Indiana University Athletics
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10/9/2018 8:32:00 PM | Football
By: Andy Graham
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - It wasn't as if Indiana offensive coordinator Mike DeBord suddenly transmogrified into Mike Leach.
But while not as purely pass-happy as Washington State's Leach, DeBord has called his fair of deep throws this season.
And yet IU had three pass completions of 30-or-more yards for the entire season heading into last Saturday's game at Ohio State, then posted four against the Buckeyes.
The Hoosiers clearly opened their passing game against the nation's No. 3-ranked team.
That started with a pretty fake-reverse culminating in a 32-yard touchdown toss from Peyton Ramsey to tight end Peyton Hendershot in the second quarter.
Fifth-year senior slot man J-Shun Harris II and redshirt junior wideout Nick Westbrook both added 30-yard-plus catches before halftime, and Westbrook's 38-yarder in the third quarter – snagged while landing with backside and elbow inbounds – was IU's longest reception on the day.
Ramsey finished with career-highs of 322 passing yards and 49 attempts, three of which went for TDs.
"That was part of our plan going to into, to be able to put the ball down the field," DeBord affirmed Monday. "When you go back to last year (against Ohio State), we were able to do that, (though) we had different receivers out there in this game.
"I thought Nick Westbrook did a great job of catching the 50/50 ball, the competitive ball. So, yes, I was pleased. I wish we would have connected on a few more."
DeBord noted Saturday's aerial results, while partially by design, were also dictated by OSU's defensive approach.
"Here's what, again, some people don't understand," DeBord said. "In our passing game – and in about everybody's passing game – when you call vertical routes, that doesn't mean they're going to continue to run a 'go' route. We have reads with them. If I'm running a go route and you're that far off me, I'm not going to continue to run. (I'm going to read that), put my foot in the ground, and we have different depths where we stop at.
"And then we end up throwing the ball (there) and it looks like we're not trying to stretch the defense down the field. You are. And, yet, you have to take what the defense is giving you.
"(Ohio State) was playing so much man coverage, it was allowing us to get down the field and run and get down the field farther, whereas Rutgers (the week before) was playing more zone coverage and playing deeper, so we weren't able to get
by them as much. We sat down (on the route) on some of those same (calls) we were making against Ohio State."
IU's wideouts naturally preferred what happened Saturday. And they feel like it could serve as a harbinger for Saturdays to come.
"I told Peyton toward the end of the game, this shows you how scary we can be," Westbrook, who finished with five catches for 109 yards and a TD, said post-game. "How dangerous. Going forward, we're expecting a lot of ourselves as receivers and in the passing game."
Harris, who had eight catches for 104 yards, endorsed that whole notion.
"It's just going out there and being aggressive," Harris said of IU's approach at OSU. "We have a bunch of play-makers in this receiving corps … and I'm just happy our coaches are giving us the opportunity to go out there and show it."
Harris noted that true freshman running back Stevie Scott's 45-yard gallop off left tackle on the game's third snap Saturday likely helped make the Buckeye defense more susceptible to the passing game.
"Stevie Scott probably loosened them up a little bit," Harris said. "So that helped out a lot. And the short-passing game had those guys play up a little more, so then our deep shots were there."
And Ramsey didn't mind that one bit.
"I do enjoy it," Ramsey said of letting deep balls fly more regularly. "I enjoy it a lot more when you have guys like Donavan (Hale) and Nick (Westbrook) out wide, big long bodies who are going to go up and high-point the ball, especially against corners that might not be as big.
"It is exciting when you look out there and see a one-on-one matchup. It's hard to pass up."
Westbrook appreciated Ramsey's trust, with the quarterback throwing balls up expecting IU's big wideouts to make the plays over smaller corners.
"Yeah, and that was something that was building over the past couple of weeks," Westbrook said. "He saw on film that we were getting open on the outside.
"And he was just saying, 'I trust you and, trust me, I see you … I'm going to get you guys the ball, don't worry about it. So it's something that's been building.
Indiana intends to persist in that regard.
"Looking back to the Rutgers game, everybody thought we weren't trying to push the ball down the field," DeBord said. "We were."
And will again.
THE LEFT-TACKLE TACKLE
It was not a play your typical offensive left tackle makes.
But IU's Coy Cronk isn't typical.
Indiana had just pulled within 35-26 with 4:53 left in the third quarter Saturday at Ohio State and the Hoosiers opted for a two-point conversion attempt to get within seven.
Ramsey had to move in the pocket and throw into traffic during the PAT try. OSU's Malik Harrison picked off the pass in the end zone and set sail in the opposite direction.
It looked like Harrison would score a two-point defensive conversion for the Buckeyes. No Hoosiers were in his way and he had blockers in front.
