Indiana University Athletics
Sharing or Not, Dutra and Fields Making Impacts
10/20/2017 12:19:00 PM | Football
By: Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana's Chase Dutra and Tony Fields aren't sharing anymore.
Is that good?
In a complicated football world, the answer is …
Yes and no.
Dutra and Fields no longer rotate at free safety. Dutra plays it now while Fields is at husky, a hybrid linebacker/safety position in coach Tom Allen's 4-2-5 scheme.
But it comes at a price:
Talented sophomore Marcelino Ball isn't playing.
Fields has taken over at husky for Ball, the regular starter who has been sidelined for a month with an undisclosed injury.
Fields is beginning to thrive at his new position.
Dutra is excelling in his old role.
Specifically, Durtra ranks third on the team with 36 tackles, trailing linebackers Tegray Scales (48 tackles) and Chris Covington (39). Fields is fifth with 30 tackles.
The 6-1, 212-pound Dutra is coming off a career-high for tackles -- 13 -- against Michigan, one of America's best teams.
Fields didn't wrack up huge numbers against Michigan, but did tie his career-high with seven tackles (one for loss) to earn team co-defensive player of the game with cornerback Rashard Fant.
Here's what Allen had to say about that:
"(Fields and Fant) did a great job at their assigned areas, and I thought that Chase Dutra played his tail off. He had like 19 total tackles, counting special teams and defense, and just played so, so hard."
Dutra is a hard-working fifth-year senior who has seen a bunch of the world, even if he doesn't remember all of it. He was born in Turkey and spent more than a decade growing up in Alaska before ending in Indiana -- Brownsburg for those who like specifics.
The early travel came via his father, who was in the Air Force.
According to Dutra, Alaska was really cool -- and not because of the temperature.
"Alaska is the best state," he said. "It's the most beautiful state.
"Outdoors is a big thing in Alaska, with winters and everything. We had so much snow. You could build tunnels. Especially when you have four brothers, it was a lot of fun growing up."
Few players have more fun on special teams than Dutra, who is a collision waiting to happen. That full-throttle mindset, which has helped him keep team trainers with his assorted bumps and bruises, gives him a hard-hitting edge.
"With special teams you have more of one job -- go down and get the ball," Dutra says. "On defense you have checks and reads and stuff you have to mess around with.
"I love both. I can't decide which I love better. The goal is to get to the ball, get the tackle, get our team hyped up, get us great field position. There are positives to each role."
As for needing a reckless approach to special teams, Dutra says it's all about "running down full speed whether you're on punt team or kickoff team. Just going full speed.
"That's why some people aren't made for special teams. They get scared or tense up when it comes to contact. On special teams you're flying down. You never know what kind of tackle you're going to get. It's all about getting the ball down."
Fields, meanwhile, says he's settling into the challenge of husky. He was receptive when coaches approached him about doing it after Ball's injury.
"They asked me and I was ready to go. I'm willing to do anything for this team. I love my guys. I'll do anything to win. I was ready."
Allen isn't surprised.
"It was a lot to put on him, but he's a smart kid. He's a savvy player with moxie. He's not a high-rep guy, so it allowed him to pick it up quickly and be effective. We needed him to step up. He's been a true champion in the way he's approached that."
Which position does the 5-11, 205-pound Fields like best?
"That's a great question. I wouldn't say I like one more than the other. Husky allows me to show a different side of my abilities. It asks me to handle different responsibilities and show how versatile I can be. I'm glad I get to play it."
The husky position demands playing the run like a linebacker and covering receivers like a defensive back.
"At free safety," he says, "you're lined up deeper. You get to things late and saving touchdowns.
"At husky you're involved from the jump. They have me blitzing. They have me fitting off linebackers and D-linemen, but I can also be in man coverage on a speed receiver on the next play. You have to be versatile and do multiple things. It's definitely a challenge."
It helps to have Ball, a two-year husky starter, around for guidance.
"I talk to Lino every day about it. I'm trying to get tips that can help me through the plays and coverages. He's been great. He's very supportive. It's great to have someone like that to ask."
Saturday's challenge for Dutra and Fields, and the rest of the Hoosiers (3-3), comes at No.18/19 Michigan State (5-1). The Spartans have the Big Ten's third-best rushing attack, averaging 192.2 yards.
Michigan punished IU on the ground last week, gaining 271 rushing yards.
"They run a similar offense where they do similar things to Michigan," Fields says. "(Coaches will) ask us to do a lot. We have to move around, adjust to what they're doing. It's going to be tough, but if we trust each other and the scheme, we'll be fine."
Dutra says allowing Michigan to score on a 25-yard run on the first play of overtime continues to sting.
"It hurts. We preach about finishing. We have to shake it off, learn from our mistakes.
"We have another great opportunity with Michigan State, another ranked team. We're excited to get back on the field."
A major point of emphasis this week was getting takeaways. IU only has four this season. The goal is to get three a game.
"We're focusing on it," Fields says. "It's taking the ball away, stripping it. Getting interceptions.
"It comes down to technique and trusting your responsibility. When you see something, attack. We have to get back into those habits. We talk about it all the time. I expect that to change.
