Indiana University Athletics
For Indiana, It’s Time to Get Tough
10/14/2022 10:00:00 AM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Sometimes, it's just about toughness.
Sometimes, when you're Indiana head coach Tom Allen and you push to snap a three-game losing streak and get the Hoosiers to play to their potential, it comes down to wanting it more, to fight until the other guy breaks.
On Saturday afternoon against Maryland (4-2) at Memorial Stadium, IU (3-3) will get that chance.
"There is a toughness that we have to have that I want to make sure we always play with in the run game and the throw game and everything we do," Allen says.
IU can't beat Maryland without better offense, tougher offense, the kind of offense that hurts a defense by run and pass.
Allen hasn't seen that in a while.
The Hoosiers are optimistic improvement will happen Saturday.
Up-tempo offense is the key.
"When we play fast," receiver Cam Camper says, "it's hard to stop us. We have to be consistent playing that fast throughout the whole game. That's what it is. We have to figure out how to do that."
Figuring starts with productive first and second downs.
"Sometimes we end up behind the sticks, and we don't need to be," Camper says. "Whether it's false starts or a hold or a sack or we don't make the big play down the field. Everything works together as the reason for why we don't move fast. That's receivers, quarterback, the line, every position."
Having a full-strength Camper helps. Illness sidelined him for the Nebraska game. He came back with two catches for 39 yards against Michigan, including a 33-yarder. He has 35 catches for 457 yards and a touchdown for the season.
"I slowly started getting back in the groove last week," he says. "It was my energy level. I wasn't in the same shape that I was before. I was more winded than usual."
It's no surprise the passing game again looms large in IU plans. Quarterback Connor Bazelak has thrown 295 passes and completed 155 of them for 1,597 yards, nine touchdowns, and six interceptions.
That's 32 more pass attempts than any other Big Ten team, and 75 more than Maryland.
"There's no question we have to throw the football," Allen says. "That's what we do. We have to do a great job of executing in the throw game. Whatever (Maryland's) game plan is, our receivers have to do a tremendous job of getting open. We have to protect the quarterback, and he has to stay in the pocket and complete passes."
Allen also wants better running. IU averages just 90.8 rushing yards per game. Only Iowa, with an 82.2-yard average, is worse in the Big Ten.
"We have to run more effectively than we have been," he says.
Allen says he's focused on the way the offensive line performs as a unit.
"Communication is a part of that, and execution: being able to communicate the blocking schemes, whether it is the run game or throw game. It's the adjustments that we make and have built in for the game plan."
Frustration grows from watching Bazelak get hit and sacked, from seeing missed assignments, from punting too often and scoring too little.
Bazelak says he will do his part by doing a better job of throwing it away if nothing is there, by adjusting protection to the Hoosiers' advantage and letting the line know he has their backs.
"Just be a leader for those guys by maintaining poise and confidence in the pocket and in the huddle," he says. "Be that cool, calm, collected guy for them."
For those critical, Bazelak offers former president Theodore Roosevelt's famous speech, the Man in the Arena. It says, in part, "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood …"
"A lot of people don't realize what it takes," Bazelak says, "unless you're out there playing."
Maryland has 15 sacks this season, but allows 22.7 points. There is vulnerability to exploit if IU is -- yes -- tough enough.
"The big men have to lead the way," Allen says. "That's important. They understand that. Those guys take it personal."
Allen likes what he's seen from new offensive line coach Rod Carey.
"He's done a great job working with those guys. It's a process you go through.
"I just want them to play better. I want them to do a great job so we can be an effective offense that scores points and wins games."
Getting some key injured players back would help. Receiver D.J. Matthews Jr., who has missed the last couple of games, as well as cornerback Jaylin Williams and tight end AJ Barner, are game-time decisions as far as injuries. All three are starters. Receiver Javon Swinton "should be good to go."
Sometimes, when you're Indiana head coach Tom Allen and you push to snap a three-game losing streak and get the Hoosiers to play to their potential, it comes down to wanting it more, to fight until the other guy breaks.
On Saturday afternoon against Maryland (4-2) at Memorial Stadium, IU (3-3) will get that chance.
"There is a toughness that we have to have that I want to make sure we always play with in the run game and the throw game and everything we do," Allen says.
IU can't beat Maryland without better offense, tougher offense, the kind of offense that hurts a defense by run and pass.
Allen hasn't seen that in a while.
The Hoosiers are optimistic improvement will happen Saturday.
Up-tempo offense is the key.
"When we play fast," receiver Cam Camper says, "it's hard to stop us. We have to be consistent playing that fast throughout the whole game. That's what it is. We have to figure out how to do that."
Figuring starts with productive first and second downs.
"Sometimes we end up behind the sticks, and we don't need to be," Camper says. "Whether it's false starts or a hold or a sack or we don't make the big play down the field. Everything works together as the reason for why we don't move fast. That's receivers, quarterback, the line, every position."
Having a full-strength Camper helps. Illness sidelined him for the Nebraska game. He came back with two catches for 39 yards against Michigan, including a 33-yarder. He has 35 catches for 457 yards and a touchdown for the season.
"I slowly started getting back in the groove last week," he says. "It was my energy level. I wasn't in the same shape that I was before. I was more winded than usual."
It's no surprise the passing game again looms large in IU plans. Quarterback Connor Bazelak has thrown 295 passes and completed 155 of them for 1,597 yards, nine touchdowns, and six interceptions.
That's 32 more pass attempts than any other Big Ten team, and 75 more than Maryland.
"There's no question we have to throw the football," Allen says. "That's what we do. We have to do a great job of executing in the throw game. Whatever (Maryland's) game plan is, our receivers have to do a tremendous job of getting open. We have to protect the quarterback, and he has to stay in the pocket and complete passes."
Allen also wants better running. IU averages just 90.8 rushing yards per game. Only Iowa, with an 82.2-yard average, is worse in the Big Ten.
"We have to run more effectively than we have been," he says.
Allen says he's focused on the way the offensive line performs as a unit.
"Communication is a part of that, and execution: being able to communicate the blocking schemes, whether it is the run game or throw game. It's the adjustments that we make and have built in for the game plan."
Frustration grows from watching Bazelak get hit and sacked, from seeing missed assignments, from punting too often and scoring too little.
Bazelak says he will do his part by doing a better job of throwing it away if nothing is there, by adjusting protection to the Hoosiers' advantage and letting the line know he has their backs.
"Just be a leader for those guys by maintaining poise and confidence in the pocket and in the huddle," he says. "Be that cool, calm, collected guy for them."
For those critical, Bazelak offers former president Theodore Roosevelt's famous speech, the Man in the Arena. It says, in part, "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood …"
"A lot of people don't realize what it takes," Bazelak says, "unless you're out there playing."
Maryland has 15 sacks this season, but allows 22.7 points. There is vulnerability to exploit if IU is -- yes -- tough enough.
"The big men have to lead the way," Allen says. "That's important. They understand that. Those guys take it personal."
Allen likes what he's seen from new offensive line coach Rod Carey.
"He's done a great job working with those guys. It's a process you go through.
"I just want them to play better. I want them to do a great job so we can be an effective offense that scores points and wins games."
Getting some key injured players back would help. Receiver D.J. Matthews Jr., who has missed the last couple of games, as well as cornerback Jaylin Williams and tight end AJ Barner, are game-time decisions as far as injuries. All three are starters. Receiver Javon Swinton "should be good to go."
Players Mentioned
TE
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