IU Eyes Minnesota With This Goal -- Eliminate the Bad
11/18/2021 9:00:00 AM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - It's out there, Nick Sheridan insists. Good offense, consistent offense, the kind of offense that will rock a Big Ten defense, or at least crease it enough to help deliver a much-needed Indiana victory.
Saturday at Memorial Stadium against Minnesota (6-4) is the next-to-last opportunity, and in the aftermath of the Hoosiers' six-turnover loss to Rutgers, this much is clear:
"Our focus is on eliminating the mistakes that have hurt our team all year," says Sheridan, IU's second-year offensive coordinator.
"You have to eliminate losing football before you can play winning football. We didn't do that. Quarterbacks were part of that. Other positions contributed to that."
Quarterback mistakes against Rutgers included a botched snap and handoff exchange from true freshman Donaven McCulley and two interceptions by veteran Jack Tuttle.
Those can't be repeated, Sheridan says.
"The biggest issue is we had a lot of plays that lose you games. We can't do those things."
That's been a major point of emphasis this week in practice.
McCulley's lack of experience is well documented. He was supposed to redshirt after not arriving on campus until last June, but injuries to veterans Michael Penix Jr. and Tuttle forced coaches to play him before his time.
McCulley has struggled (he was 7-for-20 for 98 yards against Rutgers), but not every mistake against the Scarlet Knights was due to youth.
"(Quarterback) is a developmental position," Sheridan says. "It's a challenge to play quarterback in this league regardless of your experience based on the quality of the opponents. You couple that with getting here in June and not having the time on task, it's a challenge.
"But there are things that happened (against Rutgers) that shouldn't occur whether you're here six months or three years. Those are the things we focus on."
For the season, McCulley completes 42.7 percent of his passes for 458 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions.
Tuttle is at 51.7 percent for 423 yards, two touchdowns, and five interceptions.
Penix is at 53.7 percent for 939 yards, four touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
"Certainly there will be ups and downs during the course of the game," Sheridan says, "but we can handle a snap. We can handle an exchange. That has nothing to do with the opponent or the quality of the teams or the coaches or players you go against.
"Donaven is great. He's going to be a really good player. We keep chopping at it; keep trying to help him. Every snap he takes is a learning experience. He has a lot of good snaps ahead of him."
While McCulley started against Rutgers, Tuttle replaced him for his first action after missing the previous two games with a foot injury.
During the week leading to the Rutgers game, coaches weren't sure if Tuttle would be able to play.
"Donaven got plenty of (practice) reps," Sheridan says, "but as the week progressed, Jack was getting healthier. It was a little quicker than we anticipated. Then we split out those reps evenly."
Against Rutgers, Tuttle was 5-for-10 for 26 yards with two interceptions before hurting his other foot.
"Jack is a great kid," Sheridan says. "A super tough kid. He showed a lot of grit and heart, not just trying to get back, but fighting his tail off to rehab and recover and be available to play. I appreciate that.
"The results weren't what he wants or we want. We recognize that. We've addressed that and corrected that moving forward. He's a warrior."
As far as evaluating the quarterback play, Sheridan says, "The No. 1 job of the quarterback is to take care of the football, and we didn't do that.
"None of those guys are intentionally trying to put the ball into harm's way or turn the ball over. It doesn't matter. That's our job. We have not done a good enough job, and that starts with me with the coaching and teaching to make sure we don't turn it over like we have."
A strong running game would help the quarterback play, especially given Minnesota allows 99.9 rushing yards per game.
Against Rutgers, IU managed 85 yards on 32 carries. Tuttle led with 16 yards. Charlie Spegal was next with 14.
"We need to run more effectively," Sheridan says. "We got some new runners in there. The first thing is make sure we catch the snap and hand off the ball without turning it over. That's our first focus -- eliminate the bad football.
"Then we focus on execution and making plays. We have to run better. We had some good runs in the game. Charlie and David (Holloman) did a nice job. We need to build off that."
McCulley ran 10 times for seven yards, but did have an 11-yard run.
"We want to put Donaven in positions so when we do ask him to run," Sheridan says, "there's enough space and we block it properly and get him to run it properly, so we stay out of third and longs.
"A running game is a young quarterback's best friend. He's part of that. The quarterback is responsible for some of that relative to reads and decisions.
"We have to be better there."
Holloman showed potential. He ran twice for 13 yards. That gives him 20 rushing yards for the season.
"He has shown toughness," Sheridan says. "He's decisive as a runner. He keeps getting better
"(Running backs coach Deland McCullough) did a great job of preparing him. He was a young player who wasn't getting a ton of reps. All of sudden he's getting prepared to play. He did a nice job."
IU has struggled to get big plays in the passing game. While losing veteran receiver D.J. Matthews Jr. to a torn ACL, the Hoosiers still have plenty of deep threats, Sheridan says.
"We have skill players who are capable of stretching the field vertically. There's a lot that goes into that. When you call a play to push the ball down the field, it's all 11. Everyone is involved.
"It starts with the protection. Then the quarterback making the right read and decision, and wideouts creating separation.
