Indiana University Athletics
Quoted: Fall Camp Edition - August 17 Update
8/17/2021 2:51:00 PM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – After the 10th fall practice of 2021, the Indiana football cornerbacks and safeties had the chance to talk to the media inside Memorial Stadium. Assistant head coach/cornerbacks coach Brandon Shelby and safeties coach Jason Jones spoke to the media on Tuesday (Aug. 17), before the quartet of Raheem Layne, Jonathan Haynes, Devon Matthews, and Reese Taylor addressed the progress of fall camp.
Below is a partial transcript of the six press conferences from Tuesday, Aug. 17. Video of each full session can be found on the right sidebar at IUHoosiers.com.
Brandon Shelby | Assistant Head Coach/Cornerbacks
On the play of the secondary in the first scrimmage…
BS: We had come out that Friday and had one heck of a day. I think those guys just got relaxed and Coach (Nick) Sheridan got those guys pumped up and they were working on all cylinders. We got back on our heels early and just wasn't really our day. A couple of blocks later in practice, we did a lot better job in competing. Definitely weren't at our best. Came out yesterday and did a lot better job. Ultimately, to get where we want to get to, we have to have a more consistent day-in, day-out approach. We talked about it about and hopefully these guys understand that time is of the essence. It's more than just talk. Put in the work right now when everyone in the country is tired. I think this is when your team is made, and I hope those guys understand that, so we don't have a lull this Saturday when we scrimmage again.
On the returning veterans…
BS: Really excited for those guys. Those guys have played a lot of football and they know me very well. They know the expectations. To this point, they've done a good job at meeting those expectations. To have a room that understands football, understands where I'm coming from, and understands what we're trying to attack, it allows us to do some other things that maybe we couldn't have done in the past. We're excited for that veteran group. Those guys hold each other accountable. We're looking forward to big things with them.
On Tiawan Mullen's strength improvement…
BS: I think he's getting stronger at the top of routes and being able to throw his body in there and tackle. If you're in the Big Ten, you've got to be able to tackle effective backs and good backs. His ability to get bigger, Coach (Aaron) Wellman and his staff did a great job of getting some mass on him and to also make it so he doesn't slow down and his change of direction hasn't been hampered. Really excited about what he's done this summer and hopefully those pounds he put on in the summer will pay dividends in the fall. We're going to need it and he has a lot on his plate, but I know he can do it.
Jason Jones | Safeties
On Jonathan Haynes…
JJ: He just got here so he's still learning. One thing, he does play. He's running around giving us great effort. He puts time in. He's studying the defense, so he understands what's going on. He's a physical player where we can roll him down into the box when teams are running the football. He doesn't mind coming down and mixing it up. Right now, each day, as we're working on the different coverages and defenses and different calls, just focusing in on those. It'll get to the point where he knows them and he's not really thinking. He brings a lot of experience. He's been in a lot of football games and so being able to come into the conference with the experience he has, that's a huge blessing for us.
On the depth in the safety room…
JJ: We're always evaluating. Back to every practice. We had a scrimmage last week. Having the depth and the competition is always good. Having the competition makes everyone better. Right now, the depth charts are not set. We have moved some guys around, trying to get the best guys on the field. If a guy is performing well with one group, we'll reward him and move him up to the next group to see how he handles it. Nothing is set in stone. There's still competition and the guys are competing.
On Raheem Layne …
JJ: He really has grown since the spring and matured at becoming a safety. He's more vocal. That was a challenge when we left spring was for him to be more vocal, line up, and communicate to the guys that are on his side of the field. He has done that. He's a physical corner, so we moved him to safety. He's still coming down and being physical, but he brings the cover schemes. The skills he had as a cover guy at corner, now we have that at safety. We just got to continue to focus on the man technique in the times we ask him to play man-to-man. The one thing he's still working on is when he's at safety, you're involved in the run a lot more. Now it's about getting his run keys and knowing where to fit. He's working hard. He's studying film and coming in extra. He's doing a good job.
Raheem Layne | R-Sr. | DB
On making the transition to safety...
RL: I feel like I had a smooth transition. The coaching staff definitely helped me out a lot. Then, like [Devon Matthews] just mentioned, the corners and safeties are really like one unit, so we work together a lot. It was really a lot of cross over, but there were a couple of things that changed. I just need to be more vocal since I am the safety, and I am the quarterback out there in the secondary. I just need to be more vocal, which is the biggest difference between corner and safety. I made the transition pretty smooth, and I have a great coach that helped me through the whole process.
On if he embraces the physicality of the safety spot...
RL: I take pride in being a physical player, so when it comes to the running game, that is me anyway. I love doing that. It is part of the game and I love [playing the run].
On wearing the number zero...
