Indiana University Athletics
IU To Bring Hit-Hard-and Prosper-Approach to Gator Bowl
1/2/2020 7:51:00 AM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Tennessee is hot. The Indiana Hoosiers recognize that, and their counter for that in Thursday night's TaxSlayer Gator Bowl is as football fundamental as it is simple:
Rock the Volunteers' world.
"We have to give pressure and win the one-on-one matchups and stop the run," linebacker Reakwon Jones says. "That's our mindset. We have to be physical, nasty and strong, because that's what they are going to bring, so we have to bring it right back."
This is the edge the Hoosiers (8-4) need to beat a 7-5 Tennessee team that has won five-straight games, and six of seven.
The only team to defeat the Volunteers in that stretch – Alabama.
Improved offense is one reason for the surge, and the way to stop it, Jones says, starts with shutting down the run.
"That's what they're good at. That's what they have executed all season. That's the key for us -- stop the run and eliminate big plays.
"They have big-play receivers. They have a quarterback who can sling it. They have O-linemen who can protect."
Quarterback Jarrett Guarantano has thrown for 1,937 yards and 16 touchdowns.
The main running back is Ty Chandler, who has rushed for 620 yards and three touchdowns. But he missed the regular season finale against Vanderbilt. Eric Grey replaced him and ran for 246 yards.
The Volunteers will be without top receiver Jauan Jennings (57 catches, 942 yards, 8 touchdowns) for the first half because of a suspension. Marquez Callaway has 29 catches for 616 yards and six touchdowns.
IU will counter with its usual attack-defense approach.
"We're an aggressive style of defense and we play a lot of man coverage and we have to win those won one-on-ones," head coach Tom Allen says. "That's what we do and that's how we're going to play. We're not bashful about that, but look at those matchups and how it's going to play itself out and they win a lot of 50-50 balls. Their guys jump up and go get it, and their quarterback is doing a better job of getting the ball to those guys."
Bowl teams sometimes struggle with poor tackling. Jones says IU has had a strong tackling emphasis in the weeks leading to the bowl game.
"We practice tackling every day. Make sure we're finishing properly. We're going to continue emphasizing it through the game."
The Volunteers' strong finish has Allen's attention.
"Their quarterback is doing a better job of getting the ball to (Tennessee's receivers). When you do that, when you eliminate mistakes, you play more consistent, you start winning those close games, which is what they have done. It's impressive how they have finished."
Allen sees Tennessee and thinks Penn State, starting with the offensive and defensive lines.
"You see high-level guys, physical guys, guys that have good burst on defense and guys that are big and strong on offense.
"I think the way they run to the football defensively, the multiplicity of their defense, as well, and just the talent level. They have a lot of good players, and a lot of guys highly regarded out of high school.
"It's about speed, size and what we felt like as a staff is that they were probably closest to is Penn State."
Ramsey sees the same Penn State similarity.
"Schematically, Penn State did a bunch of different things. Their D-line was good. They were very multiple in the things they did, with good linebackers, long, tall, rangy guys who are really athletic.
"Tennessee lines up to Penn State pretty similarly."
Defensively the Volunteers have impressive up front size led by defensive tackle Greg Emerson (6-3, 309 yards) and defensive ends Darel Middleton (6-7, 311) and Aubrey Solomon (6-5, 299).
Tennessee is linebacker strong with Darrell Taylor (team-leading 7 sacks) and Daniel Bituli (team-high 82 tackles).
The nation's No. 17 pass defense is led by defensive back Nigel Warrior, who has an SEC-best four interceptions.
Indiana counters with an offense that has scored at least 30 points nine times this season. That matches a school record set in 2015.
"They are big, physical," IU receiver Nick Westbrook says. "They play sound defense. They have a lot of different looks we have to be prepared for.
"The biggest thing is watching as much film as we can so we know what to expect, and then play our game because we know it's going to work."
Through it all, the Hoosiers' goal remains clear:
Win.
"There's been a great sense of urgency in practice," Jones says.
"Talking to each other, we're going to win this game, we're going to win this game.
"That's our goal. It's very clear what our mission is. The guys have locked in. They came to work in practice. They're handling this trip well and keeping that urgency level high."
