Indiana University Athletics
Big Ten Showdown Truth: Quarterback Play Will Rule The Day
11/20/2020 12:00:00 PM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Forget fairness or pressure or hype, and focus on this truth entering Saturday's Big Ten showdown between No. 9 Indiana (4-0) and No. 3 Ohio State (3-0) at Ohio Stadium:
The game will likely come down to quarterback play.
"There is a reason why the NFL pays their quarterbacks as much as they do," IU head coach Tom Allen says. "That is the key position. You go as your quarterback goes and that is just the way that it is.
"That is why you have two teams that are undefeated and playing in a big, big game together."
Ohio State has Justin Fields, a Heisman Trophy contender putting up video-game-like numbers.
Indiana counters with Michael Penix Jr., who in his 10 career games has shown elite potential, and one huge Penn State-beating play.
"It is a great opportunity for Michael," Allen says. "It is his first chance to play against Ohio State since he has been here. I am excited to see how this game, this environment, this opportunity pulls even more greatness out of him."
Fields rates with Clemson's Trevor Lawrence as the nation's best quarterbacks. His 86.7-percent accuracy, along with 11 touchdowns and no interceptions, makes him a formidable challenge.
IU defensive coordinator Kane Wommack has spent countless hours trying to devise a way to slow Fields down.
"What makes Justin Fields so dynamic is his ability to extend plays," Wommack says. "His eye progression is good. He sees the coverage. He can recognize things and work through the progression.
"He has elite pocket awareness. His ability to feel the pocket, escape or just extend plays longer makes him a very special quarterback. That is something we have to do a great job of, finding a way to affect him."
While Penix can't match Fields' numbers, he has the skills to succeed. He completes 60.7 percent of his passes for nine touchdowns and 1,070 yards with three interceptions.
"Both teams have great quarterbacks," Allen says. "Justin Field is really special, but we have a great one, too.
"(Penix) is not as experienced as Justin Fields or played as much football as he has, but he has shown that he has an elite skillset."
That goes beyond Penix' powerful arm and mental toughness, Allen adds.
"I think that Michael's decision making is one of his greatest strengths. The rest of the natural stuff flows from there with his quick release and his arm strength."
IU's success this season has Allen in the running for a pair of national coaching awards. The latest came with Thursday's announcement he had made the Dodd Trophy Midseason Watch List. The award goes to the head coach whose team is successful while stressing scholarship, leadership and integrity.
Two days earlier Allen, with a 22-20 IU record, made the Paul "Bear" Bryant Award Watch List.
Meanwhile, receiver Ty Fryfogle has earned his own national acclaim. He made the Biletnikoff Award Watch List after totals of 18 catches for 342 yards and two touchdowns for his last two games.
The award goes to the nation's best receiver. Teammate Whop Philyor had already made the list.
This adds to a week IU hasn't experienced since the late 1980s glory days of Bill Mallory and Anthony Thompson.
IU got a taste of this after victories over Penn State and Michigan, and didn't lose focus.
Now the Hoosiers face a better opponent and greater hype.
"We understand that the preparation part does not change," Allen says. "That, to me, is the key and that is where the rhythm and attention to detail comes in.
"That is the biggest thing that you have to work on, our focus. That is the ability to prepare at a high level in film evaluation, walk-throughs, meetings, the practices, everything that we do leading up to the game."
The lessons learned from the earlier marquee victories are paying off, Allen adds.
"You have to learn to manage and balance your schedule based on the additional things that this type of situation requires and demands. Our guys are able to do that in a more consistent way because this has happened more frequently. That is a good thing. These are good challenges to have and these are things that moving forward we want to be more consistently a part of with this program."
Beyond Fields, Ohio State's offensive talent is off-the-charts good. Former Buckeye head coach Urban Meyer, now a FOX TV commentator, has said he expects all 11 starters to be playing in the NFL within the next two years.
"They are elite players who are well coached and extremely talented," Allen says.
The Ohio State defense, with a youthful secondary, has shown a little vulnerability against the pass, but Buckeye coaches have had extra time to prepare after last Saturday's game with Maryland was canceled because of Maryland COVID-19 issues.
IU offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan will counter with a game plan that centers on this:
"Put your players in the best position to be successful."
"When you are playing the caliber of a team that we are this weekend, there are very little weaknesses that they have. So, you are spending tireless hours trying to find the best edge you can have to put your players in the best position to be successful.
