Saturday, September 25
Bowling Green, Ky.
8:00 PM
Indiana University
at
Western Kentucky
‘Confident’ Hoosiers Set For Western Kentucky
9/24/2021 10:40:00 AM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Hoosiers are not shaken, offensive lineman Matthew Bedford insists. Doubt has not taken over. Two disappointing losses in three games will not ruin a season.
"Our confidence level is still at an all-time high," Bedford says. "We know who we are. We know how we play. We need to focus on executing the way we play.
"We need to keep each other together and execute."
Indiana faces a two-game swing rich in opportunity. It plays at high-scoring Western Kentucky (1-1) on Saturday night and then at No. 6/8 Penn State (3-0) on Oct. 2.
"There are high expectations for this team," head coach Tom Allen says, "and those haven't changed. We've got to prove it. We've got to do it on game days."
Or, as safety Raheem Layne puts it, "We just have to play the full 60 minutes."
Layne saw 50 minutes of "great things" against Top-10 Cincinnati last Saturday and 10 minutes where, "the Hoosiers beat the Hoosiers."
"We can't have that," he says.
Allen talks about "staying the course." He emphasizes "grit, perseverance and passion towards a long-term goal" and doing it every day, no matter what.
"It's every week you keep getting better. That's what you've got to do."
Western Kentucky has the nation's most prolific passing attack with a veteran quarterback (Bailey Zappe, 74 percent completions, 10 touchdowns, 429.5-yard average), receiving versatility (3 receivers with at least 10 catches, with Jerreth Sterns leading with 16 catches for 278 yards and 4 touchdowns) and a coach (Tyson Helton) not shy about throwing it 50 or more times if that's what it takes.
Plus, the Hilltoppers are coming off a bye week, which means they've had extra preparation time.
"They do a lot of good things in the passing game," Layne says. "We have to do a good job of keeping the ball in front of us and execute our game plan."
For Allen, the game plan to stop Western Kentucky, or any team, starts with the basics.
"Creating more third-and longs; getting off blocks better; being more dynamic in space."
It sounds easy. It's not.
"I look forward to the challenge," defensive coordinator Charlton Warren says. "For our guys, what a tremendous opportunity.
"You have the best passing team in the country. One of the best third-down teams in the country. A seasoned quarterback.
"Those receivers and that quarterback have been together for years, lighting scoreboards up. It's a tremendous challenge to be able to execute."
As far as IU's offense, look for a come-back performance from receiver Ty Fryfogle, who had multiple drops against Cincinnati. It's not what anyone expected from a guy who won Big Ten-receiver-of-the-year honors last year.
"He's never had a game like that since he's been here," Allen says. "He's practiced awesome. He's had a great mindset. The drops caught me off guard."
Fryfogle now receives extra attention from defenses, making it harder for him to get open.
Still, he and D.J. Matthews Jr. are tied for the team lead with 11 catches each. Fryfogle has 126 receiving yards and one touchdown.
Matthews, with 150 receiving yards, has emerged as a top pass-catching threat after transferring from Florida State.
"I get it, everybody is keying on (Fryfogle)," Allen says. "They're going to double cover him.
"D.J. made a bunch of plays, which I expect him to do. That's great. That's what we need to have. But (Fryfogle) needs to make those plays. There were several catches that would have been the difference in the game. He knows that.
"He's a very confident guy. We talked through it. He doesn't need to press. He just needs to play ball.
"He practices well. He practices hard. He just needs to rise up, relax, and be Ty Fryfogle."
The offensive line remains a work in progress. It will play a huge role in boosting the rushing (136.0 yards a game) and passing (179.7 yards) attacks.
"It's the consistency," offensive lineman Caleb Jones says. "People who have watched our games have seen us do a lot of things well and a lot of things that aren't up to standard. That's going to be the biggest thing for the rest of the season, continuing to be consistent and ensure that everyone in the (offensive lineman) room meets the standard we need to meet."
Bedford says top priorities are communication and execution. If that happens, "Everything is in front of us."
