GRAHAM NOTEBOOK: Message Received

BLOOMINGTON, IN - SEPTEMBER 22, 2018 - linebacker Reakwon Jones #7 of the Indiana Hoosiers during the game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, IN. Photo By John Sims/Indiana Athletics

10/1/2018 6:11:00 PM | Football

By: Andy Graham

IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Reakwon Jones raised his helmet and sang the fight song alongside his teammates in front of Indiana's fan contingent following Saturday's 24-17 win at Rutgers, but something didn't feel quite right.

So after walking off the field and into the locker room with Hoosier head coach Tom Allen, Jones made a request.

"He came up to me as we were walking," Allen recalled Monday. "And I walked in the locker room and he grabbed me and he said, "Coach, I got something to say when you're done.'

"I didn't know what he was going to say. I trust him, I knew he wasn't going to say anything crazy, and I did give him the platform. I could tell by his tone that he had something important to share."

It was basically this:

Feel good about the win. Not necessarily about the performance.

"We didn't play to our standard," Jones said Monday. "I just wanted everyone to be happy and excited that we won our first road Big Ten game, because it's not easy, (but) I just wanted to let them know we left a lot out there and that there's more that we can do.

"We play to a higher standard, because that's what we've been doing. I just wanted to really let them hear that and let them see where I'm coming from. I recognize that we didn't finish (the game well enough) and let them know that I'm trying to step up and be a leader and make sure we play the way we're supposed to."

Jones – the redshirt junior linebacker who has emerged as a key Hoosier this season after playing behind All-American Tegray Scales and current Dallas Cowboy Chris Covington for two years – isn't necessarily vocal by nature.

"I don't talk a lot," Jones acknowledged. "I don't talk in front of people a lot like that. I just felt like I really needed to say something so that everyone on this team could be on the same page.

"I feel it was a good step for me, also, to let them know that I want to help everybody and be a leader on this team. I want to make sure that we're all doing what we need to do to get to where we want to be."

And Jones didn't feel the Hoosiers got there Saturday.

"I kind of figured, when we went to go sing the fight song to our fans, I felt like we left a lot out there (on the field)," Jones said. "I was thinking about, 'This game, winning
doesn't feel as good as it usually does.'

"I wanted to make sure people felt the same way I felt. If they didn't, I wanted to make sure that they could somehow see where I was coming from, and think about it, and realize that we have to step up."

"There's a lot of truth there," quarterback Peyton Ramsey said about Jones' message. "A lot to be said about that. There are leaders on this team that are stepping up and seeing the potential in this team — and understanding that what we put on the field wasn't up to our standard.

"We just have to be better, not only as an offense, not only as a defense, but as a whole team. It's being addressed. Hopefully, we come hungry and prepared this week."

They will need to, with unbeaten and No. 3-ranked Ohio State awaiting to host the Hoosiers for a 4 p.m. kickoff Saturday.

Jones has shown both hunger and preparation through performance so far this season. He is third on the team in tackles, behind only senior safety Jonathan Crawford and Husky Marcelino Ball. He was named Defensive Player of the Game against Virginia and Ball State, where shared the team lead in tackles and notched his first career sack.

And Allen liked what Jones showed post-game at Rutgers.

"He had confidence to stand in front of his peers, and he didn't do it in a negative way," Allen said. "He said, 'You know, it's great to get a road win; they're all important, but we didn't finish.' He took it personal, and that's what leaders do.

"It's always more powerful when it comes from a player so, to me, that's growth from him, that he is stepping up as a leader. He's on our leadership council, we meet
Monday evenings with the players. I meet with these guys, and I challenged them last week about some things, and I saw much of that manifest itself throughout the game and in that situation as well.

"I just think we have said many times with (Jones), he's a junior, yes, but he's young in his playing experience. I feel like the more those guys learn and grow and learn to step up and their confidence grows, they feel like they're empowered by me to say those things, and I think the guys will respond because they respect him."

Jones felt that from his peers, both in that locker room at Rutgers and in the subsequent days back home.

"Very positive," Jones said of his teammates' response to his words. "They thought it was something that needed to be heard, something that definitely needed to be said.

"I feel like guys see we're a good team. We can do this. We can do that. We just got to finish … they see that we have to take it to another level to beat Ohio State, Michigan and stuff like that. I think it was very positive and a good wakeup call for the whole team.

"… We left stuff out there. It's not acceptable. It's going to take a lot more to beat other teams. It was very positive. Coach said that's exactly what we needed to hear."

Message received and understood.

BALLIN' OUT

Allen liked how redshirt sophomore Husky Marcelino Ball handled sustaining a targeting call ejection during the Michigan State game that, by rule, required him to sit out the first half Saturday at Rutgers.

What Ball didn't initially understand, however, was that he couldn't even join his teammates on the sidelines before halftime Saturday.

