Nick Sheridan Seeks To Build On IU’s Offensive Success
3/30/2020 9:09:00 AM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Time warps backward. We stand at Indiana's football practice field. Memorial Stadium looms above us. The sun peaks through racing whitish-gray clouds. Hoosiers trudge toward the tunnel leading to the locker room, a practice finished, more athletic and academic work to face.
This is the world before Covid-19 changed everything. It is a world rooted in the certainty of what had been and -- in time – what will be again.
Nick Sheridan, having just completed his first couple of spring practices as offensive coordinator, offers a hint of what to expect when next season's offense is revealed.
"We're trying to build on what we've done," he says, flashing the smile of someone not wanting to give away too much too soon. "We're trying to have some familiarity and similarity for the players.
"Every year you look at things you could improve on. We've identified those areas. I'd rather not share that openly. We'll see what we did well, and continue to do that. We'll see what the weaknesses were and tweak those to make them better. That's what we've done."
IU's offense thrived last season under offensive coordinator Kalen DeBoer, averaging 31.8 points and 432.8 yards. The Hoosiers had nine games of scoring 31-or-more points en route to an 8-5 record and a TaxSlayer Gator Bowl berth against Tennessee.
Head coach Tom Allen wanted continuity, not radical change. Promoting a member of the current staff, rather than bring in an outsider, seemed the best approach.
While Sheridan has never been an offensive coordinator before, he's had plenty of offensive experience, most of it at quarterback as a player (including 4 years at Michigan) as well as seven years as a coach. He got a chance to broaden that experience last year by coaching tight ends. He's well versed in DeBoer's system.
Sheridan says the transition to taking charge of a Big Ten offense starts with, "The organization and communication. If something happens, you're responsible."
A veteran staff with Mike Hart at running back, Darren Hiller at offensive line, Grant Heard at receiver and Kevin Wright at tight end has helped.
"Coaching is coaching once you get on the grass," Sheridan says. 'We have a great staff. They've been super helpful, total professionals, tireless workers. They care about the players. They're great teachers. They've made my job as easy as possible."
Quarterback looks solid with Michael Penix Jr. back after missing the second half of the season due to injury. He completed 68.8 percent of his passes for 1,394 yards, 10 touchdowns and four interceptions.
Jack Tuttle has moved from third string to backup (he threw 11 passes, completed 6 for 34 yards last year), with freshman Dexter Williams II enrolled for the second semester, which provided an early preparation advantage.
"We're healthier," Sheridan says. "Michael has come back and rehabbed well. He is able to fully participate.
"His leadership has come on. He feels more comfortable in that role. He's taken steps forward. That's the biggest thing for him.
"He's familiar with his teammates. His ability to communicate and lead is something we're pushing him to do. He's done a nice job.
"Jack has been through everything -- school, the weight room, football. He's taken a step forward. He's excited about getting better.
"Dexter is figuring it out. He's focused on getting better.
"We have a lot of work to do, but they've had good attitudes."
A strong receiving group will be led by Whop Philyor and Ty Fryfogle.
Philyor caught 70 passes for 1,002 yards and five touchdowns in a break-out season. Fryfogle added 45 catches for 604 yards and three TDs.
"It's crazy that they're fourth-year players," Sheridan says. "It feels like they just got here.
"We have high expectations for both guys. They're good players and great kids. We're looking for their maturity and leadership. Those guys will take charge and do a great job."
Look for Fryfogle to take a big leap in leadership responsibility.
"He's been a little more vocal, more comfortable in doing that," Sheridan says. "You see his personality come out more. He's able to crack jokes with the guys. You see who he is. The guys respect him. It's been a positive."
Versatile David Ellis should have a bigger role now that he has a year of college experience. Last season, as a true freshman, he returned 28 kickoffs for a 20.7-yard average. He also caught 16 passes for 173 yards, and ran nine times for 53 yards and a touchdown.
"The more versatile you are, the harder you are to defend," Sheridan says. "David has a lot of skill sets. We're trying to expose him to a lot of things before we narrow his role.
"He can be electric with the ball in his hands. He has a great attitude. We're lucky to have him."
As far as how Sheridan plans to use Ellis, "We won't give away too much. We'll try to get him the ball as well as to the other guys like Whop and Fry, and (running backs Stevie Scott II and Sampson James). It makes coaches look better when they break tackles. How we use them, time will tell, but that's our job."
The offensive line has promise despite the loss of veterans Coy Cronk, Hunter Littlejohn and Simon Stepaniak. Caleb Jones, Matthew Bedford and Harry Crider lead the way.
"We try to cross train on the line with a lot of guys," Sheridan says. "We have guys who can play both guard spots and center. With tackles it's more right or left. You never know what will happen in a season.
"You want to make sure you play your best five. Coach Hiller does a great job with that. We're training guys at multiple positions. Coach Hiller will have them ready."
That will be true of all the Hoosiers once the pandemic ends and college athletics, and everything else, returns to normal.
"We're asking a lot of the guys," Sheridan says. "We're a work in progress, but the kids have good attitudes."
