Indiana University Athletics
By Run and Pass, IU’s Offensive Versatility Alive and Well
10/8/2020 8:45:00 AM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Nick Sheridan flashes a hint of a smile. The game is on, started 24 hours earlier by Mike Hart.
Sheridan is Indiana's offensive coordinator. Hart is the running backs coach.
Beyond that, they are long-time friends, former college teammates, fiercely competitive, committed to a second-straight Hoosier winning season, and more.
Hart pushes the run, which is no surprise. He was a superstar tailback at Michigan (Sheridan was a back-up quarterback) who has emerged as a top running backs coach.
So when he has the chance to deliver good-natured run-the-ball prodding, he takes Zoom press conference advantage.
Sheridan is ready for his own Zoom counter.
"No surprise that the running back coach would mention running the ball," he says. "He was that way when we were teammates."
Sheridan is set to run a diverse, balanced offense, partly because that's his nature, partly because he has the talent to do it, mostly because that's what head coach Tom Allen wants.
Why?
Because balance gives IU its best chance to win (see last season's 8-5 record), especially against a Big Ten schedule.
Still, given the running back talent, Sheridan would be a fool not to feature it.
He is no fool.
Stevie Scott III is a 1,000-yard rusher. Sampson James is a potential 1,000-yard rusher. David Ellis is a big-play waiting to happen. Guys such as Tim Baldwin Jr. and Ahrod Lloyd are ready to make their marks if given the opportunity.
"One thing I will say is I am confident in that (running back) room, without a doubt," Sheridan says.
That isn't by accident.
"Coach Hart has done a fantastic job recruiting and developing," Sheridan says. "We feel confident in the players who are in that room, and look forward to them contributing a significant role."
Then Sheridan gets to the heart of not just the offense, but the program.
"We are going to do whatever it takes to win."
The Hoosiers averaged 31.8 points last season, with nine 30-point-plus games and a 1,000-yard receiver (Whop Philyor). Given the caliber of opponents, and the explosive nature of college football, even with what looms as a powerhouse defense, they might have to do better.
"If we've got to throw it 70 times or run it 70 times, we care about winning," Sheridan says. "That depends on what the game looks like, what the opponent looks like, what the conditions are."
For instance, IU is set to play at Ohio State, a national championship contender with a Heisman Trophy candidate at quarterback (Justin Fields) and an offense that likely will rate among America's best.
The odds of beating the Buckeyes by a score of, say, 6-3, are basically zero.
"You need to have some versatility in your offense where you feel confident that when we have to pass it, we can, and when we have to run it, we can," Sheridan says.
"I know that's a little coach speak about taking what the defense gives us, but it's the truth."
All defenses try to make offenses one-dimensional. Elite defenses, and the Big Ten will have several of those, won't just try, but do.
"There are defenses that structurally make it very challenging to run or throw," Sheridan says. "If you cannot do the other, that makes it tough.
"We do not want to be one-dimensional. We want to do whatever it takes to get first downs, score and help our team win."
At any level, the offense depends on quarterback play. IU has potentially one of the Big Ten's best in Michael Penix Jr. Injuries have sidelined him the last two seasons, but impressive strength and weight gains suggest he's ready to overcome it.
Elite quarterback play is more than that, of course. It's leadership, awareness, intelligence, toughness and, in these diverse-offense times, a strong arm and mobility
"Michael has developed physically," Sheridan says. "He is bigger and stronger. His leaderships and communication have improved. That comes from time.
"He came in, despite being a super talented freshman, (college) is a little bit different. He was an 18-year old kid and coming into a locker room full of 22-year olds. He has really grown into that.
"He is very well-liked and respected by his teammates. I think that is probably where the biggest growth has come. Certainly the ability is there."
Is it ever. Penix showed flashes as a true freshman until a torn ACL ended his season.
Last year, injuries limited him to six games. Still, he set a program record by completing 68.8 percent of his passes, which ranks sixth in Big Ten history. In his first career road start, at defense-strong Michigan State, he completed 20-straight passes, second in conference history to Iowa's Chuck Long's 22 in 1984.
Penix threw for 1,394 yards, 10 touchdowns and four interceptions. He also rushed for 118 yards.
The good news -- the best is still ahead, especially with a talented group of receivers highlighted by Philyor, Ty Fryfogle and tight end Peyton Hendershot.
"Since my freshman year, I have been able to slow the game down," Penix says. "I understand everything that has been put in.
"I have always known the playbook, but now I am at the point where I understand why we are calling certain plays and why we are doing certain things. That is one area in which I have gotten better. Just slowing the game down, understanding the defense and taking what they give me."
Adds Sheridan: "His consistency has continued to improve. It is our job to continue to push him and put him in the best situations to be successful.
"The sky is the limit for Michael. We are very excited."
Excitement includes the strong bond between the two men.
"What makes Coach Sheridan stand out is he always brings a lot of energy," Penix says. "He brings a lot of juice.
"He comes into meetings excited. He pushes us to our fullest. That's something guys like."
IU's first scrimmage was last Saturday. It was, Sheridan says, "relatively clean."
"There were not a lot of balls on the ground. There were not a lot of penalties.
"It wasn't perfect, but we are trying to eliminate the bad football. You need to go through the process of guys getting the signal, lining up, being confident in what the call is, playing fast and eliminate negative plays.
"I like where we're at. We will keep working to get as good as we can."
Adds Penix: "I feel that we have been executing well with everything that we have going on. Everything has been really good. We have to make sure that we are finishing our plays. That is one thing that we are stressing, finish everything we do and execute at our best."