"He's like, 'Coach, I got to stay in the locker room?' " Allen said of Ball and the situation Saturday. "I told him, 'Sorry, that's the rule.' So he's just pacing and pacing. We had to assign somebody to him just to make sure he didn't sneak out … he was a caged tiger."

When Ball finally got out on the field, he pounced.

On one series alone, he blew up a Rutgers play for a 4-yard loss, then broke up a pass on the subsequent snap.

"He was so ready to roll," Allen said. "Matter of fact, one of the coaches took him out and I said, 'Why did you take him out? He's been sitting in the locker room the whole (first) half. Play him every play!' So I put him back in there."

Reakwon Jones recalled it all with a smile.

"That's a hyper guy right there," Jones said of Ball. "He was very excited. He wanted to come out there when we were going out there before the game. He was just at the door slapping peoples' hands and all that stuff.

"When we came back in (for halftime), he was already dressed and ready to go. He was extremely excited and he brought a lot of energy when he came back. He's a great guy to have on the sideline with you."

A FIVE-POSITION GUY

Reese Taylor might even play more than five positions for Indiana this fall, on both sides of the ball.

But fellow true freshman Jamar Johnson has also gotten coaches' and teammates' attention as a rare prospect who could handle any of the five secondary spots, including the more physical demands of the Husky hybrid safety-linebacker post.

"I would say that's uncommon," Allen said. "It's rare to have a guy that can do that physically. We don't have too many on our team that I can say, 'Hey, this guy can play five different spots in the secondary.'

"When did we figure that out? Once he got here. I would say probably once we got into fall camp, after a few weeks, you could just tell … I knew in high school that he played both sides of the football – safety, corner, slot receiver, running back, all those different things, and returner – and just like with (freshman running back and potential linebacker) Stevie Scott, you say, 'Hey, you recruit the best players you can find and you figure out what side of ball you're going to put 'em on once they get here.' "

Johnson secured his first career interception Saturday, a leaping pick in the end zone to foil the final Rutgers possession of the first half.

"You saw the way he covered that route, snapped his head around, very natural, got the interception, very critical play, huge play in the game," Allen said. "I made a big deal about that, because, as I said, a week ago he was really fourth string at that (Husky) position, because he was playing several spots (in practice).

"We had him here and there and trying to get him ready, and obviously we needed him to come into the situation with Marcelino (Ball) and with Cam (Jones) being out. I think he continues to impress us by what he's done; happy for him.

"He's got to keep working hard, and now the challenge is to figure out moving forward where is he going to be best to play, but it's great to have a guy that's got that flexibility. It helps you become a better football team and he helps on special teams."

Reakwon Jones recalled the block Johnson threw to help spring J-Shun Harris II for an 86-yard punt return TD against Ball State.

"He took out two of them," Jones said of the block. "I remember that. We watched it that Monday in the film room. He's impressive. He does what he can on special teams, then when he gets a chance on defense he comes in and he executes.

"He's a very athletic young kid. He's going to come in there when he can and do what he can. I've been impressed. I was really impressed he came in off the sideline on one play and BAM, interception … that was impressive.

"He got moved (to Husky), he locked in and did what he had to do. he's a smart kid, too, so I feel like he's going to continue to grow … he's only going to get better."

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

Allen awarded pretty much the entire wideout corps – Ty Fryfogle, Nick Westbrook Donavan Hale and J-Shun Harris II -- Offensive Player of the Game status for the Rutgers outing. The Hoosiers threw for 288 yards despite the absence of Whop Philyor and Luke Timian due to injury.

Sophomore cornerback Raheem Layne was the Defensive Player of the Game. "Had some big tackles, really good coverage," Allen said of Layne. "(He) continues to progress this season and we'll need his growth and development throughout the rest of the year."

Special Teams Player of the Game honors went to senior Mike Majette. "Dependable. Great decision-maker back there for us," Allen said of Majette. "Helping us keep our guys grounded and being a great leader on our team."

Scout team awards went to Joseph Daniels and Gavin McCabe (defense), Kristian Pechac and Connor Thomas (offense) and Justin Berry (special teams).

THAT WRIST BAND

Media noticed Reakwon Jones sported a black wrist band emblazoned with the word "FINISH," the team's one-word motto for the season.

"Everyone on the team has one," Jones said.

And it reinforces the message Jones imparted to his team in Saturday's post-game locker room after the Hoosiers didn't finish the way they wanted to against Rutgers, regardless of the win.

Asked Monday about what goes in to finishing well, Jones said:

"Emphasizing little things, playing to our standard, getting in the film room. I think that's one main thing we need to do. Emphasize film study, picture yourself in the game making plays. I feel like that will really help people. You get confidence from how you prepare. I think that's really all you need."

"We just need to go out there and play Indiana football. We play at such a high standard. Our standard is so high. I feel that if we play to that standard, we can
beat anybody."