Indiana University Athletics
Safety by Title, Quarterback by Responsibility
7/28/2020 9:00:00 AM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The job title doesn't say quarterback.
Don't be fooled.
The defensive back responsibility definitely does, Indiana safeties coach Jason Jones says.
In the Hoosiers' force-a-takeaway secondary scheme, safeties are the quarterbacks of the defense. They see offensive formations and make sure defenders line up to beat them.
It's a combination of vision, experience, understanding and athleticism that, if done correctly, will put IU in position to shut down offenses as never before.
And if that happens, well, Cream & Crimson optimism rules, even amid pandemic uncertainty.
"The biggest thing I'm stressing is to be the quarterback," Jones says about his player instructions. "The safeties in this defense make the checks and get everybody lined up. It's their job to communicate to the corners, the huskies (a hybrid safety-linebacker) and make sure everybody is on the same page."
A defense not on the same page is a disaster waiting to happen.
Jones and IU coaches want no part of that. Not when the potential is so impressive.
So Jones pushes a take-charge message.
"I'm trying to get those guys to be the quarterback and be more vocal. Some guys are more vocal than others."
Take junior safety Devon Matthews, for instance. Last year he was good enough to produce 37 tackles and two pass breakups in basically silent mode.
Jones wants more.
"He's not a vocal leader. He leads by example. I'm trying to get him to come out of his shell.
"Everyone looks up to him. I want him to be that more vocal guy, that leader of the group to make more plays."
Jones saw glimpses during IU's four spring practices.
Again, he wants more.
"We had opportunities to make more plays in those four practices. We've got to take advantage of the opportunity when we have it."
Advantage taking gets a boost from secondary versatility. Strong recruiting has delivered multiple players who can play multiple positions.
IU coaches intend to take full advantage, starting with veterans Jamar Johnson and Raheem Layne.
Johnson was a husky last year. He'll be a free safety this coming season. Layne went from cornerback to strong safety.
"I'm pleased with both of those guys," Jones says. "They still have work to do, but I think it's going to be really good for the team."
As far as Johnson, the move, "Expands his football IQ," Jones says. "It helps him understand the defense as a whole.
"Now, there's still some learning to be done because it's a new position, but I think it's going to be really good for him. It will help him get a better understanding."
Understanding can boost aggression and play-making possibilities, which translates into getting more takeaways, which will lead to more victories and happier coaches, led by head coach Tom Allen, who pushes takeaways the way most people breathe.
"When you understand the defense," Jones says, "you know there are times when you can be aggressive and take a chance. I can jump this route. Or, right now I'm in man coverage, and we're blitzing, so I can't be as aggressive. If I (jump) this route, I have to be 100 percent sure that it's going to be a pass breakup or an interception or I'm going to tackle this guy, because if I miss the tackle, it could be a touchdown.
"That's going to help."
Layne also will benefit by his move.
"He's smart," Jones says. "In this defense, we ask our corners to play a lot of press man. It's tough. They have a tough job because every snap you're racing that guy outside.
"Moving Raheem back to safety, he's more involved in the scheme and the courage aspect of making checks. He's picked up on it really well. He's put his time in.
"Before we left campus, he was swinging by my office and we'd watch tape."
All this comes as Jones has fully acclimated to his new job. He joined the Hoosiers in January after coaching stints at Florida Atlantic, Mississippi, Oklahoma State and Tulsa. He quickly went to work getting to know his new players.
"One of the first things I did was set up individual meetings," he says. "I tried to get to know them as people outside of football.
"Once I went through the whole group, then we had a second meeting where we just talked. We're still building those relationships."
Jones met Allen when he was coaching at Oklahoma State and Allen was at Mississippi. They both recruited the Dallas area.
When a secondary coaching position opened at Mississippi, Allen recommended Jones, who got the job.
"We recruited together," Jones says. We worked really well together and ended up getting some really good players.
"Anyone who has worked with Coach Allen, the one thing everybody says is he hasn't changed. That's helped in recruiting.
"When the parents and players talk to him, what they fall in love with is he's a genuine guy. They know he truly cares about their son. It's more than just football. That's why recruiting is taking off and why we're having the success we're having.
"He's not trying to be somebody he's not. He's just Coach Allen. The recruits and moms and dads love it. It's been great."
Jones has quickly built a solid relationship with fellow assistant coaches Brandon Shelby and Kasey Teegardin. Shelby coaches cornerbacks.
Teegardin coached safeties for two seasons before switching to special teams and defensive backs during the offseason. He'll continue to offer safety input.
Both have shared insight about the players.
"You're trying to get a feel for the guys in our room, what their strengths and weaknesses are, and things like that," Jones says.
"Brandon and Kasey have been great. They've welcomed me with open arms. It's like three guys functioning as one."
Getting input from three coaches instead of two will make a difference, Jones adds.
"What's going to help us take that next step from good to great is we have more eyes on those guys. We can watch the little things.
"Between the three of us, nobody has an ego. If I see something that the husky did, I'll let Kasey know. If Kasey sees something a safety did, he'll let me know. It's the same with Shelby (and cornerbacks). It's been really great."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The job title doesn't say quarterback.
Don't be fooled.
The defensive back responsibility definitely does, Indiana safeties coach Jason Jones says.
