Indiana University Athletics
NOTEBOOK: IU Expects Its Best Against Top-10 Michigan State
10/12/2021 9:00:00 AM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Tom Allen knows it's out there, or something close to it.
Cream & Crimson football excellence.
He believes the Indiana Hoosiers (2-3) were a preseason Top-20 team for a reason.
Now, with No. 10/9 Michigan State (6-0) coming to Memorial Stadium Saturday in a huge Homecoming opportunity, the IU head coach is pumped to see the real Hoosiers surface
"Just to play our best football," he says via Monday press conference availability. "We haven't played our best football. We haven't played together. We haven't played all three phases working together.
"That's been challenging for guys. When you ask them as a group, they know we haven't. They know we can, and they expect us to. And that's what excites me."
By Saturday night, IU will have played four Top-10 teams with Michigan State, No. 2 Iowa (6-0), No. 3 Cincinnati (5-0), and No. 7 Penn State (5-1), and if Iowa wasn't a Top-10 team for the season opener, let's not quibble over irrelevant details.
But from disappointment and adversity can come something special, Allen insists.
"We have a great opportunity ahead of us and a very tough schedule, awesome schedule to play against the best in the country each week. Guys are able to step up here and that's why they came here. That's what excites me.
"It's a great opportunity to come together to look adversity in the eye, not back down from it and grow together, get stronger together, and learn to fight together and finish together. Play our best."
IU's best last year was enough to post a 24-0 win at Michigan State, its first win at East Lansing since 2001 and its largest-ever margin of victory on the road in this rivalry, highlighted by the Old Brass Spittoon trophy that symbolizes it.
"To me, the biggest thing is for us to play our best football together," Allen says. "That's complementary football -- offense, defense, and special teams working together to creating opportunities for the other sides of the ball.
"When those opportunities come, seize them; we take advantage of it. And we continue to feed off of that and feed off of each other.
"To me, we haven't done that collectively as a whole group for a full game. We've done it in spurts, but we've got to do it together and do it for four quarters."
*****
Do you like a mystery?
Consider IU's quarterback situation.
Starter Michael Penix Jr. injured his left (throwing) shoulder against Penn State. Back-up Jack Tuttle replaced him.
Allen says Penix likely won't need surgery. He is rehabbing and is listed as "week-to-week."
Does that mean he might play against Michigan State?
Allen isn't saying.
"Mike is rehabbing now, and as we have said before, it is week-to-week and that hasn't changed."
And then ...
"You'll find out at kickoff."
The strategy behind not announcing Penix's availability is to force the Spartans to prepare for two quarterbacks.
If Tuttle does play, expect winning play.
Allen sure does.
"First of all, his preparation sticks out to me. That is No. 1. His attention to detail, work ethic, film study, practice habits, just doing the little things in walk-throughs, always being ready.
"That carries over from when he was the starter last year, and even when he was the back-up."
Penix is known for his strong arm. So is Tuttle.
"He is a guy that gets the ball out fast, and he has a strong arm, an accurate arm," Allen says. "Also, his ability to extend plays with his legs. That is a positive thing, without question, and we saw that even last year."
Tuttle started last year in a win at Wisconsin and in an Outback Bowl loss to Ole Miss.
"The bottom line is that he's started for us in one Big Ten game on the road, which was huge last year and has played many minutes beyond that," Allen says.
"His experience as well as his leadership (can help us win). He's a strong leader and more verbal in that role. He does a great job bringing great energy and keeping the guys (engaged). His work ethic is tremendous in the weight room and conditioning workouts and everything that we do.
"All those are very positive things to help us win games."
****
What challenges await Indiana against Michigan State?
Let's start with a formidable trio of quarterback Payton Thorne, receiver Jalen Nailor, and running back Kenneth Walker III.
They dominated Rutgers last Saturday. Walker ran for 233 yards with a 94-yard touchdown run, the longest offensive play in school history.
He leads the Big Ten with 913 rushing yards. He averages 7.1 yards a carry and has nine touchdowns.
Against the Scarlet Knights, Nailor caught five passes for 221 yards, with TD catches of 63, 63, and 65 yards. That earned him co-Big Ten offensive player of the week.
But the Spartans' biggest receiving threat is Jayden Reed with 23 catches for 492 yards (21.4 yards a catch) and five touchdowns.
Thorne completed 16-of-27 passes for a career-high 339 yards and three touchdowns. He's thrown for 1,575 yards and 14 touchdowns against two interceptions.