RL: When I saw the news [that the NCAA had made zero a legal number], I thought it was fake at first. Like you had mentioned, no one had worn the number zero before. Then I had a talk with [head] Coach [Tom] Allen and he said 'that is a number you deserve.' So, I wanted to be the first person in IU program history to wear the number zero on the field and he helped make that come true. On September 4, we are going to put it on.
Jonathan Hayes | Gr. | DB
On his timeline and how he is adapting to Indiana...
JH: It has been going pretty good for me so far. I am still getting adjusted to the environment and getting used to everything and the plays. [It came about] After I entered the [transfer] portal, [the Indiana coaches] hit me up and I told them I was interested. So that is how that happened.
On playing IU in the bowl game and now being a part of the program...
JH: We did play them [at Ole Miss last year]. They were already a good team, but I felt that if I had come here maybe I could have helped them win [the bowl game]. They were already winning, but I wanted to come here to help them win more and win the Big Ten championship.
On his relationship with Jason Jones...
JH: Me and Coach Jones have a really strong relationship. He was recruiting me when I was at Jones [County Junior College], so we have had a strong relationship and bond since then.
Devon Matthews | Sr. | DB
On the transition of Raheem Layne...
DM: Raheem adjusted very well. The cornerbacks and safeties kind of work together, so that really wasn't a hard switch for him. He is doing good. We just have to keep practicing our stuff [on the field] and we will be good.
On what the team talks about in terms of the progress of the program...
DM: You already know that answer, a Big Ten championship. That is our goal. That is what we have in our minds and it is going to stay that way.
On focusing on one game and not getting too far ahead...
DM: It isn't too hard. You just have to take it game by game and we will be fine. You can only focus on one team at a time, week by week. [If we can do that] We will be fine. We just can't get ahead of ourselves and focus on each [opponent] the week of that game and we will be good.
Reese Taylor | Sr. | DB
On the standard for the secondary ...
RT: This year, the level [of competition] has increased even more. It is a new standard being set. It is a more positive and intense standard, and we cannot settle for less. As a defense, everything is more intense for us to get to the ball and be one piece and gel together.
On the experience in the cornerback room...
RT: The experience has really helped us a lot. It allows us to be more efficient on and off the field. It helps the defense out, just us being leaders in the corners room and on the team. it helps the newcomers have a smooth [transition] and grab on a wing and come with us to make a new standard. It makes sure that standard is set for the younger guys.
On the hunger this team has to reach the next level...
RT: We had a good season last year and a good season before that, but both bowl games we didn't end it how we wanted to. It is a chip on our shoulder that we know we didn't finish. We are coming into this season hungrier and are starving for, not success, but to the best we can be as a football team. [We want to] Go out there and play football 11 Strong, which is out motto, to go out there and do as best as we can and work as hard as we can.
Below is a partial transcript of the six press conferences from Tuesday, Aug. 17. Video of each full session can be found on the right sidebar at IUHoosiers.com.
Brandon Shelby | Assistant Head Coach/Cornerbacks
On the play of the secondary in the first scrimmage…
BS: We had come out that Friday and had one heck of a day. I think those guys just got relaxed and Coach (Nick) Sheridan got those guys pumped up and they were working on all cylinders. We got back on our heels early and just wasn't really our day. A couple of blocks later in practice, we did a lot better job in competing. Definitely weren't at our best. Came out yesterday and did a lot better job. Ultimately, to get where we want to get to, we have to have a more consistent day-in, day-out approach. We talked about it about and hopefully these guys understand that time is of the essence. It's more than just talk. Put in the work right now when everyone in the country is tired. I think this is when your team is made, and I hope those guys understand that, so we don't have a lull this Saturday when we scrimmage again.
On the returning veterans…
BS: Really excited for those guys. Those guys have played a lot of football and they know me very well. They know the expectations. To this point, they've done a good job at meeting those expectations. To have a room that understands football, understands where I'm coming from, and understands what we're trying to attack, it allows us to do some other things that maybe we couldn't have done in the past. We're excited for that veteran group. Those guys hold each other accountable. We're looking forward to big things with them.
On Tiawan Mullen's strength improvement…
BS: I think he's getting stronger at the top of routes and being able to throw his body in there and tackle. If you're in the Big Ten, you've got to be able to tackle effective backs and good backs. His ability to get bigger, Coach (Aaron) Wellman and his staff did a great job of getting some mass on him and to also make it so he doesn't slow down and his change of direction hasn't been hampered. Really excited about what he's done this summer and hopefully those pounds he put on in the summer will pay dividends in the fall. We're going to need it and he has a lot on his plate, but I know he can do it.
Jason Jones | Safeties
On Jonathan Haynes…
JJ: He just got here so he's still learning. One thing, he does play. He's running around giving us great effort. He puts time in. He's studying the defense, so he understands what's going on. He's a physical player where we can roll him down into the box when teams are running the football. He doesn't mind coming down and mixing it up. Right now, each day, as we're working on the different coverages and defenses and different calls, just focusing in on those. It'll get to the point where he knows them and he's not really thinking. He brings a lot of experience. He's been in a lot of football games and so being able to come into the conference with the experience he has, that's a huge blessing for us.
