Indiana University Athletics
Indiana vs. Wake Forest Preview: OC Kevin Johns
9/23/2016 9:53:00 AM | Football
By: Nick Reith
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana offensive coordinator Kevin Johns has issued a challenge to his assistants and players, and it might be their toughest to date this season.
The Wake Forest Demon Deacons, IU's opponent this weekend, are off to a 3-0 start. Through three weeks, the Demon Deacons have amassed one of the best defensive performances in the country. They rank 19th in pass defense, and 12th in points allowed (12.0 per game) and rush defense (79.7 yards per game).
So how does the Indiana offense approach a defense like this, in their final examination before Big Ten play?
"We're going to find a way, but they make it very hard," Johns said, referring to the solution of running against Wake Forest. "They're going to load the box and make it tough on our running game. They've always hung their hat on that, and that will be a great challenge for our linemen, our backs, our tight ends and our receivers to find a way to run the ball."
Johns embraces challenges like this, especially with the encouraging individual work he's seen in the Hoosiers' first two wins. He's targeted some crucial areas of improvement, like third-down conversions in the scoring zone, but the season's early breakthroughs give the coaching staff hope of making quick fixes.
One of Indiana's bright spots on the attack is sophomore wide receiver Nick Westbrook, who hauled in three catches for 133 yards and two touchdowns against Ball State. Johns stresses the importance of those big-play situations to his receiving corps, and he's glad to see Westbrook answer the bell.
"The great thing to see with Nick, with a young kid, was to see him catch the ball and turn one into a big play and run away from some defenders," Johns said. "We talk a lot about competitive plays, like throwing the ball down the field in one-on-one coverage, and it was encouraging to see him go make that play. We talk to our guys about those plays every single day, and it was neat to see him make them."
A focal point for IU's offense this weekend will be establishing its ground game, which starts in the trenches. It's a group in which the Indiana coaches have the utmost faith, largely due to their depth and the seniority within that depth. Some players, like fifth-year senior Jacob Bailey, have already provided aid in various roles this season.
"He's such a great team player," Johns said of Bailey. "He's always got a great attitude, he comes to work every single day and provides outstanding leadership. This football team and this season are important to Jacob. I was excited to see him step in and do well."
Sharing the load with the offensive line is Indiana's running back corps, led at the front by Devine Redding. A returning 1,000-yard rusher, Redding maintains the longest active streaks of 100-plus yard games, along with LSU's Leonard Fournette and Louisville's Lamar Jackson.
"It's going to start with great film study and preparation on the practice field, knowing your opponent and knowing how you're going to try and attack them," Johns said. "Devine is such a great practice player, and that's what I think has led to his success on the field."
What might help Redding is the help of his fellow teammates, Mike Majette and Devonte Williams. The two are just a couple examples of the Hoosiers running backs getting involved in the passing game, especially on screens and checkdowns, which has aided Indiana in stretching the opposing defenses.
"I said this at the beginning of the year: we have seven or eight running backs that we think can all play," Johns said. "Some of those guys were different athletes in high school, be it at defensive back, receiver, or quarterback like Majette. For us, we're just trying to find out how we can put the ball in their hands in the best situations. It might just be handing it to them; it might be throwing it to them. They're all skilled guys and skilled athletes. It's just a matter of finding the best way to put the ball in their hands."
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