Postgame Quotes: Indiana vs. Michigan
11/23/2019 7:22:00 PM | Football
Postgame Quotes
Indiana vs. Michigan
Nov. 23, 2019
Indiana Head Coach Tom Allen
TOM ALLEN: Congratulations to Michigan. They're a good football team, they played well. So, disappointed. Got both sides of the football. Didn't play well. Didn't play like I expected us to, and wanted us to, and so that's on me. I'm the head coach and that's my responsibility. So questions.
Q. You guys were averaging, like, right at 33 points a game. You get 14 early and then nothing else. Was it guys going down, the injuries? Was it you guys not executing? What do you attribute it to?
TOM ALLEN: I think a lot of it was their D-line really was dominant, I thought. They gave us a lot of trouble. Didn't allow us to get things the way we wanted to get them done in terms of time to throw. Really very disruptive. And I think that was probably a bigger variable than anything. So I mean guys get injured, other guys got to step up, that's part of it. So I think it was more them than us.
Q. Coach, Patterson had a lot of stuff through the air, a lot of big, long balls, one-on-one coverage on the outside and that. Was it just poor technique? Poor coverage? Poor speed?
TOM ALLEN: We'll go back and watch, but we knew they were going to have, I mentioned it, that was one my concerns was their receivers versus our secondary, just a matchup. We play a fair amount of man and those guys have to win those one-on-ones. We didn't win very many of those and that to me was the biggest frustration was you got to win those. And they're going to win some, but we got to win some, and we did not win enough of those. So there's obviously technique involved. You got to do a great job of bodying guys up and positioning yourself to go get the football. And they got some big guys, the size is a big variable and a lot of speed to go along with that length. So, but I just was not pleased with the way that we competed for those footballs. To me, we got to come up with some of those. We got to get some breakups on some of those key ones. And we mixed in some zone and it hurt us a little bit. But at the same time you're trying to balance to get pressure versus coverage and all that dynamic. So just got to, we attacked and that's what we do and we gave up unfortunately too many big plays that you can't be giving up. And a couple of them really to me were just we didn't execute the scheme properly. So and some of those we got beat one-on-ones. So it probably is a combination of both. They were just better than us tonight, unfortunately.
Q. Injuries-wise, I guess in particular how is Matt Bedford, but then some of the guys that kind of kept having to go out and come back and go out, come back, do you feel they're good?
TOM ALLEN: I really don't know for sure. I think that the two that I don't know about for long-term here for next week is going to be Bedford and Stevie. I don't know. We'll know more tomorrow. But I think the rest of those guys seemed to be okay. The ones that might have gone out at times.
Q. What do you make of the two-point conversion by Harbaugh? And then afterwards, what was that post-game handshake? Is there something going on with you two?
TOM ALLEN: No, no. It was efficient. But it wasn't, I mean, I don't know. There's nothing with he and I. I got a lot of respect for them. But two-point play, we didn't get lined up. Well, I'll take that back. We didn't execute. They had not shown that before but it was just other people do it too. So that one of the backs was suppose to fire and take the quarterback on that but didn't do it. But, no, they're just competing trying to score points and do what they need to do, so it's all good.
Q. Peyton got hit in the second series, came back in in the third series and led you to a touchdown. Was he okay after that?
TOM ALLEN: He got hit pretty hard. But he's a tough old kid now, so I don't think it affected him. If it didn't he never said anything. He's not one to complain. But it was kind of more of a, got hit in the rib area. But he's going to be fine.
Q. In the aftermath of this loss, what does the next week look like for you in terms of making sure your team doesn't --
TOM ALLEN: Yeah, it's huge. When I talked to our players, just very blunt. This is, this was not what we wanted but how are you going to respond? What's your reaction going to be to this setback? The reality is we can't do anything to change what just happened, so we're going to focus completely on the task at hand. And we all understand what's next. We got a chance to get our 8th win of the season and we got a chance to win the bucket back. So those are two huge things that we are going to put a huge premium on and this football team will be ready. So very much, the focus, we're not going to spend a lot of time on this game, to be honest with you. We're going to move forward, move ahead because we know what's coming.