Whether that's by run or pass, isn't the point.
Winning is.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Nick Sheridan flashes a hint of a smile. The game is on, started 24 hours earlier by Mike Hart.
Sheridan is Indiana's offensive coordinator. Hart is the running backs coach.
Beyond that, they are long-time friends, former college teammates, fiercely competitive, committed to a second-straight Hoosier winning season, and more.
Hart pushes the run, which is no surprise. He was a superstar tailback at Michigan (Sheridan was a back-up quarterback) who has emerged as a top running backs coach.
So when he has the chance to deliver good-natured run-the-ball prodding, he takes Zoom press conference advantage.
Sheridan is ready for his own Zoom counter.
"No surprise that the running back coach would mention running the ball," he says. "He was that way when we were teammates."
Sheridan is set to run a diverse, balanced offense, partly because that's his nature, partly because he has the talent to do it, mostly because that's what head coach Tom Allen wants.
Why?
Because balance gives IU its best chance to win (see last season's 8-5 record), especially against a Big Ten schedule.
Still, given the running back talent, Sheridan would be a fool not to feature it.
He is no fool.
Stevie Scott III is a 1,000-yard rusher. Sampson James is a potential 1,000-yard rusher. David Ellis is a big-play waiting to happen. Guys such as Tim Baldwin Jr. and Ahrod Lloyd are ready to make their marks if given the opportunity.
"One thing I will say is I am confident in that (running back) room, without a doubt," Sheridan says.
That isn't by accident.
"Coach Hart has done a fantastic job recruiting and developing," Sheridan says. "We feel confident in the players who are in that room, and look forward to them contributing a significant role."
Then Sheridan gets to the heart of not just the offense, but the program.
"We are going to do whatever it takes to win."
The Hoosiers averaged 31.8 points last season, with nine 30-point-plus games and a 1,000-yard receiver (Whop Philyor). Given the caliber of opponents, and the explosive nature of college football, even with what looms as a powerhouse defense, they might have to do better.
"If we've got to throw it 70 times or run it 70 times, we care about winning," Sheridan says. "That depends on what the game looks like, what the opponent looks like, what the conditions are."
For instance, IU is set to play at Ohio State, a national championship contender with a Heisman Trophy candidate at quarterback (Justin Fields) and an offense that likely will rate among America's best.
The odds of beating the Buckeyes by a score of, say, 6-3, are basically zero.
"You need to have some versatility in your offense where you feel confident that when we have to pass it, we can, and when we have to run it, we can," Sheridan says.
"I know that's a little coach speak about taking what the defense gives us, but it's the truth."
All defenses try to make offenses one-dimensional. Elite defenses, and the Big Ten will have several of those, won't just try, but do.
"There are defenses that structurally make it very challenging to run or throw," Sheridan says. "If you cannot do the other, that makes it tough.
"We do not want to be one-dimensional. We want to do whatever it takes to get first downs, score and help our team win."
At any level, the offense depends on quarterback play. IU has potentially one of the Big Ten's best in Michael Penix Jr. Injuries have sidelined him the last two seasons, but impressive strength and weight gains suggest he's ready to overcome it.
Elite quarterback play is more than that, of course. It's leadership, awareness, intelligence, toughness and, in these diverse-offense times, a strong arm and mobility
"Michael has developed physically," Sheridan says. "He is bigger and stronger. His leaderships and communication have improved. That comes from time.
"He came in, despite being a super talented freshman, (college) is a little bit different. He was an 18-year old kid and coming into a locker room full of 22-year olds. He has really grown into that.
"He is very well-liked and respected by his teammates. I think that is probably where the biggest growth has come. Certainly the ability is there."
Is it ever. Penix showed flashes as a true freshman until a torn ACL ended his season.
Last year, injuries limited him to six games. Still, he set a program record by completing 68.8 percent of his passes, which ranks sixth in Big Ten history. In his first career road start, at defense-strong Michigan State, he completed 20-straight passes, second in conference history to Iowa's Chuck Long's 22 in 1984.
Penix threw for 1,394 yards, 10 touchdowns and four interceptions. He also rushed for 118 yards.
The good news -- the best is still ahead, especially with a talented group of receivers highlighted by Philyor, Ty Fryfogle and tight end Peyton Hendershot.
"Since my freshman year, I have been able to slow the game down," Penix says. "I understand everything that has been put in.
"I have always known the playbook, but now I am at the point where I understand why we are calling certain plays and why we are doing certain things. That is one area in which I have gotten better. Just slowing the game down, understanding the defense and taking what they give me."
Adds Sheridan: "His consistency has continued to improve. It is our job to continue to push him and put him in the best situations to be successful.
"The sky is the limit for Michael. We are very excited."
Excitement includes the strong bond between the two men.
"What makes Coach Sheridan stand out is he always brings a lot of energy," Penix says. "He brings a lot of juice.
"He comes into meetings excited. He pushes us to our fullest. That's something guys like."
IU's first scrimmage was last Saturday. It was, Sheridan says, "relatively clean."
"There were not a lot of balls on the ground. There were not a lot of penalties.
"It wasn't perfect, but we are trying to eliminate the bad football. You need to go through the process of guys getting the signal, lining up, being confident in what the call is, playing fast and eliminate negative plays.
"I like where we're at. We will keep working to get as good as we can."
Adds Penix: "I feel that we have been executing well with everything that we have going on. Everything has been really good. We have to make sure that we are finishing our plays. That is one thing that we are stressing, finish everything we do and execute at our best."
Whether that's by run or pass, isn't the point.
Winning is.
Players Mentioned
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