Indiana University Athletics
IU Defense Fueled By ‘Something To Prove’
3/26/2020 8:29:00 AM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Amid the Covid-19-induced shutdown, Indiana football focus remains clear:
Build a better program.
Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack has his plan, and if the virus outbreak delayed it, it certainly didn't derail it.
Wommack listed his goals a few days before the shutdown.
"Confident communication is No. 1," he said. "The ability to communicate with confidence. Be loud.
"When you have a young defense, which we did last year, they made plays, but not all the time. There were times we were on different pages and that was the difference in games in critical situations."
That has to stop, Wommack said. It will stop with added maturity and experience.
"Intentional footwork and hands," was goal No. 2.
"If you go back to the bowl game, go back to the end of the season, we tackled really well with the exception of the second half against Purdue when we were wet and tired. We've got to be better there."
And finally, he said, "Continue the effort we play with. These guys understand the culture we've built."
The defense took a big jump last season. Despite starting only two seniors (against 6 sophomores), IU shut out two opponents, held two others to three points each, and allowed an average of 24.4 points. That was the fewest points the Hoosiers have allowed in 30 years.
That was good, Wommack said.
It can be better, he added.
"As much as we did as a 2019 defense, we're not satisfied.
"Our guys believe the 2020 defense has something to prove. They'll play with a chip on their shoulders. That's what we believe here. That's a Tom Allen defense."
That would be head coach Tom Allen, who pushes an aggressive, attacking defense that seeks to force takeaways at a game-changing rate.
Wommack is a big believer given he and Allen learned much of it from Wommack's father, Dave, a long-time college defensive coordinator, when both were at Mississippi.
It helped Indiana go 8-5 last season and earn a TaxSlayer Gator Bowl berth against Tennessee.
The Hoosiers were on the brink of their first bowl victory in a generation, but gave up two touchdowns in the closing minutes and lost 23-22. That's a motivator, Wommack says.
"You want to win, but on the flip side, the hunger it brought in the offseason and at the same time the confidence that we played so well until the end, it's a double-edged sword in a positive way."
Wommack saw it immediately after the loss. He saw it during winter workouts and the spring practices they completed.
"I think you see the benefit of what we had in our bowl game. The reps we got. The young guys are cleaner. They're more confident in the way we communicate. We had as few a mental busts in the first two days than any spring I've been a part of, which is really exciting."
Juniors such as linebacker Micah McFadden, defensive end James Head Jr., cornerbacks Reese Taylor and Jaylin Williams, safety Juwan Burgess and defensive tackle Demarcus Elliott will mix with seniors Marcelino Ball (husky), Michael Ziemba (defensive end) and Jerome Johnson (defensive tackle) to form a unit with impressive potential.
"It's always amazing to me when that final click turns," Wommack said. "It's almost night and day from even when we lined up against Purdue.
"You see the maturity growth you saw in that bowl game. We probably played our best game against Tennessee. Even though we came up short, I think the momentum and confidence our players got from that bowl prep and then the execution on game day showed. Our guys are confident. They believe in what they're doing. They're bought in."
Coaches want buy-in to continue for as long as the players wear Cream & Crimson.
"The thing for us is harping on the fundamentals," Wommack said. "Everywhere we went in the offseason, the people we met with, they talked about the effort that continues to show out. The effort we play with.
"The fundamentals were really good, and we continue to improve our fundamentals. Those things will be the difference when we show up in Madison in September."
He referred to IU's season opener at Wisconsin, a program that has won the last 10 meetings with the Hoosiers. IU wants to make more history by snapping that losing streak and starting a winning one of its own.
"The leadership of our linebackers and some of the guys in the back end helps to keep that focus. You constantly bring it up. This is why we do this drill -- because it will help when we walk into Madison. That's all that matters at the end of the day."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Amid the Covid-19-induced shutdown, Indiana football focus remains clear:
Build a better program.
Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack has his plan, and if the virus outbreak delayed it, it certainly didn't derail it.
Wommack listed his goals a few days before the shutdown.
"Confident communication is No. 1," he said. "The ability to communicate with confidence. Be loud.
"When you have a young defense, which we did last year, they made plays, but not all the time. There were times we were on different pages and that was the difference in games in critical situations."
That has to stop, Wommack said. It will stop with added maturity and experience.
"Intentional footwork and hands," was goal No. 2.
"If you go back to the bowl game, go back to the end of the season, we tackled really well with the exception of the second half against Purdue when we were wet and tired. We've got to be better there."
And finally, he said, "Continue the effort we play with. These guys understand the culture we've built."
The defense took a big jump last season. Despite starting only two seniors (against 6 sophomores), IU shut out two opponents, held two others to three points each, and allowed an average of 24.4 points. That was the fewest points the Hoosiers have allowed in 30 years.
That was good, Wommack said.
It can be better, he added.
"As much as we did as a 2019 defense, we're not satisfied.
"Our guys believe the 2020 defense has something to prove. They'll play with a chip on their shoulders. That's what we believe here. That's a Tom Allen defense."
That would be head coach Tom Allen, who pushes an aggressive, attacking defense that seeks to force takeaways at a game-changing rate.
Wommack is a big believer given he and Allen learned much of it from Wommack's father, Dave, a long-time college defensive coordinator, when both were at Mississippi.
It helped Indiana go 8-5 last season and earn a TaxSlayer Gator Bowl berth against Tennessee.
The Hoosiers were on the brink of their first bowl victory in a generation, but gave up two touchdowns in the closing minutes and lost 23-22. That's a motivator, Wommack says.
"You want to win, but on the flip side, the hunger it brought in the offseason and at the same time the confidence that we played so well until the end, it's a double-edged sword in a positive way."
Wommack saw it immediately after the loss. He saw it during winter workouts and the spring practices they completed.
"I think you see the benefit of what we had in our bowl game. The reps we got. The young guys are cleaner. They're more confident in the way we communicate. We had as few a mental busts in the first two days than any spring I've been a part of, which is really exciting."
Juniors such as linebacker Micah McFadden, defensive end James Head Jr., cornerbacks Reese Taylor and Jaylin Williams, safety Juwan Burgess and defensive tackle Demarcus Elliott will mix with seniors Marcelino Ball (husky), Michael Ziemba (defensive end) and Jerome Johnson (defensive tackle) to form a unit with impressive potential.
"It's always amazing to me when that final click turns," Wommack said. "It's almost night and day from even when we lined up against Purdue.
"You see the maturity growth you saw in that bowl game. We probably played our best game against Tennessee. Even though we came up short, I think the momentum and confidence our players got from that bowl prep and then the execution on game day showed. Our guys are confident. They believe in what they're doing. They're bought in."
Coaches want buy-in to continue for as long as the players wear Cream & Crimson.
"The thing for us is harping on the fundamentals," Wommack said. "Everywhere we went in the offseason, the people we met with, they talked about the effort that continues to show out. The effort we play with.
"The fundamentals were really good, and we continue to improve our fundamentals. Those things will be the difference when we show up in Madison in September."
He referred to IU's season opener at Wisconsin, a program that has won the last 10 meetings with the Hoosiers. IU wants to make more history by snapping that losing streak and starting a winning one of its own.
"The leadership of our linebackers and some of the guys in the back end helps to keep that focus. You constantly bring it up. This is why we do this drill -- because it will help when we walk into Madison. That's all that matters at the end of the day."
Players Mentioned
DB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
DL
/ Football
DL
/ Football
DB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DL
/ FootballFB: 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