Indiana University Athletics
For Peyton Hendershot, Doing Less Means Doing More
11/5/2020 8:14:00 AM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Forget pats on the back and gentle instruction. Sometimes if you're Peyton Hendershot, one of the Big Ten's best tight ends, and you play below expectations, you will hear about it.
The redshirt junior wouldn't want it any other way.
So when Hendershot was a non-factor in the season-opening victory over No. 8 Penn State (2 catches for 13 yards, a couple of drops), he had an intense conversation with offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan.
The result -- he had a team-leading six catches in the win over Rutgers.
The No. 13 Hoosiers (2-0) will need that kind of performance, and perhaps more, to snap a 24-game losing streak to No. 23/25 Michigan (1-1) Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
"My focus for this week, and for the rest of the season," Hendershot says, "is to take things one play at a time and play for my teammates."
If that sounds boring, well, boring often wins when it involves doing what needs to be done.
Hendershot very much wants to do that.
"I went into the game against Penn State trying to do too much. I talked to Coach Sheridan and he got on me pretty hard. If you want to be a great player, you would not want it any other way. You want the coaches to coach you."
And so they do.
Sheridan coached tight ends last season, when Hendershot set a program tight end record with 52 catches for 622 yards and four touchdowns. Sheridan pushed the right coaching buttons then, and is doing it now.
"We talked about playing for my teammates and going out there and taking it one snap at a time," Hendershot says. "I feel like that is what I did (against Rutgers). I played a better game because I was not out there trying to do too much."
IU has scored 36 and 37 points in its first two games, but no one in the program is satisfied.
"We are going to focus on taking it one play at a time and executing better," Hendershot says. "I do not think that our execution has been as good as it needs to be. We need to have our best game of execution."
Michigan traditionally has one of the Big Ten's top defenses, but has struggled at times against Minnesota in a win, and against Michigan State in a loss. It ranks ninth in the conference in total defense, allowing 387.5 yards a game. It ranks sixth by allowing 25.5 points.
For comparison, IU is seventh in total defense (367.5 yards) and seventh in scoring defense (28.0).
Hendershot expects to get the Wolverines' best shot, especially up front.
"Michigan has a really good defensive line. If we can do our job by blocking their defensive ends and tackles well, then everything else will fall into place."
Could it fall enough to end the struggles against Michigan?
Why not, linebacker Micah McFadden asks. Beating Penn State, which had a 22-1 record against the Hoosiers going into that season opener, shows it can be done.
"It definitely brings a lot of confidence. I think the mindset of this team is we take it one week at a time. Each week we are dominating that opponent.
"It does not really matter what the name on the helmet is or anything like that. It is more about what we do and how physical, how hard we can play."
Executing assignments, maintaining communication and playing fundamentally sound are crucial, he adds, with one over-riding priority.
"Definitely being a physical football team will make the difference," he says.
Stopping Michigan means stopping quarterback Joe Milton, a dual-threat player.
"He is a very explosive guy," cornerback Tiawan Mullen says. "He is a big guy and has a strong arm.
"They have a great receiving group. We have to execute whatever call defensive coordinator Kane Wommack makes.
"They have a great offense, but we have a great defense. At the end of the day, you just have to go out there and make plays."
That includes stopping a Michigan running attack that averages 205 yards a game.
"They have a good running game," McFadden says. "A lot of guard pulls and stuff like that, getting the perimeter game going.
"We have to have good edges to our defense. We have to be good on the back end, knowing where our fits are, and what the safety rotation is. And also, just protecting inside seam throws. (Milton) likes the middle of the field. That is where he is pretty comfortable throwing, so we have got to protect that."
There is one other priority, Hendershot adds.
"It is very important to start fast at the beginning of the game, and the start of the second half. It sets the attitude for the game."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Forget pats on the back and gentle instruction. Sometimes if you're Peyton Hendershot, one of the Big Ten's best tight ends, and you play below expectations, you will hear about it.
The redshirt junior wouldn't want it any other way.
So when Hendershot was a non-factor in the season-opening victory over No. 8 Penn State (2 catches for 13 yards, a couple of drops), he had an intense conversation with offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan.
The result -- he had a team-leading six catches in the win over Rutgers.
The No. 13 Hoosiers (2-0) will need that kind of performance, and perhaps more, to snap a 24-game losing streak to No. 23/25 Michigan (1-1) Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
"My focus for this week, and for the rest of the season," Hendershot says, "is to take things one play at a time and play for my teammates."
If that sounds boring, well, boring often wins when it involves doing what needs to be done.
Hendershot very much wants to do that.
"I went into the game against Penn State trying to do too much. I talked to Coach Sheridan and he got on me pretty hard. If you want to be a great player, you would not want it any other way. You want the coaches to coach you."
And so they do.
Sheridan coached tight ends last season, when Hendershot set a program tight end record with 52 catches for 622 yards and four touchdowns. Sheridan pushed the right coaching buttons then, and is doing it now.
"We talked about playing for my teammates and going out there and taking it one snap at a time," Hendershot says. "I feel like that is what I did (against Rutgers). I played a better game because I was not out there trying to do too much."
IU has scored 36 and 37 points in its first two games, but no one in the program is satisfied.
"We are going to focus on taking it one play at a time and executing better," Hendershot says. "I do not think that our execution has been as good as it needs to be. We need to have our best game of execution."
Michigan traditionally has one of the Big Ten's top defenses, but has struggled at times against Minnesota in a win, and against Michigan State in a loss. It ranks ninth in the conference in total defense, allowing 387.5 yards a game. It ranks sixth by allowing 25.5 points.
For comparison, IU is seventh in total defense (367.5 yards) and seventh in scoring defense (28.0).
Hendershot expects to get the Wolverines' best shot, especially up front.
"Michigan has a really good defensive line. If we can do our job by blocking their defensive ends and tackles well, then everything else will fall into place."
Could it fall enough to end the struggles against Michigan?
Why not, linebacker Micah McFadden asks. Beating Penn State, which had a 22-1 record against the Hoosiers going into that season opener, shows it can be done.
"It definitely brings a lot of confidence. I think the mindset of this team is we take it one week at a time. Each week we are dominating that opponent.
"It does not really matter what the name on the helmet is or anything like that. It is more about what we do and how physical, how hard we can play."
Executing assignments, maintaining communication and playing fundamentally sound are crucial, he adds, with one over-riding priority.
"Definitely being a physical football team will make the difference," he says.
Stopping Michigan means stopping quarterback Joe Milton, a dual-threat player.
"He is a very explosive guy," cornerback Tiawan Mullen says. "He is a big guy and has a strong arm.
"They have a great receiving group. We have to execute whatever call defensive coordinator Kane Wommack makes.
"They have a great offense, but we have a great defense. At the end of the day, you just have to go out there and make plays."
That includes stopping a Michigan running attack that averages 205 yards a game.
"They have a good running game," McFadden says. "A lot of guard pulls and stuff like that, getting the perimeter game going.
"We have to have good edges to our defense. We have to be good on the back end, knowing where our fits are, and what the safety rotation is. And also, just protecting inside seam throws. (Milton) likes the middle of the field. That is where he is pretty comfortable throwing, so we have got to protect that."
There is one other priority, Hendershot adds.
"It is very important to start fast at the beginning of the game, and the start of the second half. It sets the attitude for the game."
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