Indiana University Athletics
Loud and Clear – IU Aims To Defend At Elite level
8/6/2019 8:55:00 AM | Football
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By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Silence is not golden. It stinks, to be blunt. It is a loser's approach that has no place around Indiana's defense.
Understand that if you're to understand Kane Wommack and what he wants from the unit he now runs as defensive coordinator.
Whether the Hoosiers are practicing or playing, they'd better be talking, and not just in whispers or mumbles.
This is difference-making communication, for goodness sake. It's for ensuring that everyone is on the same page, that it is 11 as one, a collective effort that, if done correctly for the entire game, will lead the Hoosiers to that winning record promised land they've sought for so long.
So here is Wommack, in front of a podium at Memorial Stadium's Presidential Suite, talking about the next phase of IU's defensive evolution from patsy to power.
"We've got to be great communicators out there. I hope when (the media comes) practice, you see us, you will be able to hear, it will be loud on the defensive side of the football every single snap. If not, then that's something you need to ask me about because I'm not holding them accountable for what I said I was going to do."
Wommack is 32 years old, a virtual baby in the college football coordinator world, but a veteran in background and experience as the son of a successful former college defensive coordinator.
This is why head coach Tom Allen brought him in to finish the job he started in 2016.
"I trust him, and I believe in him, and I think that he's going to do a great job." Allen says.
When the games start, Wommack wants the pressure on him and the defense. Let it come down to getting a stop because, well, this is why he's here, why all the Hoosier defenders are here.
"We want to change the outcome of close games," Wommack says. "That's what we want to be responsible for. We want to put that on our shoulders. That's a team effort, but we have to do a good job in that regard."
The result is what Wommack calls Swarm D, and it is not for the meek.
"Swarm D is ready to go," he says. "I think we're in a really good place. We believe that the responsibility of stopping the offense, whether it be run or pass, is placed on all 11 shoulders of the defense. Right now anybody that walks out on that field and represents the Swarm D believes in that purpose. I think that's really important.
"We want to create an environment where unique individuals care more about the success of others than they do themselves. When you do that, we all accomplish our goals both individually and collectively. I think we're well on our way to doing those things."
This is a unit that combines talent -- highlighted by standouts Marcelino Ball at Husky and Reakwon Jones at linebacker -- and youth. Only four of the projected 11 starters are in their final year of college football.
In other words, look out for breakout seasons for guys such as safety Bryant Fitzgerald, cornerback Reese Taylor, safety Cam Jones and, well, everyone.
"In terms of the culture of our defense," Wommack says, "we believe in confidence, and we believe in swagger. We believe in leaning into one another because that's how you handle the adversities that this conference brings week in and week out. I think we're prepared to do that."
Indiana was once known for horrific defense. From 2010 to 2015, it allowed averages of 34.0, 37.3, 35.3, 38.8, 32.8 and 37.6 points.
Allen arrived and instantly changed that (27.2, 25.3 and 29.9), but couldn't reach his Top-25 goal.
Wommack hopes these Hoosiers will.
"We've accomplished a lot of those goals over the last three years," he says. "I think we were right outside in total defense, inside the top 25 in third-down defense, first-down defense, tackles for loss and takeaways. Pretty amazing accomplishment.
"But there are still things left out there. We want to be a Top-25 scoring defense, and that's what our goal and our ability is. Rushing defense and red zone defense, those are things that have not been accomplished in a number of years here, and that is the goal for us."
Achieving that means going on the attack. This is not a bend, don't break approach.
"You have to be intentional about creating negative plays for the offense," Wommack says. "A team did a study this off-season that if you create one negative play in a drive, you have a 75 percent chance of holding them to a field goal, or getting off the field. We've got to be able to do those things."
Attack, however, can't mean break.
"We have to be very intentional about limiting the opponent's big plays," Wommack says. "Notice I didn't say eliminating, because they're going to hit a 15-yard comeback every now and then when you're an attacking defense because your corners are playing over the top. We can't get frustrated with that as players, coaches, fans. We've got to understand what we're trying to do that every now and then they're going to hit a play. We just can't give up the big plays for touchdowns and create enough negative plays of our own."
Wommack and Allen come from the Dave Wommack coaching tree. Dave Wommack, Kane's father, coached college defenses for 37 years, much of it as a defensive coordinator.