Q. Just kind of more of a future question, but they were able to get pressure with just four guys, you guys had to blitz a lot. How much, I guess, the challenge is to try to get those D-line guys, those difference makers so that you don't have to take those chances that you had to all night?
TOM ALLEN: It's a huge priority, there's no doubt about it. So that to me is the next step for us to be able to rush teams with four and have guys that can win one-on-ones off the edge and create pressure without having to blitz as much. So that's recruiting, it's player development and that's the objective, for sure, and a huge priority in this next class.
Q. The injuries today kind of make the score understandable?
TOM ALLEN: Well, no, I'm not going to -- they beat us. So we just, it's part of it. There's no question that it does take its toll, but you have, we got to get to where we are. I said it very clearly, we're not where we need to be depth-wise. We're getting closer, absolutely, but we're not there yet and so it's about recruiting, player development and continuing to stay the course. It's perseverance and passion towards what we're trying to accomplish here. So I think there's no question that it gets exposed, this time of the year it gets exposed in these types of games, against this type of talent and the caliber of a team that we're playing, so we have to stick to the plan and keep getting better.
Indiana Player Quotes
Peyton Ramsey, Quarterback
On the play of Michigan's defense…
"We're definitely better than 14 points. All the credit to them, that's a really good defense. A good front seven, they have guys who can cover. For us, we moved the ball, but we just have to execute. Better than 14 points for sure."
On the difference between the first quarter and the last three quarters…
"I think we just stalled. Play here, play there. Like I said, we moved the ball, that wasn't the issue. But it was just a play here… One guy, two guys weren't able to execute and that made all the difference."
On putting this game behind and looking forward toward Purdue…
"I think it starts with a good week of prep. Coming in here on Monday and learning from this game and then moving on, flushing it, locking all of our focus on to Purdue and moving forward."
Khalil Bryant, Safety
On moving ahead to Purdue…
"We've got to stay true to what we do. Basically, we just have to go back to the drawing board and do better, trust ourselves more and basically just execute our tape to a 'T'."
On how to improve against a team like Michigan…
"It comes down to execution. We can't keep getting outexecuted against these good teams like this. We can play with any team, but the execution portion is what's been hurting us lately in these last couple weeks."
On the preparation for this game…
"I feel like we worked hard all week. We had a good week of practice. But at certain times, we fell short. Different things happen at different plays. Different players, we all make mistakes, and mistakes cost us the game."
Reakwon Jones, Linebacker
On the team's progression during his time at Indiana…
"I believe we could have every game this year. That's just how much I believe in the program, the coaches and the players. It just depends on how we come out, how we execute, what's our mindset and everything. I guess today we weren't as locked in as we thought we were and we did not execute some of our calls the way we should have. Bottom line, we have to get it fixed, we have to be better. We have another opportunity next week to go out there and fix these problems and finish this year strong."
On moving ahead to the game against Purdue…
"It is the biggest game of the season. One, because it's the next game and two because it's Purdue, a rivalry game, it is for the Bucket, which they have had for the past two years. It belongs here. We want it back and this is where it should be and we are going at them full force. We are just ready to get the bad taste from the past two weeks out of our mouth, being close last week and just coming out here and not doing what we are supposed to do and not executing how we can and how we should."
On how Michigan was able to pull away for the win today…
"Just us not executing our technique and fundamentals. Bottom line we just did not win enough one-on-one matchups, that's from the D-Line to the linebackers, to the safeties, to the corners, just across the board on defense we did not win enough one-on-one matchups. It is not a talent issue, just the technique, the fundamentals, and some of that we can get fixed, thankfully. To close out these games that is what we will have to do. We will have to win more one-on-one matchups than the team we are playing."
Michigan Head Coach Jim Harbaugh
Talk about the adjustments you made defensively after IU's start?
