Indiana University Athletics
Monday Notes – Tom Allen Offers Mid-Season Assessment
10/16/2017 5:09:00 PM | Football
By: Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The season's halfway point finds Indiana football on the brink of … what?
The much-desired breakthrough?
More heartbreak?
A mixture of both?
This much is certain -- all things remain possible for IU's program on the rise.
The 3-3 record against a brutal early schedule doesn't reflect Hoosier performance.
Their losses have come against ranked powers Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan, which are a combined 17-2. They have a road victory over surprising Virginia (5-1), as well as convincing wins over Georgia Southern and Charleston Southern.
They were just a play or two away from pulling off a victory over Michigan. They lost 27-20 in overtime on Saturday.
"We're at a point in the season," head coach Tom Allen said, "that you take what you learned in the first six games, and now we've got to strap it up and finish strong. That's what I expect us to do."
Bill Mallory couldn't have said it any better.
The schedule remains rugged with Saturday's trip to No. 18/19 Michigan State (5-1, 3-0 Big Ten).
"When you looked at our schedule and saw how front loaded it was," Allen said, "you wanted to get one of these. Playing that caliber of team, you want to knock one of them off. You do.
"I'm never going to say we're right where we want to be because we're not, but I do think we're growing. I do think we're progressing and learning to play as a group that understands what our strengths are.
"We've battled a lot of injuries. Way more injuries than I would have anticipated at this stage of the season. That's made it hard.
"As the season progresses, you draw on the strength of the things you've learned, and you hope that makes you a better player, a better coach, a better team."
TOUGH SCHEDULE
Nobody in the Big Ten plays a tougher schedule than Indiana these days.
Michigan State will represent the 14th top-20 opponent in IU's last 29 games. That's the most of any Big Ten team. The next closest is 10.
Four of the Hoosiers' first seven opponents this season are ranked in the top 20. That, too, is a Big Ten high.
The last time Indiana faced so many ranked teams so early was in 1960. It also happened in 1950, '51 and '53.
"That (schedule) has been a great challenge for us and a great opportunity to be able to compete against the really good programs right out of the gate," Allen said. "It's been good for our guys to be able to keep them locked in and focused, and they've responded well to that."
SPARTANS BOUNCE BACK
Michigan State has won three straight games to improve to 3-0 in the Big Ten.
The defensive-minded Spartans rank second in the Big Ten in total defense (263.8 yards per game) and fifth in points allowed (18.2). Linebacker Joe Bachie ranks third in the Big Ten with 50 tackles. He has five tackles for loss, two sacks, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Michigan State ranks 13th out of 14 conference teams in scoring (23.7). Quarterback Brian Lewerke has thrown for 1,177 yards and nine touchdowns against three interceptions. Tailback LJ Scott has rushed for 408 yards.
The Spartans have made a big turnaround from last season's 3-9 disappointment that included a 24-21 overtime loss to Indiana.
"I think they're more fundamentally sound and playing good football," Allen said. "There are not a lot of superstar guys. They play well together.
"You play really good defense. You're really good on special teams and you have an efficient offense able to score points to win games, that's what they're able to do. They win by a field goal here, a touchdown there. They're a very blue-collar, tough, gritty team with a quarterback with moxie who makes plays with his legs and his arm."
The teams play for the Old Brass Spittoon. IU hasn't won two straight in the series since winning three in a row from 1967-69.
HOOSIERS HONORED
Receiver Luke Timian was named offensive player of the Michigan game. He caught seven passes for a career-high 95 yards.
"Luke made so many clutch catches, especially at the end," Allen said. "He provides a ton of consistency. I'm proud of his performance and how hard he plays."
Defensive backs Tony Fields and Rashard Fant were named defensive players of the game. Fields had seven tackles, including one for a loss. Fant had four tackles and broke up a pass.
"They both did a great job at their assigned areas," Allen said.
Allen also praised quarterback Peyton Ramsey (20-for-41, 178 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions) and safety Chase Dutra (a career-high-tying 13 tackles).
