Indiana University Athletics
Media Tuesday: Penn State
10/20/2020 1:15:00 PM | Football
Below are partial transcriptions of Zoom press conferences with Indiana DB Marcelino Ball, OL Harry Crider, LB Cam Jones, LB Micah McFadden and QB Michael Penix Jr. on Tuesday, Oct. 20.
LB Cam Jones
Q. On being selected team captain…
JONES: It is an amazing feeling to know that my teammates look up to me and they want me to take on this role. I just have to step my game up and step up my leadership role. I need to help the young guys and even the older guys on the team to get this defense where it needs to be.
Q. On the memory of the eight-minute, fourth-quarter Penn State drive last season…
JONES: I remember every second of that drive. It was a crazy moment and all we needed was one play to stop them. We have carried that into practice every single day and we just know that we have to be locked in every single play.
Q. On returning nine starters…
JONES: We have a lot of players coming back and that just means our defense has more experience where we can help each other out. We know exactly what we need to do and when to do it, we just have to make the plays. Everybody knows what everybody needs to be doing so it is a good feeling to know that the whole defense is on the same page when 11 people step onto the field.
LB Micah McFadden
Q. On tough games hanging around your mind…
MCFADDEN: There were definitely a few games last season that I have been thinking about this whole offseason. Some of those were Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, and the bowl game. If you just think about it, it came down to just a few key plays that we could have capitalized on that would have made the difference in us winning or losing the game. I think this year we have brought a focus to it that it is not just one or two plays that is going to make the game, it is each and every play. It is each and every person on the defense that needs to focus in, do their job and trust each other. I think we are doing a better job of that.
Q. On Michael Penix Jr. in high school…
MCFADDEN: I actually never got to play against Mike Penix Jr. in high school, but I did play a few of his opponents and got to watch film on him. I remember my junior year there was a buzz around him where he had only thrown one pick the whole season, so I knew he was a huge threat and how good of a player he was. Once I got here and got to see him in person and practice against him, I saw how good he actually was.
Q. On staying urgent through the whole game…
MCFADDEN: It was a huge emphasis this offseason and over the summer working with Coach Aaron Wellman. They put an emphasis on the fact that we were going to be running more. They got our conditioning up to a certain level and said 'this is how much you are going to be running in games and throughout the week this is how much you are going to run'. During the summer there was a lot of conditioning that we did and even once we started getting into this midseason/offseason phase we kind of had a few days where we had some good conditioning. We did sprints or long sprints just to get our conditioning up and experience the heavy breathing to get us used to that feel and tire ourselves so we are ready for that fourth quarter. I think an important thing about our defense this year is the depth that we are going to have at all of our positions. We are going to have a lot of guys that can play and come in so it is just about that emphasis of keeping the standard once those guys get on the field and making the same type of plays.
DB Marcelino Ball
Q. On leading team from the sideline…
BALL: The injury has not been that difficult. Throughout this COVID-19 year I have found a space of relaxation as far as my mental health goes so when the injury came, I was good mentally that it did not affect me too bad. Once college games started earlier in the fall it was okay as well, but I am sure once the Big Ten starts paying it will hit me more. I am keeping my mind free with trying to communicate and stay close to the team. I am trying to keep improving mentally on the game and helping out my teammates. I remember after our first scrimmage I went over to Cam Jones' house and ended up staying for an hour or two just watching film and telling him how I would get by a blocker or what I see in the offensive concept. Helping the team out and watching them achieve has been the highlight. It is either helping your teammates out by being a resource or being nothing. I would rather be a resource and a reason why we improve and win games from the sidelines than moping around because I am not playing.
Q. On considering coming back for a sixth year…
BALL: I am focused on this year. We have eight games, eight Big Ten opponents including Penn State this Saturday which is all I am worried about. I get surgery Friday, but I am still planning on being at the game on Saturday.
Q. On watching Bryant Fitzgerald improve…
BALL: He came in as a husky going into my sophomore year. He has this confidence about him. His redshirt freshman year he played as a free safety and he brought this confidence to him where he came off three interceptions. To me, he is like a [Seattle Seahawks DB] Jamal Adams, just his fearlessness, ability to attack blockers and to get down in coverage. I feel he is going to pick up where I left off. Getting into coverage, being a run stopper, he is going to do it all. I have no worries with No. 31. What was crazy is when I got hurt, I called him and told him to be ready and he said I am already here. He already knew that it was his time.
QB Michael Penix Jr.