All three men worked at Mississippi. Dave was the defensive coordinator. Allen was the linebackers coach. Kane was a graduate assistant whose responsibilities made him a virtual assistant coach.
Dave Wommack will come to IU to observe camp practices and provide valuable insight, the younger Wommack says.
"He'll spend about three or four days with us. He'll give me a full analysis of where he thinks we are from a personnel standpoint and just where we are schematically, which will be really exciting."
Wommack was just 26 years old when he became the defensive coordinator at Eastern Illinois in 2014. Then he took the same role at South Alabama. Last year, he became IU's linebackers coach before moving up to defensive coordinator.
Through it all, he used the multiple defensive formation (basically 4-2-5) used by his father and Allen.
"At 26 years old, I felt like I had about all the answers and I was ready to go. As I reflect back, I was ready to a point to be a defensive coordinator. Part of that was just spending time in this system. When you grow up in this system, it doesn't change."
To ease Wommack's transition in replacing him as defensive coordinator, Allen stayed away from many of the spring planning and organizing defensive meetings.
"I wanted the defensive coaches to look to Kane, not look to me, if there was a question (about adjustments). They needed to look to him and let him answer their questions and let him solve the technique discussions and all the things that happen behind closed doors. I let him take it and put his stamp on it."
Adds Wommack: "Tom knows how important it is to build that camaraderie in a staff, especially when he was the defensive coordinator previously for those guys.
"We were able to build that camaraderie and that chemistry in the room without him, because like it or not, when the head coach walks in the door, you just get a little bit tighter.
"It's all about communication. He and I had great communication, but he also allowed me to build that chemistry with the defensive staff, and that is probably paying off as big as anything going into this season."
Another big payoff could come from depth. IU has more of it than ever before, which could lead to rotating more players in, thus keeping them fresher for the often critical fourth quarter.
Wommack says that has to be managed correctly.
"When you play more players that means that you have to disseminate the reps among those players to get them ready for the season. In doing that, we've got to make sure we're not doing too much so that each player gets the reps that he's going to transfer over to game day.
"We want to be multiple and aggressive, but I think we have spent countless hours this off-season making sure that we are simple enough that our players can execute and yet multiple in the way that we present ourselves to an offense."
And know this -- it will not be presented quietly.
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Silence is not golden. It stinks, to be blunt. It is a loser's approach that has no place around Indiana's defense.
Understand that if you're to understand Kane Wommack and what he wants from the unit he now runs as defensive coordinator.
Whether the Hoosiers are practicing or playing, they'd better be talking, and not just in whispers or mumbles.
This is difference-making communication, for goodness sake. It's for ensuring that everyone is on the same page, that it is 11 as one, a collective effort that, if done correctly for the entire game, will lead the Hoosiers to that winning record promised land they've sought for so long.
So here is Wommack, in front of a podium at Memorial Stadium's Presidential Suite, talking about the next phase of IU's defensive evolution from patsy to power.
"We've got to be great communicators out there. I hope when (the media comes) practice, you see us, you will be able to hear, it will be loud on the defensive side of the football every single snap. If not, then that's something you need to ask me about because I'm not holding them accountable for what I said I was going to do."
Wommack is 32 years old, a virtual baby in the college football coordinator world, but a veteran in background and experience as the son of a successful former college defensive coordinator.
This is why head coach Tom Allen brought him in to finish the job he started in 2016.
"I trust him, and I believe in him, and I think that he's going to do a great job." Allen says.
When the games start, Wommack wants the pressure on him and the defense. Let it come down to getting a stop because, well, this is why he's here, why all the Hoosier defenders are here.
"We want to change the outcome of close games," Wommack says. "That's what we want to be responsible for. We want to put that on our shoulders. That's a team effort, but we have to do a good job in that regard."
The result is what Wommack calls Swarm D, and it is not for the meek.
"Swarm D is ready to go," he says. "I think we're in a really good place. We believe that the responsibility of stopping the offense, whether it be run or pass, is placed on all 11 shoulders of the defense. Right now anybody that walks out on that field and represents the Swarm D believes in that purpose. I think that's really important.
"We want to create an environment where unique individuals care more about the success of others than they do themselves. When you do that, we all accomplish our goals both individually and collectively. I think we're well on our way to doing those things."
This is a unit that combines talent -- highlighted by standouts Marcelino Ball at Husky and Reakwon Jones at linebacker -- and youth. Only four of the projected 11 starters are in their final year of college football.
