Notebook: Quarterback Uncertainty, Maryland Challenge and Bounce-Back Defense
10/26/2021 9:57:00 AM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Nothing is etched in stone for Indiana's quarterback situation.
Injuries have forced veteran Jack Tuttle to join veteran Michael Penix Jr. in week-to-week availability status.
That means true freshman Donaven McCulley could start Saturday at Maryland, with walk-on redshirt sophomore Grant Gremel as the backup.
Practice will be adjusted as necessary.
"It's about building things around what (McCulley) feels comfortable with and can function at a high level with and be able to do things he needs to do to help us win a football game," head coach Tom Allen says.
Add the torn ACL that has sidelined Dexter Williams II for the season and IU (2-5) is down to one scholarship quarterback (McCulley) if Tuttle can't play.
"With the unknowns that you have with Jack," Allen says via Monday's weekly availability, "you have to fully prepare McCulley mentally and physically, and from a reps perspective. We'll see how the week plays itself out as far as how much that happens with Jack."
During Saturday's loss to No. 5 Ohio State, Tuttle hurt his right foot after getting hit by two Buckeyes while throwing a first-quarter touchdown pass.
While Allen says the MRI showed that, "It wasn't as bad as it could have been," it's too early to know if Tuttle will be ready by Saturday.
"It creates some unknowns to know his status moving forward," Allen says. "Hopefully, he'll be able to recover as efficiently as possible."
McCulley, a four-star prospect out of Indianapolis and the highest-rated quarterback IU has landed since the recruiting service era began in 2001, needs all the practice reps he can get. An outstanding athlete out of Lawrence North High School who thrived in basketball as well as football, he didn't leave school early, and didn't arrive at Indiana until June.
He missed spring practice and all the offseason conditioning and film preparation.
At first, that wasn't a problem because IU had three veteran quarterbacks for the season. But then injuries hit all three, forcing McCulley into an accelerated catch-up mode.
Given the complexities of the quarterback position, where you have to know what every offensive player is doing as well as read defenses designed to pressure and confuse the most veteran of quarterbacks, the challenge is formidable.
"Donaven needs to get as many reps as possible," Allen says. "You have to have that mindset. He's going to be the guy, and then we'll see what happens.
"The approach is to get him ready and get Grant ready, as well. Those two guys have to be getting the majority of the (practice) reps and getting themselves in position to play. That's the approach."
Against Ohio State, McCulley was 1-for-6 with a 30-yard completion to Ty Fryfogle. He rushed 11 times for nine yards.
"(Tuttle's injury) happened very early in the game and then it's raining, so it's really tough for a kid being in his first opportunity against such a high-level opponent in tough weather conditions," Allen says.
"He improved throughout the game and I am glad he got all those reps. It will definitely pay dividends moving forward, no matter how much he has to play in the future. I thought that he got more comfortable doing some things and made some nice runs, took some big hits and popped back up, and made some throws. He just has to continue to grow with that."
*****
Maryland has lost three-straight games since opening 4-0 (including wins over Illinois and West Virginia), its best start since 2016. It lost to Iowa 51-14, Ohio State 66-17, and Minnesota 34-16.
The Terrapins gave up 352 rushing yards in 56 carries to Minnesota last Saturday.
Maryland is led by quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, who completes 71.1 percent of his passes for 1,965 yards, 15 touchdowns, and eight interceptions.
Tailback Tayon Fleet-Davis has rushed for 359 yards and five touchdowns while averaging 5.7 yards per carry.
"They are a very talented team and much respect for their staff and the quality of the skill that they have on offense and the physicality and athleticism that they have on defense," Allen says.
****
IU hopes to have veteran cornerbacks Tiawan Mullen (an All-American) and Reese Taylor back for Maryland. Both are battling injuries.
"Tiawan played a few snaps (against Ohio State)," Allen says. "He hopefully will get better this week. He is progressing. Same with Reese."
