Indiana University Athletics
Allen: I Like Our Growth, We Need to Finish
9/20/2016 4:23:00 PM | Football
By: Ben Segelbaum
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – At his weekly press conference on Monday, defensive coordinator Tom Allen touched on the good and bad in the Hoosiers win over Ball State, the improvement over the bye week, and the matchup with Wake Forest on Saturday.
"I like how hard we're playing. I think that there's been growth in our understanding of our system and being able to communicate better." Allen said. "I thought we had some breakdowns in that area against Ball State, but as a collective group I think that's improving."
Closing the the game out wasn't as simple as it needs to be for the Hoosiers in their week two 30-20 win over Ball State.
"We just have to finish. I did not like that we didn't finish the game. We were up 30-0 and really in complete control of the game and all three phases and then we didn't finish." Allen said. "We let them off the hook, gave up a pass and then they get a field goal and just kind of gain some momentum back. We didn't have that killer instinct that you have to have to be a great defense."
After forcing six takeaways in the first two games, Allen's defense got the weekend off. It wasn't a week wasted as Allen says his defense got better at the things bothering him in the Ball State game from a "run-fit" perspective.
While his players got better, Allen took time to look for the next Hoosiers in places such as Indianapolis and down south, including sophomore safety Jonathan Crawford's hometown of Largo, Fla.
"I went down to his area and all they talked about was him. Now they're watching him play on TV and how proud they are of him and what he's done at Indiana and that helps us. (Crawford) is a guy that came in as a freshman, we played him as a freshman, he played well and then they see him just take where he left off and just keep climbing off of that." Allen said.
Looking ahead to Wake Forest, one of Allen's concerns coming into the ACC-Big Ten contest is Demon Deacons tight end Cam Serigne.
"This guy's different, bigger body guy, great hands, a lot of catches. They're (Wake) looking for him, you know they really are." Allen said. "He had a great season last year, so he's the guy that creates. Anytime you get a guy in the core that is blocking and is a vertical threat, that puts those guys in run-pass conflict. It makes it hard on us."
Allen and the Hoosiers welcome the Demon Deacons to Memorial Stadium at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – At his weekly press conference on Monday, defensive coordinator Tom Allen touched on the good and bad in the Hoosiers win over Ball State, the improvement over the bye week, and the matchup with Wake Forest on Saturday.
"I like how hard we're playing. I think that there's been growth in our understanding of our system and being able to communicate better." Allen said. "I thought we had some breakdowns in that area against Ball State, but as a collective group I think that's improving."
Closing the the game out wasn't as simple as it needs to be for the Hoosiers in their week two 30-20 win over Ball State.
"We just have to finish. I did not like that we didn't finish the game. We were up 30-0 and really in complete control of the game and all three phases and then we didn't finish." Allen said. "We let them off the hook, gave up a pass and then they get a field goal and just kind of gain some momentum back. We didn't have that killer instinct that you have to have to be a great defense."
After forcing six takeaways in the first two games, Allen's defense got the weekend off. It wasn't a week wasted as Allen says his defense got better at the things bothering him in the Ball State game from a "run-fit" perspective.
While his players got better, Allen took time to look for the next Hoosiers in places such as Indianapolis and down south, including sophomore safety Jonathan Crawford's hometown of Largo, Fla.
"I went down to his area and all they talked about was him. Now they're watching him play on TV and how proud they are of him and what he's done at Indiana and that helps us. (Crawford) is a guy that came in as a freshman, we played him as a freshman, he played well and then they see him just take where he left off and just keep climbing off of that." Allen said.
Looking ahead to Wake Forest, one of Allen's concerns coming into the ACC-Big Ten contest is Demon Deacons tight end Cam Serigne.
"This guy's different, bigger body guy, great hands, a lot of catches. They're (Wake) looking for him, you know they really are." Allen said. "He had a great season last year, so he's the guy that creates. Anytime you get a guy in the core that is blocking and is a vertical threat, that puts those guys in run-pass conflict. It makes it hard on us."
Allen and the Hoosiers welcome the Demon Deacons to Memorial Stadium at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.
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