High Expectations – Nick Sheridan Pushes Maximum Offensive Standards
5/21/2020 9:00:00 AM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – For Nick Sheridan, the Indiana standard remains.
Whether it's quarterback Michael Penix Jr., running back Stevie Scott III, receiver Whop Philyor, offensive lineman Harry Crider or any Hoosier, the best is required, pandemic-forced separation be darned.
So when Sheridan, the new offensive coordinator, was asked on a recent conference call what he expected from Penix, the response went well beyond one player.
"We have high expectations for all of our players," he said, "and we challenged them during this time. We tried to approach this as an opportunity to create an edge, to create an advantage.
"With Mike and the rest of our players, certainly encouraging them to use this time to separate themselves from their competition, to improve in a better manner than the guys we're going against. I think we recognize that."
Sheridan and the rest of the coaching staff are in Bloomington. Most of the players are scattered around the country while staying at home. They take on-line classes, train, drill and try to make the most of an unprecedented situation.
"The foremost thing is just the safety and well-being of the players," Sheridan says, "but we try to have them maximize this opportunity to benefit themselves. For Michael, this is no different than for any of the other players.
"We have high expectations for Michael and he understands that. We have high expectations for our other quarterbacks and other players as well. We expect them to be doing everything in their power to stay safe and healthy and then utilize the time to improve themselves physically and mentally and make sure that they're on top of their academics. We hold our kids to high standards and the circumstances don't change that."
******
Sheridan's transition from tight ends coach to offensive coordinator continues to go smoothly, a benefit from starting his fourth season at Indiana, and his second in this offense.
It also helps to have a veteran offensive staff with running backs coach Mike Hart, receivers coach Grant Heard and offensive line coach Darren Hiller. The only newcomer is tight ends coach Kevin Wright.
Plus there are plenty of returning offensive players to work with.
"Continuity on our staff and with the players is important and has been beneficial for sure," Sheridan said. "The staff I've been fortunate enough to work with has been fantastic from the top down.
"It's always a collaboration. It's always a group effort in all areas, recruiting, game planning, play calling. We all work together and we communicate very well. It gives me a lot of confidence because of the quality of staff that Coach (Tom) Allen has assembled."
Offensive coordinator is a tough enough job. Doing it for the first time under Covid-19 conditions ratchets up the difficulty.
"The circumstances are what they are," Sheridan said. "We try to make the most of it. You certainly rely on your staff. They've been great.
"I think we've been productive. We're trying to make the most of it. While we're still teaching football and trying to implement some things schematically, our primary focus has been academics and the health and well-being of our players."
*****
Players aren't allowed to use campus facilities and can only work with coaches on a long-distance basis. Still, thanks to technology, it works.
"The NCAA came out with some guidelines for us and some rules that we have to follow from a timing standpoint," Sheridan said. "With technology, it's been fantastic.
"It's just like the kids are learning in school (taking on-line classes) with Zoom meetings. We are able to use a lot of the same technology. We continue to have position meetings under the direction of Coach Allen.
"It's been productive. Is it the same as if you're sitting face-to-face? Certainly not, but with technology the way that it is and the access from the Internet and all those sorts of things, it certainly has been an easier transition than it would've been 15 to 20 years ago.
"We've still been able to teach and implement things. There's no substitution for reps. That piece is missing, but as far as the teaching and being able to communicate regularly and efficiently with the players, I think it's been pretty effective. I think we've done a good job of that.
"Whenever the time comes that (players) come back, then we'll maximize that time, as well."
*****
Stay-at-home coaching means family time that gives Sheridan a deeper insight into 2-year-old son Beau's athletic potential.
"My son is probably going to be a left-handed hitter," he said. "We've been getting in some extra batting practice off the tee.
"His jump shot is not very good, but we're working on that."
That's among the personal benefits for Sheridan and wife Sarah.
"We've talked about that as a staff," he said. "I don't think we'll ever get this amount of consecutive days to be able to be around our families. I've tried to soak that up as much as possible.
"I think all of the coaches would say they've enjoyed seeing their children and families more."
Still, football work remains, and every coach pushes hard.
"From a work standpoint, we've still been going 100 miles per hour," Sheridan says. "There's an urgency to improve and adapt to this situation and recruit. It certainly hasn't felt like time off. We've been working very hard and diligently.
