Indiana University Athletics
Free and Clear – Bryant Fitzgerald Set To Make His Husky Mark
10/9/2020 8:02:00 AM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Freedom is a wonderful thing.
Just ask Bryant Fitzgerald.
The redshirt junior is Indiana's starting husky now, the result of Marcelino Ball's season-ending ACL injury and his own ability.
Fitzgerald plays a position that demands the power of a linebacker and the speed of a free safety. He has to tackle running backs swift and strong, take on linemen big and powerful, cover receivers fast and elusive, and even rush the quarterback.
He loves it.
Why?
Freedom.
"It is in space, so I am free," he says. "I get to express my athleticism at that position. I like to play more in space. That's the best part of the position."
Husky will give Fitzgerald plenty of difference-making opportunities that free safety, his former position, didn't. Preparation is critical to taking full advantage.
"I need to know the playbook more in-depth now," he says. "I need to know where my run fits are. I need to know my pass responsibility more than ever. I need to work on my blitz technique. At free safety, I never used to blitz. It's very different from free safety."
Fitzgerald figured to be a year away from husky starter status, but Ball's injury during practice a couple of weeks ago changed everything.
"I didn't see the play where he was hurt," Fitzgerald says. "When I heard it, I didn't think he tore anything because when you look at Marcelino, he is a freak of nature. It was a shocking moment."
The 6-foot, 209-pound Fitzgerald has his own athletic freakiness (58 tackles and 3 interceptions in 2 seasons) that needs refined. Ball, who has taken on a mini-coaching role, is helping with that.
"He was the most encouraging guy I have ever seen after an injury," Fitzgerald says. "He's been helping me every day. He is trying to teach me his techniques, his knowledge of the game, to help me better my game.
"I need to get different techniques in my arsenal that help diversify my game."
Fitzgerald is part of a defense rich in potential, even with the loss of Ball. The Hoosiers have depth, experience and talent from a unit that registered two shutouts while holding two other opponents to three points each last season. They are better equipped to handle Big Ten challenges, and it starts with tackling.
Last year, youth contributed to tackling issues (see the Ball State win with IU's 23 missed tackles giving the Cardinals 168 extra yards). Experience and state-of-the-art coaching have made big differences, defensive coordinator Kane Wommack says.
"I think our emphasis in tackling is, if I can say it, cutting edge."
It has to be because lots of live tackling in practice is too risky in these pandemic times.
"We are doing some great things in finding ways to build real-life scenarios without tackling people live," Wommack says.
Wommack did an in-depth study of IU's tackling fundamentals. The result -- a focus on "hard-shoulder tackling" and "position-specific" tackling.
For instance, the way a linebacker brings down a ball carrier is not the same as, say, a cornerback does it.
All that work paid dividends during last Saturday's scrimmage.
"We have more players on the field who are stronger, faster and bigger," Wommack says. "They know what it feels like to hit a grown man in space. They know how to bring those guys down way better than a year ago."
Beyond that, the Hoosiers have recruited for elite defensive performance. Add experience and the potential is obvious.
"The athleticism has improved year after year," Wommack says. "We are more athletic, but that athleticism is more decisive.
"It doesn't matter how fast you run if you don't know where you're supposed to run."
The Hoosiers do know, Wommack says, because coaches spend a lot of time teaching concepts and situational philosophy where "third down is played differently than base downs" or "two minutes where (opponents) need a field goal versus a touchdown."
The defensive line is "playing faster" and "we are certainly a lot more physical."
"It's understanding where to put your hands to be violent, to hold blocks, to recognize the bigger concept of what we are trying to get done."
As for the linebackers, Wommack calls that position "The most exciting piece."
"They know what to do. They get people lined up. They are very physical and can really run."
Coach Tom Allen wants a Top-25 defense, not just this season, but every season.
Before he arrived in 2016, that seemed as likely as horse and buggies making a comeback.
Now, years of recruiting and developing have Indiana's defense fully capable of dealing with the likes of No. 6 Ohio State, No. 9 Penn State, No. 20 Michigan and No. 16 Wisconsin.
"It's experience," veteran safety Devon Matthews says. "All of us have great experience – (cornerback) Tiawan Mullen, myself, (safety) Juwan Burgess, (safety) Jamar Johnson.
"Marcelino Ball, even though he's hurt, people will be there at his spot with experience.
"Everyone understands the formations and culture."
Because they do, because talent, experience and scheme are coming together as they haven't since the Bill Mallory glory years, they just might experience the opportunity Fitzgerald so eagerly embraces.
