Indiana University Athletics
Defensive Line Embracing the Challenge in Practice
8/16/2016 4:56:00 PM | Football
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Fall Camp on Social Photo Gallery Video: Allen | Hagen | Green III | Robinson |
The Hoosiers' defensive line coach has to send his position group to the line of scrimmage every practice, where they battle it out against one of the top offensive line units in the Big Ten. Hagen embraces the challenge, and he sees it as a blessing to have such formidable competition on each snap of fall camp.
"That's the best thing that could happen to us on a daily basis," Hagen said. "We realize that we're not always going to win those matchups, whether it's a group period of one-on-one battles or a team scrimmage. What we're trying to do, as a group, is fight."
This defensive line has fought as a unit, and they've stood their ground in the first two weeks of fall camp. After Monday's practice, head coach Kevin Wilson claimed that the defensive line is taking the offensive line to task this preseason. Much of that success is a result of the defense's ability to fill the gaps after an individual loses their assignment.
"That's playing great defense: playing with 11 guys who cover each other's backs," Hagan said. "That's great preparation for us to go against the group Greg Frey coaches. It's going to be one of the stronger offensive lines we go against, and it's great to see that every day. It helps us grow as a unit."
Growing within this unit is fifth-year senior Ralph Green III. Green returns for his final collegiate season after accumulating 17 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and six pass breakups last year. And like Hagan, Green likes how the defensive line is sticking together in fall camp.
"Everything is going great, and it's going as planned. Everybody on the defense is doing their job as a unit, and we've seen the outcome of that in our results. We've been getting the best of the offense over the last week and a half."
Green has taken the leadership reigns of this group, and the initiative isn't lost on his position coach. Hagen and Green have known each other since Hagen recruited Green to Indiana five years ago. This offseason, Hagen has watched Green emerge into a strong leader for this group.
"It's a great thing to see how far Ralph has come," Hagen said. "He has had a lot of ups and downs in his life. It's great to see him persevere and get to this point as an IU graduate ready to play his fifth year, and hopefully it's the best football of his life. I think he's excited about his senior year and he wants to be part of a group that's competing for a Big Ten Championship."
One of Green's fellow linemen, Jacob Robinson, has taken great strides in the offseason as well. Robinson returns to Indiana as a sophomore, after appearing in all 13 games last season as a true freshman.
"Things have been great," Robinson said. "The team has been working hard, especially the defensive line up front. We're working on our technique and being vertical, and we're using different combinations of guys on every snap."
Robinson has played snaps on the inside and outside of the line this offseason, looking to fit whatever the defense needs on a given play. He's one of the younger players on this defensive line, but Robinson has embodied Hagen's mindset of having a team-first attitude and playing aggressively on every rep.
"Jacob is a younger guy who has a very bright future," Hagen said. "He does whatever we ask, he's one of the best I've ever been around from a toughness, get-after-it standpoint. It's nice that I'm going to have another three years with him."
With a little more than two weeks remaining before Indiana's season opener on Thursday, Sept. 1, at Florida International, Hagen hopes to simplify the adjustments going forward. Right now, Hagen is encouraged by the collective effort from his group, which has led to guys filling gaps and swarming the Hoosiers' high-powered offense.
"They're pushing each other, and we're still playing in attack mode, which is what we want to do," Hagen said. "We're trying to establish a new line of scrimmage. Across the board, we want to play more soundly and hold each other accountable with everyone in the right gap, doing their job and getting on the same page."
Indiana opens the 2016 campaign at Florida International on Thursday, Sept. 1 (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU), and kicks off its seven-game home schedule against Ball State. IU also hosts Wake Forest (Sept. 24), Michigan State (Oct. 1, 8 p.m., BTN), Nebraska (Oct. 15, 3:30 p.m.), Maryland (Oct. 29), Penn State (Nov. 12) and Purdue (Nov. 26).
Season tickets are available by clicking here, by phone at 1-866-IUSPORTS or in person at the Assembly Hall Ticket Office. The Hoosiers full schedule is available by clicking here.
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