Q. On the chemistry with the wide receivers…
PENIX: We were able to stay connected all throughout the summer, so we never fell off. We made sure that was something that we stayed on top of. We always worked out together and made sure we got throws in to keep that connection. I feel like we are going to spark it up early.
Q. On picking Indiana over some other offers…
PENIX: The family feel, the atmosphere. I came on campus and I felt a lot of love. I felt energy here that that was unmatched. There were a lot of guys that I thought were working hard to be where they want to be, which is great. I saw a lot of people combining together to be building relationships. There is just a strong relationship and family. The fans here are great. They are at the games for us cheering, so the whole atmosphere. Then coach Tom Allen, the way that he bought into the program, as much as he has put in, I really trust and believe in everything that he talked about and that he is working on. I feel like this team is dedicated and we have a lot to make sure that we go out and be successful.
Q. On leadership…
PENIX: I look at it like a test. I feel like the communication on the field, telling the guys what to do and the simple things come naturally. That comes from knowing the plays. With us being away from each other, communicating and making sure that people are still doing what they need to do, whenever you do not have to, I showed myself that I can be a leader in that aspect. I always talked to the guys and always tried to get them to come out you. Being away from each other was hard, but we made sure we found ways to be able to get together and connect. I feel like that part of the leadership aspect really stood out. That was not just me, but a lot of guys on the team. A lot of guys show a lot of leadership. Whenever we are going through adversity, we never fell off.
OL Harry Crider
Q. On the continuity of the offensive line…
CRIDER: It is never perfect, but it is close. We are feeling really confident about it. No matter who is in there, as a whole, I think this offensive line gels together really well. No matter where people are on the depth chart, everyone is hungry and wants to keep getting better.
Q. On being named a captain…
CRIDER: I have worked on [being more vocal]. Coach Darren Hiller has really challenged me with that at the end of last season. I am happy with how I have progressed through it. Obviously, there is still room for improvement. Being named a team captain was a huge honor, probably the highest honor I have received so far in my life. I think that speaks to how I have grown as a leader, vocally. You have to in that role. It motivates me even more to keep improving in that area.
Q. On the expectations of Michael Penix Jr.…
CRIDER: The sky is the limit. Each position group on offense is loaded with big names and guys that can produce at the highest level. Coach Nick Sheridan challenged us to be the best offense in the Big Ten and I think that is a reachable goal. We set these high goals, but they are attainable. With a leader like Penix back there, as long as we do our job up front as an offensive line, the sky is the limit.
LB Cam Jones
Q. On being selected team captain…
JONES: It is an amazing feeling to know that my teammates look up to me and they want me to take on this role. I just have to step my game up and step up my leadership role. I need to help the young guys and even the older guys on the team to get this defense where it needs to be.
Q. On the memory of the eight-minute, fourth-quarter Penn State drive last season…
JONES: I remember every second of that drive. It was a crazy moment and all we needed was one play to stop them. We have carried that into practice every single day and we just know that we have to be locked in every single play.
Q. On returning nine starters…
JONES: We have a lot of players coming back and that just means our defense has more experience where we can help each other out. We know exactly what we need to do and when to do it, we just have to make the plays. Everybody knows what everybody needs to be doing so it is a good feeling to know that the whole defense is on the same page when 11 people step onto the field.
LB Micah McFadden
Q. On tough games hanging around your mind…
MCFADDEN: There were definitely a few games last season that I have been thinking about this whole offseason. Some of those were Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, and the bowl game. If you just think about it, it came down to just a few key plays that we could have capitalized on that would have made the difference in us winning or losing the game. I think this year we have brought a focus to it that it is not just one or two plays that is going to make the game, it is each and every play. It is each and every person on the defense that needs to focus in, do their job and trust each other. I think we are doing a better job of that.
Q. On Michael Penix Jr. in high school…
MCFADDEN: I actually never got to play against Mike Penix Jr. in high school, but I did play a few of his opponents and got to watch film on him. I remember my junior year there was a buzz around him where he had only thrown one pick the whole season, so I knew he was a huge threat and how good of a player he was. Once I got here and got to see him in person and practice against him, I saw how good he actually was.
Q. On staying urgent through the whole game…
MCFADDEN: It was a huge emphasis this offseason and over the summer working with Coach Aaron Wellman. They put an emphasis on the fact that we were going to be running more. They got our conditioning up to a certain level and said 'this is how much you are going to be running in games and throughout the week this is how much you are going to run'. During the summer there was a lot of conditioning that we did and even once we started getting into this midseason/offseason phase we kind of had a few days where we had some good conditioning. We did sprints or long sprints just to get our conditioning up and experience the heavy breathing to get us used to that feel and tire ourselves so we are ready for that fourth quarter. I think an important thing about our defense this year is the depth that we are going to have at all of our positions. We are going to have a lot of guys that can play and come in so it is just about that emphasis of keeping the standard once those guys get on the field and making the same type of plays.
