Indiana University Athletics
IU Getting What It Wants on Special Teams, And Beyond
8/13/2019 9:49:00 AM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
Sean Wracher is proving that seeing is believing and then doing.
Just ask Indiana special teams coordinator William Inge.
He made a big recruiting push to land Wracher, the nation's top-rated long snapper out of Ohio, and the reward has already arrived.
"It's great to see how he's learning, how he's adapting," Inge says. "The thing that we love about Sean is he's a perfectionist. He wants it right and he works with great detail."
Wracher is making a big early fall camp statement to win the job, although nothing is decided. Redshirt junior Jacob Limbach remains in the running.
Still, Wracher wasn't brought in to wait a year or two, and his performance shows it.
"It's great to see a young man that comes here physically mature, long, athletic and ready," Inge says. "He has the mindset of knowing, 'I want to come in and help our team.' That's exactly what we want, and that's what we're getting. We saw that in recruiting and now he's proving to us everything we saw in the recruiting process."
No one appreciates that more than fifth-year senior kicker Logan Justus. He was 15-for-18 in field goals last season, and 32-for-33 on extra points in a debut season to remember, but that was with standout long snapper Dan Godsil. Godsil has graduated and Justus will have a new snapper and holder (Haydon Whitehead).
"It has been going really well," Justus says. "We've built a lot of trust together just through the work and preparation. And then the coaches have done a really good job of putting us in game-like situations."
Justus' leadership with Wracher and Whitehead also plays a big role.
"I've been able to help them settle in," he says. "That's something I've focused on."
Special teams doesn't always get the acclaim of the offense or defense, but its importance can't be overstated.
Inge is at the forefront of that.
"We've been very pleased with our development and performance so far. Being able to see the young men stay on top of all the small, minute details, that's been the focus we've been trying to apply. That way we can really establish ourselves as a team that's going to be more prepared coming in to games, understanding scenarios and focusing in on small details so that we don't beat ourselves on given downs."
Attention to detail also is high on tight ends coach Nick Sheridan's list. He's got a young group led by redshirt sophomore Peyton Henderson, the old man of the bunch. Turon Ivy Jr., Matt Bjorson, Gary Cooper and Ryan Barnes all two or fewer years in the program.
Given offensive coordinator Kalen DeBoer's emphasis on tight end production in all areas, youth isn't an excuse.
"They're all working hard," Sheridan says. "Every day is a new day. They're learning; they're growing; they have great attitudes and they have ability.
"It's the effort and the willingness. They're learning a new scheme. We're asking them to do different things.
"It's our job to put them in positions to be successful. We're looking forward to doing that. They've been a joy to coach."
Head coach Tom Allen feels that joy, especially after wrapping up fall camp's first scrimmage. A Big Ten officiating crew was used, and officials weren't shy about calling penalties such as holding and pass interference.
It was, Allen says, good preparation for what's coming.
"There are some areas we've got to continue to work hard at, but I thought the guys competed well. We had a very good offense versus defense competition. Both sides made plays.
"We had too many holding calls on the O-line. We've got to work on that. We had a couple of pass interferences that were costly at key times.
"Overall it was a good next step for us. There's a lot to evaluate, a lot to get better at. It was a good measuring stick."
Allen says he and DeBoer think the offense, "In terms of the knowledge of the new offensive system and the way they executed may be a little ahead of what I thought we might be."
As far as the defense Allen adds that the "Lack of mental mistakes has been encouraging.
"Guys are in the right fits. Guys are making the right checks and adjustments. A lot of guys are doing a lot of good things. Now we've got to get to where we're doing it at a high level all the time."
IUHoosiers.com
Sean Wracher is proving that seeing is believing and then doing.
Just ask Indiana special teams coordinator William Inge.
He made a big recruiting push to land Wracher, the nation's top-rated long snapper out of Ohio, and the reward has already arrived.
"It's great to see how he's learning, how he's adapting," Inge says. "The thing that we love about Sean is he's a perfectionist. He wants it right and he works with great detail."
Wracher is making a big early fall camp statement to win the job, although nothing is decided. Redshirt junior Jacob Limbach remains in the running.
Still, Wracher wasn't brought in to wait a year or two, and his performance shows it.
"It's great to see a young man that comes here physically mature, long, athletic and ready," Inge says. "He has the mindset of knowing, 'I want to come in and help our team.' That's exactly what we want, and that's what we're getting. We saw that in recruiting and now he's proving to us everything we saw in the recruiting process."
No one appreciates that more than fifth-year senior kicker Logan Justus. He was 15-for-18 in field goals last season, and 32-for-33 on extra points in a debut season to remember, but that was with standout long snapper Dan Godsil. Godsil has graduated and Justus will have a new snapper and holder (Haydon Whitehead).
"It has been going really well," Justus says. "We've built a lot of trust together just through the work and preparation. And then the coaches have done a really good job of putting us in game-like situations."
Justus' leadership with Wracher and Whitehead also plays a big role.
"I've been able to help them settle in," he says. "That's something I've focused on."
Special teams doesn't always get the acclaim of the offense or defense, but its importance can't be overstated.
Inge is at the forefront of that.
"We've been very pleased with our development and performance so far. Being able to see the young men stay on top of all the small, minute details, that's been the focus we've been trying to apply. That way we can really establish ourselves as a team that's going to be more prepared coming in to games, understanding scenarios and focusing in on small details so that we don't beat ourselves on given downs."
Attention to detail also is high on tight ends coach Nick Sheridan's list. He's got a young group led by redshirt sophomore Peyton Henderson, the old man of the bunch. Turon Ivy Jr., Matt Bjorson, Gary Cooper and Ryan Barnes all two or fewer years in the program.
Given offensive coordinator Kalen DeBoer's emphasis on tight end production in all areas, youth isn't an excuse.
"They're all working hard," Sheridan says. "Every day is a new day. They're learning; they're growing; they have great attitudes and they have ability.
"It's the effort and the willingness. They're learning a new scheme. We're asking them to do different things.
"It's our job to put them in positions to be successful. We're looking forward to doing that. They've been a joy to coach."
Head coach Tom Allen feels that joy, especially after wrapping up fall camp's first scrimmage. A Big Ten officiating crew was used, and officials weren't shy about calling penalties such as holding and pass interference.
It was, Allen says, good preparation for what's coming.
"There are some areas we've got to continue to work hard at, but I thought the guys competed well. We had a very good offense versus defense competition. Both sides made plays.
"We had too many holding calls on the O-line. We've got to work on that. We had a couple of pass interferences that were costly at key times.
"Overall it was a good next step for us. There's a lot to evaluate, a lot to get better at. It was a good measuring stick."
Allen says he and DeBoer think the offense, "In terms of the knowledge of the new offensive system and the way they executed may be a little ahead of what I thought we might be."
As far as the defense Allen adds that the "Lack of mental mistakes has been encouraging.
"Guys are in the right fits. Guys are making the right checks and adjustments. A lot of guys are doing a lot of good things. Now we've got to get to where we're doing it at a high level all the time."
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