Freedom.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Freedom is a wonderful thing.
Just ask Bryant Fitzgerald.
The redshirt junior is Indiana's starting husky now, the result of Marcelino Ball's season-ending ACL injury and his own ability.
Fitzgerald plays a position that demands the power of a linebacker and the speed of a free safety. He has to tackle running backs swift and strong, take on linemen big and powerful, cover receivers fast and elusive, and even rush the quarterback.
He loves it.
Why?
Freedom.
"It is in space, so I am free," he says. "I get to express my athleticism at that position. I like to play more in space. That's the best part of the position."
Husky will give Fitzgerald plenty of difference-making opportunities that free safety, his former position, didn't. Preparation is critical to taking full advantage.
"I need to know the playbook more in-depth now," he says. "I need to know where my run fits are. I need to know my pass responsibility more than ever. I need to work on my blitz technique. At free safety, I never used to blitz. It's very different from free safety."
Fitzgerald figured to be a year away from husky starter status, but Ball's injury during practice a couple of weeks ago changed everything.
"I didn't see the play where he was hurt," Fitzgerald says. "When I heard it, I didn't think he tore anything because when you look at Marcelino, he is a freak of nature. It was a shocking moment."
The 6-foot, 209-pound Fitzgerald has his own athletic freakiness (58 tackles and 3 interceptions in 2 seasons) that needs refined. Ball, who has taken on a mini-coaching role, is helping with that.
"He was the most encouraging guy I have ever seen after an injury," Fitzgerald says. "He's been helping me every day. He is trying to teach me his techniques, his knowledge of the game, to help me better my game.
"I need to get different techniques in my arsenal that help diversify my game."
Fitzgerald is part of a defense rich in potential, even with the loss of Ball. The Hoosiers have depth, experience and talent from a unit that registered two shutouts while holding two other opponents to three points each last season. They are better equipped to handle Big Ten challenges, and it starts with tackling.
Last year, youth contributed to tackling issues (see the Ball State win with IU's 23 missed tackles giving the Cardinals 168 extra yards). Experience and state-of-the-art coaching have made big differences, defensive coordinator Kane Wommack says.
"I think our emphasis in tackling is, if I can say it, cutting edge."
It has to be because lots of live tackling in practice is too risky in these pandemic times.
"We are doing some great things in finding ways to build real-life scenarios without tackling people live," Wommack says.
Wommack did an in-depth study of IU's tackling fundamentals. The result -- a focus on "hard-shoulder tackling" and "position-specific" tackling.
For instance, the way a linebacker brings down a ball carrier is not the same as, say, a cornerback does it.
All that work paid dividends during last Saturday's scrimmage.
"We have more players on the field who are stronger, faster and bigger," Wommack says. "They know what it feels like to hit a grown man in space. They know how to bring those guys down way better than a year ago."
Beyond that, the Hoosiers have recruited for elite defensive performance. Add experience and the potential is obvious.
"The athleticism has improved year after year," Wommack says. "We are more athletic, but that athleticism is more decisive.
"It doesn't matter how fast you run if you don't know where you're supposed to run."
The Hoosiers do know, Wommack says, because coaches spend a lot of time teaching concepts and situational philosophy where "third down is played differently than base downs" or "two minutes where (opponents) need a field goal versus a touchdown."
The defensive line is "playing faster" and "we are certainly a lot more physical."
"It's understanding where to put your hands to be violent, to hold blocks, to recognize the bigger concept of what we are trying to get done."
As for the linebackers, Wommack calls that position "The most exciting piece."
"They know what to do. They get people lined up. They are very physical and can really run."
Coach Tom Allen wants a Top-25 defense, not just this season, but every season.
Before he arrived in 2016, that seemed as likely as horse and buggies making a comeback.
Now, years of recruiting and developing have Indiana's defense fully capable of dealing with the likes of No. 6 Ohio State, No. 9 Penn State, No. 20 Michigan and No. 16 Wisconsin.
"It's experience," veteran safety Devon Matthews says. "All of us have great experience – (cornerback) Tiawan Mullen, myself, (safety) Juwan Burgess, (safety) Jamar Johnson.
"Marcelino Ball, even though he's hurt, people will be there at his spot with experience.
"Everyone understands the formations and culture."
Because they do, because talent, experience and scheme are coming together as they haven't since the Bill Mallory glory years, they just might experience the opportunity Fitzgerald so eagerly embraces.
Freedom.
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