It was the fifth time in FBS history that a team has had a 300-yard passer, a 200-yard rusher, and a 200-yard receiver.
The result -- the Spartans' 6-0 start is their best since opening the 2015 season 8-0. That team reached the college playoffs.
What makes them good?
"First of all, they run the football," Allen says. "And they don't turn the ball over. They create takeaways on defense. Their defense bends a little bit. They give up some yards, but don't give up points.
"When you don't give up points, don't give up a lot of explosive plays, and you're protecting the ball and scoring points -- averaging almost 40 points a game -- not giving up a lot on defense …
"Their special teams are solid. They've had two returns for touchdowns. Big ones and really game-defining ones.
"They don't have a lot of penalties. Don't make a lot of mistakes. That's big. They're playing winning football."
*****
For Allen, last week's bye was exactly what the Hoosiers needed.
It gave them extra time to refocus, evaluate, heal up, and prepare.
"It was great timing," Allen says. "I don't get to control that. Don't pick those. They pick us.
"For this set of circumstances, it was good timing for us to be able to get away a little bit, get healthier, and reset."
*****
IU's running back depth has taken a hit. Allen says David Ellis had season-ending ankle surgery.
"We tried to rehab him and get him back, but that wasn't working the right way, so for his long-term prognosis, they did (surgery)," Allen says. "He should have a full recovery and we will get him squared away for his future, because he has a bright one. I truly believe that. He has struggled with some ankle injuries since he has been here."
Add the transfer of Tim Baldwin Jr. and IU will need tailbacks to step up behind Stephen Carr (386 yards, 3 touchdowns).
That includes Davion Ervin-Poindexter, Chris Childers, David Holloman, Charlie Spegal, and Trent Howland.
"David Holloman is a guy that needs to step up," Allen says. "He's a true freshman, but he's been working with our 1s and 2s the last few practices.
"It's the same thing with Charlie Spegal. He's a guy who has been here, a guy that understands our system, and can do a lot of different things in that part of it.
"Trent Howland is a guy who has been here, came off surgery a year ago, came in as a true freshman, big, physical guy. He's been there getting some reps.
"Davion has been playing quite a bit. He needs to take a step up and elevate, and so does Chris Childers. Those two guys have to continue to grow, and their role will be expanded, but that whole room will have to step up and do their part and help us find a way to move the football and create points."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Tom Allen knows it's out there, or something close to it.
Cream & Crimson football excellence.
He believes the Indiana Hoosiers (2-3) were a preseason Top-20 team for a reason.
Now, with No. 10/9 Michigan State (6-0) coming to Memorial Stadium Saturday in a huge Homecoming opportunity, the IU head coach is pumped to see the real Hoosiers surface
"Just to play our best football," he says via Monday press conference availability. "We haven't played our best football. We haven't played together. We haven't played all three phases working together.
"That's been challenging for guys. When you ask them as a group, they know we haven't. They know we can, and they expect us to. And that's what excites me."
By Saturday night, IU will have played four Top-10 teams with Michigan State, No. 2 Iowa (6-0), No. 3 Cincinnati (5-0), and No. 7 Penn State (5-1), and if Iowa wasn't a Top-10 team for the season opener, let's not quibble over irrelevant details.
But from disappointment and adversity can come something special, Allen insists.
"We have a great opportunity ahead of us and a very tough schedule, awesome schedule to play against the best in the country each week. Guys are able to step up here and that's why they came here. That's what excites me.
"It's a great opportunity to come together to look adversity in the eye, not back down from it and grow together, get stronger together, and learn to fight together and finish together. Play our best."
IU's best last year was enough to post a 24-0 win at Michigan State, its first win at East Lansing since 2001 and its largest-ever margin of victory on the road in this rivalry, highlighted by the Old Brass Spittoon trophy that symbolizes it.
"To me, the biggest thing is for us to play our best football together," Allen says. "That's complementary football -- offense, defense, and special teams working together to creating opportunities for the other sides of the ball.
"When those opportunities come, seize them; we take advantage of it. And we continue to feed off of that and feed off of each other.
"To me, we haven't done that collectively as a whole group for a full game. We've done it in spurts, but we've got to do it together and do it for four quarters."
*****
Do you like a mystery?
Consider IU's quarterback situation.
Starter Michael Penix Jr. injured his left (throwing) shoulder against Penn State. Back-up Jack Tuttle replaced him.
Allen says Penix likely won't need surgery. He is rehabbing and is listed as "week-to-week."
Does that mean he might play against Michigan State?