In other words, look out for breakout seasons for guys such as safety Bryant Fitzgerald, cornerback Reese Taylor, safety Cam Jones and, well, everyone.
"In terms of the culture of our defense," Wommack says, "we believe in confidence, and we believe in swagger. We believe in leaning into one another because that's how you handle the adversities that this conference brings week in and week out. I think we're prepared to do that."
Indiana was once known for horrific defense. From 2010 to 2015, it allowed averages of 34.0, 37.3, 35.3, 38.8, 32.8 and 37.6 points.
Allen arrived and instantly changed that (27.2, 25.3 and 29.9), but couldn't reach his Top-25 goal.
Wommack hopes these Hoosiers will.
"We've accomplished a lot of those goals over the last three years," he says. "I think we were right outside in total defense, inside the top 25 in third-down defense, first-down defense, tackles for loss and takeaways. Pretty amazing accomplishment.
"But there are still things left out there. We want to be a Top-25 scoring defense, and that's what our goal and our ability is. Rushing defense and red zone defense, those are things that have not been accomplished in a number of years here, and that is the goal for us."
Achieving that means going on the attack. This is not a bend, don't break approach.
"You have to be intentional about creating negative plays for the offense," Wommack says. "A team did a study this off-season that if you create one negative play in a drive, you have a 75 percent chance of holding them to a field goal, or getting off the field. We've got to be able to do those things."
Attack, however, can't mean break.
"We have to be very intentional about limiting the opponent's big plays," Wommack says. "Notice I didn't say eliminating, because they're going to hit a 15-yard comeback every now and then when you're an attacking defense because your corners are playing over the top. We can't get frustrated with that as players, coaches, fans. We've got to understand what we're trying to do that every now and then they're going to hit a play. We just can't give up the big plays for touchdowns and create enough negative plays of our own."
Wommack and Allen come from the Dave Wommack coaching tree. Dave Wommack, Kane's father, coached college defenses for 37 years, much of it as a defensive coordinator.
All three men worked at Mississippi. Dave was the defensive coordinator. Allen was the linebackers coach. Kane was a graduate assistant whose responsibilities made him a virtual assistant coach.
Dave Wommack will come to IU to observe camp practices and provide valuable insight, the younger Wommack says.
"He'll spend about three or four days with us. He'll give me a full analysis of where he thinks we are from a personnel standpoint and just where we are schematically, which will be really exciting."
Wommack was just 26 years old when he became the defensive coordinator at Eastern Illinois in 2014. Then he took the same role at South Alabama. Last year, he became IU's linebackers coach before moving up to defensive coordinator.
Through it all, he used the multiple defensive formation (basically 4-2-5) used by his father and Allen.
"At 26 years old, I felt like I had about all the answers and I was ready to go. As I reflect back, I was ready to a point to be a defensive coordinator. Part of that was just spending time in this system. When you grow up in this system, it doesn't change."
To ease Wommack's transition in replacing him as defensive coordinator, Allen stayed away from many of the spring planning and organizing defensive meetings.
"I wanted the defensive coaches to look to Kane, not look to me, if there was a question (about adjustments). They needed to look to him and let him answer their questions and let him solve the technique discussions and all the things that happen behind closed doors. I let him take it and put his stamp on it."
Adds Wommack: "Tom knows how important it is to build that camaraderie in a staff, especially when he was the defensive coordinator previously for those guys.
"We were able to build that camaraderie and that chemistry in the room without him, because like it or not, when the head coach walks in the door, you just get a little bit tighter.
"It's all about communication. He and I had great communication, but he also allowed me to build that chemistry with the defensive staff, and that is probably paying off as big as anything going into this season."
Another big payoff could come from depth. IU has more of it than ever before, which could lead to rotating more players in, thus keeping them fresher for the often critical fourth quarter.
Wommack says that has to be managed correctly.
"When you play more players that means that you have to disseminate the reps among those players to get them ready for the season. In doing that, we've got to make sure we're not doing too much so that each player gets the reps that he's going to transfer over to game day.
"We want to be multiple and aggressive, but I think we have spent countless hours this off-season making sure that we are simple enough that our players can execute and yet multiple in the way that we present ourselves to an offense."
And know this -- it will not be presented quietly.
Players Mentioned
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