Indiana University Athletics
Effort, Execution, And the Promise of IU Defense, Offense
8/26/2021 1:25:00 PM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Charlton Warren sees it. How could he not? Passion, effort, energy. It's all there from a defensive unit rich in promise and Indiana's first-year defensive coordinator is driven to maximize it.
Nick Sheridan sees it. Of course he does. Difference-making play makers at running back and receiver and, yes, the offensive line, which will provide all sorts of opportunities for the second-year offensive coordinator.
With the Sept. 4 season opener at No. 18 Iowa rapidly approaching (the Hoosiers come in at No. 17 in preseason polls), things couldn't look more promising.
Let's start with Warren, who has talent to disrupt offenses at every level if the approach is right.
Quick hint: It is.
"We've had a great, spirited camp," he says. "The guys are pushing.
"We, as coaches, are really stressing effort. It's not about the calls, or how many calls, it's about the execution.
"We put a lot into just running to the ball and hitting and tackling in the open. That's really the game of football with this space and these big linemen. We have to be able to do that. We put a premium on that."
Warren used the first part of August camp to install the defense, and the time since refining it.
"We put everything in and then it became so much about fundamentals, pad work and segments: just to reinforce the technique and the fundamentals."
It sounds good, but what does it mean? What does great defense look like beyond the tackles, interceptions, fumbles forced and recovered?
"We have to be great at the little things," Warren says. "We can't beat ourselves with penalties. We can't have bad technique. We can't have bad hand placement. We have to hold edges and keep leverage.
"Our guys are doing a great job of buying into that. We're pushing them every day. It's going to be a long season. One game at a time. We have several more days of camp and we're looking forward to finishing out strong."
Ask Warren which defensive players are standing out and he seems poised to name the entire unit, which suggests a depth and versatility that should bode well for Iowa, and the season
"The guys are all incrementally getting better," he says. "On some days, the linebackers have a great day and make a bunch of plays and then the secondary comes up and has some interceptions. The defensive line gets great pass rush.
"I think our older guys are leading, which I'm really proud of. Guys like Cam Jones and Micah McFadden in the linebacker room. (Defensive lineman) Ryder Anderson has done a great job up front leading those guys along with Weston Kramer -- he's had a great camp so far.
"In the back end, (cornerbacks) Jaylin Williams, Reese Taylor, and Tiawan Mullen have done really well.
"As a group, I think we're doing well. It's the depth. Younger guys are starting to get it and younger guys are playing fast. That's important in a long season. To have guys you can depend on in your twos and your threes that can enter the game with no drop off. That's what we're looking for."
Warren likes what he sees from the Bull position, which is a hybrid defensive end/linebacker under coach Kasey Teegardin.
"Those guys have done a great job. Coach Teegardin has really gotten that group to buy into the rush part, the run defense part, and the coverage part. I think that group has really started to excel in some pass rush areas, especially on second-and-long and third down.
"I've really seen an improvement from those guys in the run game. They are being physical. They are setting edges. If we bring them in some different ways, they show some quickness and twitch off the edge, and they also show their versatility. I think that position is morphed into what we thought it would be."
Then there is Sheridan, who is determined to get the running game going to have a truly balanced attack.
Ask Sheridan if there have been any offensive surprises and he says, "I don't know if there's been surprises, but certainly some of the new players that we've added to the roster have done a nice job.
"(Running back) Stephen Carr (a USC transfer) and (receiver) Camron Buckley (a Texas A&M transfer) … we hadn't had a chance to be out there on the grass with them. Whether they're surprises or just nice additions that confirm what you were hoping for when you're recruiting them to come here. I would say those guys (stand out) for sure.
"I think up front (on the offensive line), Michael Katic has had a nice camp. I think all the five-to-eight offensive linemen that we're trying to count on and decide who that is, those guys have done a nice job and had moments.
"Each position has had moments at different times throughout camp. I wouldn't say, there's been surprises necessarily, just some confirmations and yet we still recognize with the time we have before kickoff that we have a lot of work to do."
Work centers on getting 11 offensive players to function as one.
"We have to execute with all 11 players together," Sheridan says. "We can't have 10 guys doing their job and one position doesn't because you can't operate that way.
"You might have the play completely blocked up, but if the snap is a little off it looks like a bad play.
"I think the focus of the whole group is consistency. We've got to play more consistent. I think we've shown that we have the ability, but you've got to do it down in and down out. You get to a game, and you've got 70 to 80 plays for four-straight hours. You've got to be consistent."
Sheridan is getting consistency from almost everyone, including Jack Tuttle, who has starting quarterback talent and a perspective that embraces his back-up role to Michael Penix Jr.
Ask Sheridan about Tuttle's improvement and he delivers an in-depth answer, starting with the quarterback's feet.
"We've really focused on quieting his feet and quieting his mind so he can play fast and free," Sheridan says. "He's shown that throughout camp.
"Getting Jack to settle down a little in the pocket, fundamentally, is important. Just making sure his feet are underneath him with a good platform and a good base has lent itself to him throwing the ball more consistently, more accurately.
"Jack is an accurate passer. Jack has good arm strength. Jack has mobility. Sometimes, as a quarterback, if you are a little bit hesitant or not quite confident in where the route is going to be or you're not seeing the defense, sometimes the ball can be off. It doesn't mean the guy has bad accuracy, you just need to teach him better and help him better.
"Jack is a joy to coach. He is always prepared. He always asks good questions.
"He's had a good camp. He's done a nice job. We're lucky that he's here and have full confidence in him."
Players Mentioned
DL
/ Football
WR
/ Football
RB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
LB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
DB
/ FootballFB: Spring Game - Postgame Press Conference
Thursday, April 23
FB: Bray Lynch - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Drew Evans - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Nico Radicic - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21