Indiana University Athletics
DiPrimio Notebook: IU Seeks Answers to Season-Opening Questions
10/20/2020 12:00:00 PM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Questions are coming.
Will Indiana have the right answers?
Specifically, will the Hoosiers, boosted by the most talented roster in coach Tom Allen's four seasons, be able to handle what No. 7 Penn State hopes to unleash on them in Saturday afternoon's season opener at Memorial Stadium?
The short answer -- Why not?
The longer answer -- IU hasn't had this much talent and experience since Bill Mallory strode the Memorial Stadium sidelines a generation ago.
"When you talk about what's next for our program," Allen says via Zoom press conference, "it is winning these games."
IU has come tantalizingly close to beating the likes of Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan under Allen.
It didn't happen in his first three seasons. It just might happen in this one.
"Being close is no longer acceptable," Allen says. "The goal, the objective, is to find a way to finish and win these games."
A pause.
"We have to finish them."
Yes, IU is just 1-22 against the Nittany Lions, who have hired new offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca after his effort at Minnesota last season to jazz up an already explosive Penn State attack.
Specifically, Penn State averaged 35.8 points a game last season. Minnesota was at 34.1.
The Nittany Lions return two of the Big Ten's best at their positions in quarterback Sean Clifford and tight end Pat Freiermuth.
But the Hoosiers have big-play guys all over the field with quarterback Michael Penix Jr., running back Stevie Scott III, receiver Whop Philyor, tight end Peyton Hendershot, cornerback Tiawan Mullen and more.
If ever there was an IU team capable of beating Penn State, and then No. 5 Ohio State, No. 14 Wisconsin and No. 18 Michigan, it's this one.
Still, there are questions only a season opener delivers.
"The personnel is different and every year is a little different," Allen says. "You do not really know for sure. You have an idea, but you do not know for sure. You are trying to figure all that stuff out.
"There has to be a lot of adjustments made after the first couple series on both sides of the football and probably even on special teams. That is where our coaching staff has to be really, really sharp, be able to adapt to what they are showing us and what they are doing to us.
"We have to have answers."
In fact, Penn State faces the same questions given IU also has a new offensive coordinator in Nick Sheridan, who hopes to elevate an attack that averaged 31.8 points last season.
"It creates a much more challenging situation," Allen says.
To prepare, Indiana defensive coordinator Kane Wommack has studied film of last year's Penn State and Minnesota teams around, he jokes, watching Netflix.
"You don't bring in somebody from our league with the production they had last year at Minnesota without giving him the chance to run his system," Wommack says. "I am sure he will get the freedom and authority to do those things."
It could come down to IU's defensive line against a Penn State offensive line that returns nearly everyone from a unit that wore down the Hoosiers last season. Allen calls it, "One of the best in the country."
"They have a very talented offensive line that is pretty much back except for one guy," Allen says. "We are aware of that. Our guys have to meet that challenge head on.
"We have a lot of guys back, and a few more pieces to it. The experience and the guys being a year older, a year better with fundamentals, better technique, better execution. More guys who can help us. More guys who can play at a high level. That's the key."
*****
Two things are clear when you consider Penix's quarterback potential:
He will hurt defenses with his legs as well as his arm.
IU needs to keep him healthy for an entire season.
Injuries sidelined Penix in his first two years. Sheridan wants to reduce the risk while maximizing his quarterback's dual-threat ability to shred defenses.
"If you play quarterback," Sheridan says, "you are going to be asked to run. There is no way to prevent that.
"Obviously, you can limit some of the quarterback runs. You have control over that.
"We recruit tailbacks to run, wide receivers to catch, quarterbacks to throw. But if a strength of one of our quarterbacks is to run, you utilize that."
It's critical to be smart while doing so, Sheridan adds.
"If you are a quarterback and you run between the tackles and you get tackled by a 240-pound middle linebacker, and then to expect (the quarterback) to get up and go rip a dig route, I do not think that is the easiest thing to do. You have to be smart.
"I think the protection of the quarterback is always important regardless of your style of play. You are trying to protect the quarterback whether it be in passing or in running.
"We think Michael is athletic. We think (running) is going to happen naturally. He may have to run, but certainly we are looking to hand the ball off to our tailbacks, who we have a lot of confidence in. Let our line block."
*****
Coach Ball has a new title – IU team captain.
A torn ACL has ended Marcelino Ball's playing season, but not his Cream & Crimson impact. The fifth-year senior husky has become an official player coach to guys such as Bryant Fitzgerald, who will replace him on the field.
Ball is one of five Hoosiers named team captain based on team voting. The others are quarterback Penix, senior center Harry Crider and junior linebackers Cam Jones and Micah McFadden.
Ball, who hurt his knee during fall camp, is set to have surgery this week.
"He will probably not be able to be very active in that role on game day," Allen says, "but at the same time, his leadership is obvious by the way his teammates feel about him, and the way he's handled a tough situation with so much maturity and a positive attitude."
Strong leadership has been duplicated by the other team captains.
"We had so many guys get votes, more so than I can ever remember," Allen says. "It speaks to the breadth of the leadership on this team. Guys have been not just good football players the last couple years, but also young men that are respected by their teammates."
******
Pandemic reality means no tailgating. IU officials reiterated that Memorial Stadium parking lots will be closed to everyone except entry points for families and staff.
In a university release, director of athletics Scott Dolson calls it a "disappointing, but necessary step as we ensure we follow the university, local and state guidelines."
At least for now, tailgating won't return until 2021.
"We look forward to welcoming all of our Hoosier fans back once it is safe to do so," he says. "I hope fans will be ready to return to Bloomington next fall and bring that great energy and passion we all love so much."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Questions are coming.
