Stevie Scott III Will Do What's Necessary
12/2/2020 9:43:00 AM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Stevie Scott III as a throwing quarterback?
Do you see that happening Saturday against Wisconsin?
Do you see it working?
Scott does.
"If I have to go in the Wildcat formation and pass it," the junior running back says, "then I will pass it, even if I have to turn into the quarterback for moment. I am here to do whatever they need me to do to win."
Yes, the 6-2, 231-pound Scott is known for his bruising runs. No, he has never played quarterback in the manner of, say, teammate Michael Penix Jr.
But he has played quarterback in the Wildcat sense of the word, which means he takes a direct snap and runs. He did it for the first time during last Saturday's 27-11 win over Maryland, and it helped him run for 80 yards and three touchdowns.
Is there a scenario where Scott could take a direct snap, fake a run and throw?
Why not, he asks, in so many words.
"I am going to try to take advantage of the opportunity," he says. "I am excited. I am one those players who is trying to make a play at any given moment to help the team win."
The Wildcat formation in general, and Scott in particular, could get heavy use against Wisconsin, especially with Penix out for the season with a torn ACL suffered against Maryland.
The closer No. 12/10/11 IU (5-1) gets to the end zone, the more likely Scott is to get the ball. He has rushed for eight touchdowns this season, and 405 yards. He has scored 30 touchdowns in less than three seasons, 28 on the ground, none by dancing his way into the end zone.
"This is a grown man's sport and you have to be a grown man when it comes down to the goal line," Scott says. "Anywhere in the red zone, we have to be tough, physical and have a nose for the end zone.
"We want to get the ball in the end zone and make plays. We want to be out there helping the offensive line and the team."
Losing Penix hurts, Scott adds, but it doesn't ruin the season. Not with promising back-up Jack Tuttle, a former four-star prospect out of California, taking charge.
"Having Michael go down is crushing to the team as he has been through so much," Scott says. "He helped this team win in so many ways. It is a sad feeling and my heart breaks for him because he had worked so hard this offseason. He wanted to play a full season with us and get us to what we have been trying to get to, a Big Ten championship.
"Now with Jack Tuttle stepping in, we have full confidence in Jack that he can come in, control the game, control the pace and lead us to victory. He is also a great leader and has showed improvement this week. I am excited to see Jack play."
Penix, meanwhile, continues making headlines.
He was one of 35 quarterbacks named to the Davey O'Brien QB Class of 2020, which puts him in the running for the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award.
Penix, whose season ended last Saturday with a torn ACL suffered during the Maryland win, threw for 1,645 yards, 14 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He also rushed for two TDs and scored the dramatic two-point conversion that beat Penn State in overtime.
He has a 10-2 record as a starter.
Defensively, Indiana has a national-best 16 interceptions. Cornerback Jaylin Williams leads the way with four picks and 93 return yards.
The reason, Williams says, is having players who can play zone coverage rather than just man, which means they can face the quarterback and see what is happening rather than being focused on the receiver.
"The vision coverage has been a big thing for us. Our secondary has a lot of athletes. We have a lot of speed out on the field.
"The vision coverages give us a chance to read the quarterback and see where he is going. We have played a lot of one-read quarterbacks in the past couple of weeks and we have been able to make our reads based on the movement of their shoulders. It has been going well for us. We are making a lot of plays."
In back-to-back weeks, interceptions became turnovers when Hoosiers intercepted a pass only to fumble it away on the return.
Williams was among the guilty.
Head coach Tom Allen and defensive coordinator Kane Wommack made it a point during Tuesday's practice to address it.
"We did a takeaway circuit for us, specifically," Williams says. "The last two weeks we have not been able to capitalize. That is on us and that is on me. I have to be accountable for that. We are going to get better. We are going to get more (interceptions), so we just have to get better."
Wisconsin (2-1) has thrived with play-action passing, partly because it has had such a dominant running game, partly because it has had solid quarterbacks who take advantage of defenses focused on stopping the run.
Stopping the No. 16/18/19 Badgers, Williams says, starts with eye discipline.
"We just have to do our job. If everyone does his job and does what he is supposed to do, then it should be a fun game for us. We have to do what we have been doing for the last few weeks and get the ball, create those takeaways."
Credit an aggressive approach that uses multiple blitz packages to pressure and sack quarterbacks. IU leads the Big Ten with 20 sacks. Defensive tackle Jerome Johnson has a team-best four sacks.
Defensive end James Head Jr. credits new defensive line coach Kevin Peoples
"Everybody is buying into what Coach Peoples is telling us to do," Head says. "All of the stunts we run, everyone is buying in and doing his job. Everybody wants to make a play.
"If all 11 of us want to make a play and go after the quarterback, somebody is going to get there."
The Hoosiers will have to get there against another big, powerful Wisconsin offensive line that ranks among that Big Ten's best.
"This game is going to be (won) upfront," Head says. "They have an excellent offensive line. They are tough and physical. As a defensive line, we have to step up and make plays."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Stevie Scott III as a throwing quarterback?
