Indiana University Athletics
Saturday, October 23
Bloomington, Ind.
7:30 PM
Indiana University
vs
#5/5 Ohio State
Execution Critical To IU’s Chances Against Ohio State
10/22/2021 11:26:00 AM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosier.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Change will find Indiana Saturday night against Ohio State.
It has to, head coach Tom Allen says.
How much?
In what form?
Those answers might be the difference between a stunning upset victory over the nation's No. 5 team and another disappointment to a season that began with so much promise.
"The core structure of what you do isn't going to change dramatically," Allen says. "Yeah, you have to adjust things. There's no doubt we're in the process of doing that to create the outcomes we want.
"But you start to mess with too many things, and that affects (the players') confidence and their ability to execute from a lack of reps or a lack of believing in what you're doing."
The Hoosiers (2-4) have lost to four Top-10 teams in Iowa, Cincinnati, Penn State, and Michigan State. They were dominant for most of the first half against Cincinnati, and had multiple chances to defeat Michigan State.
That it didn't happen requires a new approach, a task amplified by the prospect of facing a 5-1 Ohio State team that has steamrolled everyone since its home loss to Oregon.
"It's a fine line," Allen says about how much change to implement. "It's a judgment call you have to make as a coach. You have to know your team well, be able to work with them, whether it's schematically, technically, or some fundamental things.
"At the end of the day, you have to execute at critical times."
IU has done that in the past two seasons, when it went 14-7 with a pair of bowl appearances.
It has done well against Ohio State. Last year, it nearly rallied to victory after falling way behind.
That mental toughness, Allen insists, hasn't gone away.
"The resiliency, the grit, the fight, and the toughness has not left us. That's who we are. That's what this program is all about. We just have to execute in those moments."
Defensively, execution has flourished despite significant injuries.
Offensively, problems remain.
IU has scored just 21 points in three Big Ten games. That has to change fast, Allen says.
"You have to do everything you can to maximize this opportunity against Ohio State. Whatever we need to do to help us score points, how many quarterbacks we use, how we use them, how we scheme things, design things, has to be with that objective in mind."
Better offensive line play remains a priority, especially with the Buckeyes second in the Big Ten with 19 sacks.
"We have to find ways schematically to take pressure off and give them the ability to execute," Allen says.
"We did some good things (during last Saturday's loss to Michigan State), but not good enough. It's got to be consistent."
Ohio State's impressive firepower -- it averages 48.5 points and has scored 59, 52, and 66 points in its last three games – has punished defenses. IU's key, defensive coordinator Charlton Warren says, starts with front-seven disruption.
"They do about everything perfect -- run it, pass it, protect it. But when your front seven can give you some havoc and some negative yardage plays, when they can squeeze gaps and get the ball, contain so your guys can run to the ball on the perimeter, that's huge.
"Between the defensive line, the linebackers, the apex players, we have to continue to find ways to make sure our defense doesn't get split down the middle, build edges and allow our team speed, hustle, and effort to run balls down inside out.
"We're a gang-tackle team. I don't want a lot of plays where it's one-on-one tackles. The more we can do that, the more we can keep the ball sideways and run it down, the better we'll be."
The Buckeyes have three dynamic receivers in Garrett Wilson (31 catches, 546 yards, 6 touchdowns), Chris Olave (30, 494, 7), and Jaxon Smith-Njibga (23, 452, 3), and an accurate quarterback in C.J. Stroud (66.2 completion percentage, 1,699 passing yards 18 touchdowns, 3 interceptions).
IU hopes to help counter that with the return of starting cornerbacks Reese Taylor and Taiwan Mullen. They've missed time with injuries.
"Both have been working extremely hard (to make it back)," Allen says. "We have gotten them out there at different times. We're trying to see where they're at. We don't know for sure yet, but trying to get them ready. We'd love to have them back. We definitely need them."
If they can't go, look for more tough-minded play from versatile defensive back Noah Pierre, who more than held his own against Michigan State's game-busting receivers. He totaled nine tackles and an interception.
"Probably the word is resilience," Warren says when asked how he describes Pierre.
"He played safety two months ago. He's played husky. Three weeks ago, you ask him to play cornerback, then he goes into the (Michigan State) game and plays versus the second-most productive pair of receivers in the Big Ten. They go after him and he ends up with nine tackles and a big interception at the end of the game to give us a chance to win.
"The kid is resilient. He's competitive. His teammates did a good job on the sideline if he gave up a play or a pass, of just encouraging him.
"Then the kid goes out and plays like that. Couldn't be more proud of him. This tells you that's the character and core of our team, guys like him. He was a third-string safety, and now he's a starting cornerback against some pretty good teams."
Defensive back Josh Sanguinetti also took advantage of injuries to make a big impact against Michigan State, including an interception.
"He's showing up all over the place and in different situations," Allen says.
"Those guys continue to show up. We need more guys to do that at other positions.
"That's part of recruiting guys. We need them. This team has to rise up. Everybody has a role to play, everybody has an opportunity. When opportunity comes, we'll see who steps up and takes advantage of it."
Saturday's advantage will come at a sold-out Memorial Stadium. The energy from a big crowd could help given Ohio State's overall youth.
"There's no question they do have some youth, some very talented youth," Allen says. "But youth is youth. You play on the road, expect a big crowd, a loud crowd. The intensity and energy, like we had (against Michigan State), has been awesome.
