Football Hoosiers Finish Spring Four-for-Four
4/13/2019 2:32:00 PM | Football
By Andy Graham
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Other numbers mattered more than the score.
Friday night's Cream 48-Crimson 33 final in Indiana football's annual intrasquad game capping spring practice represented the offense over the defense. And steaks for the winners over beans-and-weenies.
But what really counted was IU finishing the spring a big 4-for-4.
A quartet of major developments needed to transpire for Tom Allen's Hoosiers before they embarked into player-led summer sessions.
Indiana headed into winter work and spring sessions needing to:
Check. Check. Check. And check.
Well, perhaps not completely healthy, short-term. Jack Tuttle, the redshirt freshman quarterback transfer from Utah, missed the final week of spring with an illness that will have no long-term effects.
But more importantly last week, Tuttle receiver a waiver for immediate eligibility granted by the NCAA.
And that slotted Tuttle into a 2019 group of newcomers already ranked as IU's best-ever since Internet recruiting ratings arose around the turn of the century. Tuttle is one of five four-star prospects in the class.
Fellow redshirt freshman QB Michael Penix Jr., rehabbing a knee injury sustained last October, got a good share of reps during 7-on-7 intervals between quarters Friday night.
And redshirt junior quarterback Peyton Ramsey, the returning starter, had himself a night. Unofficially, Ramsey competed 24-of-37 throws for 274 yards (including a pretty 39-yard deep-post TD to Ty Fryfogle) and generally orchestrated new
offensive coordinator Kalen DeBoer's system well.
The three scholarship players now in the QB room represent Indiana's best capacity and depth at the position since Nate Sudfeld, Tre Roberson and Cameron Coffman were on campus concurrently in 2013.
And the present trio might eventually prove to be better.
That bodes well for the upcoming competition at the position. Ramsey relishes that.
"This is my third year going into a QB competition, at this point," Ramsey said post-game. "I've experienced it. I've lived through it. I'm comfortable. I'm excited for it, because this was a good spring for me. I'm excited for what's to come."
Asked about new offensive coordinator Kalen DeBoer's approach to IU's offense, Ramsey replied:
"I think, with Coach DeBoer, as you can see, it's a little slower(-paced) than last year. I think that allows us to get into good situations and gives us a lot of ability to look at the defense, see what they're doing, and get in the right play.
"There are benefits to both offenses, playing it fast and slowing it down. It's a different pace for us, but something we're all getting used to … it's a process. You can't come out here day one and expect it to be perfect. And we didn't. We came
back with a mindset every day of getting better, from day one to day two and so on.
"I'm really excited about the progression and where we're at heading into the off-season."
What maybe matters most this summer is the three QBs developing cohesion and chemistry with IU's tall and talented receiving corps during their self-orchestrated 7-on-7 work.
"I think the spring was more individual development … learning the offense, individually focusing on what we have to get better at," Ramsey said. "I think as we move into the summer, player-led practices have to be a point where we all come together, mesh together, and kind of get on the same page before fall camp rolls around."
Allen concurs. He and his staff have met regularly with the team's Leadership Council to ensure the players can conduct focused, productive 7-on-7s within the context of mastering DeBoer's new scheme.
"We're laying the groundwork for the player-led practices in the summer and we're going to be more aggressive with them than we've ever been," Allen told the media Thursday. "I think that's going to be the next step, and I think you have to maximize this time (in the spring) to show them how to do it.
"We can't be out there at all, when they get the ball out in the summertime, but those guys have to own it. They have to make it happen.
"We've spent more time with our team. We have a Leadership Council that I meet with every Thursday night (and) I've just seen the fruits of the confidence of our guys taking verbal leadership of this team and owning things.
"We've talked about what that certain drill should look like in the summertime and how those guys really need to take that to heart, and to lead it, to run it. When you have those player-practices, those guys need to be the coaches on the field.
And I don't know that we've had the leadership in the past that's been able to do that.
"When just the quarterbacks and receivers get together, throwing, there are just things that you have do to more of, and that we have to be better at. So I just think me being more in-tune with that is helping us."
It's the sort of attention to detail, offensively, Allen can devote more time to now that he's no longer defensive coordinator.
"I was much more involved, offensively," Allen said of the spring. "I was in all the meetings with the offense and am really trying to be very, very familiar with everything.
"Really, what it allows me to do, in a very positive way, is to get on these guys. When I know exactly what it's supposed to look like and what we're supposed to be doing, and understand everything that is going on, (it helps me contribute to the offense).
"It was difficult … in the past, being so involved defensively, even as you're looking around in practice, you're not empowered to impose your personality (on the whole team) in that session. And that's what I want to be able to do."
If that effects the offense anywhere near how it did the defense when Allen arrived as a defensive coordinator in 2015, that's very good news for the Hoosier program.