"I know that we will go into the game confident."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Forget fairness or pressure or hype, and focus on this truth entering Saturday's Big Ten showdown between No. 9 Indiana (4-0) and No. 3 Ohio State (3-0) at Ohio Stadium:
The game will likely come down to quarterback play.
"There is a reason why the NFL pays their quarterbacks as much as they do," IU head coach Tom Allen says. "That is the key position. You go as your quarterback goes and that is just the way that it is.
"That is why you have two teams that are undefeated and playing in a big, big game together."
Ohio State has Justin Fields, a Heisman Trophy contender putting up video-game-like numbers.
Indiana counters with Michael Penix Jr., who in his 10 career games has shown elite potential, and one huge Penn State-beating play.
"It is a great opportunity for Michael," Allen says. "It is his first chance to play against Ohio State since he has been here. I am excited to see how this game, this environment, this opportunity pulls even more greatness out of him."
Fields rates with Clemson's Trevor Lawrence as the nation's best quarterbacks. His 86.7-percent accuracy, along with 11 touchdowns and no interceptions, makes him a formidable challenge.
IU defensive coordinator Kane Wommack has spent countless hours trying to devise a way to slow Fields down.
"What makes Justin Fields so dynamic is his ability to extend plays," Wommack says. "His eye progression is good. He sees the coverage. He can recognize things and work through the progression.
"He has elite pocket awareness. His ability to feel the pocket, escape or just extend plays longer makes him a very special quarterback. That is something we have to do a great job of, finding a way to affect him."
While Penix can't match Fields' numbers, he has the skills to succeed. He completes 60.7 percent of his passes for nine touchdowns and 1,070 yards with three interceptions.
"Both teams have great quarterbacks," Allen says. "Justin Field is really special, but we have a great one, too.
"(Penix) is not as experienced as Justin Fields or played as much football as he has, but he has shown that he has an elite skillset."
That goes beyond Penix' powerful arm and mental toughness, Allen adds.
"I think that Michael's decision making is one of his greatest strengths. The rest of the natural stuff flows from there with his quick release and his arm strength."
IU's success this season has Allen in the running for a pair of national coaching awards. The latest came with Thursday's announcement he had made the Dodd Trophy Midseason Watch List. The award goes to the head coach whose team is successful while stressing scholarship, leadership and integrity.
Two days earlier Allen, with a 22-20 IU record, made the Paul "Bear" Bryant Award Watch List.
Meanwhile, receiver Ty Fryfogle has earned his own national acclaim. He made the Biletnikoff Award Watch List after totals of 18 catches for 342 yards and two touchdowns for his last two games.
The award goes to the nation's best receiver. Teammate Whop Philyor had already made the list.
This adds to a week IU hasn't experienced since the late 1980s glory days of Bill Mallory and Anthony Thompson.
IU got a taste of this after victories over Penn State and Michigan, and didn't lose focus.
Now the Hoosiers face a better opponent and greater hype.
"We understand that the preparation part does not change," Allen says. "That, to me, is the key and that is where the rhythm and attention to detail comes in.
"That is the biggest thing that you have to work on, our focus. That is the ability to prepare at a high level in film evaluation, walk-throughs, meetings, the practices, everything that we do leading up to the game."
The lessons learned from the earlier marquee victories are paying off, Allen adds.
"You have to learn to manage and balance your schedule based on the additional things that this type of situation requires and demands. Our guys are able to do that in a more consistent way because this has happened more frequently. That is a good thing. These are good challenges to have and these are things that moving forward we want to be more consistently a part of with this program."
Beyond Fields, Ohio State's offensive talent is off-the-charts good. Former Buckeye head coach Urban Meyer, now a FOX TV commentator, has said he expects all 11 starters to be playing in the NFL within the next two years.
"They are elite players who are well coached and extremely talented," Allen says.
The Ohio State defense, with a youthful secondary, has shown a little vulnerability against the pass, but Buckeye coaches have had extra time to prepare after last Saturday's game with Maryland was canceled because of Maryland COVID-19 issues.
IU offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan will counter with a game plan that centers on this:
"Put your players in the best position to be successful."
"When you are playing the caliber of a team that we are this weekend, there are very little weaknesses that they have. So, you are spending tireless hours trying to find the best edge you can have to put your players in the best position to be successful.
"I know that we will go into the game confident."
Players Mentioned
FB: Spring Game - Postgame Press Conference
Thursday, April 23
FB: Bray Lynch - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Drew Evans - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Nico Radicic - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21