"We didn't make that many adjustments. Some of the things they were getting us on, kind of a theme throughout the game, was getting us to jump offsides then immediately get the ball snapped then take a free shot down field. That was very effective for them. Then, they completed a couple of those long passes and got a couple pass interferences out of it. That was good on their part. But I think the three and outs obviously in the second half were huge, to be able to turn the game into a close game to widen the lead and put more pressure on them. The sack fumble was big; Josh Uche was having a heck of a game. The pressure that he was applying all game. He got held once and I think he got held a couple of other times as well. He was doing a great job rushing the passer. The speed that he turned into power and made the big sack fumble. The big sack he stopped the fly sweep off the edge. I think that was big. We got their inside running game stopped. It was big. Dax Hill, I want to talk about him for a bit because it was his first start. He just shows up by the ball and does a tremendous job of getting near the ball. He had an interception today and really good coverage, multiple times. He made really good open field tackles. For somebody to start their first game. I also think Josh Metellus deserves some credit too. A lot of credit for communication on what's going on during the ball game. Those two were really in sync."
Since the lost to Wisconsin, what has been the biggest difference in this ball game?
"The team has been an improving football team. I give the coaches and players a lot of credit. They have been working extremely hard, practicing hard, meeting hard. They are very focused. it means a lot to them. They have progressively improved each and every week. I think it's a very good side of a dedicated group of guys that are on this ball team. I really liked being around this team whether it's in a practice setting or in meetings. Everywhere we go, I enjoy this team. I couldn't be more excited for our guys and the way they are playing."
Over the years, we have talked about the battle of the progression of your team. Do you think they are where they should be?
"I really enjoy the team. I enjoy being around them. Passing them in the halls, on the practice field in the meetings. I can't tell you any grief that has been given by the players throughout the season or the offseason. Great bunch of guys."
Indiana vs. Michigan
Nov. 23, 2019
Indiana Head Coach Tom Allen
TOM ALLEN: Congratulations to Michigan. They're a good football team, they played well. So, disappointed. Got both sides of the football. Didn't play well. Didn't play like I expected us to, and wanted us to, and so that's on me. I'm the head coach and that's my responsibility. So questions.
Q. You guys were averaging, like, right at 33 points a game. You get 14 early and then nothing else. Was it guys going down, the injuries? Was it you guys not executing? What do you attribute it to?
TOM ALLEN: I think a lot of it was their D-line really was dominant, I thought. They gave us a lot of trouble. Didn't allow us to get things the way we wanted to get them done in terms of time to throw. Really very disruptive. And I think that was probably a bigger variable than anything. So I mean guys get injured, other guys got to step up, that's part of it. So I think it was more them than us.
Q. Coach, Patterson had a lot of stuff through the air, a lot of big, long balls, one-on-one coverage on the outside and that. Was it just poor technique? Poor coverage? Poor speed?
TOM ALLEN: We'll go back and watch, but we knew they were going to have, I mentioned it, that was one my concerns was their receivers versus our secondary, just a matchup. We play a fair amount of man and those guys have to win those one-on-ones. We didn't win very many of those and that to me was the biggest frustration was you got to win those. And they're going to win some, but we got to win some, and we did not win enough of those. So there's obviously technique involved. You got to do a great job of bodying guys up and positioning yourself to go get the football. And they got some big guys, the size is a big variable and a lot of speed to go along with that length. So, but I just was not pleased with the way that we competed for those footballs. To me, we got to come up with some of those. We got to get some breakups on some of those key ones. And we mixed in some zone and it hurt us a little bit. But at the same time you're trying to balance to get pressure versus coverage and all that dynamic. So just got to, we attacked and that's what we do and we gave up unfortunately too many big plays that you can't be giving up. And a couple of them really to me were just we didn't execute the scheme properly. So and some of those we got beat one-on-ones. So it probably is a combination of both. They were just better than us tonight, unfortunately.
