DIPRIMIO COLUMN: IU Gets Physical in Its Gator Bowl Preparations
12/26/2019 9:30:00 AM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Take it easy? Are you kidding? The Indiana Hoosiers want to rock Tennessee in the upcoming TaxSlayer Gator Bowl and it won't happen with gentle practices.
Fundamental work for young players is morphing into veteran intensity as the Jan. 2 game in Jacksonville, Fla., approaches, and that means hitting.
Specifically, it means thudding with intent, but not ferocity. Players aren't driven to the ground, but they are popped with purpose.
The physicality, fifth-year senior linebacker Reakwon Jones says, "Has been very strong.
"It's been strong on the running game. You hear hats (helmets) on hats. You hear popping.
"We're staying on our feet. We try to do our best to work like pros. We continue to work on that physical edge and continue to get better going into this game against a very physical team."
Tennessee's physicality comes from imposing size. Every starting offensive lineman is at least 301 pounds. Six of the top seven receivers are at least 6-2. Quarterback Jarrett Guarantano is 6-4 and 213 pounds.
The Hoosiers (8-4), defensive coordinator Kane Wommack says, have switched from six practice days of fundamentals to full-bore Volunteer preparation.
"We will be very focused on Tennessee for basically two whole weeks."
Tennessee (7-5) averages 24.2 points, 144.8 rushing yards and 220.0 passing yards a game. Three Volunteers have rushed for at least 424 yards, led by Ty Chandler's 620 and 5.0 yards per carry.
Guarantano completes 59.3 percent of his passes for 1,937 yards, 16 touchdowns and six interceptions.
His top targets are Jauan Jennings (57 catches, 942 yards, 8 touchdowns) and Marquez Callaway (29 catches, 626 yards, 6 TDs).
All this has fueled defensive tackle Demarcus Elliott's fire.
"It's getting crazy," he says. "I'm getting butterflies. I've never been to Florida. I'm glad to be going here."
IU's quest for a bowl victory -- which would also tie the school record of nine wins in a season -- is a very big deal given the Hoosiers haven't won a bowl game since the 1991 Copper Bowl.
"Everyone thinks we're satisfied with being in a bowl game," Elliott says. "We're not. We want to win. That physicality needs to rise more every day.
"It's been feeling like crazy. Since the start of the season, our goal has been, not to make a bowl game, but to win it. We've been going off that every day. Having an opportunity with these guys to do that, we're all grateful for it."
Twenty-six Hoosiers come from Florida, including Jones, which adds to the anticipation.
"Guys are excited, excited to go home for Christmas and be with their families, excited to meet back up and have a great time in Jacksonville and handle business," Jones says.
"We continue to learn the playbook so that we can be at our best come Jan. 2."
Learning is big given there are only three seniors on IU's defensive two-deep, which is why Wommack and his staff emphasized fundamental work so strongly during early bowl preparations.
"These bowl practices are so valuable for us as a young defense," Wommack says. "Guys that you will see a year from now when we walk out on the field against Wisconsin (in the 2020 season opener) are going to take a more vital role in our defense.
"To see these young guys experience the reps they are getting right now is invaluable."
It is, he adds, a case of the best teams getting benefits non-bowl teams can't.
"It is a rich-get-richer mentality when you get these extra bowl practices. You want to keep the momentum going from what you already have done and built.
"The longer you are away from the game, the rustier you are going to get, especially for these young guys. Every rep is so critical for them. For us, this is gold for our defense. It really is."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Take it easy? Are you kidding? The Indiana Hoosiers want to rock Tennessee in the upcoming TaxSlayer Gator Bowl and it won't happen with gentle practices.
Fundamental work for young players is morphing into veteran intensity as the Jan. 2 game in Jacksonville, Fla., approaches, and that means hitting.
Specifically, it means thudding with intent, but not ferocity. Players aren't driven to the ground, but they are popped with purpose.
The physicality, fifth-year senior linebacker Reakwon Jones says, "Has been very strong.
"It's been strong on the running game. You hear hats (helmets) on hats. You hear popping.
"We're staying on our feet. We try to do our best to work like pros. We continue to work on that physical edge and continue to get better going into this game against a very physical team."
Tennessee's physicality comes from imposing size. Every starting offensive lineman is at least 301 pounds. Six of the top seven receivers are at least 6-2. Quarterback Jarrett Guarantano is 6-4 and 213 pounds.
The Hoosiers (8-4), defensive coordinator Kane Wommack says, have switched from six practice days of fundamentals to full-bore Volunteer preparation.
"We will be very focused on Tennessee for basically two whole weeks."
Tennessee (7-5) averages 24.2 points, 144.8 rushing yards and 220.0 passing yards a game. Three Volunteers have rushed for at least 424 yards, led by Ty Chandler's 620 and 5.0 yards per carry.
Guarantano completes 59.3 percent of his passes for 1,937 yards, 16 touchdowns and six interceptions.
His top targets are Jauan Jennings (57 catches, 942 yards, 8 touchdowns) and Marquez Callaway (29 catches, 626 yards, 6 TDs).
All this has fueled defensive tackle Demarcus Elliott's fire.
"It's getting crazy," he says. "I'm getting butterflies. I've never been to Florida. I'm glad to be going here."
IU's quest for a bowl victory -- which would also tie the school record of nine wins in a season -- is a very big deal given the Hoosiers haven't won a bowl game since the 1991 Copper Bowl.
"Everyone thinks we're satisfied with being in a bowl game," Elliott says. "We're not. We want to win. That physicality needs to rise more every day.
"It's been feeling like crazy. Since the start of the season, our goal has been, not to make a bowl game, but to win it. We've been going off that every day. Having an opportunity with these guys to do that, we're all grateful for it."
Twenty-six Hoosiers come from Florida, including Jones, which adds to the anticipation.
"Guys are excited, excited to go home for Christmas and be with their families, excited to meet back up and have a great time in Jacksonville and handle business," Jones says.
"We continue to learn the playbook so that we can be at our best come Jan. 2."
Learning is big given there are only three seniors on IU's defensive two-deep, which is why Wommack and his staff emphasized fundamental work so strongly during early bowl preparations.
"These bowl practices are so valuable for us as a young defense," Wommack says. "Guys that you will see a year from now when we walk out on the field against Wisconsin (in the 2020 season opener) are going to take a more vital role in our defense.
"To see these young guys experience the reps they are getting right now is invaluable."
It is, he adds, a case of the best teams getting benefits non-bowl teams can't.
"It is a rich-get-richer mentality when you get these extra bowl practices. You want to keep the momentum going from what you already have done and built.
"The longer you are away from the game, the rustier you are going to get, especially for these young guys. Every rep is so critical for them. For us, this is gold for our defense. It really is."
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