Kicker Griffin Oakes and punter Haydon Whitehead also earned a mention from Allen. Oakes' 46-yard field goal at the end of regulation sent the game into overtime. Whitehead averaged 44.2 yards on eight punts.
"They were on point with their kicks," Allen said.
OVERTIME PLAY CALLING
In Saturday's overtime, Indiana had first and goal at the Michigan 1-yard line. The Hoosiers needed a touchdown to tie the score at 27-27 and force a second overtime period. On first down tailback Morgan Ellison lost two yards on a run. On second down Ramsey's pass to J-Shun Harris was incomplete. On third down Ramsey lost a yard on a run. On fourth down Ramsey's roll-out pass was intercepted.
Offensive coordinator Mike DeBord, who calls the plays, was asked if he'd do anything differently.
"Nope. Not at all," he said.
"Nobody is harder on play calling than I am on myself. Tom (Allen) looked at it as well. The plays were there. We have to do a better job of executing those. They were base calls, basically.
"When I talk about execution, I'm talking about that we have to coach those plays better. We went back at it (Sunday night in practice) and worked on the fundamentals of those plays. We'll be better at them.
"I looked at every one of them. I thought they were good calls."
DeBord was specifically asked about the fourth-down pass that had Ramsey rolling out to throw rather than dropping back.
"With play calling after the play is called, everybody is, Why didn't you do this or do that?" DeBord said. "What if we would have dropped back and taken the sack? Then you'd hear, Why didn't you sprint out?
"Peyton is a guy who can throw on the run. He's demonstrated that in practice. He's done it in games. We were trying to get Simmie (Cobbs Jr.) in motion. I'm not going to get into the officiating, that's not my role, but the play didn't develop like we wanted it to."
ON REVIEW
Allen was asked about several plays during the Michigan game that were reviewed. Two went against receiver Cobbs, nullifying a 64-yard catch (he was ruled out of bounds) and a recovered on-side kick (he again was ruled out of bounds). Allen said IU has contacted the Big Ten.
"There's a protocol for that," he said. "We did that and we've had good discussions, very professional. We handled it the right way, just faced it head on. That's my approach. I feel very good about the way we handled it."
Allen added that those discussions would remain private.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The season's halfway point finds Indiana football on the brink of … what?
The much-desired breakthrough?
More heartbreak?
A mixture of both?
This much is certain -- all things remain possible for IU's program on the rise.
The 3-3 record against a brutal early schedule doesn't reflect Hoosier performance.
Their losses have come against ranked powers Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan, which are a combined 17-2. They have a road victory over surprising Virginia (5-1), as well as convincing wins over Georgia Southern and Charleston Southern.
They were just a play or two away from pulling off a victory over Michigan. They lost 27-20 in overtime on Saturday.
"We're at a point in the season," head coach Tom Allen said, "that you take what you learned in the first six games, and now we've got to strap it up and finish strong. That's what I expect us to do."
Bill Mallory couldn't have said it any better.
The schedule remains rugged with Saturday's trip to No. 18/19 Michigan State (5-1, 3-0 Big Ten).
"When you looked at our schedule and saw how front loaded it was," Allen said, "you wanted to get one of these. Playing that caliber of team, you want to knock one of them off. You do.
"I'm never going to say we're right where we want to be because we're not, but I do think we're growing. I do think we're progressing and learning to play as a group that understands what our strengths are.
"We've battled a lot of injuries. Way more injuries than I would have anticipated at this stage of the season. That's made it hard.
"As the season progresses, you draw on the strength of the things you've learned, and you hope that makes you a better player, a better coach, a better team."
TOUGH SCHEDULE
Nobody in the Big Ten plays a tougher schedule than Indiana these days.
Michigan State will represent the 14th top-20 opponent in IU's last 29 games. That's the most of any Big Ten team. The next closest is 10.
Four of the Hoosiers' first seven opponents this season are ranked in the top 20. That, too, is a Big Ten high.
The last time Indiana faced so many ranked teams so early was in 1960. It also happened in 1950, '51 and '53.
"That (schedule) has been a great challenge for us and a great opportunity to be able to compete against the really good programs right out of the gate," Allen said. "It's been good for our guys to be able to keep them locked in and focused, and they've responded well to that."