IUHoosiers.com
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Tennessee is hot. The Indiana Hoosiers recognize that, and their counter for that in Thursday night's TaxSlayer Gator Bowl is as football fundamental as it is simple:
Rock the Volunteers' world.
"We have to give pressure and win the one-on-one matchups and stop the run," linebacker Reakwon Jones says. "That's our mindset. We have to be physical, nasty and strong, because that's what they are going to bring, so we have to bring it right back."
This is the edge the Hoosiers (8-4) need to beat a 7-5 Tennessee team that has won five-straight games, and six of seven.
The only team to defeat the Volunteers in that stretch – Alabama.
Improved offense is one reason for the surge, and the way to stop it, Jones says, starts with shutting down the run.
"That's what they're good at. That's what they have executed all season. That's the key for us -- stop the run and eliminate big plays.
"They have big-play receivers. They have a quarterback who can sling it. They have O-linemen who can protect."
Quarterback Jarrett Guarantano has thrown for 1,937 yards and 16 touchdowns.
The main running back is Ty Chandler, who has rushed for 620 yards and three touchdowns. But he missed the regular season finale against Vanderbilt. Eric Grey replaced him and ran for 246 yards.
The Volunteers will be without top receiver Jauan Jennings (57 catches, 942 yards, 8 touchdowns) for the first half because of a suspension. Marquez Callaway has 29 catches for 616 yards and six touchdowns.
IU will counter with its usual attack-defense approach.
"We're an aggressive style of defense and we play a lot of man coverage and we have to win those won one-on-ones," head coach Tom Allen says. "That's what we do and that's how we're going to play. We're not bashful about that, but look at those matchups and how it's going to play itself out and they win a lot of 50-50 balls. Their guys jump up and go get it, and their quarterback is doing a better job of getting the ball to those guys."
Bowl teams sometimes struggle with poor tackling. Jones says IU has had a strong tackling emphasis in the weeks leading to the bowl game.
"We practice tackling every day. Make sure we're finishing properly. We're going to continue emphasizing it through the game."
The Volunteers' strong finish has Allen's attention.
"Their quarterback is doing a better job of getting the ball to (Tennessee's receivers). When you do that, when you eliminate mistakes, you play more consistent, you start winning those close games, which is what they have done. It's impressive how they have finished."
Allen sees Tennessee and thinks Penn State, starting with the offensive and defensive lines.
"You see high-level guys, physical guys, guys that have good burst on defense and guys that are big and strong on offense.
"I think the way they run to the football defensively, the multiplicity of their defense, as well, and just the talent level. They have a lot of good players, and a lot of guys highly regarded out of high school.
"It's about speed, size and what we felt like as a staff is that they were probably closest to is Penn State."
Ramsey sees the same Penn State similarity.
"Schematically, Penn State did a bunch of different things. Their D-line was good. They were very multiple in the things they did, with good linebackers, long, tall, rangy guys who are really athletic.
"Tennessee lines up to Penn State pretty similarly."
Defensively the Volunteers have impressive up front size led by defensive tackle Greg Emerson (6-3, 309 yards) and defensive ends Darel Middleton (6-7, 311) and Aubrey Solomon (6-5, 299).
Tennessee is linebacker strong with Darrell Taylor (team-leading 7 sacks) and Daniel Bituli (team-high 82 tackles).
The nation's No. 17 pass defense is led by defensive back Nigel Warrior, who has an SEC-best four interceptions.
Indiana counters with an offense that has scored at least 30 points nine times this season. That matches a school record set in 2015.
"They are big, physical," IU receiver Nick Westbrook says. "They play sound defense. They have a lot of different looks we have to be prepared for.
"The biggest thing is watching as much film as we can so we know what to expect, and then play our game because we know it's going to work."
Through it all, the Hoosiers' goal remains clear:
Win.
"There's been a great sense of urgency in practice," Jones says.
"Talking to each other, we're going to win this game, we're going to win this game.
"That's our goal. It's very clear what our mission is. The guys have locked in. They came to work in practice. They're handling this trip well and keeping that urgency level high."
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