DiPrimio Notebook: IU Set To Bring the Defensive ‘Juice’

By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Sometimes, if you're new defensive coordinator Charlton Warren and you're trying to upgrade an already strong defense, you've got to get cerebral.

It's not just what to do, but why to do it, both for individual positions and the entire unit.

"Everything we talked about in the spring was more about concepts and not just what is my job, but more so the concept of the defense," Warren says via recent Zoom opportunity. "Where is my help at; when I get these plays, who can I count on based on the structure and the scheme of the defense?

"As a coaching staff, we tried to take their understanding and elevate it to another level."

IU under head coach Tom Allen has upgraded the defensive talent to fit an attacking defense designed to disrupt at all levels. Consider safety Jamar Johnson was drafted in the fifth round by the NFL's Denver Broncos (making it 8-straight years at least one Hoosier has been drafted) while defensive tackle Jerome Johnson signed a free agent contract with the Miami Dolphins.

Warren was hired to take those concepts, incorporate some of the things he learned as an SEC defensive backs coach (most recently at Georgia) and fine tune them to produce the kind of unit no offense, even in these spread-the-field times, would want to face.

"We pushed the older guys with formations, motions, and personnel groups to elevate their mindset," Warren says.

"With the younger guys, we gave them more opportunities. Then on scrimmage days, the guys put it all together.

"Our big thing was incremental progress, and we had that progress. I am really proud of their effort as a group."

Last season, Indiana totaled 17 interceptions, forced three fumbles, and held opponents to 20.2 points and 378.1 total yards a game.

IU will have a chance to improve the takeaway numbers while reducing points and yards allowed in 2021. Returning nine defensive starters and many more in the two-deep will help.

"We have an older crew that has played this defense for three years now, so they know scheme," Warren says. "While we did things that would make ourselves better, our focus was more on technique and effort, and these guys responded.

"We had a focus on building depth. Getting a bunch of guys reps, changing the way we practice a little bit to get guys more reps. You saw our younger guys, with the extra reps, really step up and make plays and show understanding of the defense."

At defensive line, veterans such as James Head Jr, Demarcus Elliott, and Alfred Bryant mix with young talent such as C.J. Person, Sio Nofoagatoto'a, and D.K. Bonhomme.

"We've got guys in that size range and athleticism that can play three (technique), that can play shade, that can play end, which doesn't make you feel like you're a one-single-point-of-failure defense," Warren says. "I like the guys we have. I like the young guys we're developing."

Overall, Warren says, "I really liked the energy and effort that our guys showed. We saw a group that worked on the fundamentals and technique. We tried to go to the basics of football like blocking, tackling, and taking the ball away. We instilled a lot of heart, hustle, and juice into everything we did."

*****

Offensive optimism highlighted with Michael Penix Jr. and Jack Tuttle at quarterback, Ty Fryfogle, Miles Marshall, Jacolby Hewitt, Javon Swinton, and D.J. Matthews at receiver (IU did lose Whop Philyor, who signed a free agent contract with the Minnesota Vikings), and Peyton Hendershot and AJ Barner at tight end depends on one over-riding priority:

IU needs a big year from its offensive line.

A strong nucleus is in place but more is needed with the loss of center Harry Crider (who signed a free agent contract with the Philadelphia Eagles).

"We are still a work in progress up front relative to the depth piece," offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan says. "We have a pretty good idea about who we are anticipating being in the top group or the top group and a half. Those positions are still open and to be determined.

"There are some players there that have a ton of experience that we are expecting to continue to elevate their play."

Young players such as Cameron Knight, Joshua Sales Jr., Randy Holtz, and Tim Weaver had strong springs. Sheridan likes the number of reps they got.

"We have a lot of good, young linemen in the program that just need to continue to get developed, make mistakes, learn, and grow. We are excited about that.

"They have bright futures, but it is a developmental position. You are talking about the biggest, strongest part of the game."

The best offensive line play combines power, size, technique, communication, and recognition so five act as one.

IU has done that well enough to have sent at least one offensive lineman to the NFL in five of the last six seasons -- Jason Spriggs to the Green Bay Packers in 2016, Dan Feeney to the Los Angeles Chargers in 2017, Wes Martin to the Washington Redskins in 2019, Simon Stepaniak to Green Bay in 2020, and now Crider.

"At this level of football, it takes time," Sheridan says. "Those guys are doing a good job and (offensive line coach Darren Hiller) is as good as there is. He is grinding those guys and trying to get them as good as they can be as quickly as can be. They have had a great attitude and are working hard.

"Our job is to get them to play up to the level they are capable of, and their job is to work and get coached as hard as possible."

*****

Safety Raheem Layne's transition from cornerback has made a big impression on Warren.

"I was really impressed. If I were a guy coming off the street, I would not have known that he had not played that position prior.

"He was very savvy. He showed ability to tackle. He showed an ability to learn, which is very important at the safety position.

"Raheem was able to grasp concepts, especially when things moved or changed pre or post snaps. I was impressed with his progress and I think he has a lot more growth potential, which is awesome. If you told me he played nine games last year and got 40 snaps a game, I would have believed you."

In fact, Lane played zero snaps last year. An injury sidelined him for the season.

*****

While tailback Stevie Scott III and his 2,000-plus rushing yards are heading to the NFL (he signed a free agent contract with the New Orleans Saints), the running back talent remains strong. Associate head coach/running backs coach Deland McCullough is confident in what he has with Tim Baldwin Jr., Sampson James, David Ellis, Charles Spegal, and Ahrod Lloyd.

McCullough, who returns to IU after one year at USC and three years with the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs, introduced his players to, "some new concepts, some new ways of doing things."

"It's the way we look at things as far as runners, receivers, and blockers. Just attempting to simplify everything and getting the guys more comfortable with where I'm coming from."

Spring practice also enabled McCullough to, "see their dedication and work ethic. Seeing those guys continue to ask questions and improve. I'm very optimistic about where we're headed."

*****

With seven returning offensive starters, Sheridan pushes to improve an attack that averaged 28.9 points and 359.5 yards a game last season.

"It was a real productive spring. We got a ton of guys reps and a lot of young players. We focused on their development both fundamentally and getting them to understand our schemes and what we are trying to do.

"At every position there was growth and improvement."

That can't stop even though practice has.

"We are not where we need to be," Sheridan says. "We still have a lot of work to do this summer. The upcoming months are going to be huge for us to have the type of season we are trying to have. Our guys know that.

"The energy, the effort, the toughness, and the willingness to improve and be coached was outstanding. I am super excited about the group."

Indiana University Athletics

DiPrimio Notebook: IU Set To Bring the Defensive ‘Juice’

Players Mentioned

Tim Baldwin Jr.

AJ Barner

D.K. Bonhomme

Alfred Bryant

Harry Crider

Demarcus Elliott

David Ellis

Ty Fryfogle

Peyton Hendershot

Jacolby Hewitt

Randy Holtz

Jamar Johnson

Jerome Johnson

Cameron Knight

Raheem Layne

Miles Marshall

Wes Martin

Sio Nofoagatoto'a

Michael Penix Jr.

C.J. Person

Whop Philyor

Joshua Sales Jr.

Stevie Scott III

Simon Stepaniak

Javon Swinton

Jack Tuttle

Tim Weaver

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