DB Marcelino Ball
Q. On leading team from the sideline…
BALL: The injury has not been that difficult. Throughout this COVID-19 year I have found a space of relaxation as far as my mental health goes so when the injury came, I was good mentally that it did not affect me too bad. Once college games started earlier in the fall it was okay as well, but I am sure once the Big Ten starts paying it will hit me more. I am keeping my mind free with trying to communicate and stay close to the team. I am trying to keep improving mentally on the game and helping out my teammates. I remember after our first scrimmage I went over to Cam Jones' house and ended up staying for an hour or two just watching film and telling him how I would get by a blocker or what I see in the offensive concept. Helping the team out and watching them achieve has been the highlight. It is either helping your teammates out by being a resource or being nothing. I would rather be a resource and a reason why we improve and win games from the sidelines than moping around because I am not playing.
Q. On considering coming back for a sixth year…
BALL: I am focused on this year. We have eight games, eight Big Ten opponents including Penn State this Saturday which is all I am worried about. I get surgery Friday, but I am still planning on being at the game on Saturday.
Q. On watching Bryant Fitzgerald improve…
BALL: He came in as a husky going into my sophomore year. He has this confidence about him. His redshirt freshman year he played as a free safety and he brought this confidence to him where he came off three interceptions. To me, he is like a [Seattle Seahawks DB] Jamal Adams, just his fearlessness, ability to attack blockers and to get down in coverage. I feel he is going to pick up where I left off. Getting into coverage, being a run stopper, he is going to do it all. I have no worries with No. 31. What was crazy is when I got hurt, I called him and told him to be ready and he said I am already here. He already knew that it was his time.
QB Michael Penix Jr.
Q. On the chemistry with the wide receivers…
PENIX: We were able to stay connected all throughout the summer, so we never fell off. We made sure that was something that we stayed on top of. We always worked out together and made sure we got throws in to keep that connection. I feel like we are going to spark it up early.
Q. On picking Indiana over some other offers…
PENIX: The family feel, the atmosphere. I came on campus and I felt a lot of love. I felt energy here that that was unmatched. There were a lot of guys that I thought were working hard to be where they want to be, which is great. I saw a lot of people combining together to be building relationships. There is just a strong relationship and family. The fans here are great. They are at the games for us cheering, so the whole atmosphere. Then coach Tom Allen, the way that he bought into the program, as much as he has put in, I really trust and believe in everything that he talked about and that he is working on. I feel like this team is dedicated and we have a lot to make sure that we go out and be successful.
Q. On leadership…
PENIX: I look at it like a test. I feel like the communication on the field, telling the guys what to do and the simple things come naturally. That comes from knowing the plays. With us being away from each other, communicating and making sure that people are still doing what they need to do, whenever you do not have to, I showed myself that I can be a leader in that aspect. I always talked to the guys and always tried to get them to come out you. Being away from each other was hard, but we made sure we found ways to be able to get together and connect. I feel like that part of the leadership aspect really stood out. That was not just me, but a lot of guys on the team. A lot of guys show a lot of leadership. Whenever we are going through adversity, we never fell off.
OL Harry Crider
Q. On the continuity of the offensive line…
CRIDER: It is never perfect, but it is close. We are feeling really confident about it. No matter who is in there, as a whole, I think this offensive line gels together really well. No matter where people are on the depth chart, everyone is hungry and wants to keep getting better.
Q. On being named a captain…
CRIDER: I have worked on [being more vocal]. Coach Darren Hiller has really challenged me with that at the end of last season. I am happy with how I have progressed through it. Obviously, there is still room for improvement. Being named a team captain was a huge honor, probably the highest honor I have received so far in my life. I think that speaks to how I have grown as a leader, vocally. You have to in that role. It motivates me even more to keep improving in that area.
Q. On the expectations of Michael Penix Jr.…
CRIDER: The sky is the limit. Each position group on offense is loaded with big names and guys that can produce at the highest level. Coach Nick Sheridan challenged us to be the best offense in the Big Ten and I think that is a reachable goal. We set these high goals, but they are attainable. With a leader like Penix back there, as long as we do our job up front as an offensive line, the sky is the limit.
Players Mentioned
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