways, it was good. Just knowing every day that's what our coaches have been stressing about. Doing it throughout spring and making it a natural habit for us, it'll come naturally in games."
Redshirt junior linebacker Marcus Oliver picked up where he left off a year ago with one of the most electrifying individual plays of the day. He scored the game's first touchdown by stripping redshirt sophomore running back Alex Rodriguez and picking up the loose ball in one fluid motion before running it back to the south end zone concert area for a score.
Oliver said he was happy with the play, but he was more pleased with the way the defense ended spring camp. He said the Hoosiers defense is playing with an attitude he hasn't quite seen during his time in Bloomington.
"There's a lot more confidence," Oliver said. "It's not backing down. It's, 'I'm going to win this play. I'm going to win every play.' That's something that we haven't had here from all the guys. We might have had it from some, but everybody's starting to get there. It's a swag that everybody's getting."
Jones agreed. He said he can see the confidence in the way the defense lines up opposite him.
"They have a lot more swag this year," Jones said.
Wilson said to credit Allen for the change in attitude. Just the other day, Wilson and Allen spent about three hours talking about the value of believing, playing hard and playing with passion and how the Hoosiers were going to start changing the way they play defense. It's part of Allen's personality that Wilson likes so much.
Now they're just beginning to see that attitude turn into plays, even if it is just a scrimmage in April.
"We played pretty solid as a group," redshirt junior defensive lineman Nate Hoff said. "I'm pretty stoked about it, but obviously we've got work to do."
Work to do, but progress has been made.
Because for Indiana's defense to get over whatever hump has been in its way, believing is a sure place to start. Oliver said confidence can be contagious, and the sooner the defense starts to believe in itself, the sooner the results will come.
Just ask Jones. He was one of the victims Friday.
"They're stepping it up," Jones said. "That's big time."
Players Mentioned
LB
/ FootballFB: Spring Game - Postgame Press Conference
Thursday, April 23
FB: Bray Lynch - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Drew Evans - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Nico Radicic - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21