Indiana University Athletics
NOTEBOOK: Even Injured, Cam Jones Affects the Game
10/11/2022 10:00:00 AM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Cam Jones can't play, but he can lead. The injured senior linebacker stalks the sideline as if he were a coach, certainly a man on a mission, with this in mind -- elevate Indiana play and help deliver a much-needed victory.
"He understands that he's the captain of this team," head coach Tom Allen says. "He is our leader. That leadership does not stop just because he's not able to play."
Last Saturday, Jones' high-energy leadership came against No. 4 Michigan. This Saturday at Memorial Stadium, it will be Maryland.
"He knows the game plan, he's involved, engaged," Allen says. "We took him to the hotel with us (last Friday night). You can only take so many guys for even a home game because it's a conference game. We feel like he's that valuable. You take him in those numbers. Why? Because he affects the outcome of the game even though he can't physically play, since he's the captain."
Jones was playing at an All-America level before an injury at Nebraska sidelined him for the Michigan game. He still has a team-leading 54 tackles, nine more than any other Hoosier.
Once it became clear Jones would miss multiple weeks, Allen had a heart-to-heart talk with him.
"First of all, it was making sure he was okay," Allen says. "I know how hard he's worked, how devastated he was.
"But then the next conversation was, okay, Cam, you're now in a different role. As you're rehabbing, getting yourself healthy, you've got to lead this team from the sideline. I know that's harder to do than it is when you're playing. But you've earned the right to continue to speak."
Jones' speaking comes from preparation. Allen says he takes notes during team meetings.
"He knows the game plan," he says. "He's making sure that the guys are making the checks and adjustments. It's because he cares. He's a special, special player. He's a special person.
"I've seen a lot of guys handle these injuries different ways; a lot of great players that can get a little disconnected because they're not out there. That's not been the case with him."
Jones has been just as animated in practice while getting leadership help from defensive backs Noah Pierre and Bryant Fitzgerald. The goal is to help the Hoosiers (3-3) snap a three-game losing streak against a 4-2 Maryland team coming off a 31-29 loss.
"(Jones) gives (the Hoosiers) a charge," Allen says. "I'm very proud of that. I expect that to continue."
*****
In the end, Allen made the decision he didn't want to make, but had no choice.
Performance supersedes friendship. It has to -- in sports, in business, in life.
After three straight disappointing offensive-line performances, which followed last season's series of poor play, Allen let offensive line coach Darren Hiller go.
"You have a performance-based assessment for position groups," Allen says. "That's what we tell our coaches. There's accountability for the way they perform.
"(The offensive line) wasn't meeting the standard we have to have to be successful on game day in this conference. When that doesn't happen and you don't get the results you want, then you make a change, and that's what we've done.
"There's a standard that we want to play with," Allen says. "I didn't think we were playing to that standard on the offensive line. I wanted to see improvement. Did not see it to the degree that we needed. I felt like a change was necessary."
Allen says he told the offensive linemen Sunday afternoon.
"I wanted to tell them face to face. There was a lot of emotions. They love Coach Hiller. I love Coach Hiller. Relationships with people matter. People matter. It's families.
"Our players were emotional. There are connections. They took it personal, in a good way."
Letting coaches go can spark better play. Nebraska replaced its head coach and defensive coordinator and won two straight games, including a win over Indiana.
"They know it's about accountability, those guys stepping up, challenging them to be able to rise up as a group, to play for each other," Allen says. "To me, it's accountability of the whole offense, it's the whole team that embraces who we are and what we're all about and the standards we have, the people we have as part of the staff."
Rod Carey, a former Hoosier starting center under coach Bill Mallory in the early 1990s as well as a former offensive line coach with 10 years of head coaching experience at Northern Illinois and Temple (a 64-50 record, seven bowl appearances), will replace Hiller. Carey has spent the last several months as IU's quality control coach for defense.
"Coach Carey is now in that role and we're going to move forward," Allen says. "The expectation is those guys to play at the standard that we have to play at to win Big Ten football games.
"That is what the objective is. That is the expectation. I am for excited for Coach Carey to be in this role."
Carey says he took the job with a "heavy heart."
"There isn't anything easy about what happened," he says. "We know the profession. We understand the profession. Those are real relationships and real people with a fantastic family. Coach Hiller is fantastic. I think the world of Coach Hiller."
Offensive linemen felt the same way.
"(Sunday) was extremely hard on those kids," Carey said. "I tried to get out of the way. Then (Monday) we got business to do. They were good. I was pretty happy for Day One."
*****
Maryland averages 34.0 points and allows 22.7.
The Terrapins are led by quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, who completes 74.1 percent of his passes for 1,731 yards, 11 touchdowns, and five interceptions.
Receiver Corey Dyches has caught 22 passes for a team-leading 322 yards. Tailback Ramon Hemby has rushed for 395 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 6.2 yards per carry.
On defense, Maryland is led by freshman linebacker Jaishawn Barham. He was named Big Ten co-freshman of the week after totaling four tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery against Purdue. He leads the Terps in tackles (34), sacks (three), and tackles for loss (4.5).
"A very, very talented team will be coming to Bloomington," Allen says. "They have a lot of playmakers on offense. They throw well and run effectively. The defense plays hard, and they have good specialists."
*****
While Jones is out for a while, IU hopes to get several other key players back. Tight end A.J. Barner and cornerback Jaylin Williams are listed as week to week. Receivers D.J. Matthews Jr. and Javon Swinton will be game-time decisions.
"We're working really hard to get as healthy as we possibly can each week," Allen says.
"He understands that he's the captain of this team," head coach Tom Allen says. "He is our leader. That leadership does not stop just because he's not able to play."