"Obviously, we're on the phone more than you normally would be, not just with our players, but with recruits, families. We've been working efficiently and diligently."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – For Nick Sheridan, the Indiana standard remains.
Whether it's quarterback Michael Penix Jr., running back Stevie Scott III, receiver Whop Philyor, offensive lineman Harry Crider or any Hoosier, the best is required, pandemic-forced separation be darned.
So when Sheridan, the new offensive coordinator, was asked on a recent conference call what he expected from Penix, the response went well beyond one player.
"We have high expectations for all of our players," he said, "and we challenged them during this time. We tried to approach this as an opportunity to create an edge, to create an advantage.
"With Mike and the rest of our players, certainly encouraging them to use this time to separate themselves from their competition, to improve in a better manner than the guys we're going against. I think we recognize that."
Sheridan and the rest of the coaching staff are in Bloomington. Most of the players are scattered around the country while staying at home. They take on-line classes, train, drill and try to make the most of an unprecedented situation.
"The foremost thing is just the safety and well-being of the players," Sheridan says, "but we try to have them maximize this opportunity to benefit themselves. For Michael, this is no different than for any of the other players.
"We have high expectations for Michael and he understands that. We have high expectations for our other quarterbacks and other players as well. We expect them to be doing everything in their power to stay safe and healthy and then utilize the time to improve themselves physically and mentally and make sure that they're on top of their academics. We hold our kids to high standards and the circumstances don't change that."
******
Sheridan's transition from tight ends coach to offensive coordinator continues to go smoothly, a benefit from starting his fourth season at Indiana, and his second in this offense.
It also helps to have a veteran offensive staff with running backs coach Mike Hart, receivers coach Grant Heard and offensive line coach Darren Hiller. The only newcomer is tight ends coach Kevin Wright.
Plus there are plenty of returning offensive players to work with.
"Continuity on our staff and with the players is important and has been beneficial for sure," Sheridan said. "The staff I've been fortunate enough to work with has been fantastic from the top down.
"It's always a collaboration. It's always a group effort in all areas, recruiting, game planning, play calling. We all work together and we communicate very well. It gives me a lot of confidence because of the quality of staff that Coach (Tom) Allen has assembled."
Offensive coordinator is a tough enough job. Doing it for the first time under Covid-19 conditions ratchets up the difficulty.
"The circumstances are what they are," Sheridan said. "We try to make the most of it. You certainly rely on your staff. They've been great.
"I think we've been productive. We're trying to make the most of it. While we're still teaching football and trying to implement some things schematically, our primary focus has been academics and the health and well-being of our players."
*****
Players aren't allowed to use campus facilities and can only work with coaches on a long-distance basis. Still, thanks to technology, it works.
"The NCAA came out with some guidelines for us and some rules that we have to follow from a timing standpoint," Sheridan said. "With technology, it's been fantastic.
"It's just like the kids are learning in school (taking on-line classes) with Zoom meetings. We are able to use a lot of the same technology. We continue to have position meetings under the direction of Coach Allen.
"It's been productive. Is it the same as if you're sitting face-to-face? Certainly not, but with technology the way that it is and the access from the Internet and all those sorts of things, it certainly has been an easier transition than it would've been 15 to 20 years ago.
"We've still been able to teach and implement things. There's no substitution for reps. That piece is missing, but as far as the teaching and being able to communicate regularly and efficiently with the players, I think it's been pretty effective. I think we've done a good job of that.
"Whenever the time comes that (players) come back, then we'll maximize that time, as well."
*****
Stay-at-home coaching means family time that gives Sheridan a deeper insight into 2-year-old son Beau's athletic potential.
"My son is probably going to be a left-handed hitter," he said. "We've been getting in some extra batting practice off the tee.
"His jump shot is not very good, but we're working on that."
That's among the personal benefits for Sheridan and wife Sarah.
"We've talked about that as a staff," he said. "I don't think we'll ever get this amount of consecutive days to be able to be around our families. I've tried to soak that up as much as possible.
"I think all of the coaches would say they've enjoyed seeing their children and families more."
Still, football work remains, and every coach pushes hard.
"From a work standpoint, we've still been going 100 miles per hour," Sheridan says. "There's an urgency to improve and adapt to this situation and recruit. It certainly hasn't felt like time off. We've been working very hard and diligently.
"Obviously, we're on the phone more than you normally would be, not just with our players, but with recruits, families. We've been working efficiently and diligently."
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