"We have guys capable of that to connect on those more and better than we have."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - It's out there, Nick Sheridan insists. Good offense, consistent offense, the kind of offense that will rock a Big Ten defense, or at least crease it enough to help deliver a much-needed Indiana victory.
Saturday at Memorial Stadium against Minnesota (6-4) is the next-to-last opportunity, and in the aftermath of the Hoosiers' six-turnover loss to Rutgers, this much is clear:
"Our focus is on eliminating the mistakes that have hurt our team all year," says Sheridan, IU's second-year offensive coordinator.
"You have to eliminate losing football before you can play winning football. We didn't do that. Quarterbacks were part of that. Other positions contributed to that."
Quarterback mistakes against Rutgers included a botched snap and handoff exchange from true freshman Donaven McCulley and two interceptions by veteran Jack Tuttle.
Those can't be repeated, Sheridan says.
"The biggest issue is we had a lot of plays that lose you games. We can't do those things."
That's been a major point of emphasis this week in practice.
McCulley's lack of experience is well documented. He was supposed to redshirt after not arriving on campus until last June, but injuries to veterans Michael Penix Jr. and Tuttle forced coaches to play him before his time.
McCulley has struggled (he was 7-for-20 for 98 yards against Rutgers), but not every mistake against the Scarlet Knights was due to youth.
"(Quarterback) is a developmental position," Sheridan says. "It's a challenge to play quarterback in this league regardless of your experience based on the quality of the opponents. You couple that with getting here in June and not having the time on task, it's a challenge.
"But there are things that happened (against Rutgers) that shouldn't occur whether you're here six months or three years. Those are the things we focus on."
For the season, McCulley completes 42.7 percent of his passes for 458 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions.
Tuttle is at 51.7 percent for 423 yards, two touchdowns, and five interceptions.
Penix is at 53.7 percent for 939 yards, four touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
"Certainly there will be ups and downs during the course of the game," Sheridan says, "but we can handle a snap. We can handle an exchange. That has nothing to do with the opponent or the quality of the teams or the coaches or players you go against.
"Donaven is great. He's going to be a really good player. We keep chopping at it; keep trying to help him. Every snap he takes is a learning experience. He has a lot of good snaps ahead of him."
While McCulley started against Rutgers, Tuttle replaced him for his first action after missing the previous two games with a foot injury.
During the week leading to the Rutgers game, coaches weren't sure if Tuttle would be able to play.
"Donaven got plenty of (practice) reps," Sheridan says, "but as the week progressed, Jack was getting healthier. It was a little quicker than we anticipated. Then we split out those reps evenly."
Against Rutgers, Tuttle was 5-for-10 for 26 yards with two interceptions before hurting his other foot.
"Jack is a great kid," Sheridan says. "A super tough kid. He showed a lot of grit and heart, not just trying to get back, but fighting his tail off to rehab and recover and be available to play. I appreciate that.
"The results weren't what he wants or we want. We recognize that. We've addressed that and corrected that moving forward. He's a warrior."
As far as evaluating the quarterback play, Sheridan says, "The No. 1 job of the quarterback is to take care of the football, and we didn't do that.
"None of those guys are intentionally trying to put the ball into harm's way or turn the ball over. It doesn't matter. That's our job. We have not done a good enough job, and that starts with me with the coaching and teaching to make sure we don't turn it over like we have."
A strong running game would help the quarterback play, especially given Minnesota allows 99.9 rushing yards per game.
Against Rutgers, IU managed 85 yards on 32 carries. Tuttle led with 16 yards. Charlie Spegal was next with 14.
"We need to run more effectively," Sheridan says. "We got some new runners in there. The first thing is make sure we catch the snap and hand off the ball without turning it over. That's our first focus -- eliminate the bad football.
"Then we focus on execution and making plays. We have to run better. We had some good runs in the game. Charlie and David (Holloman) did a nice job. We need to build off that."
McCulley ran 10 times for seven yards, but did have an 11-yard run.
"We want to put Donaven in positions so when we do ask him to run," Sheridan says, "there's enough space and we block it properly and get him to run it properly, so we stay out of third and longs.
"A running game is a young quarterback's best friend. He's part of that. The quarterback is responsible for some of that relative to reads and decisions.
"We have to be better there."
Holloman showed potential. He ran twice for 13 yards. That gives him 20 rushing yards for the season.
"He has shown toughness," Sheridan says. "He's decisive as a runner. He keeps getting better
"(Running backs coach Deland McCullough) did a great job of preparing him. He was a young player who wasn't getting a ton of reps. All of sudden he's getting prepared to play. He did a nice job."
IU has struggled to get big plays in the passing game. While losing veteran receiver D.J. Matthews Jr. to a torn ACL, the Hoosiers still have plenty of deep threats, Sheridan says.
"We have skill players who are capable of stretching the field vertically. There's a lot that goes into that. When you call a play to push the ball down the field, it's all 11. Everyone is involved.
"It starts with the protection. Then the quarterback making the right read and decision, and wideouts creating separation.
"We have guys capable of that to connect on those more and better than we have."
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