Suddenly, near midfield, the 6-foot-5, 309-pound Cronk came sprinting for the sideline. Cronk launched himself into the air and actually took out a trio of Buckeyes – blockers Kendall Sheffield and Jonathan Cooper along with ball-carrier Harrison – to save the situation for IU.
While face first on the ground after his dive, Cronk's helmet was inadvertently kicked by pursuing Hoosier teammate Nick Westbrook, and Cronk had to exit the game. But not before making his mark.
It was an athletic play, requiring unusual speed, by an offensive lineman.
"Well, Coy is not wired like everybody else," Hoosier head coach Tom Allen said. "He played defense in high school, played middle linebacker, was a (baseball) catcher. Was just an athlete playing ball (on that play). Has that defensive mentality.
He could play defensive line for us and do really, really well.
"So instincts kicked in. The guy headed down the sideline, and he wasn't going to let him score. So you've got to love that. It's awesome."
Ramsey, who was also in pursuit and had a good view of the sequence, said, "I was right behind it. It was incredible … it's a testament to him and how passionate he is and how much he cares. It was an awesome play.
"He's a big, big guy (but) I don't think people really understand how athletic and how nimble he is."
GIVE THE MAN A HAND
Another very athletic play Saturday for Indiana was a scintillating one-hand grab by Harris for 30 yards to the OSU 19, setting a TD toss from there from Ramsey to Westbrook.
Harris split OSU safeties Jahsen Wint, who was in pursuit, and Jordan Fuller, who was coming in over the top, to make the snag.
"On that, once I slipped inside of (Wint), I knew that other safety, there was a possibility he could come over," Harris recalled. "As the ball was in the air, I peeked at him a little bit and I knew it would be a bang-bang play.
"The whole reason I went up for it like that (one-handed) is because I thought it was a little higher than it actually was … it's always better to get two hands on the ball, for sure, but I was just happy to be able to make a play."
He wasn't the only happy Hoosier.
"On the field, I thought I might've overthrown him a little bit," recalled Ramsey, who didn't see the catch after throwing the ball. "He went up and made a really good play with the safety coming over top."
Ramsey was also appreciative of Harris' re-emergence in the slot in lieu of injured regulars Luke Timian and Whop Philyor the past couple of weeks.
"J-Shun's done a really good job, and we've moved Ty Fryfogle in there, and he's done a really good job, too," Ramsey said. "Those two guys have really stepped up and it's helped us out tremendously.
Harris and Fryfogle combined for 11 catches Saturday.
BOWL SWAG IN EVIDENCE
Harris was among the players meeting the media Monday and he wore a grey fleece jacket bearing a 2015 Pinstripe Bowl patch on its left sleeve.
Harris overcame three ACL knee tears and returned for his final season of eligibility because he didn't want to look back with any regrets later – and felt there was unfinished business.
His class matriculated in 2014 with a goal to turn the Hoosier program around. Harris wants to finish with a winning season and a bowl win.
And if the 4-2 Hoosiers can manage a Homecoming win Saturday against a 4-1 Iowa team, Indiana would find itself just one game shy of bowl eligibility with five regular-season games remaining.
"That would be awesome," Harris said of getting back to a bowl and possibly finishing with a win. "And right now we have a great opportunity to have that become reality.
"We just have to take each game, each day, day-by-day. If that's the end result, that's awesome … and at the end, no regrets if I gave my maximum effort, gave everything possible, personally, to help this team."
Harris and the Hoosiers know Saturday is a big game regarding their goals and hopes for the season. And that Saturday constitutes a challenge.
"I know that (Iowa) is really fundamentally sound," Harris said. "They rarely beat themselves. … We know, from an offensive standpoint, that they are pretty big (defensively). The D-line is pretty big. The safeties are usually bigger (than on other
teams). They have some young guys in the secondary, so we're going to keep watching film on those guys.
"They're just one of those teams that don't beat themselves."
But if the Hoosiers manage to beat the Hawkeyes, Harris could be in line for more bowl swag.
MID-TERM REPORT CARD
With the regular season halfway done, Allen was asked Monday for his thoughts about his team at this juncture, when the season could still swing either direction. Excerpts from his response:
"(When) you have a young team, and your team is trying to figure things out, you go through the first half of your season … there are certain games and certain sides of the ball to draw confidence from, no matter what the outcome is. And I think we've seen that.
"I was concerned in the beginning about us stopping the run, defensively, and that's continued to grow and improve. We played against a very good running offense, and that's Ohio State's prime objective is to run the football first. I know they have all these athletes that they try to get the ball within space. I get that. But holding them to 3.2 yards a carry and 48 attempts is a big step for us.
"Then being able to establish the run game and do things we need to do, and throw the ball down the field more offensively, I've seen us do things like that. So to me, you kind of get both sides showing spurts.
