Indiana University Athletics
Saturday, October 30
College Park, Md.
12:00 PM
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at
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No Flinching – Better Things Ahead for IU
10/29/2021 9:00:00 AM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – You will not see Micah McFadden running through walls.
Or will you?
If it meant an Indiana victory, the senior All-American might put his body to the test.
"He's a warrior," head coach Tom Allen says. "He's tough as nails."
An injured thumb hasn't slowed McFadden down. He continues to make difference-making plays, continues to set a standard for Hoosiers to follow if they're willing to pay the price.
McFadden certainly is. See his Big Ten-leading 12 tackles for loss, his team-leading 42 tackles, plus his two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery, as prime examples.
And those are just his numbers.
"He's worked extremely hard to prepare himself physically and mentally to become a much better leader verbally," Allen says. "That's shown up big time. He's willing this group to stay together. That's been the key."
Togetherness, will, and leadership will have huge roles Saturday when IU (2-5) plays at Maryland (4-3) in a game with season-saving implications.
The Hoosiers need four victories in their last five games to become bowl eligible and have a shot at a third-straight winning record.
"There's no doubt this (season) has gone completely different than any of us had hoped or expected or wanted," Allen says. "(McFadden has) stayed locked in, stayed positive, stayed focused. He has not flinched. He practices hard every day. He plays his tail off every Saturday. That will not change.
"He's a big reason, and there are many others, why I believe we have to persevere, show tremendous grit and allow this team to show fight, because much better things are ahead for this team."
Better offensive line play would help. Allen hints personnel changes are coming.
"There will be some adjustments, yes."
Indiana's must-win urgency demands effective run blocking and pass protection. Allen was clear that:
* IU's blocking "has not been to our standard."
* "(Offensive line play has) been the entire focus of this week."
Beyond that …
"There's no doubt it starts up front," Allen says. "We have to continue to work on it.
"The bottom line is that each guy needs to own his area of responsibility, his technique, his toughness, his execution, working together in the combinations that we do in the pass and run games.
"It's the coaching staff and everyone included. It's a collective effort."
Then there's the quarterback question.
With veterans Michael Penix Jr. and Jack Tuttle listed as "week to week" with injuries, true freshman Donaven McCulley and redshirt sophomore walk-on Grant Gremel could run the offense.
Allen says Penix and Tuttle, "Have been rehabbing strongly, even throwing some. Definitely progressing in that direction."
Still, most of this week's practice snaps have gone to McCulley and Gremel.
"Since those guys have had so little preparation (with the first-team offense)," Allen says, "that has been the focus, to get those guys the reps that they need.
"It has been very positive. It is a group effort with everyone coming together to elevate their focus and their execution -- the staff and everybody."
McCulley, a four-star prospect with a big dual-threat upside, will get his shot. More and more in practice, he's showing that he's ready, Allen says. His message to McCulley is to play to his ability.
"It's a calmness. Let your talent be what it is. Don't press and feel you have to put everything on your shoulders.
"Relax and play football. Make your reads. Get comfortable in the system, in the run game, the pass game, run the offense, make adjustments, get signals from the sidelines, make the checks. Just play the position."
The fact McCulley is getting practice reps with the first team as he never did before accelerates the learning.
"Every rep he takes allows him to have more confidence and play more relaxed and allow him to be at his best," Allen says.
While no one figured McCulley to start this early in his IU career, the opportunity was bound to happen.
"All of our guys come here with the aspiration to play," Allen says. "Some have different timetables. Mentally, whether it's him or Grant or whomever is playing quarterback, you have to be ready. For every position, expect you'll be in the game.
"We give them the tools to be ready to play. I expect him be ready to execute and do his very best."
Nothing helps an inexperienced quarterback like a strong running game.
The good news -- this could be the Big Ten game IU finds it.
Maryland ranks 13th in the 14-team Big Ten by allowing 154.9 rushing yards per game.
Tailback Stephen Carr could reap big dividends. He's rushed for 452 yards. While he's reached the 100-yard-rushing mark against Idaho and Western Kentucky, he hasn't had more than 57 yards against any Big Ten team (Iowa in the season opener).
"It's very important (to establish the run)," Allen says. "You have to do everything you can do, no matter who is in that (quarterback) position. You have to be able to run effectively. That allows you to do other things. It sets the tempo and a tone and allows you to control the football in the way that you need to."
Defensively, standout cornerbacks Tiawan Mullen and Reese Taylor are likely game-time decisions. Both have missed games with injuries.
"We're trying to get both of those guys back," Allen said. "They're working extremely hard.
"The medical staff has been relentlessly trying to get them ready, so we'll see. We're trying to get them so they can play. They are obviously a special part of our defense and special teams."