On the depth in the safety room…
JJ: We're always evaluating. Back to every practice. We had a scrimmage last week. Having the depth and the competition is always good. Having the competition makes everyone better. Right now, the depth charts are not set. We have moved some guys around, trying to get the best guys on the field. If a guy is performing well with one group, we'll reward him and move him up to the next group to see how he handles it. Nothing is set in stone. There's still competition and the guys are competing.
On Raheem Layne …
JJ: He really has grown since the spring and matured at becoming a safety. He's more vocal. That was a challenge when we left spring was for him to be more vocal, line up, and communicate to the guys that are on his side of the field. He has done that. He's a physical corner, so we moved him to safety. He's still coming down and being physical, but he brings the cover schemes. The skills he had as a cover guy at corner, now we have that at safety. We just got to continue to focus on the man technique in the times we ask him to play man-to-man. The one thing he's still working on is when he's at safety, you're involved in the run a lot more. Now it's about getting his run keys and knowing where to fit. He's working hard. He's studying film and coming in extra. He's doing a good job.
Raheem Layne | R-Sr. | DB
On making the transition to safety...
RL: I feel like I had a smooth transition. The coaching staff definitely helped me out a lot. Then, like [Devon Matthews] just mentioned, the corners and safeties are really like one unit, so we work together a lot. It was really a lot of cross over, but there were a couple of things that changed. I just need to be more vocal since I am the safety, and I am the quarterback out there in the secondary. I just need to be more vocal, which is the biggest difference between corner and safety. I made the transition pretty smooth, and I have a great coach that helped me through the whole process.
On if he embraces the physicality of the safety spot...
RL: I take pride in being a physical player, so when it comes to the running game, that is me anyway. I love doing that. It is part of the game and I love [playing the run].
On wearing the number zero...
RL: When I saw the news [that the NCAA had made zero a legal number], I thought it was fake at first. Like you had mentioned, no one had worn the number zero before. Then I had a talk with [head] Coach [Tom] Allen and he said 'that is a number you deserve.' So, I wanted to be the first person in IU program history to wear the number zero on the field and he helped make that come true. On September 4, we are going to put it on.
Jonathan Hayes | Gr. | DB
On his timeline and how he is adapting to Indiana...
JH: It has been going pretty good for me so far. I am still getting adjusted to the environment and getting used to everything and the plays. [It came about] After I entered the [transfer] portal, [the Indiana coaches] hit me up and I told them I was interested. So that is how that happened.
On playing IU in the bowl game and now being a part of the program...
JH: We did play them [at Ole Miss last year]. They were already a good team, but I felt that if I had come here maybe I could have helped them win [the bowl game]. They were already winning, but I wanted to come here to help them win more and win the Big Ten championship.
On his relationship with Jason Jones...
JH: Me and Coach Jones have a really strong relationship. He was recruiting me when I was at Jones [County Junior College], so we have had a strong relationship and bond since then.
Devon Matthews | Sr. | DB
On the transition of Raheem Layne...
DM: Raheem adjusted very well. The cornerbacks and safeties kind of work together, so that really wasn't a hard switch for him. He is doing good. We just have to keep practicing our stuff [on the field] and we will be good.
On what the team talks about in terms of the progress of the program...
DM: You already know that answer, a Big Ten championship. That is our goal. That is what we have in our minds and it is going to stay that way.
On focusing on one game and not getting too far ahead...
DM: It isn't too hard. You just have to take it game by game and we will be fine. You can only focus on one team at a time, week by week. [If we can do that] We will be fine. We just can't get ahead of ourselves and focus on each [opponent] the week of that game and we will be good.
Reese Taylor | Sr. | DB
On the standard for the secondary ...
RT: This year, the level [of competition] has increased even more. It is a new standard being set. It is a more positive and intense standard, and we cannot settle for less. As a defense, everything is more intense for us to get to the ball and be one piece and gel together.
On the experience in the cornerback room...
RT: The experience has really helped us a lot. It allows us to be more efficient on and off the field. It helps the defense out, just us being leaders in the corners room and on the team. it helps the newcomers have a smooth [transition] and grab on a wing and come with us to make a new standard. It makes sure that standard is set for the younger guys.
On the hunger this team has to reach the next level...
RT: We had a good season last year and a good season before that, but both bowl games we didn't end it how we wanted to. It is a chip on our shoulder that we know we didn't finish. We are coming into this season hungrier and are starving for, not success, but to the best we can be as a football team. [We want to] Go out there and play football 11 Strong, which is out motto, to go out there and do as best as we can and work as hard as we can.
Players Mentioned
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