Q. Injuries-wise, I guess in particular how is Matt Bedford, but then some of the guys that kind of kept having to go out and come back and go out, come back, do you feel they're good?
TOM ALLEN: I really don't know for sure. I think that the two that I don't know about for long-term here for next week is going to be Bedford and Stevie. I don't know. We'll know more tomorrow. But I think the rest of those guys seemed to be okay. The ones that might have gone out at times.
Q. What do you make of the two-point conversion by Harbaugh? And then afterwards, what was that post-game handshake? Is there something going on with you two?
TOM ALLEN: No, no. It was efficient. But it wasn't, I mean, I don't know. There's nothing with he and I. I got a lot of respect for them. But two-point play, we didn't get lined up. Well, I'll take that back. We didn't execute. They had not shown that before but it was just other people do it too. So that one of the backs was suppose to fire and take the quarterback on that but didn't do it. But, no, they're just competing trying to score points and do what they need to do, so it's all good.
Q. Peyton got hit in the second series, came back in in the third series and led you to a touchdown. Was he okay after that?
TOM ALLEN: He got hit pretty hard. But he's a tough old kid now, so I don't think it affected him. If it didn't he never said anything. He's not one to complain. But it was kind of more of a, got hit in the rib area. But he's going to be fine.
Q. In the aftermath of this loss, what does the next week look like for you in terms of making sure your team doesn't --
TOM ALLEN: Yeah, it's huge. When I talked to our players, just very blunt. This is, this was not what we wanted but how are you going to respond? What's your reaction going to be to this setback? The reality is we can't do anything to change what just happened, so we're going to focus completely on the task at hand. And we all understand what's next. We got a chance to get our 8th win of the season and we got a chance to win the bucket back. So those are two huge things that we are going to put a huge premium on and this football team will be ready. So very much, the focus, we're not going to spend a lot of time on this game, to be honest with you. We're going to move forward, move ahead because we know what's coming.
Q. Just kind of more of a future question, but they were able to get pressure with just four guys, you guys had to blitz a lot. How much, I guess, the challenge is to try to get those D-line guys, those difference makers so that you don't have to take those chances that you had to all night?
TOM ALLEN: It's a huge priority, there's no doubt about it. So that to me is the next step for us to be able to rush teams with four and have guys that can win one-on-ones off the edge and create pressure without having to blitz as much. So that's recruiting, it's player development and that's the objective, for sure, and a huge priority in this next class.
Q. The injuries today kind of make the score understandable?
TOM ALLEN: Well, no, I'm not going to -- they beat us. So we just, it's part of it. There's no question that it does take its toll, but you have, we got to get to where we are. I said it very clearly, we're not where we need to be depth-wise. We're getting closer, absolutely, but we're not there yet and so it's about recruiting, player development and continuing to stay the course. It's perseverance and passion towards what we're trying to accomplish here. So I think there's no question that it gets exposed, this time of the year it gets exposed in these types of games, against this type of talent and the caliber of a team that we're playing, so we have to stick to the plan and keep getting better.
Indiana Player Quotes
Peyton Ramsey, Quarterback
On the play of Michigan's defense…
"We're definitely better than 14 points. All the credit to them, that's a really good defense. A good front seven, they have guys who can cover. For us, we moved the ball, but we just have to execute. Better than 14 points for sure."
On the difference between the first quarter and the last three quarters…
"I think we just stalled. Play here, play there. Like I said, we moved the ball, that wasn't the issue. But it was just a play here… One guy, two guys weren't able to execute and that made all the difference."
On putting this game behind and looking forward toward Purdue…
"I think it starts with a good week of prep. Coming in here on Monday and learning from this game and then moving on, flushing it, locking all of our focus on to Purdue and moving forward."
Khalil Bryant, Safety
On moving ahead to Purdue…
"We've got to stay true to what we do. Basically, we just have to go back to the drawing board and do better, trust ourselves more and basically just execute our tape to a 'T'."
On how to improve against a team like Michigan…
"It comes down to execution. We can't keep getting outexecuted against these good teams like this. We can play with any team, but the execution portion is what's been hurting us lately in these last couple weeks."