SPARTANS BOUNCE BACK
Michigan State has won three straight games to improve to 3-0 in the Big Ten.
The defensive-minded Spartans rank second in the Big Ten in total defense (263.8 yards per game) and fifth in points allowed (18.2). Linebacker Joe Bachie ranks third in the Big Ten with 50 tackles. He has five tackles for loss, two sacks, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Michigan State ranks 13th out of 14 conference teams in scoring (23.7). Quarterback Brian Lewerke has thrown for 1,177 yards and nine touchdowns against three interceptions. Tailback LJ Scott has rushed for 408 yards.
The Spartans have made a big turnaround from last season's 3-9 disappointment that included a 24-21 overtime loss to Indiana.
"I think they're more fundamentally sound and playing good football," Allen said. "There are not a lot of superstar guys. They play well together.
"You play really good defense. You're really good on special teams and you have an efficient offense able to score points to win games, that's what they're able to do. They win by a field goal here, a touchdown there. They're a very blue-collar, tough, gritty team with a quarterback with moxie who makes plays with his legs and his arm."
The teams play for the Old Brass Spittoon. IU hasn't won two straight in the series since winning three in a row from 1967-69.
HOOSIERS HONORED
Receiver Luke Timian was named offensive player of the Michigan game. He caught seven passes for a career-high 95 yards.
"Luke made so many clutch catches, especially at the end," Allen said. "He provides a ton of consistency. I'm proud of his performance and how hard he plays."
Defensive backs Tony Fields and Rashard Fant were named defensive players of the game. Fields had seven tackles, including one for a loss. Fant had four tackles and broke up a pass.
"They both did a great job at their assigned areas," Allen said.
Allen also praised quarterback Peyton Ramsey (20-for-41, 178 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions) and safety Chase Dutra (a career-high-tying 13 tackles).
Kicker Griffin Oakes and punter Haydon Whitehead also earned a mention from Allen. Oakes' 46-yard field goal at the end of regulation sent the game into overtime. Whitehead averaged 44.2 yards on eight punts.
"They were on point with their kicks," Allen said.
OVERTIME PLAY CALLING
In Saturday's overtime, Indiana had first and goal at the Michigan 1-yard line. The Hoosiers needed a touchdown to tie the score at 27-27 and force a second overtime period. On first down tailback Morgan Ellison lost two yards on a run. On second down Ramsey's pass to J-Shun Harris was incomplete. On third down Ramsey lost a yard on a run. On fourth down Ramsey's roll-out pass was intercepted.
Offensive coordinator Mike DeBord, who calls the plays, was asked if he'd do anything differently.
"Nope. Not at all," he said.
"Nobody is harder on play calling than I am on myself. Tom (Allen) looked at it as well. The plays were there. We have to do a better job of executing those. They were base calls, basically.
"When I talk about execution, I'm talking about that we have to coach those plays better. We went back at it (Sunday night in practice) and worked on the fundamentals of those plays. We'll be better at them.
"I looked at every one of them. I thought they were good calls."
DeBord was specifically asked about the fourth-down pass that had Ramsey rolling out to throw rather than dropping back.
"With play calling after the play is called, everybody is, Why didn't you do this or do that?" DeBord said. "What if we would have dropped back and taken the sack? Then you'd hear, Why didn't you sprint out?
"Peyton is a guy who can throw on the run. He's demonstrated that in practice. He's done it in games. We were trying to get Simmie (Cobbs Jr.) in motion. I'm not going to get into the officiating, that's not my role, but the play didn't develop like we wanted it to."
ON REVIEW
Allen was asked about several plays during the Michigan game that were reviewed. Two went against receiver Cobbs, nullifying a 64-yard catch (he was ruled out of bounds) and a recovered on-side kick (he again was ruled out of bounds). Allen said IU has contacted the Big Ten.
"There's a protocol for that," he said. "We did that and we've had good discussions, very professional. We handled it the right way, just faced it head on. That's my approach. I feel very good about the way we handled it."
Allen added that those discussions would remain private.
Players Mentioned
DB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
K
/ Football
QB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
P
/ 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