Allen isn't saying.
"Mike is rehabbing now, and as we have said before, it is week-to-week and that hasn't changed."
And then ...
"You'll find out at kickoff."
The strategy behind not announcing Penix's availability is to force the Spartans to prepare for two quarterbacks.
If Tuttle does play, expect winning play.
Allen sure does.
"First of all, his preparation sticks out to me. That is No. 1. His attention to detail, work ethic, film study, practice habits, just doing the little things in walk-throughs, always being ready.
"That carries over from when he was the starter last year, and even when he was the back-up."
Penix is known for his strong arm. So is Tuttle.
"He is a guy that gets the ball out fast, and he has a strong arm, an accurate arm," Allen says. "Also, his ability to extend plays with his legs. That is a positive thing, without question, and we saw that even last year."
Tuttle started last year in a win at Wisconsin and in an Outback Bowl loss to Ole Miss.
"The bottom line is that he's started for us in one Big Ten game on the road, which was huge last year and has played many minutes beyond that," Allen says.
"His experience as well as his leadership (can help us win). He's a strong leader and more verbal in that role. He does a great job bringing great energy and keeping the guys (engaged). His work ethic is tremendous in the weight room and conditioning workouts and everything that we do.
"All those are very positive things to help us win games."
****
What challenges await Indiana against Michigan State?
Let's start with a formidable trio of quarterback Payton Thorne, receiver Jalen Nailor, and running back Kenneth Walker III.
They dominated Rutgers last Saturday. Walker ran for 233 yards with a 94-yard touchdown run, the longest offensive play in school history.
He leads the Big Ten with 913 rushing yards. He averages 7.1 yards a carry and has nine touchdowns.
Against the Scarlet Knights, Nailor caught five passes for 221 yards, with TD catches of 63, 63, and 65 yards. That earned him co-Big Ten offensive player of the week.
But the Spartans' biggest receiving threat is Jayden Reed with 23 catches for 492 yards (21.4 yards a catch) and five touchdowns.
Thorne completed 16-of-27 passes for a career-high 339 yards and three touchdowns. He's thrown for 1,575 yards and 14 touchdowns against two interceptions.
It was the fifth time in FBS history that a team has had a 300-yard passer, a 200-yard rusher, and a 200-yard receiver.
The result -- the Spartans' 6-0 start is their best since opening the 2015 season 8-0. That team reached the college playoffs.
What makes them good?
"First of all, they run the football," Allen says. "And they don't turn the ball over. They create takeaways on defense. Their defense bends a little bit. They give up some yards, but don't give up points.
"When you don't give up points, don't give up a lot of explosive plays, and you're protecting the ball and scoring points -- averaging almost 40 points a game -- not giving up a lot on defense …
"Their special teams are solid. They've had two returns for touchdowns. Big ones and really game-defining ones.
"They don't have a lot of penalties. Don't make a lot of mistakes. That's big. They're playing winning football."
*****
For Allen, last week's bye was exactly what the Hoosiers needed.
It gave them extra time to refocus, evaluate, heal up, and prepare.
"It was great timing," Allen says. "I don't get to control that. Don't pick those. They pick us.
"For this set of circumstances, it was good timing for us to be able to get away a little bit, get healthier, and reset."
*****
IU's running back depth has taken a hit. Allen says David Ellis had season-ending ankle surgery.
"We tried to rehab him and get him back, but that wasn't working the right way, so for his long-term prognosis, they did (surgery)," Allen says. "He should have a full recovery and we will get him squared away for his future, because he has a bright one. I truly believe that. He has struggled with some ankle injuries since he has been here."
Add the transfer of Tim Baldwin Jr. and IU will need tailbacks to step up behind Stephen Carr (386 yards, 3 touchdowns).
That includes Davion Ervin-Poindexter, Chris Childers, David Holloman, Charlie Spegal, and Trent Howland.
"David Holloman is a guy that needs to step up," Allen says. "He's a true freshman, but he's been working with our 1s and 2s the last few practices.
"It's the same thing with Charlie Spegal. He's a guy who has been here, a guy that understands our system, and can do a lot of different things in that part of it.
"Trent Howland is a guy who has been here, came off surgery a year ago, came in as a true freshman, big, physical guy. He's been there getting some reps.
"Davion has been playing quite a bit. He needs to take a step up and elevate, and so does Chris Childers. Those two guys have to continue to grow, and their role will be expanded, but that whole room will have to step up and do their part and help us find a way to move the football and create points."
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