"We have to play our best. That's the goal. We're going to do everything in our power to do that."
IUHoosier.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Change will find Indiana Saturday night against Ohio State.
It has to, head coach Tom Allen says.
How much?
In what form?
Those answers might be the difference between a stunning upset victory over the nation's No. 5 team and another disappointment to a season that began with so much promise.
"The core structure of what you do isn't going to change dramatically," Allen says. "Yeah, you have to adjust things. There's no doubt we're in the process of doing that to create the outcomes we want.
"But you start to mess with too many things, and that affects (the players') confidence and their ability to execute from a lack of reps or a lack of believing in what you're doing."
The Hoosiers (2-4) have lost to four Top-10 teams in Iowa, Cincinnati, Penn State, and Michigan State. They were dominant for most of the first half against Cincinnati, and had multiple chances to defeat Michigan State.
That it didn't happen requires a new approach, a task amplified by the prospect of facing a 5-1 Ohio State team that has steamrolled everyone since its home loss to Oregon.
"It's a fine line," Allen says about how much change to implement. "It's a judgment call you have to make as a coach. You have to know your team well, be able to work with them, whether it's schematically, technically, or some fundamental things.
"At the end of the day, you have to execute at critical times."
IU has done that in the past two seasons, when it went 14-7 with a pair of bowl appearances.
It has done well against Ohio State. Last year, it nearly rallied to victory after falling way behind.
That mental toughness, Allen insists, hasn't gone away.
"The resiliency, the grit, the fight, and the toughness has not left us. That's who we are. That's what this program is all about. We just have to execute in those moments."
Defensively, execution has flourished despite significant injuries.
Offensively, problems remain.
IU has scored just 21 points in three Big Ten games. That has to change fast, Allen says.
"You have to do everything you can to maximize this opportunity against Ohio State. Whatever we need to do to help us score points, how many quarterbacks we use, how we use them, how we scheme things, design things, has to be with that objective in mind."
Better offensive line play remains a priority, especially with the Buckeyes second in the Big Ten with 19 sacks.
"We have to find ways schematically to take pressure off and give them the ability to execute," Allen says.
"We did some good things (during last Saturday's loss to Michigan State), but not good enough. It's got to be consistent."
Ohio State's impressive firepower -- it averages 48.5 points and has scored 59, 52, and 66 points in its last three games – has punished defenses. IU's key, defensive coordinator Charlton Warren says, starts with front-seven disruption.
"They do about everything perfect -- run it, pass it, protect it. But when your front seven can give you some havoc and some negative yardage plays, when they can squeeze gaps and get the ball, contain so your guys can run to the ball on the perimeter, that's huge.
"Between the defensive line, the linebackers, the apex players, we have to continue to find ways to make sure our defense doesn't get split down the middle, build edges and allow our team speed, hustle, and effort to run balls down inside out.
"We're a gang-tackle team. I don't want a lot of plays where it's one-on-one tackles. The more we can do that, the more we can keep the ball sideways and run it down, the better we'll be."
The Buckeyes have three dynamic receivers in Garrett Wilson (31 catches, 546 yards, 6 touchdowns), Chris Olave (30, 494, 7), and Jaxon Smith-Njibga (23, 452, 3), and an accurate quarterback in C.J. Stroud (66.2 completion percentage, 1,699 passing yards 18 touchdowns, 3 interceptions).
IU hopes to help counter that with the return of starting cornerbacks Reese Taylor and Taiwan Mullen. They've missed time with injuries.
"Both have been working extremely hard (to make it back)," Allen says. "We have gotten them out there at different times. We're trying to see where they're at. We don't know for sure yet, but trying to get them ready. We'd love to have them back. We definitely need them."
If they can't go, look for more tough-minded play from versatile defensive back Noah Pierre, who more than held his own against Michigan State's game-busting receivers. He totaled nine tackles and an interception.
"Probably the word is resilience," Warren says when asked how he describes Pierre.
"He played safety two months ago. He's played husky. Three weeks ago, you ask him to play cornerback, then he goes into the (Michigan State) game and plays versus the second-most productive pair of receivers in the Big Ten. They go after him and he ends up with nine tackles and a big interception at the end of the game to give us a chance to win.
"The kid is resilient. He's competitive. His teammates did a good job on the sideline if he gave up a play or a pass, of just encouraging him.
"Then the kid goes out and plays like that. Couldn't be more proud of him. This tells you that's the character and core of our team, guys like him. He was a third-string safety, and now he's a starting cornerback against some pretty good teams."
Defensive back Josh Sanguinetti also took advantage of injuries to make a big impact against Michigan State, including an interception.
"He's showing up all over the place and in different situations," Allen says.
"Those guys continue to show up. We need more guys to do that at other positions.
"That's part of recruiting guys. We need them. This team has to rise up. Everybody has a role to play, everybody has an opportunity. When opportunity comes, we'll see who steps up and takes advantage of it."
Saturday's advantage will come at a sold-out Memorial Stadium. The energy from a big crowd could help given Ohio State's overall youth.
"There's no question they do have some youth, some very talented youth," Allen says. "But youth is youth. You play on the road, expect a big crowd, a loud crowd. The intensity and energy, like we had (against Michigan State), has been awesome.
"We have to play our best. That's the goal. We're going to do everything in our power to do that."
Players Mentioned
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FB: Omar Cooper Jr. Media Availability (10/21/25)
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