Allen's 2015 impact was immediate and overt. IU was the most improved defense in the nation (129.4 fewer yards allowed per game). That didn't change much during the 2016 and '17 campaigns, either, with Allen still coordinating the defense after ascending to the head coaching position. IU was still the nation's most-improved defense (169.4 fewer yards per game).
Now with trusted lieutenant Kane Wommack calling the defense, Allen's personality can indeed translate better to aspects of the team.
How, specifically?
"From an intensity perspective," Allen said. "And toughness. Just the way I hold guys accountable, the way I always have on the defensive side of the ball. The walk-throughs. Every phase of practice. Being locked-in. Being able to do everything we expect.
"Just feel way more in-tune with that (offensive) side of the ball than in the past. So that definitely feels a lot different."
Allen also structured the spring differently in that some of the seasoned veterans concentrated more on polishing technique than blasting through full-contact sessions. Offensive stars such as Stevie Scott and Nick Westbrook were held out of
Friday's scrimmage, as were senior linemen such as Coy Cronk and Simon Stepaniak.
"Just in terms of understanding some of these older guys, and where they are, we've tried to modify some of their reps," Allen said. "At the same time, we've kind of intensified their technique work, just where they can get better. We've sat down
and mapped out, for guys in that situation, what they really need to focus on for that month of practice.
"I think that's really helped us this year. I think we've got in a lot of good work and have improved, fundamentally, as a team. Really emphasized those periods (of techniques) and have gotten guys into position to have a great May, great June and great July."
Allen also felt the spring saw a fundamental install of DeBoer's offense, tweaks to Wommack's defense, and the shaking out IU's 1-2-3 depth chart. And now he wants to further foster the offense's ability to create explosive plays, in part by throwing downfield more.
"I do feel like, offensively, the things that we had set to install we've got to (this spring)," Allen said. "And now … we're going to do a summer install as well and get that reviewed … but we are going to try to intensify that a little bit for more than we've done in the past.
"And I've already explained that to our team and our coaching staff. So I just think that it's critical that by that opening game kickoff (Aug. 31 versus Ball State at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis), that's when it matters. And we'll just build it from there.
"We want to make this the best summer we've ever had."
That would follow an already positive winter and spring.
And would make the IU off-season a resounding 5-for-5.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Other numbers mattered more than the score.
Friday night's Cream 48-Crimson 33 final in Indiana football's annual intrasquad game capping spring practice represented the offense over the defense. And steaks for the winners over beans-and-weenies.
But what really counted was IU finishing the spring a big 4-for-4.
A quartet of major developments needed to transpire for Tom Allen's Hoosiers before they embarked into player-led summer sessions.
Indiana headed into winter work and spring sessions needing to:
- Find a quarterback for its celebrated 2019 recruiting class.
- Hire a new offensive coordinator.
- Have Allen divest himself of defensive coordinator duties to focus more on head-coaching responsibilities.
- Come out of spring practice healthy.
Check. Check. Check. And check.
Well, perhaps not completely healthy, short-term. Jack Tuttle, the redshirt freshman quarterback transfer from Utah, missed the final week of spring with an illness that will have no long-term effects.
But more importantly last week, Tuttle receiver a waiver for immediate eligibility granted by the NCAA.
And that slotted Tuttle into a 2019 group of newcomers already ranked as IU's best-ever since Internet recruiting ratings arose around the turn of the century. Tuttle is one of five four-star prospects in the class.
Fellow redshirt freshman QB Michael Penix Jr., rehabbing a knee injury sustained last October, got a good share of reps during 7-on-7 intervals between quarters Friday night.
And redshirt junior quarterback Peyton Ramsey, the returning starter, had himself a night. Unofficially, Ramsey competed 24-of-37 throws for 274 yards (including a pretty 39-yard deep-post TD to Ty Fryfogle) and generally orchestrated new
offensive coordinator Kalen DeBoer's system well.
The three scholarship players now in the QB room represent Indiana's best capacity and depth at the position since Nate Sudfeld, Tre Roberson and Cameron Coffman were on campus concurrently in 2013.
And the present trio might eventually prove to be better.
That bodes well for the upcoming competition at the position. Ramsey relishes that.
"This is my third year going into a QB competition, at this point," Ramsey said post-game. "I've experienced it. I've lived through it. I'm comfortable. I'm excited for it, because this was a good spring for me. I'm excited for what's to come."
Asked about new offensive coordinator Kalen DeBoer's approach to IU's offense, Ramsey replied:
"I think, with Coach DeBoer, as you can see, it's a little slower(-paced) than last year. I think that allows us to get into good situations and gives us a lot of ability to look at the defense, see what they're doing, and get in the right play.
