Quoted: Fall Camp Practice #4

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TOM ALLEN

Opening Statement:
"Good day. I really want to see the film and see what that tells me, but I thought it was a really good back and forth. Both sides of the ball making plays. I think the defense got on top of the offense yesterday more overall in some team periods. And then today, I thought the offense did a good job making some plays. The two-minute, we've never done that yet, so that was the first time we've had that situation, and I thought the offense had some good poise about them moving up and down the field systematically and getting in position for the field goal. Just a lot of good work today, practice was shorter. We are going to have our first full-pad practice tomorrow, but I thought our focus, which is the key word for today that we were trying to emphasize, I though was good and the guys continue to give us great effort, which you want this time of year. Just getting a little better every single day.

On the differences from day one to day three…
"Well, when you get in pads, that's when things change. We are still not live, but it does get a lot more like football.

"The work mindset of our team is what I love. They just come in and show up and work hard. They are a rah-rah group in some ways, which I am fine with. They have a very systematic approach, which has kind of been their way all summer long, like a business approach in terms of their mindset towards the work, but also have good energy and they really seem to work well together. Over time, that gets exposed a little bit. You have all the meeting time together. The special teams meeting we are all in there together for the most part, the team meetings, we are all just kind of building. That's a real positive of this unit you can tell, their comradery and chemistry is really important. You can see that grow as the practices progress.

"And then there are more contested throws out there, more now that we have our pads on. We have more of a thud tempo that we use. You just get to see who can make those tough catches and break up on the ball. We've had a lot of tipped balls by the defense, which is good. It shows our athleticism and burst to the ball, and I also thought today we made some good catches with the offense coming up with some tight windows. Definitely making progress. Day by day, step by step."

On the quarterbacks today…
"I think that Peyton showed great poise there at the end manufacturing that drive to get down the field in two minutes. I thought Michael made some good throws. I thought Jack some good throws as well. I think Jack's the youngest in the group in regards to the system and just being here, time here and being comfortable here, but did some good things today and did blitz period to get him recognizing the protection and how to get set and adjusted. Peyton probably has the upper hand on that because of his experience. But I think the two other guys, Michael and Jack, have grown in that area, so we are going to keep emphasizing that. Each one of them had some good things. We've got to protect the football all the time, and I know we emphasize takeaways to a large, over the top degree here defensively, so we really ball hawk them a lot. We got some takeaways. A'Shon Riggins got a big pick that during the team period really changed the momentum. But overall, we have protected the ball well, but the defense is swarming."

DL COACH MARK HAGEN

On the competition so far in camp…
"I think there's been good competition, but then when you actually go against the offense, there's been a high-compete factor on every snap. That's what these guys have to realize, if I want to play, that's what I have to prove. I just can't assume that something's going to happen. That's really what every play in a football game is, you're competing in a one-on-one situation, whether it's defending your gap, working a pass rush on an O-lineman, and that's how I try to break it down. Every play is a play of competition. You're either doing your job or you're getting blocked. If we can boil it down to that and guys just hate not winning; I didn't win this rep I got blocked or I lost my gap or whatever it is, you come back the next play and just keep on fighting. That's the mentality that we are trying to establish. It carries over to the position battles, but at the end of the day, two of these guys are fighting to help each other, too, because we know we have to have a lot of guys ready to play. I've seen it so far, but again, it's only day four and it's a long camp, long season, so we just have to keep it going."

On if anyone inside has caught his eye in camp so far…
"I like what Demarcus Elliott has done. We lost significant numbers at the nose position. I think Juan (Harris) came in, his weight is down from where it's been in the past and he knows he has to be ready to play more snaps. Getting D-Mac here, he's come in and done a good job. I think Sio (Nofoagatoto'a) has come in, learning the system. I feel better about that position than I did maybe back in December when it was 'who's going to be there'. I think there is excellent competition. We know what Jerome Johnson can do. Now in my opinion, you have four guys, (Jonathan) King, Shamar Jones, Gavin McCabe and I think C.J. Person, who is a 285-pound, 290-pound guy. I'm excited to see how that sorts itself out here as we move through camp and the early part of the season."

DL GAVIN EVERETT

On the expectation of the D-line group this season…
"I think all the pressure is on us. I think we didn't perform like we should have last year. Everybody is putting it on us to take that next step. To be a great defense, we need to start up front."

DL JEROME JOHNSON

On how he takes the momentum from late last year into this season…
"Towards the end, I just had this focus. I was trying to get us to a bowl game. I think I worked harder and I'm just trying to keep working harder and keep building on top of that to get myself better and to also help my teammates get better."

DL JAMES HEAD JR.

On how different it feels entering his sophomore year….
"I feel more comfortable with everything. The biggest difference I would say is I'm more used to the pace. Things that I have messed up on last year I am picking up more easier this year."

Indiana University Athletics

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Demarcus Elliott

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Gavin McCabe

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