"The last half of the season now is about bringing those two together, and playing your best collective football offensively, defensively and special teams. All three phases working together to create the kind of outcome that we want."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - It wasn't as if Indiana offensive coordinator Mike DeBord suddenly transmogrified into Mike Leach.
But while not as purely pass-happy as Washington State's Leach, DeBord has called his fair of deep throws this season.
And yet IU had three pass completions of 30-or-more yards for the entire season heading into last Saturday's game at Ohio State, then posted four against the Buckeyes.
The Hoosiers clearly opened their passing game against the nation's No. 3-ranked team.
That started with a pretty fake-reverse culminating in a 32-yard touchdown toss from Peyton Ramsey to tight end Peyton Hendershot in the second quarter.
Fifth-year senior slot man J-Shun Harris II and redshirt junior wideout Nick Westbrook both added 30-yard-plus catches before halftime, and Westbrook's 38-yarder in the third quarter – snagged while landing with backside and elbow inbounds – was IU's longest reception on the day.
Ramsey finished with career-highs of 322 passing yards and 49 attempts, three of which went for TDs.
"That was part of our plan going to into, to be able to put the ball down the field," DeBord affirmed Monday. "When you go back to last year (against Ohio State), we were able to do that, (though) we had different receivers out there in this game.
"I thought Nick Westbrook did a great job of catching the 50/50 ball, the competitive ball. So, yes, I was pleased. I wish we would have connected on a few more."
DeBord noted Saturday's aerial results, while partially by design, were also dictated by OSU's defensive approach.
"Here's what, again, some people don't understand," DeBord said. "In our passing game – and in about everybody's passing game – when you call vertical routes, that doesn't mean they're going to continue to run a 'go' route. We have reads with them. If I'm running a go route and you're that far off me, I'm not going to continue to run. (I'm going to read that), put my foot in the ground, and we have different depths where we stop at.
"And then we end up throwing the ball (there) and it looks like we're not trying to stretch the defense down the field. You are. And, yet, you have to take what the defense is giving you.
"(Ohio State) was playing so much man coverage, it was allowing us to get down the field and run and get down the field farther, whereas Rutgers (the week before) was playing more zone coverage and playing deeper, so we weren't able to get
by them as much. We sat down (on the route) on some of those same (calls) we were making against Ohio State."
IU's wideouts naturally preferred what happened Saturday. And they feel like it could serve as a harbinger for Saturdays to come.
"I told Peyton toward the end of the game, this shows you how scary we can be," Westbrook, who finished with five catches for 109 yards and a TD, said post-game. "How dangerous. Going forward, we're expecting a lot of ourselves as receivers and in the passing game."
Harris, who had eight catches for 104 yards, endorsed that whole notion.
"It's just going out there and being aggressive," Harris said of IU's approach at OSU. "We have a bunch of play-makers in this receiving corps … and I'm just happy our coaches are giving us the opportunity to go out there and show it."
Harris noted that true freshman running back Stevie Scott's 45-yard gallop off left tackle on the game's third snap Saturday likely helped make the Buckeye defense more susceptible to the passing game.
"Stevie Scott probably loosened them up a little bit," Harris said. "So that helped out a lot. And the short-passing game had those guys play up a little more, so then our deep shots were there."
And Ramsey didn't mind that one bit.
"I do enjoy it," Ramsey said of letting deep balls fly more regularly. "I enjoy it a lot more when you have guys like Donavan (Hale) and Nick (Westbrook) out wide, big long bodies who are going to go up and high-point the ball, especially against corners that might not be as big.
"It is exciting when you look out there and see a one-on-one matchup. It's hard to pass up."
Westbrook appreciated Ramsey's trust, with the quarterback throwing balls up expecting IU's big wideouts to make the plays over smaller corners.
"Yeah, and that was something that was building over the past couple of weeks," Westbrook said. "He saw on film that we were getting open on the outside.
"And he was just saying, 'I trust you and, trust me, I see you … I'm going to get you guys the ball, don't worry about it. So it's something that's been building.
Indiana intends to persist in that regard.
"Looking back to the Rutgers game, everybody thought we weren't trying to push the ball down the field," DeBord said. "We were."
And will again.
THE LEFT-TACKLE TACKLE
It was not a play your typical offensive left tackle makes.
But IU's Coy Cronk isn't typical.
Indiana had just pulled within 35-26 with 4:53 left in the third quarter Saturday at Ohio State and the Hoosiers opted for a two-point conversion attempt to get within seven.
Ramsey had to move in the pocket and throw into traffic during the PAT try. OSU's Malik Harrison picked off the pass in the end zone and set sail in the opposite direction.
It looked like Harrison would score a two-point defensive conversion for the Buckeyes. No Hoosiers were in his way and he had blockers in front.