"It's somebody ripping at the football. Taking it away. We're trying to get everybody on the same page and doing it. That's the key to winning -- you have to take the ball away."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana's Chase Dutra and Tony Fields aren't sharing anymore.
Is that good?
In a complicated football world, the answer is …
Yes and no.
Dutra and Fields no longer rotate at free safety. Dutra plays it now while Fields is at husky, a hybrid linebacker/safety position in coach Tom Allen's 4-2-5 scheme.
But it comes at a price:
Talented sophomore Marcelino Ball isn't playing.
Fields has taken over at husky for Ball, the regular starter who has been sidelined for a month with an undisclosed injury.
Fields is beginning to thrive at his new position.
Dutra is excelling in his old role.
Specifically, Durtra ranks third on the team with 36 tackles, trailing linebackers Tegray Scales (48 tackles) and Chris Covington (39). Fields is fifth with 30 tackles.
The 6-1, 212-pound Dutra is coming off a career-high for tackles -- 13 -- against Michigan, one of America's best teams.
Fields didn't wrack up huge numbers against Michigan, but did tie his career-high with seven tackles (one for loss) to earn team co-defensive player of the game with cornerback Rashard Fant.
Here's what Allen had to say about that:
"(Fields and Fant) did a great job at their assigned areas, and I thought that Chase Dutra played his tail off. He had like 19 total tackles, counting special teams and defense, and just played so, so hard."
Dutra is a hard-working fifth-year senior who has seen a bunch of the world, even if he doesn't remember all of it. He was born in Turkey and spent more than a decade growing up in Alaska before ending in Indiana -- Brownsburg for those who like specifics.
The early travel came via his father, who was in the Air Force.
According to Dutra, Alaska was really cool -- and not because of the temperature.
"Alaska is the best state," he said. "It's the most beautiful state.
"Outdoors is a big thing in Alaska, with winters and everything. We had so much snow. You could build tunnels. Especially when you have four brothers, it was a lot of fun growing up."
Few players have more fun on special teams than Dutra, who is a collision waiting to happen. That full-throttle mindset, which has helped him keep team trainers with his assorted bumps and bruises, gives him a hard-hitting edge.
"With special teams you have more of one job -- go down and get the ball," Dutra says. "On defense you have checks and reads and stuff you have to mess around with.
"I love both. I can't decide which I love better. The goal is to get to the ball, get the tackle, get our team hyped up, get us great field position. There are positives to each role."
As for needing a reckless approach to special teams, Dutra says it's all about "running down full speed whether you're on punt team or kickoff team. Just going full speed.
"That's why some people aren't made for special teams. They get scared or tense up when it comes to contact. On special teams you're flying down. You never know what kind of tackle you're going to get. It's all about getting the ball down."
Fields, meanwhile, says he's settling into the challenge of husky. He was receptive when coaches approached him about doing it after Ball's injury.
"They asked me and I was ready to go. I'm willing to do anything for this team. I love my guys. I'll do anything to win. I was ready."
Allen isn't surprised.
"It was a lot to put on him, but he's a smart kid. He's a savvy player with moxie. He's not a high-rep guy, so it allowed him to pick it up quickly and be effective. We needed him to step up. He's been a true champion in the way he's approached that."
Which position does the 5-11, 205-pound Fields like best?
"That's a great question. I wouldn't say I like one more than the other. Husky allows me to show a different side of my abilities. It asks me to handle different responsibilities and show how versatile I can be. I'm glad I get to play it."
The husky position demands playing the run like a linebacker and covering receivers like a defensive back.
"At free safety," he says, "you're lined up deeper. You get to things late and saving touchdowns.
"At husky you're involved from the jump. They have me blitzing. They have me fitting off linebackers and D-linemen, but I can also be in man coverage on a speed receiver on the next play. You have to be versatile and do multiple things. It's definitely a challenge."
It helps to have Ball, a two-year husky starter, around for guidance.
"I talk to Lino every day about it. I'm trying to get tips that can help me through the plays and coverages. He's been great. He's very supportive. It's great to have someone like that to ask."
Saturday's challenge for Dutra and Fields, and the rest of the Hoosiers (3-3), comes at No.18/19 Michigan State (5-1). The Spartans have the Big Ten's third-best rushing attack, averaging 192.2 yards.
Michigan punished IU on the ground last week, gaining 271 rushing yards.
"They run a similar offense where they do similar things to Michigan," Fields says. "(Coaches will) ask us to do a lot. We have to move around, adjust to what they're doing. It's going to be tough, but if we trust each other and the scheme, we'll be fine."
Dutra says allowing Michigan to score on a 25-yard run on the first play of overtime continues to sting.
"It hurts. We preach about finishing. We have to shake it off, learn from our mistakes.
"We have another great opportunity with Michigan State, another ranked team. We're excited to get back on the field."
A major point of emphasis this week was getting takeaways. IU only has four this season. The goal is to get three a game.
"We're focusing on it," Fields says. "It's taking the ball away, stripping it. Getting interceptions.
"It comes down to technique and trusting your responsibility. When you see something, attack. We have to get back into those habits. We talk about it all the time. I expect that to change.
"It's somebody ripping at the football. Taking it away. We're trying to get everybody on the same page and doing it. That's the key to winning -- you have to take the ball away."
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