Will Indiana have the right answers?
Specifically, will the Hoosiers, boosted by the most talented roster in coach Tom Allen's four seasons, be able to handle what No. 7 Penn State hopes to unleash on them in Saturday afternoon's season opener at Memorial Stadium?
The short answer -- Why not?
The longer answer -- IU hasn't had this much talent and experience since Bill Mallory strode the Memorial Stadium sidelines a generation ago.
"When you talk about what's next for our program," Allen says via Zoom press conference, "it is winning these games."
IU has come tantalizingly close to beating the likes of Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan under Allen.
It didn't happen in his first three seasons. It just might happen in this one.
"Being close is no longer acceptable," Allen says. "The goal, the objective, is to find a way to finish and win these games."
A pause.
"We have to finish them."
Yes, IU is just 1-22 against the Nittany Lions, who have hired new offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca after his effort at Minnesota last season to jazz up an already explosive Penn State attack.
Specifically, Penn State averaged 35.8 points a game last season. Minnesota was at 34.1.
The Nittany Lions return two of the Big Ten's best at their positions in quarterback Sean Clifford and tight end Pat Freiermuth.
But the Hoosiers have big-play guys all over the field with quarterback Michael Penix Jr., running back Stevie Scott III, receiver Whop Philyor, tight end Peyton Hendershot, cornerback Tiawan Mullen and more.
If ever there was an IU team capable of beating Penn State, and then No. 5 Ohio State, No. 14 Wisconsin and No. 18 Michigan, it's this one.
Still, there are questions only a season opener delivers.
"The personnel is different and every year is a little different," Allen says. "You do not really know for sure. You have an idea, but you do not know for sure. You are trying to figure all that stuff out.
"There has to be a lot of adjustments made after the first couple series on both sides of the football and probably even on special teams. That is where our coaching staff has to be really, really sharp, be able to adapt to what they are showing us and what they are doing to us.
"We have to have answers."
In fact, Penn State faces the same questions given IU also has a new offensive coordinator in Nick Sheridan, who hopes to elevate an attack that averaged 31.8 points last season.
"It creates a much more challenging situation," Allen says.
To prepare, Indiana defensive coordinator Kane Wommack has studied film of last year's Penn State and Minnesota teams around, he jokes, watching Netflix.
"You don't bring in somebody from our league with the production they had last year at Minnesota without giving him the chance to run his system," Wommack says. "I am sure he will get the freedom and authority to do those things."
It could come down to IU's defensive line against a Penn State offensive line that returns nearly everyone from a unit that wore down the Hoosiers last season. Allen calls it, "One of the best in the country."
"They have a very talented offensive line that is pretty much back except for one guy," Allen says. "We are aware of that. Our guys have to meet that challenge head on.
"We have a lot of guys back, and a few more pieces to it. The experience and the guys being a year older, a year better with fundamentals, better technique, better execution. More guys who can help us. More guys who can play at a high level. That's the key."
*****
Two things are clear when you consider Penix's quarterback potential:
He will hurt defenses with his legs as well as his arm.
IU needs to keep him healthy for an entire season.
Injuries sidelined Penix in his first two years. Sheridan wants to reduce the risk while maximizing his quarterback's dual-threat ability to shred defenses.
"If you play quarterback," Sheridan says, "you are going to be asked to run. There is no way to prevent that.
"Obviously, you can limit some of the quarterback runs. You have control over that.
"We recruit tailbacks to run, wide receivers to catch, quarterbacks to throw. But if a strength of one of our quarterbacks is to run, you utilize that."
It's critical to be smart while doing so, Sheridan adds.
"If you are a quarterback and you run between the tackles and you get tackled by a 240-pound middle linebacker, and then to expect (the quarterback) to get up and go rip a dig route, I do not think that is the easiest thing to do. You have to be smart.
"I think the protection of the quarterback is always important regardless of your style of play. You are trying to protect the quarterback whether it be in passing or in running.
"We think Michael is athletic. We think (running) is going to happen naturally. He may have to run, but certainly we are looking to hand the ball off to our tailbacks, who we have a lot of confidence in. Let our line block."
*****
Coach Ball has a new title – IU team captain.
A torn ACL has ended Marcelino Ball's playing season, but not his Cream & Crimson impact. The fifth-year senior husky has become an official player coach to guys such as Bryant Fitzgerald, who will replace him on the field.
Ball is one of five Hoosiers named team captain based on team voting. The others are quarterback Penix, senior center Harry Crider and junior linebackers Cam Jones and Micah McFadden.
Ball, who hurt his knee during fall camp, is set to have surgery this week.
"He will probably not be able to be very active in that role on game day," Allen says, "but at the same time, his leadership is obvious by the way his teammates feel about him, and the way he's handled a tough situation with so much maturity and a positive attitude."
Strong leadership has been duplicated by the other team captains.
"We had so many guys get votes, more so than I can ever remember," Allen says. "It speaks to the breadth of the leadership on this team. Guys have been not just good football players the last couple years, but also young men that are respected by their teammates."
******
Pandemic reality means no tailgating. IU officials reiterated that Memorial Stadium parking lots will be closed to everyone except entry points for families and staff.
In a university release, director of athletics Scott Dolson calls it a "disappointing, but necessary step as we ensure we follow the university, local and state guidelines."
At least for now, tailgating won't return until 2021.
"We look forward to welcoming all of our Hoosier fans back once it is safe to do so," he says. "I hope fans will be ready to return to Bloomington next fall and bring that great energy and passion we all love so much."
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