Suddenly, near midfield, the 6-foot-5, 309-pound Cronk came sprinting for the sideline. Cronk launched himself into the air and actually took out a trio of Buckeyes – blockers Kendall Sheffield and Jonathan Cooper along with ball-carrier Harrison – to save the situation for IU.
While face first on the ground after his dive, Cronk's helmet was inadvertently kicked by pursuing Hoosier teammate Nick Westbrook, and Cronk had to exit the game. But not before making his mark.
It was an athletic play, requiring unusual speed, by an offensive lineman.
"Well, Coy is not wired like everybody else," Hoosier head coach Tom Allen said. "He played defense in high school, played middle linebacker, was a (baseball) catcher. Was just an athlete playing ball (on that play). Has that defensive mentality.
He could play defensive line for us and do really, really well.
"So instincts kicked in. The guy headed down the sideline, and he wasn't going to let him score. So you've got to love that. It's awesome."
Ramsey, who was also in pursuit and had a good view of the sequence, said, "I was right behind it. It was incredible … it's a testament to him and how passionate he is and how much he cares. It was an awesome play.
"He's a big, big guy (but) I don't think people really understand how athletic and how nimble he is."
GIVE THE MAN A HAND
Another very athletic play Saturday for Indiana was a scintillating one-hand grab by Harris for 30 yards to the OSU 19, setting a TD toss from there from Ramsey to Westbrook.
Harris split OSU safeties Jahsen Wint, who was in pursuit, and Jordan Fuller, who was coming in over the top, to make the snag.
"On that, once I slipped inside of (Wint), I knew that other safety, there was a possibility he could come over," Harris recalled. "As the ball was in the air, I peeked at him a little bit and I knew it would be a bang-bang play.
"The whole reason I went up for it like that (one-handed) is because I thought it was a little higher than it actually was … it's always better to get two hands on the ball, for sure, but I was just happy to be able to make a play."
He wasn't the only happy Hoosier.
"On the field, I thought I might've overthrown him a little bit," recalled Ramsey, who didn't see the catch after throwing the ball. "He went up and made a really good play with the safety coming over top."
Ramsey was also appreciative of Harris' re-emergence in the slot in lieu of injured regulars Luke Timian and Whop Philyor the past couple of weeks.
"J-Shun's done a really good job, and we've moved Ty Fryfogle in there, and he's done a really good job, too," Ramsey said. "Those two guys have really stepped up and it's helped us out tremendously.
Harris and Fryfogle combined for 11 catches Saturday.
BOWL SWAG IN EVIDENCE
Harris was among the players meeting the media Monday and he wore a grey fleece jacket bearing a 2015 Pinstripe Bowl patch on its left sleeve.
Harris overcame three ACL knee tears and returned for his final season of eligibility because he didn't want to look back with any regrets later – and felt there was unfinished business.
His class matriculated in 2014 with a goal to turn the Hoosier program around. Harris wants to finish with a winning season and a bowl win.
And if the 4-2 Hoosiers can manage a Homecoming win Saturday against a 4-1 Iowa team, Indiana would find itself just one game shy of bowl eligibility with five regular-season games remaining.
"That would be awesome," Harris said of getting back to a bowl and possibly finishing with a win. "And right now we have a great opportunity to have that become reality.
"We just have to take each game, each day, day-by-day. If that's the end result, that's awesome … and at the end, no regrets if I gave my maximum effort, gave everything possible, personally, to help this team."
Harris and the Hoosiers know Saturday is a big game regarding their goals and hopes for the season. And that Saturday constitutes a challenge.
"I know that (Iowa) is really fundamentally sound," Harris said. "They rarely beat themselves. … We know, from an offensive standpoint, that they are pretty big (defensively). The D-line is pretty big. The safeties are usually bigger (than on other
teams). They have some young guys in the secondary, so we're going to keep watching film on those guys.
"They're just one of those teams that don't beat themselves."
But if the Hoosiers manage to beat the Hawkeyes, Harris could be in line for more bowl swag.
MID-TERM REPORT CARD
With the regular season halfway done, Allen was asked Monday for his thoughts about his team at this juncture, when the season could still swing either direction. Excerpts from his response:
"(When) you have a young team, and your team is trying to figure things out, you go through the first half of your season … there are certain games and certain sides of the ball to draw confidence from, no matter what the outcome is. And I think we've seen that.
"I was concerned in the beginning about us stopping the run, defensively, and that's continued to grow and improve. We played against a very good running offense, and that's Ohio State's prime objective is to run the football first. I know they have all these athletes that they try to get the ball within space. I get that. But holding them to 3.2 yards a carry and 48 attempts is a big step for us.
"Then being able to establish the run game and do things we need to do, and throw the ball down the field more offensively, I've seen us do things like that. So to me, you kind of get both sides showing spurts.
"The last half of the season now is about bringing those two together, and playing your best collective football offensively, defensively and special teams. All three phases working together to create the kind of outcome that we want."
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