Do you see that happening Saturday against Wisconsin?
Do you see it working?
Scott does.
"If I have to go in the Wildcat formation and pass it," the junior running back says, "then I will pass it, even if I have to turn into the quarterback for moment. I am here to do whatever they need me to do to win."
Yes, the 6-2, 231-pound Scott is known for his bruising runs. No, he has never played quarterback in the manner of, say, teammate Michael Penix Jr.
But he has played quarterback in the Wildcat sense of the word, which means he takes a direct snap and runs. He did it for the first time during last Saturday's 27-11 win over Maryland, and it helped him run for 80 yards and three touchdowns.
Is there a scenario where Scott could take a direct snap, fake a run and throw?
Why not, he asks, in so many words.
"I am going to try to take advantage of the opportunity," he says. "I am excited. I am one those players who is trying to make a play at any given moment to help the team win."
The Wildcat formation in general, and Scott in particular, could get heavy use against Wisconsin, especially with Penix out for the season with a torn ACL suffered against Maryland.
The closer No. 12/10/11 IU (5-1) gets to the end zone, the more likely Scott is to get the ball. He has rushed for eight touchdowns this season, and 405 yards. He has scored 30 touchdowns in less than three seasons, 28 on the ground, none by dancing his way into the end zone.
"This is a grown man's sport and you have to be a grown man when it comes down to the goal line," Scott says. "Anywhere in the red zone, we have to be tough, physical and have a nose for the end zone.
"We want to get the ball in the end zone and make plays. We want to be out there helping the offensive line and the team."
Losing Penix hurts, Scott adds, but it doesn't ruin the season. Not with promising back-up Jack Tuttle, a former four-star prospect out of California, taking charge.
"Having Michael go down is crushing to the team as he has been through so much," Scott says. "He helped this team win in so many ways. It is a sad feeling and my heart breaks for him because he had worked so hard this offseason. He wanted to play a full season with us and get us to what we have been trying to get to, a Big Ten championship.
"Now with Jack Tuttle stepping in, we have full confidence in Jack that he can come in, control the game, control the pace and lead us to victory. He is also a great leader and has showed improvement this week. I am excited to see Jack play."
Penix, meanwhile, continues making headlines.
He was one of 35 quarterbacks named to the Davey O'Brien QB Class of 2020, which puts him in the running for the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award.
Penix, whose season ended last Saturday with a torn ACL suffered during the Maryland win, threw for 1,645 yards, 14 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He also rushed for two TDs and scored the dramatic two-point conversion that beat Penn State in overtime.
He has a 10-2 record as a starter.
Defensively, Indiana has a national-best 16 interceptions. Cornerback Jaylin Williams leads the way with four picks and 93 return yards.
The reason, Williams says, is having players who can play zone coverage rather than just man, which means they can face the quarterback and see what is happening rather than being focused on the receiver.
"The vision coverage has been a big thing for us. Our secondary has a lot of athletes. We have a lot of speed out on the field.
"The vision coverages give us a chance to read the quarterback and see where he is going. We have played a lot of one-read quarterbacks in the past couple of weeks and we have been able to make our reads based on the movement of their shoulders. It has been going well for us. We are making a lot of plays."
In back-to-back weeks, interceptions became turnovers when Hoosiers intercepted a pass only to fumble it away on the return.
Williams was among the guilty.
Head coach Tom Allen and defensive coordinator Kane Wommack made it a point during Tuesday's practice to address it.
"We did a takeaway circuit for us, specifically," Williams says. "The last two weeks we have not been able to capitalize. That is on us and that is on me. I have to be accountable for that. We are going to get better. We are going to get more (interceptions), so we just have to get better."
Wisconsin (2-1) has thrived with play-action passing, partly because it has had such a dominant running game, partly because it has had solid quarterbacks who take advantage of defenses focused on stopping the run.
Stopping the No. 16/18/19 Badgers, Williams says, starts with eye discipline.
"We just have to do our job. If everyone does his job and does what he is supposed to do, then it should be a fun game for us. We have to do what we have been doing for the last few weeks and get the ball, create those takeaways."
Credit an aggressive approach that uses multiple blitz packages to pressure and sack quarterbacks. IU leads the Big Ten with 20 sacks. Defensive tackle Jerome Johnson has a team-best four sacks.
Defensive end James Head Jr. credits new defensive line coach Kevin Peoples
"Everybody is buying into what Coach Peoples is telling us to do," Head says. "All of the stunts we run, everyone is buying in and doing his job. Everybody wants to make a play.
"If all 11 of us want to make a play and go after the quarterback, somebody is going to get there."
The Hoosiers will have to get there against another big, powerful Wisconsin offensive line that ranks among that Big Ten's best.
"This game is going to be (won) upfront," Head says. "They have an excellent offensive line. They are tough and physical. As a defensive line, we have to step up and make plays."
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