"There are benefits to both offenses, playing it fast and slowing it down. It's a different pace for us, but something we're all getting used to … it's a process. You can't come out here day one and expect it to be perfect. And we didn't. We came
back with a mindset every day of getting better, from day one to day two and so on.
"I'm really excited about the progression and where we're at heading into the off-season."
What maybe matters most this summer is the three QBs developing cohesion and chemistry with IU's tall and talented receiving corps during their self-orchestrated 7-on-7 work.
"I think the spring was more individual development … learning the offense, individually focusing on what we have to get better at," Ramsey said. "I think as we move into the summer, player-led practices have to be a point where we all come together, mesh together, and kind of get on the same page before fall camp rolls around."
Allen concurs. He and his staff have met regularly with the team's Leadership Council to ensure the players can conduct focused, productive 7-on-7s within the context of mastering DeBoer's new scheme.
"We're laying the groundwork for the player-led practices in the summer and we're going to be more aggressive with them than we've ever been," Allen told the media Thursday. "I think that's going to be the next step, and I think you have to maximize this time (in the spring) to show them how to do it.
"We can't be out there at all, when they get the ball out in the summertime, but those guys have to own it. They have to make it happen.
"We've spent more time with our team. We have a Leadership Council that I meet with every Thursday night (and) I've just seen the fruits of the confidence of our guys taking verbal leadership of this team and owning things.
"We've talked about what that certain drill should look like in the summertime and how those guys really need to take that to heart, and to lead it, to run it. When you have those player-practices, those guys need to be the coaches on the field.
And I don't know that we've had the leadership in the past that's been able to do that.
"When just the quarterbacks and receivers get together, throwing, there are just things that you have do to more of, and that we have to be better at. So I just think me being more in-tune with that is helping us."
It's the sort of attention to detail, offensively, Allen can devote more time to now that he's no longer defensive coordinator.
"I was much more involved, offensively," Allen said of the spring. "I was in all the meetings with the offense and am really trying to be very, very familiar with everything.
"Really, what it allows me to do, in a very positive way, is to get on these guys. When I know exactly what it's supposed to look like and what we're supposed to be doing, and understand everything that is going on, (it helps me contribute to the offense).
"It was difficult … in the past, being so involved defensively, even as you're looking around in practice, you're not empowered to impose your personality (on the whole team) in that session. And that's what I want to be able to do."
If that effects the offense anywhere near how it did the defense when Allen arrived as a defensive coordinator in 2015, that's very good news for the Hoosier program.
Allen's 2015 impact was immediate and overt. IU was the most improved defense in the nation (129.4 fewer yards allowed per game). That didn't change much during the 2016 and '17 campaigns, either, with Allen still coordinating the defense after ascending to the head coaching position. IU was still the nation's most-improved defense (169.4 fewer yards per game).
Now with trusted lieutenant Kane Wommack calling the defense, Allen's personality can indeed translate better to aspects of the team.
How, specifically?
"From an intensity perspective," Allen said. "And toughness. Just the way I hold guys accountable, the way I always have on the defensive side of the ball. The walk-throughs. Every phase of practice. Being locked-in. Being able to do everything we expect.
"Just feel way more in-tune with that (offensive) side of the ball than in the past. So that definitely feels a lot different."
Allen also structured the spring differently in that some of the seasoned veterans concentrated more on polishing technique than blasting through full-contact sessions. Offensive stars such as Stevie Scott and Nick Westbrook were held out of
Friday's scrimmage, as were senior linemen such as Coy Cronk and Simon Stepaniak.
"Just in terms of understanding some of these older guys, and where they are, we've tried to modify some of their reps," Allen said. "At the same time, we've kind of intensified their technique work, just where they can get better. We've sat down
and mapped out, for guys in that situation, what they really need to focus on for that month of practice.
"I think that's really helped us this year. I think we've got in a lot of good work and have improved, fundamentally, as a team. Really emphasized those periods (of techniques) and have gotten guys into position to have a great May, great June and great July."
Allen also felt the spring saw a fundamental install of DeBoer's offense, tweaks to Wommack's defense, and the shaking out IU's 1-2-3 depth chart. And now he wants to further foster the offense's ability to create explosive plays, in part by throwing downfield more.
"I do feel like, offensively, the things that we had set to install we've got to (this spring)," Allen said. "And now … we're going to do a summer install as well and get that reviewed … but we are going to try to intensify that a little bit for more than we've done in the past.
"And I've already explained that to our team and our coaching staff. So I just think that it's critical that by that opening game kickoff (Aug. 31 versus Ball State at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis), that's when it matters. And we'll just build it from there.
"We want to make this the best summer we've ever had."
That would follow an already positive winter and spring.
And would make the IU off-season a resounding 5-for-5.
Players Mentioned
WR
/ Football
QB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
RB
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OL
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QB
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WR
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