That's the sound of confidence.
It isn't shaken, you see.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Hoosiers are not shaken, offensive lineman Matthew Bedford insists. Doubt has not taken over. Two disappointing losses in three games will not ruin a season.
"Our confidence level is still at an all-time high," Bedford says. "We know who we are. We know how we play. We need to focus on executing the way we play.
"We need to keep each other together and execute."
Indiana faces a two-game swing rich in opportunity. It plays at high-scoring Western Kentucky (1-1) on Saturday night and then at No. 6/8 Penn State (3-0) on Oct. 2.
"There are high expectations for this team," head coach Tom Allen says, "and those haven't changed. We've got to prove it. We've got to do it on game days."
Or, as safety Raheem Layne puts it, "We just have to play the full 60 minutes."
Layne saw 50 minutes of "great things" against Top-10 Cincinnati last Saturday and 10 minutes where, "the Hoosiers beat the Hoosiers."
"We can't have that," he says.
Allen talks about "staying the course." He emphasizes "grit, perseverance and passion towards a long-term goal" and doing it every day, no matter what.
"It's every week you keep getting better. That's what you've got to do."
Western Kentucky has the nation's most prolific passing attack with a veteran quarterback (Bailey Zappe, 74 percent completions, 10 touchdowns, 429.5-yard average), receiving versatility (3 receivers with at least 10 catches, with Jerreth Sterns leading with 16 catches for 278 yards and 4 touchdowns) and a coach (Tyson Helton) not shy about throwing it 50 or more times if that's what it takes.
Plus, the Hilltoppers are coming off a bye week, which means they've had extra preparation time.
"They do a lot of good things in the passing game," Layne says. "We have to do a good job of keeping the ball in front of us and execute our game plan."
For Allen, the game plan to stop Western Kentucky, or any team, starts with the basics.
"Creating more third-and longs; getting off blocks better; being more dynamic in space."
It sounds easy. It's not.
"I look forward to the challenge," defensive coordinator Charlton Warren says. "For our guys, what a tremendous opportunity.
"You have the best passing team in the country. One of the best third-down teams in the country. A seasoned quarterback.
"Those receivers and that quarterback have been together for years, lighting scoreboards up. It's a tremendous challenge to be able to execute."
As far as IU's offense, look for a come-back performance from receiver Ty Fryfogle, who had multiple drops against Cincinnati. It's not what anyone expected from a guy who won Big Ten-receiver-of-the-year honors last year.
"He's never had a game like that since he's been here," Allen says. "He's practiced awesome. He's had a great mindset. The drops caught me off guard."
Fryfogle now receives extra attention from defenses, making it harder for him to get open.
Still, he and D.J. Matthews Jr. are tied for the team lead with 11 catches each. Fryfogle has 126 receiving yards and one touchdown.
Matthews, with 150 receiving yards, has emerged as a top pass-catching threat after transferring from Florida State.
"I get it, everybody is keying on (Fryfogle)," Allen says. "They're going to double cover him.
"D.J. made a bunch of plays, which I expect him to do. That's great. That's what we need to have. But (Fryfogle) needs to make those plays. There were several catches that would have been the difference in the game. He knows that.
"He's a very confident guy. We talked through it. He doesn't need to press. He just needs to play ball.
"He practices well. He practices hard. He just needs to rise up, relax, and be Ty Fryfogle."
The offensive line remains a work in progress. It will play a huge role in boosting the rushing (136.0 yards a game) and passing (179.7 yards) attacks.
"It's the consistency," offensive lineman Caleb Jones says. "People who have watched our games have seen us do a lot of things well and a lot of things that aren't up to standard. That's going to be the biggest thing for the rest of the season, continuing to be consistent and ensure that everyone in the (offensive lineman) room meets the standard we need to meet."
Bedford says top priorities are communication and execution. If that happens, "Everything is in front of us."
That's the sound of confidence.
It isn't shaken, you see.
Players Mentioned
OL
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WR
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OL
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DB
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WR/RS
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