Last Saturday, Jones' high-energy leadership came against No. 4 Michigan. This Saturday at Memorial Stadium, it will be Maryland.
"He knows the game plan, he's involved, engaged," Allen says. "We took him to the hotel with us (last Friday night). You can only take so many guys for even a home game because it's a conference game. We feel like he's that valuable. You take him in those numbers. Why? Because he affects the outcome of the game even though he can't physically play, since he's the captain."
Jones was playing at an All-America level before an injury at Nebraska sidelined him for the Michigan game. He still has a team-leading 54 tackles, nine more than any other Hoosier.
Once it became clear Jones would miss multiple weeks, Allen had a heart-to-heart talk with him.
"First of all, it was making sure he was okay," Allen says. "I know how hard he's worked, how devastated he was.
"But then the next conversation was, okay, Cam, you're now in a different role. As you're rehabbing, getting yourself healthy, you've got to lead this team from the sideline. I know that's harder to do than it is when you're playing. But you've earned the right to continue to speak."
Jones' speaking comes from preparation. Allen says he takes notes during team meetings.
"He knows the game plan," he says. "He's making sure that the guys are making the checks and adjustments. It's because he cares. He's a special, special player. He's a special person.
"I've seen a lot of guys handle these injuries different ways; a lot of great players that can get a little disconnected because they're not out there. That's not been the case with him."
Jones has been just as animated in practice while getting leadership help from defensive backs Noah Pierre and Bryant Fitzgerald. The goal is to help the Hoosiers (3-3) snap a three-game losing streak against a 4-2 Maryland team coming off a 31-29 loss.
"(Jones) gives (the Hoosiers) a charge," Allen says. "I'm very proud of that. I expect that to continue."
*****
In the end, Allen made the decision he didn't want to make, but had no choice.
Performance supersedes friendship. It has to -- in sports, in business, in life.
After three straight disappointing offensive-line performances, which followed last season's series of poor play, Allen let offensive line coach Darren Hiller go.
"You have a performance-based assessment for position groups," Allen says. "That's what we tell our coaches. There's accountability for the way they perform.
"(The offensive line) wasn't meeting the standard we have to have to be successful on game day in this conference. When that doesn't happen and you don't get the results you want, then you make a change, and that's what we've done.
"There's a standard that we want to play with," Allen says. "I didn't think we were playing to that standard on the offensive line. I wanted to see improvement. Did not see it to the degree that we needed. I felt like a change was necessary."
Allen says he told the offensive linemen Sunday afternoon.
"I wanted to tell them face to face. There was a lot of emotions. They love Coach Hiller. I love Coach Hiller. Relationships with people matter. People matter. It's families.
"Our players were emotional. There are connections. They took it personal, in a good way."
Letting coaches go can spark better play. Nebraska replaced its head coach and defensive coordinator and won two straight games, including a win over Indiana.
"They know it's about accountability, those guys stepping up, challenging them to be able to rise up as a group, to play for each other," Allen says. "To me, it's accountability of the whole offense, it's the whole team that embraces who we are and what we're all about and the standards we have, the people we have as part of the staff."
Rod Carey, a former Hoosier starting center under coach Bill Mallory in the early 1990s as well as a former offensive line coach with 10 years of head coaching experience at Northern Illinois and Temple (a 64-50 record, seven bowl appearances), will replace Hiller. Carey has spent the last several months as IU's quality control coach for defense.
"Coach Carey is now in that role and we're going to move forward," Allen says. "The expectation is those guys to play at the standard that we have to play at to win Big Ten football games.
"That is what the objective is. That is the expectation. I am for excited for Coach Carey to be in this role."
Carey says he took the job with a "heavy heart."
"There isn't anything easy about what happened," he says. "We know the profession. We understand the profession. Those are real relationships and real people with a fantastic family. Coach Hiller is fantastic. I think the world of Coach Hiller."
Offensive linemen felt the same way.
"(Sunday) was extremely hard on those kids," Carey said. "I tried to get out of the way. Then (Monday) we got business to do. They were good. I was pretty happy for Day One."
*****
Maryland averages 34.0 points and allows 22.7.
The Terrapins are led by quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, who completes 74.1 percent of his passes for 1,731 yards, 11 touchdowns, and five interceptions.
Receiver Corey Dyches has caught 22 passes for a team-leading 322 yards. Tailback Ramon Hemby has rushed for 395 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 6.2 yards per carry.
On defense, Maryland is led by freshman linebacker Jaishawn Barham. He was named Big Ten co-freshman of the week after totaling four tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery against Purdue. He leads the Terps in tackles (34), sacks (three), and tackles for loss (4.5).
"A very, very talented team will be coming to Bloomington," Allen says. "They have a lot of playmakers on offense. They throw well and run effectively. The defense plays hard, and they have good specialists."
*****
While Jones is out for a while, IU hopes to get several other key players back. Tight end A.J. Barner and cornerback Jaylin Williams are listed as week to week. Receivers D.J. Matthews Jr. and Javon Swinton will be game-time decisions.
"We're working really hard to get as healthy as we possibly can each week," Allen says.
Players Mentioned
DB
/ Football
WR/RS
/ Football
DB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DB
/ FootballFB: Inside IU Football with Curt Cignetti - Week 11 (at Penn State)
Thursday, November 06
FB: Pat Coogan Media Availability (11/4/25_
Tuesday, November 04
FB: Isaiah Jones Media Availability (11/4/25)
Tuesday, November 04
FB: Week 11 (at Penn State) - Curt Cignetti Press Conference
Monday, November 03