On the preparation for this game…
"I feel like we worked hard all week. We had a good week of practice. But at certain times, we fell short. Different things happen at different plays. Different players, we all make mistakes, and mistakes cost us the game."
Reakwon Jones, Linebacker
On the team's progression during his time at Indiana…
"I believe we could have every game this year. That's just how much I believe in the program, the coaches and the players. It just depends on how we come out, how we execute, what's our mindset and everything. I guess today we weren't as locked in as we thought we were and we did not execute some of our calls the way we should have. Bottom line, we have to get it fixed, we have to be better. We have another opportunity next week to go out there and fix these problems and finish this year strong."
On moving ahead to the game against Purdue…
"It is the biggest game of the season. One, because it's the next game and two because it's Purdue, a rivalry game, it is for the Bucket, which they have had for the past two years. It belongs here. We want it back and this is where it should be and we are going at them full force. We are just ready to get the bad taste from the past two weeks out of our mouth, being close last week and just coming out here and not doing what we are supposed to do and not executing how we can and how we should."
On how Michigan was able to pull away for the win today…
"Just us not executing our technique and fundamentals. Bottom line we just did not win enough one-on-one matchups, that's from the D-Line to the linebackers, to the safeties, to the corners, just across the board on defense we did not win enough one-on-one matchups. It is not a talent issue, just the technique, the fundamentals, and some of that we can get fixed, thankfully. To close out these games that is what we will have to do. We will have to win more one-on-one matchups than the team we are playing."
Michigan Head Coach Jim Harbaugh
Talk about the adjustments you made defensively after IU's start?
"We didn't make that many adjustments. Some of the things they were getting us on, kind of a theme throughout the game, was getting us to jump offsides then immediately get the ball snapped then take a free shot down field. That was very effective for them. Then, they completed a couple of those long passes and got a couple pass interferences out of it. That was good on their part. But I think the three and outs obviously in the second half were huge, to be able to turn the game into a close game to widen the lead and put more pressure on them. The sack fumble was big; Josh Uche was having a heck of a game. The pressure that he was applying all game. He got held once and I think he got held a couple of other times as well. He was doing a great job rushing the passer. The speed that he turned into power and made the big sack fumble. The big sack he stopped the fly sweep off the edge. I think that was big. We got their inside running game stopped. It was big. Dax Hill, I want to talk about him for a bit because it was his first start. He just shows up by the ball and does a tremendous job of getting near the ball. He had an interception today and really good coverage, multiple times. He made really good open field tackles. For somebody to start their first game. I also think Josh Metellus deserves some credit too. A lot of credit for communication on what's going on during the ball game. Those two were really in sync."
Since the lost to Wisconsin, what has been the biggest difference in this ball game?
"The team has been an improving football team. I give the coaches and players a lot of credit. They have been working extremely hard, practicing hard, meeting hard. They are very focused. it means a lot to them. They have progressively improved each and every week. I think it's a very good side of a dedicated group of guys that are on this ball team. I really liked being around this team whether it's in a practice setting or in meetings. Everywhere we go, I enjoy this team. I couldn't be more excited for our guys and the way they are playing."
Over the years, we have talked about the battle of the progression of your team. Do you think they are where they should be?
"I really enjoy the team. I enjoy being around them. Passing them in the halls, on the practice field in the meetings. I can't tell you any grief that has been given by the players throughout the season or the offseason. Great bunch of guys."
Players Mentioned
FB: Aiden Fisher - at Iowa Postgame Press Conference (09/27/25)
Saturday, September 27
FB: Fernando Mendoza & Elijah Sarratt - at Iowa Postgame Press Conference (09/27/25)
Saturday, September 27
FB: Pat Coogan - at Iowa Postgame Press Conference (09/27/25)
Saturday, September 27
FB: Week 5 (at Iowa) - Curt Cignetti Post Game Press Conference
Saturday, September 27