Indiana University Athletics
D Top 25? No Jive.
10/26/2017 10:20:00 AM | Football
By: Andy Graham
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Top 25.
In college football parlance, that always has a nice ring to it.
But it also reflects a stated goal for Indiana's defense this fall. One that the Hoosiers are getting ever closer to attaining.
IU now ranks 29th nationally in total defense heading into Saturday's 3:30 p.m. kickoff at Maryland. And Coach Tom Allen's Hoosiers are already in the national Top 25 in some key defensive categories.
Indiana's national defensive ranks currently include:
>>> 2nd in posting 3-and-outs against opposing offenses, averaging 6.9 per game.
>>> 18th in third-down defense, allowing foes just a 30.0 percent conversion rate.
>>> 22nd in pass defense, permitting just 181.4 yards per game.
>>> 25th in tackles-for-loss, averaging 7.3 per game.
The Hoosier defense is also nearing the Top 25 ballpark in first downs allowed (32nd) and sacks (38th).
"We're chipping away," IU assistant defensive coordinator and former All-Big Ten linebacker Mark Hagen said Wednesday. "And coming out of last season, our kids jumped on that Top 25 goal for a reason. They weren't
satisfied with where we were at, even from the big jump that we made from 2015 to last year.
"They've been persistent in their pursuit of that Top 25. I don't know that it's talked about on a daily basis, but it's in the back of guys' minds. Really, it's just a mindset. It's playing championship defense."
As a reminder, just how big was that jump to which Hagen alluded, arising after Allen arrived as Indiana's defensive coordinator in 2016?
IU went from 121st (out of 129 teams) to 45th in total defense during Allen's first year. It went from 127th to 53rd in pass defense. It went from 117th to 57th in points allowed. It allowed 23 fewer touchdowns and 25 fewer plays gaining 20 or more yards.
The numbers were unambiguous. Indiana's defense made the biggest leap in the country from 2015 to 2016.
Fifth-year senior All-Big Ten cornerback Rashard Fant noted that constituted a whole lot of fun.
Fant, who arrived as a four-star recruit in 2013 and redshirted a season before beginning his IU career, was as transfixed as anybody by the transformation Allen orchestrated – and got to enjoy it on the field.
"It's been fun," Fant, the nation's current career leader in pass breakups, acknowledged. "This is what you want.
"When I got here, I said, 'Man, I can't believe our defense is that bad.' I wanted to be part of a defense that helps us win games. Part of a defense where people say, 'Hey, that defense is feisty.' "
Hagen said plenty of feistiness remained in the wake of that transformative 2015 defensive campaign. Chips remained firmly ensconced on Hoosier defenders' shoulders. The Hoosiers were still hungry to improve.
"That was coming from Tegray Scales and Greg Gooch and Rashard Fant, the older guys who have played a lot of football," Hagen said. "They immediately brushed away the pats on the back last year, about the big jump we had, and said, 'Hey, what's next? What's the next step? We didn't come here to be a Top 50 defense or a Top 40.'
"It's getting into that Top 25 …we've all been on the same page. Now we have to finish. You look at the stretch to finish the season, starting with this assignment at Maryland, our focus is on them and on us going out there to play championship defense. If we do that, we're a step closer to that goal."
That goal seemed more distant at the end of August after Ohio State overcame a 14-13 halftime deficit to score five second-half touchdowns while hanging 49 points on the host Hoosiers in the season-opener.
And IU found itself dealing with injuries to key defensive personnel.
The Hoosiers lost perhaps their best, natural "quick-twitch" pass rusher before the season started when Nile Sykes sustained a summertime injury. Then a pair of secondary stalwarts went down in Marcelino Ball, who was set to again man the hybrid Husky spot key to IU's scheme, and cornerback A-Shon Riggins.
Senior safety Tony Fields shifted to Husky in Ball's absence and has settled in nicely there. Other Hoosiers have toughed it out while playing hurt.
And the coaches like how the whole defensive unit responded after the OSU game.
"The thing we like as a staff is that after we had a rough outing to start the season against a very talented Ohio State team – it went well early but fell apart late – we've reacted well," Hagen said. "We've been chipping away and have played some good teams along the way. The guys haven't batted an eye."
Indeed, speaking of Top 25 rankings, Ohio State was just one of four ranked foes the Hoosiers have already faced during their 3-4 start, with No. 5 Wisconsin looming next week.
The strength of schedule so far makes it all the more impressive Indiana has the defensive numbers it has.
But the Hoosiers want to make those numbers better.
"Now it's about going out and improving on those areas where we can be better," Hagen said. "Our rush defense can be better (currently on an even pace with last year). We talk about being great on third down, but there were a couple of key third-down situations late against Michigan State where we didn't execute.
"We have to play situationally-great defense, when it's crucial to make a play. We have to create more takeaways. Really, we've been in position to get quite a few. But we've got to catch the ball. We had some strip opportunities last week where the ball was on the ground and we just weren't in position to come up with it. Our guys are aware of it and we keep working on it on a daily basis."
Fant confirmed that he and his colleagues are aware and are applying themselves.
" 'When we go up against the Ohio States, Penn States, Michigans and Michigan States, people say, 'Boy, you'd better prepare for that defense of theirs.' " Fant said. "And now we're hoping people are starting to say, 'Hey, that IU defense, that's going to be a battle.' "
Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan and Michigan State? Not just Big East rivals. They represent, year-in and year-out, Top 25 territory.
