Finding Consistency a Priority for IU Offensive Line, Offense
10/28/2021 8:55:00 AM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Nick Sheridan believes in his offensive line. Indiana's offensive coordinator has his linemen's backs, fronts, and everything else.
Let others criticize the big guys as the offense continues to struggle.
Sheridan pushes perspective.
Yes, the line needs to play better, he says, but "everybody needs to elevate. Everybody needs to improve, coaches and players.
"The word consistency can get thrown around, but it's true. We need to be more consistent."
Can need deliver results in Saturday's game at Maryland (4-3)?
Signs are there, Sheridan insists.
Even during last Saturday's Memorial Stadium loss to Ohio State, there were offensive-line positives, highlighted on the Hoosiers' opening possession when they drove 75 yards for a touchdown behind quarterback Jack Tuttle.
"There were moments in the game where we had double teams, when we had movement on down linemen,' Sheridan says. "There were moments where we did a nice job. There were other moments where we didn't. We need to play better. That's at all positions."
Sheridan emphasizes that improvement will come only when every offensive player and coach "elevates his play."
"It's not just the guys blocking. It's the guy running it. Decisions from the quarterback. The play call.
"It's easy to point to the line as to where the struggles are. Sometimes they have to do better, but there are other positions that need to execute better, as well. It's a collective effort. Everybody needs to improve."
Could changing to new plays, different tempos, and alternate schemes help?
Not necessarily, Sheridan says.
"There's a fine line between changing what you're doing and sticking with it.
"You won't improve if you're running new plays and new schemes every week. It's hard for guys to improve that way.
"At the same time, as a coach, you have to evaluate if what you're doing, are they capable of executing. That conversation is always had, not just for the offensive line, but for the whole offense.
"The best way to improve is to do it over and over again, but at some point, as a coach, you have to ask, can we do this? If they can't execute it, it won't matter.
"There are alterations you can make, whether it's tempo, schemes, formations, techniques, a certain direction you run. You put all that into the evaluation.
"Your opponent is different each week. No two defenses are the same. Sometimes issues arrive in a game. You make those corrections, but they won't show up the rest of the year because you won't face that front or type of player again."
Meanwhile, IU quarterback uncertainty remains. The cliché that you can't rush experience spotlights true freshman Donaven McCulley. A dual-threat, four-star prospect (the highest-rated quarterback IU has ever landed), his bright future has crashed into this short-term reality:
He's playing before he's ready.
Injuries have sidelined Tuttle, Michael Penix Jr., and Dexter Williams II. While Penix and Tuttle are listed as "week to week," McCulley could play against Maryland on Saturday.
Walk-on Grant Gremel also is in the mix.
McCulley was recruited for a starting role, but not for this season. He graduated from Indianapolis Lawrence North High School in the spring, and didn't arrive on campus until June.
That late start can work for many positions, but not for quarterback, one of the most complex jobs in all of sports. Between learning a new (and more complicated) offense, and then learning how to read complex college defenses designed to confuse the most veteran of quarterbacks, all in a few pre-snap seconds while under heavy pressure (mental and physical), the challenges are enormous.
"You're trying to help him and put him in positions to be successful," Sheridan say. "Call plays he feels comfortable with and that he's repped in practice. It's recognizing the quality of the competition he's going against is different than the scout team that he's been working against."
True freshmen quarterbacks who thrive early almost always graduated from high school in December, and enrolled for the second semester to participate in college off-season conditioning and spring practice.
McCulley, an outstanding basketball player who wanted to finish his high school career, didn't take that get-to-college-early path.
That was fine given IU coaches -- with three veterans ahead of him -- planned to redshirt him and ease him into the position so he'd be ready for the future.
Injuries shredded those plans.
"You're trying to problem solve," Sheridan says. "You go into the game knowing certain plays (McCulley) feels comfortable with.
"We had a package of plays ready for the (Ohio State) game. He played more snaps than he anticipated. You try to put him in position to be successful and that he feels comfortable."
Before Penix's injury during the Penn State game in early October, McCulley had, "Minimal reps," Sheridan says.
He was the scout team quarterback (running the offense of the team IU would play that week) and got a few reps with Hoosier starters.
"He was back and forth up with us and on scout team, so he could continue to develop," Sheridan says. "You want him to get reps, so he's not just watching all the time. You manage that when you have a young quarterback.
"Our philosophy is, if you're third-string quarterback, you are on the scout team so you continue to play and get reps even if it's the opponent's scheme.
"Since (Penix's injury), he's been with us. His reps have increased.
"You prepare him with his package of plays while trying to get the entire offense ready for the plays they'll be running."
Maryland lacks Ohio State's defensive firepower and has struggled during its three-game losing streak to Iowa, Ohio State, and Minnesota.
The Terrapins' defense gave up 326 rushing yards last week against Minnesota. It has given up an average of 493.2 yards and nearly 50 points in its last three games.
If IU (2-5) can get its run game going and play defense the way it did against Michigan State, the outlook is promising.
