Thursday Takeaways: Maryland
10/13/2022 2:00:00 PM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – A second straight home game will bring Maryland to Memorial Stadium on Saturday (Oct. 15) and Indiana football head coach Tom Allen talked to the media one final time prior to the Hoosiers meeting with the Terrapins on ESPN2 at 3:30 p.m.
Below is a partial transcript of the Tom Allen press conference, while video of the full media sessions can be found near the top of this story at IUHoosiers.com or via IUHoosiers.com/watch.
Tom Allen | Head Coach
On updating the health of some guys that missed last week's game…
TA: I would say after today's practice, and I will meet with our medical staff afterwards to get the final update. Still a game-time decision with D.J. [Matthews Jr.]. He is definitely making lots of progress. Jaylin Williams, same thing, game-time decision for him.
AJ Barner, as well [is a game-time decision]. Definitely getting some positive signs with him. I know that was one that definitely were concerned about, but he is progressing there. Javon Swinton should be good to go. Then, Cam Jones is going to be [out for] some more time.
[Kahlil Benson] practiced this week and he is good to go.
On Aaron Steinfeldt's development from last season to this season…
TA: He is working extremely hard. Opportunity presented itself this last week and he took advantage of it. We are going to continue to focus on his blocking and his development there. He is working hard at that and Coach [Kevin] Wright is doing great job of getting him ready for that.
He continues to do a great job in the throw game. That is going to be definitely his strength, without question. Just growing and maturing. He is young, for sure, and has gotten thrown in here. We need him to step up and he did some good things for us last Saturday and we need it again this weekend.
On what he wants to see from the offensive line this weekend…
TA: Bottom line is the way they perform on game day, the way they play as a unit, the communication is a part of that without question, and execution: being able to communicate the blocking schemes, whether it is run game of throw game and the adjustments that we make and have built in for the game plan, and just being effective and giving our quarterback time to throw and allowing us to run the football effectively.
It's being assignment sound ... I think probably the best thing we evaluate is just the way that our offense performs. The big men lead the way and that is important to us, they understand that, and those guys taking that personally and the current situation to be able to respond.
Coach Carey has obviously done a great job this week working with those guys. It is definitely a process you go through, but at the same time what I want to see is, I just want to see them play better. I want them to be able to do a great job so that we can be effective as an offense. The bottom line is that if each individual unit group performs at a high level that allows our offense to be able to score point and finish drive and allows us to win football games.
On the offense getting into a rhythm against Maryland…
TA: I think that's always the case when you play defenses, they have certain schematic things that you want to take advantage of. There is no question that we have to be able to throw the football on Saturday. That's what we do.
We have to run the football more effectively than we have been and we have to be able to do a great job of executing in the throw game. Whatever their plan is going to be, we will find out soon enough, and our guys, our receivers, have to do a tremendous job of getting open. Protecting our quarterback up front, that includes the running backs and the quarterback, as well, is a part of that for him to be able to stay in the pocket and complete balls.
It's a big part of our offense is just throwing the football, but 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.
Below is a partial transcript of the Tom Allen press conference, while video of the full media sessions can be found near the top of this story at IUHoosiers.com or via IUHoosiers.com/watch.
Tom Allen | Head Coach
On updating the health of some guys that missed last week's game…
TA: I would say after today's practice, and I will meet with our medical staff afterwards to get the final update. Still a game-time decision with D.J. [Matthews Jr.]. He is definitely making lots of progress. Jaylin Williams, same thing, game-time decision for him.
AJ Barner, as well [is a game-time decision]. Definitely getting some positive signs with him. I know that was one that definitely were concerned about, but he is progressing there. Javon Swinton should be good to go. Then, Cam Jones is going to be [out for] some more time.
[Kahlil Benson] practiced this week and he is good to go.
On Aaron Steinfeldt's development from last season to this season…
TA: He is working extremely hard. Opportunity presented itself this last week and he took advantage of it. We are going to continue to focus on his blocking and his development there. He is working hard at that and Coach [Kevin] Wright is doing great job of getting him ready for that.
He continues to do a great job in the throw game. That is going to be definitely his strength, without question. Just growing and maturing. He is young, for sure, and has gotten thrown in here. We need him to step up and he did some good things for us last Saturday and we need it again this weekend.
On what he wants to see from the offensive line this weekend…
TA: Bottom line is the way they perform on game day, the way they play as a unit, the communication is a part of that without question, and execution: being able to communicate the blocking schemes, whether it is run game of throw game and the adjustments that we make and have built in for the game plan, and just being effective and giving our quarterback time to throw and allowing us to run the football effectively.
It's being assignment sound ... I think probably the best thing we evaluate is just the way that our offense performs. The big men lead the way and that is important to us, they understand that, and those guys taking that personally and the current situation to be able to respond.
Coach Carey has obviously done a great job this week working with those guys. It is definitely a process you go through, but at the same time what I want to see is, I just want to see them play better. I want them to be able to do a great job so that we can be effective as an offense. The bottom line is that if each individual unit group performs at a high level that allows our offense to be able to score point and finish drive and allows us to win football games.
On the offense getting into a rhythm against Maryland…
TA: I think that's always the case when you play defenses, they have certain schematic things that you want to take advantage of. There is no question that we have to be able to throw the football on Saturday. That's what we do.
We have to run the football more effectively than we have been and we have to be able to do a great job of executing in the throw game. Whatever their plan is going to be, we will find out soon enough, and our guys, our receivers, have to do a tremendous job of getting open. Protecting our quarterback up front, that includes the running backs and the quarterback, as well, is a part of that for him to be able to stay in the pocket and complete balls.
It's a big part of our offense is just throwing the football, but 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.
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