As for the rest of the week, Allen says, "The focus is now on getting our guys healthy. We'll be practicing accordingly with that goal in mind to be able to do a great job of making sure our guys are fresh mentally and physically when we take the field on Saturday in College Park."
*****
Allen, as fierce a defensive coaching force as you're likely to see, is convinced the defense will bounce back from its Ohio State performance -- allowing 44 points in the first half, 54 for the game.
While conceding it was the best Buckeye offense he's faced as a coach, seeing the Hoosiers give up seven touchdowns and a field goal in the first nine defensive series was a big disappointment.
"I think there was a little hesitancy," Allen says. "It was something in our guys that I hadn't seen out of them before this season. Definitely haven't seen it recently.
"That was another reason for the (first half). Throw it in the trash. We're not going to overly beat ourselves up in that regard. We obviously make corrections and press on. That was the challenge to our guys. We did not play at our standard without question.
"We can't let the last (game) affect the next one. That's what it comes down to. That's absolutely not going to happen. Talked to our guys, meeting more guys, and being able to make them understand that. We have a lot of really good players on defense and we just have certain things we need to learn from this one and press on."
*****
IU's losses have come against No. 2 Cincinnati (7-0), No. 5 Ohio State (6-1), No. 8 Michigan State (7-0), No. 9 Iowa (6-1), and No. 20 Penn State (5-2).
Only one ranked team remains -- No. 6 Michigan (7-0). The Hoosiers also will play Maryland, Minnesota (5-2), Rutgers (3-4), and Purdue (4-3).
"We did talk to our guys," Allen says. "It's obvious. They know and it's been well documented how difficult our schedule has been and who we've played and where they're ranked. You can look at the schedule and see it.
"Still, the focus is the next one. That's the priority.
"Big-picture wise, you do understand how the dynamics look, and how your season plays itself out and when you play which teams and where on the schedule.
"In regard to right now and where we are, it is solely focused on one opponent, and that's Maryland. And everything you do, all your energy, everything you have, what you do, all focus is on getting yourself in the best position possible to play your best on the road and get a win at Maryland. That's the focus."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Nothing is etched in stone for Indiana's quarterback situation.
Injuries have forced veteran Jack Tuttle to join veteran Michael Penix Jr. in week-to-week availability status.
That means true freshman Donaven McCulley could start Saturday at Maryland, with walk-on redshirt sophomore Grant Gremel as the backup.
Practice will be adjusted as necessary.
"It's about building things around what (McCulley) feels comfortable with and can function at a high level with and be able to do things he needs to do to help us win a football game," head coach Tom Allen says.
Add the torn ACL that has sidelined Dexter Williams II for the season and IU (2-5) is down to one scholarship quarterback (McCulley) if Tuttle can't play.
"With the unknowns that you have with Jack," Allen says via Monday's weekly availability, "you have to fully prepare McCulley mentally and physically, and from a reps perspective. We'll see how the week plays itself out as far as how much that happens with Jack."
During Saturday's loss to No. 5 Ohio State, Tuttle hurt his right foot after getting hit by two Buckeyes while throwing a first-quarter touchdown pass.
While Allen says the MRI showed that, "It wasn't as bad as it could have been," it's too early to know if Tuttle will be ready by Saturday.
"It creates some unknowns to know his status moving forward," Allen says. "Hopefully, he'll be able to recover as efficiently as possible."
McCulley, a four-star prospect out of Indianapolis and the highest-rated quarterback IU has landed since the recruiting service era began in 2001, needs all the practice reps he can get. An outstanding athlete out of Lawrence North High School who thrived in basketball as well as football, he didn't leave school early, and didn't arrive at Indiana until June.
He missed spring practice and all the offseason conditioning and film preparation.
At first, that wasn't a problem because IU had three veteran quarterbacks for the season. But then injuries hit all three, forcing McCulley into an accelerated catch-up mode.
Given the complexities of the quarterback position, where you have to know what every offensive player is doing as well as read defenses designed to pressure and confuse the most veteran of quarterbacks, the challenge is formidable.