"We're excited about the opportunity that lies ahead," Sheridan says.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Nick Sheridan believes in his offensive line. Indiana's offensive coordinator has his linemen's backs, fronts, and everything else.
Let others criticize the big guys as the offense continues to struggle.
Sheridan pushes perspective.
Yes, the line needs to play better, he says, but "everybody needs to elevate. Everybody needs to improve, coaches and players.
"The word consistency can get thrown around, but it's true. We need to be more consistent."
Can need deliver results in Saturday's game at Maryland (4-3)?
Signs are there, Sheridan insists.
Even during last Saturday's Memorial Stadium loss to Ohio State, there were offensive-line positives, highlighted on the Hoosiers' opening possession when they drove 75 yards for a touchdown behind quarterback Jack Tuttle.
"There were moments in the game where we had double teams, when we had movement on down linemen,' Sheridan says. "There were moments where we did a nice job. There were other moments where we didn't. We need to play better. That's at all positions."
Sheridan emphasizes that improvement will come only when every offensive player and coach "elevates his play."
"It's not just the guys blocking. It's the guy running it. Decisions from the quarterback. The play call.
"It's easy to point to the line as to where the struggles are. Sometimes they have to do better, but there are other positions that need to execute better, as well. It's a collective effort. Everybody needs to improve."
Could changing to new plays, different tempos, and alternate schemes help?
Not necessarily, Sheridan says.
"There's a fine line between changing what you're doing and sticking with it.
"You won't improve if you're running new plays and new schemes every week. It's hard for guys to improve that way.
"At the same time, as a coach, you have to evaluate if what you're doing, are they capable of executing. That conversation is always had, not just for the offensive line, but for the whole offense.
"The best way to improve is to do it over and over again, but at some point, as a coach, you have to ask, can we do this? If they can't execute it, it won't matter.
"There are alterations you can make, whether it's tempo, schemes, formations, techniques, a certain direction you run. You put all that into the evaluation.
"Your opponent is different each week. No two defenses are the same. Sometimes issues arrive in a game. You make those corrections, but they won't show up the rest of the year because you won't face that front or type of player again."
Meanwhile, IU quarterback uncertainty remains. The cliché that you can't rush experience spotlights true freshman Donaven McCulley. A dual-threat, four-star prospect (the highest-rated quarterback IU has ever landed), his bright future has crashed into this short-term reality:
He's playing before he's ready.
Injuries have sidelined Tuttle, Michael Penix Jr., and Dexter Williams II. While Penix and Tuttle are listed as "week to week," McCulley could play against Maryland on Saturday.
Walk-on Grant Gremel also is in the mix.
McCulley was recruited for a starting role, but not for this season. He graduated from Indianapolis Lawrence North High School in the spring, and didn't arrive on campus until June.
That late start can work for many positions, but not for quarterback, one of the most complex jobs in all of sports. Between learning a new (and more complicated) offense, and then learning how to read complex college defenses designed to confuse the most veteran of quarterbacks, all in a few pre-snap seconds while under heavy pressure (mental and physical), the challenges are enormous.
"You're trying to help him and put him in positions to be successful," Sheridan say. "Call plays he feels comfortable with and that he's repped in practice. It's recognizing the quality of the competition he's going against is different than the scout team that he's been working against."
True freshmen quarterbacks who thrive early almost always graduated from high school in December, and enrolled for the second semester to participate in college off-season conditioning and spring practice.
McCulley, an outstanding basketball player who wanted to finish his high school career, didn't take that get-to-college-early path.
That was fine given IU coaches -- with three veterans ahead of him -- planned to redshirt him and ease him into the position so he'd be ready for the future.
Injuries shredded those plans.
"You're trying to problem solve," Sheridan says. "You go into the game knowing certain plays (McCulley) feels comfortable with.
"We had a package of plays ready for the (Ohio State) game. He played more snaps than he anticipated. You try to put him in position to be successful and that he feels comfortable."
Before Penix's injury during the Penn State game in early October, McCulley had, "Minimal reps," Sheridan says.
He was the scout team quarterback (running the offense of the team IU would play that week) and got a few reps with Hoosier starters.
"He was back and forth up with us and on scout team, so he could continue to develop," Sheridan says. "You want him to get reps, so he's not just watching all the time. You manage that when you have a young quarterback.
"Our philosophy is, if you're third-string quarterback, you are on the scout team so you continue to play and get reps even if it's the opponent's scheme.
"Since (Penix's injury), he's been with us. His reps have increased.
"You prepare him with his package of plays while trying to get the entire offense ready for the plays they'll be running."
Maryland lacks Ohio State's defensive firepower and has struggled during its three-game losing streak to Iowa, Ohio State, and Minnesota.
The Terrapins' defense gave up 326 rushing yards last week against Minnesota. It has given up an average of 493.2 yards and nearly 50 points in its last three games.
If IU (2-5) can get its run game going and play defense the way it did against Michigan State, the outlook is promising.
"We're excited about the opportunity that lies ahead," Sheridan says.
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