Add it all up and, as Allen says, "The bottom line is it has been a very positive week."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – You will not see Micah McFadden running through walls.
Or will you?
If it meant an Indiana victory, the senior All-American might put his body to the test.
"He's a warrior," head coach Tom Allen says. "He's tough as nails."
An injured thumb hasn't slowed McFadden down. He continues to make difference-making plays, continues to set a standard for Hoosiers to follow if they're willing to pay the price.
McFadden certainly is. See his Big Ten-leading 12 tackles for loss, his team-leading 42 tackles, plus his two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery, as prime examples.
And those are just his numbers.
"He's worked extremely hard to prepare himself physically and mentally to become a much better leader verbally," Allen says. "That's shown up big time. He's willing this group to stay together. That's been the key."
Togetherness, will, and leadership will have huge roles Saturday when IU (2-5) plays at Maryland (4-3) in a game with season-saving implications.
The Hoosiers need four victories in their last five games to become bowl eligible and have a shot at a third-straight winning record.
"There's no doubt this (season) has gone completely different than any of us had hoped or expected or wanted," Allen says. "(McFadden has) stayed locked in, stayed positive, stayed focused. He has not flinched. He practices hard every day. He plays his tail off every Saturday. That will not change.
"He's a big reason, and there are many others, why I believe we have to persevere, show tremendous grit and allow this team to show fight, because much better things are ahead for this team."
Better offensive line play would help. Allen hints personnel changes are coming.
"There will be some adjustments, yes."
Indiana's must-win urgency demands effective run blocking and pass protection. Allen was clear that:
* IU's blocking "has not been to our standard."
* "(Offensive line play has) been the entire focus of this week."
Beyond that …
"There's no doubt it starts up front," Allen says. "We have to continue to work on it.
"The bottom line is that each guy needs to own his area of responsibility, his technique, his toughness, his execution, working together in the combinations that we do in the pass and run games.
"It's the coaching staff and everyone included. It's a collective effort."
Then there's the quarterback question.
With veterans Michael Penix Jr. and Jack Tuttle listed as "week to week" with injuries, true freshman Donaven McCulley and redshirt sophomore walk-on Grant Gremel could run the offense.
Allen says Penix and Tuttle, "Have been rehabbing strongly, even throwing some. Definitely progressing in that direction."
Still, most of this week's practice snaps have gone to McCulley and Gremel.
"Since those guys have had so little preparation (with the first-team offense)," Allen says, "that has been the focus, to get those guys the reps that they need.
"It has been very positive. It is a group effort with everyone coming together to elevate their focus and their execution -- the staff and everybody."
McCulley, a four-star prospect with a big dual-threat upside, will get his shot. More and more in practice, he's showing that he's ready, Allen says. His message to McCulley is to play to his ability.
"It's a calmness. Let your talent be what it is. Don't press and feel you have to put everything on your shoulders.
"Relax and play football. Make your reads. Get comfortable in the system, in the run game, the pass game, run the offense, make adjustments, get signals from the sidelines, make the checks. Just play the position."
The fact McCulley is getting practice reps with the first team as he never did before accelerates the learning.
"Every rep he takes allows him to have more confidence and play more relaxed and allow him to be at his best," Allen says.
While no one figured McCulley to start this early in his IU career, the opportunity was bound to happen.
"All of our guys come here with the aspiration to play," Allen says. "Some have different timetables. Mentally, whether it's him or Grant or whomever is playing quarterback, you have to be ready. For every position, expect you'll be in the game.
"We give them the tools to be ready to play. I expect him be ready to execute and do his very best."
Nothing helps an inexperienced quarterback like a strong running game.
The good news -- this could be the Big Ten game IU finds it.
Maryland ranks 13th in the 14-team Big Ten by allowing 154.9 rushing yards per game.
Tailback Stephen Carr could reap big dividends. He's rushed for 452 yards. While he's reached the 100-yard-rushing mark against Idaho and Western Kentucky, he hasn't had more than 57 yards against any Big Ten team (Iowa in the season opener).
"It's very important (to establish the run)," Allen says. "You have to do everything you can do, no matter who is in that (quarterback) position. You have to be able to run effectively. That allows you to do other things. It sets the tempo and a tone and allows you to control the football in the way that you need to."
Defensively, standout cornerbacks Tiawan Mullen and Reese Taylor are likely game-time decisions. Both have missed games with injuries.
"We're trying to get both of those guys back," Allen said. "They're working extremely hard.
"The medical staff has been relentlessly trying to get them ready, so we'll see. We're trying to get them so they can play. They are obviously a special part of our defense and special teams."
Add it all up and, as Allen says, "The bottom line is it has been a very positive week."
Players Mentioned
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