"Donaven needs to get as many reps as possible," Allen says. "You have to have that mindset. He's going to be the guy, and then we'll see what happens.
"The approach is to get him ready and get Grant ready, as well. Those two guys have to be getting the majority of the (practice) reps and getting themselves in position to play. That's the approach."
Against Ohio State, McCulley was 1-for-6 with a 30-yard completion to Ty Fryfogle. He rushed 11 times for nine yards.
"(Tuttle's injury) happened very early in the game and then it's raining, so it's really tough for a kid being in his first opportunity against such a high-level opponent in tough weather conditions," Allen says.
"He improved throughout the game and I am glad he got all those reps. It will definitely pay dividends moving forward, no matter how much he has to play in the future. I thought that he got more comfortable doing some things and made some nice runs, took some big hits and popped back up, and made some throws. He just has to continue to grow with that."
*****
Maryland has lost three-straight games since opening 4-0 (including wins over Illinois and West Virginia), its best start since 2016. It lost to Iowa 51-14, Ohio State 66-17, and Minnesota 34-16.
The Terrapins gave up 352 rushing yards in 56 carries to Minnesota last Saturday.
Maryland is led by quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, who completes 71.1 percent of his passes for 1,965 yards, 15 touchdowns, and eight interceptions.
Tailback Tayon Fleet-Davis has rushed for 359 yards and five touchdowns while averaging 5.7 yards per carry.
"They are a very talented team and much respect for their staff and the quality of the skill that they have on offense and the physicality and athleticism that they have on defense," Allen says.
****
IU hopes to have veteran cornerbacks Tiawan Mullen (an All-American) and Reese Taylor back for Maryland. Both are battling injuries.
"Tiawan played a few snaps (against Ohio State)," Allen says. "He hopefully will get better this week. He is progressing. Same with Reese."
As for the rest of the week, Allen says, "The focus is now on getting our guys healthy. We'll be practicing accordingly with that goal in mind to be able to do a great job of making sure our guys are fresh mentally and physically when we take the field on Saturday in College Park."
*****
Allen, as fierce a defensive coaching force as you're likely to see, is convinced the defense will bounce back from its Ohio State performance -- allowing 44 points in the first half, 54 for the game.
While conceding it was the best Buckeye offense he's faced as a coach, seeing the Hoosiers give up seven touchdowns and a field goal in the first nine defensive series was a big disappointment.
"I think there was a little hesitancy," Allen says. "It was something in our guys that I hadn't seen out of them before this season. Definitely haven't seen it recently.
"That was another reason for the (first half). Throw it in the trash. We're not going to overly beat ourselves up in that regard. We obviously make corrections and press on. That was the challenge to our guys. We did not play at our standard without question.
"We can't let the last (game) affect the next one. That's what it comes down to. That's absolutely not going to happen. Talked to our guys, meeting more guys, and being able to make them understand that. We have a lot of really good players on defense and we just have certain things we need to learn from this one and press on."
*****
IU's losses have come against No. 2 Cincinnati (7-0), No. 5 Ohio State (6-1), No. 8 Michigan State (7-0), No. 9 Iowa (6-1), and No. 20 Penn State (5-2).
Only one ranked team remains -- No. 6 Michigan (7-0). The Hoosiers also will play Maryland, Minnesota (5-2), Rutgers (3-4), and Purdue (4-3).
"We did talk to our guys," Allen says. "It's obvious. They know and it's been well documented how difficult our schedule has been and who we've played and where they're ranked. You can look at the schedule and see it.
"Still, the focus is the next one. That's the priority.
"Big-picture wise, you do understand how the dynamics look, and how your season plays itself out and when you play which teams and where on the schedule.
"In regard to right now and where we are, it is solely focused on one opponent, and that's Maryland. And everything you do, all your energy, everything you have, what you do, all focus is on getting yourself in the best position possible to play your best on the road and get a win at Maryland. That's the focus."
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