Above him, the sun still shines, the clouds still race, and a bright future looms.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Time warps backward. We stand at Indiana's football practice field. Memorial Stadium looms above us. The sun peaks through racing whitish-gray clouds. Hoosiers trudge toward the tunnel leading to the locker room, a practice finished, more athletic and academic work to face.
This is the world before Covid-19 changed everything. It is a world rooted in the certainty of what had been and -- in time – what will be again.
Nick Sheridan, having just completed his first couple of spring practices as offensive coordinator, offers a hint of what to expect when next season's offense is revealed.
"We're trying to build on what we've done," he says, flashing the smile of someone not wanting to give away too much too soon. "We're trying to have some familiarity and similarity for the players.
"Every year you look at things you could improve on. We've identified those areas. I'd rather not share that openly. We'll see what we did well, and continue to do that. We'll see what the weaknesses were and tweak those to make them better. That's what we've done."
IU's offense thrived last season under offensive coordinator Kalen DeBoer, averaging 31.8 points and 432.8 yards. The Hoosiers had nine games of scoring 31-or-more points en route to an 8-5 record and a TaxSlayer Gator Bowl berth against Tennessee.
Head coach Tom Allen wanted continuity, not radical change. Promoting a member of the current staff, rather than bring in an outsider, seemed the best approach.
While Sheridan has never been an offensive coordinator before, he's had plenty of offensive experience, most of it at quarterback as a player (including 4 years at Michigan) as well as seven years as a coach. He got a chance to broaden that experience last year by coaching tight ends. He's well versed in DeBoer's system.
Sheridan says the transition to taking charge of a Big Ten offense starts with, "The organization and communication. If something happens, you're responsible."
A veteran staff with Mike Hart at running back, Darren Hiller at offensive line, Grant Heard at receiver and Kevin Wright at tight end has helped.
"Coaching is coaching once you get on the grass," Sheridan says. 'We have a great staff. They've been super helpful, total professionals, tireless workers. They care about the players. They're great teachers. They've made my job as easy as possible."
Quarterback looks solid with Michael Penix Jr. back after missing the second half of the season due to injury. He completed 68.8 percent of his passes for 1,394 yards, 10 touchdowns and four interceptions.
Jack Tuttle has moved from third string to backup (he threw 11 passes, completed 6 for 34 yards last year), with freshman Dexter Williams II enrolled for the second semester, which provided an early preparation advantage.
"We're healthier," Sheridan says. "Michael has come back and rehabbed well. He is able to fully participate.
"His leadership has come on. He feels more comfortable in that role. He's taken steps forward. That's the biggest thing for him.
"He's familiar with his teammates. His ability to communicate and lead is something we're pushing him to do. He's done a nice job.
"Jack has been through everything -- school, the weight room, football. He's taken a step forward. He's excited about getting better.
"Dexter is figuring it out. He's focused on getting better.
"We have a lot of work to do, but they've had good attitudes."
A strong receiving group will be led by Whop Philyor and Ty Fryfogle.
Philyor caught 70 passes for 1,002 yards and five touchdowns in a break-out season. Fryfogle added 45 catches for 604 yards and three TDs.
"It's crazy that they're fourth-year players," Sheridan says. "It feels like they just got here.
"We have high expectations for both guys. They're good players and great kids. We're looking for their maturity and leadership. Those guys will take charge and do a great job."
Look for Fryfogle to take a big leap in leadership responsibility.
"He's been a little more vocal, more comfortable in doing that," Sheridan says. "You see his personality come out more. He's able to crack jokes with the guys. You see who he is. The guys respect him. It's been a positive."
Versatile David Ellis should have a bigger role now that he has a year of college experience. Last season, as a true freshman, he returned 28 kickoffs for a 20.7-yard average. He also caught 16 passes for 173 yards, and ran nine times for 53 yards and a touchdown.
"The more versatile you are, the harder you are to defend," Sheridan says. "David has a lot of skill sets. We're trying to expose him to a lot of things before we narrow his role.
"He can be electric with the ball in his hands. He has a great attitude. We're lucky to have him."
As far as how Sheridan plans to use Ellis, "We won't give away too much. We'll try to get him the ball as well as to the other guys like Whop and Fry, and (running backs Stevie Scott II and Sampson James). It makes coaches look better when they break tackles. How we use them, time will tell, but that's our job."
The offensive line has promise despite the loss of veterans Coy Cronk, Hunter Littlejohn and Simon Stepaniak. Caleb Jones, Matthew Bedford and Harry Crider lead the way.
"We try to cross train on the line with a lot of guys," Sheridan says. "We have guys who can play both guard spots and center. With tackles it's more right or left. You never know what will happen in a season.
"You want to make sure you play your best five. Coach Hiller does a great job with that. We're training guys at multiple positions. Coach Hiller will have them ready."
That will be true of all the Hoosiers once the pandemic ends and college athletics, and everything else, returns to normal.
"We're asking a lot of the guys," Sheridan says. "We're a work in progress, but the kids have good attitudes."
Above him, the sun still shines, the clouds still race, and a bright future looms.
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