And the Hoosier defense fully intends to join that club sometime soon.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Top 25.
In college football parlance, that always has a nice ring to it.
But it also reflects a stated goal for Indiana's defense this fall. One that the Hoosiers are getting ever closer to attaining.
IU now ranks 29th nationally in total defense heading into Saturday's 3:30 p.m. kickoff at Maryland. And Coach Tom Allen's Hoosiers are already in the national Top 25 in some key defensive categories.
Indiana's national defensive ranks currently include:
>>> 2nd in posting 3-and-outs against opposing offenses, averaging 6.9 per game.
>>> 18th in third-down defense, allowing foes just a 30.0 percent conversion rate.
>>> 22nd in pass defense, permitting just 181.4 yards per game.
>>> 25th in tackles-for-loss, averaging 7.3 per game.
The Hoosier defense is also nearing the Top 25 ballpark in first downs allowed (32nd) and sacks (38th).
"We're chipping away," IU assistant defensive coordinator and former All-Big Ten linebacker Mark Hagen said Wednesday. "And coming out of last season, our kids jumped on that Top 25 goal for a reason. They weren't
satisfied with where we were at, even from the big jump that we made from 2015 to last year.
"They've been persistent in their pursuit of that Top 25. I don't know that it's talked about on a daily basis, but it's in the back of guys' minds. Really, it's just a mindset. It's playing championship defense."
As a reminder, just how big was that jump to which Hagen alluded, arising after Allen arrived as Indiana's defensive coordinator in 2016?
IU went from 121st (out of 129 teams) to 45th in total defense during Allen's first year. It went from 127th to 53rd in pass defense. It went from 117th to 57th in points allowed. It allowed 23 fewer touchdowns and 25 fewer plays gaining 20 or more yards.
The numbers were unambiguous. Indiana's defense made the biggest leap in the country from 2015 to 2016.
Fifth-year senior All-Big Ten cornerback Rashard Fant noted that constituted a whole lot of fun.
Fant, who arrived as a four-star recruit in 2013 and redshirted a season before beginning his IU career, was as transfixed as anybody by the transformation Allen orchestrated – and got to enjoy it on the field.
"It's been fun," Fant, the nation's current career leader in pass breakups, acknowledged. "This is what you want.
"When I got here, I said, 'Man, I can't believe our defense is that bad.' I wanted to be part of a defense that helps us win games. Part of a defense where people say, 'Hey, that defense is feisty.' "
Hagen said plenty of feistiness remained in the wake of that transformative 2015 defensive campaign. Chips remained firmly ensconced on Hoosier defenders' shoulders. The Hoosiers were still hungry to improve.
"That was coming from Tegray Scales and Greg Gooch and Rashard Fant, the older guys who have played a lot of football," Hagen said. "They immediately brushed away the pats on the back last year, about the big jump we had, and said, 'Hey, what's next? What's the next step? We didn't come here to be a Top 50 defense or a Top 40.'
"It's getting into that Top 25 …we've all been on the same page. Now we have to finish. You look at the stretch to finish the season, starting with this assignment at Maryland, our focus is on them and on us going out there to play championship defense. If we do that, we're a step closer to that goal."
That goal seemed more distant at the end of August after Ohio State overcame a 14-13 halftime deficit to score five second-half touchdowns while hanging 49 points on the host Hoosiers in the season-opener.
And IU found itself dealing with injuries to key defensive personnel.
The Hoosiers lost perhaps their best, natural "quick-twitch" pass rusher before the season started when Nile Sykes sustained a summertime injury. Then a pair of secondary stalwarts went down in Marcelino Ball, who was set to again man the hybrid Husky spot key to IU's scheme, and cornerback A-Shon Riggins.
Senior safety Tony Fields shifted to Husky in Ball's absence and has settled in nicely there. Other Hoosiers have toughed it out while playing hurt.
And the coaches like how the whole defensive unit responded after the OSU game.
"The thing we like as a staff is that after we had a rough outing to start the season against a very talented Ohio State team – it went well early but fell apart late – we've reacted well," Hagen said. "We've been chipping away and have played some good teams along the way. The guys haven't batted an eye."
Indeed, speaking of Top 25 rankings, Ohio State was just one of four ranked foes the Hoosiers have already faced during their 3-4 start, with No. 5 Wisconsin looming next week.
The strength of schedule so far makes it all the more impressive Indiana has the defensive numbers it has.
But the Hoosiers want to make those numbers better.
"Now it's about going out and improving on those areas where we can be better," Hagen said. "Our rush defense can be better (currently on an even pace with last year). We talk about being great on third down, but there were a couple of key third-down situations late against Michigan State where we didn't execute.
"We have to play situationally-great defense, when it's crucial to make a play. We have to create more takeaways. Really, we've been in position to get quite a few. But we've got to catch the ball. We had some strip opportunities last week where the ball was on the ground and we just weren't in position to come up with it. Our guys are aware of it and we keep working on it on a daily basis."
Fant confirmed that he and his colleagues are aware and are applying themselves.
" 'When we go up against the Ohio States, Penn States, Michigans and Michigan States, people say, 'Boy, you'd better prepare for that defense of theirs.' " Fant said. "And now we're hoping people are starting to say, 'Hey, that IU defense, that's going to be a battle.' "
Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan and Michigan State? Not just Big East rivals. They represent, year-in and year-out, Top 25 territory.
And the Hoosier defense fully intends to join that club sometime soon.
Players Mentioned
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