In the Hoosiers' force-a-takeaway secondary scheme, safeties are the quarterbacks of the defense. They see offensive formations and make sure defenders line up to beat them.
It's a combination of vision, experience, understanding and athleticism that, if done correctly, will put IU in position to shut down offenses as never before.
And if that happens, well, Cream & Crimson optimism rules, even amid pandemic uncertainty.
"The biggest thing I'm stressing is to be the quarterback," Jones says about his player instructions. "The safeties in this defense make the checks and get everybody lined up. It's their job to communicate to the corners, the huskies (a hybrid safety-linebacker) and make sure everybody is on the same page."
A defense not on the same page is a disaster waiting to happen.
Jones and IU coaches want no part of that. Not when the potential is so impressive.
So Jones pushes a take-charge message.
"I'm trying to get those guys to be the quarterback and be more vocal. Some guys are more vocal than others."
Take junior safety Devon Matthews, for instance. Last year he was good enough to produce 37 tackles and two pass breakups in basically silent mode.
Jones wants more.
"He's not a vocal leader. He leads by example. I'm trying to get him to come out of his shell.
"Everyone looks up to him. I want him to be that more vocal guy, that leader of the group to make more plays."
Jones saw glimpses during IU's four spring practices.
Again, he wants more.
"We had opportunities to make more plays in those four practices. We've got to take advantage of the opportunity when we have it."
Advantage taking gets a boost from secondary versatility. Strong recruiting has delivered multiple players who can play multiple positions.
IU coaches intend to take full advantage, starting with veterans Jamar Johnson and Raheem Layne.
Johnson was a husky last year. He'll be a free safety this coming season. Layne went from cornerback to strong safety.
"I'm pleased with both of those guys," Jones says. "They still have work to do, but I think it's going to be really good for the team."
As far as Johnson, the move, "Expands his football IQ," Jones says. "It helps him understand the defense as a whole.
"Now, there's still some learning to be done because it's a new position, but I think it's going to be really good for him. It will help him get a better understanding."
Understanding can boost aggression and play-making possibilities, which translates into getting more takeaways, which will lead to more victories and happier coaches, led by head coach Tom Allen, who pushes takeaways the way most people breathe.
"When you understand the defense," Jones says, "you know there are times when you can be aggressive and take a chance. I can jump this route. Or, right now I'm in man coverage, and we're blitzing, so I can't be as aggressive. If I (jump) this route, I have to be 100 percent sure that it's going to be a pass breakup or an interception or I'm going to tackle this guy, because if I miss the tackle, it could be a touchdown.
"That's going to help."
Layne also will benefit by his move.
"He's smart," Jones says. "In this defense, we ask our corners to play a lot of press man. It's tough. They have a tough job because every snap you're racing that guy outside.
"Moving Raheem back to safety, he's more involved in the scheme and the courage aspect of making checks. He's picked up on it really well. He's put his time in.
"Before we left campus, he was swinging by my office and we'd watch tape."
All this comes as Jones has fully acclimated to his new job. He joined the Hoosiers in January after coaching stints at Florida Atlantic, Mississippi, Oklahoma State and Tulsa. He quickly went to work getting to know his new players.
"One of the first things I did was set up individual meetings," he says. "I tried to get to know them as people outside of football.
"Once I went through the whole group, then we had a second meeting where we just talked. We're still building those relationships."
Jones met Allen when he was coaching at Oklahoma State and Allen was at Mississippi. They both recruited the Dallas area.
When a secondary coaching position opened at Mississippi, Allen recommended Jones, who got the job.
"We recruited together," Jones says. We worked really well together and ended up getting some really good players.
"Anyone who has worked with Coach Allen, the one thing everybody says is he hasn't changed. That's helped in recruiting.
"When the parents and players talk to him, what they fall in love with is he's a genuine guy. They know he truly cares about their son. It's more than just football. That's why recruiting is taking off and why we're having the success we're having.
"He's not trying to be somebody he's not. He's just Coach Allen. The recruits and moms and dads love it. It's been great."
Jones has quickly built a solid relationship with fellow assistant coaches Brandon Shelby and Kasey Teegardin. Shelby coaches cornerbacks.
Teegardin coached safeties for two seasons before switching to special teams and defensive backs during the offseason. He'll continue to offer safety input.
Both have shared insight about the players.
"You're trying to get a feel for the guys in our room, what their strengths and weaknesses are, and things like that," Jones says.
"Brandon and Kasey have been great. They've welcomed me with open arms. It's like three guys functioning as one."
Getting input from three coaches instead of two will make a difference, Jones adds.
"What's going to help us take that next step from good to great is we have more eyes on those guys. We can watch the little things.
"Between the three of us, nobody has an ego. If I see something that the husky did, I'll let Kasey know. If Kasey sees something a safety did, he'll let me know. It's the same with Shelby (and cornerbacks). It's been really great."
Players Mentioned
FB: Elijah Sarratt - MSU Postgame Press Conference (10/18/25)
Saturday, October 18
FB: Fernando Mendoza - MSU Postgame Press Conference (10/18/25)
Saturday, October 18
FB: Omar Cooper Jr. - MSU Postgame Press Conference (10/18/25)
Saturday, October 18
FB: Aiden Fisher - MSU Postgame Press Conference (10/18/25)
Saturday, October 18