NOTEBOOK: For Hoosiers, Focus Turns to Rutgers
10/18/2022 10:00:00 AM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - An old football cliché attributed to former NFL coach Bill Parcells says a team is only as good as its record.
Quarterback Connor Bazelak looks at Indiana's 3-4 record and sees a hidden Cream & Crimson truth.
"What's different about this team is we know we're a good team," he says. "The only ones to beat us is ourselves with mistakes and turnovers. We're the ones to blame.
"If we can limit the mistakes, we'll be more explosive on offense. We have to find ways to win like we did the first three games. We can easily be 5-2."
The Hoosiers' four-game losing streak reflects an inability to finish. They've been positioned to win all four of their losses with strong fourth quarters. Last Saturday against Maryland, they had a three-point lead with six minutes left in the game and couldn't hold it.
"We have to stay motivated and keep the guy focused," Bazelak says. "Take it one game at a time."
When it comes to how good the Hoosiers are, head coach Tom Allen sees what his quarterback sees.
"We've obviously lost four in a row, which is not positive," he says. "But you get to decide how you think. Each person gets to decide how he responds to adversity.
"I do believe our team thinks that way, which makes it more frustrating. But at the same time, if you don't believe in yourself, why should anybody else? Our guys understand that.
"We have done enough good things each week to recognize that. But it also comes to the point that we've got to find ways to finish out."
Time is running out. The Hoosiers need to win three of their last five games to reach six victories and bowl eligibility.
"Our guys recognize who we are," Allen says. "They recognize what we can become. Obviously, the clock is ticking.
"We've got to stay together, keep fighting, and finish this thing off right."
*****
Jack Tuttle remains IU's backup quarterback, even though he has entered the transfer portal.
Tuttle hasn't played at all since losing the quarterback competition to Bazelak. He played behind Michael Penix Jr. in his first couple of seasons as a Hoosier after transferring from Utah.
Allen said Tuttle, who is wrapping up his master's degree at the Kelley School of Business, approached him last week. He wants to go to a school that gives him a better chance of playing in his final college season.
"I'm doing everything I can to support him in that," Allen says. "He's been a great leader for us. A great teammate. I don't expect that to change."
Tuttle will not lose his backup role to third-string quarterback Dexter Williams II. He has started five games and played in 14 for the Hoosiers, including a dramatic win at Wisconsin and in the Outback Bowl.
"No, because I trust Jack," Allen says when asked if Tuttle will no longer be the backup. "He and I talked that through. He's always been ready in the past when called upon. I don't think that's going to change.
"I appreciate all he's done for us. He's going to finish out with our team and do everything the right way, as he's always done."
Offensive coordinator Walt Bell says he'd recommend Tuttle to any team.
"There's not a better teammate or person or kid," he says. "If he wants to get in this profession, I'd hire him in a heartbeat. He's a great kid and will make somebody a good quarterback."
****
Rutgers offers intrigue beyond its 3-3 record, 0-3 in the Big Ten. The Scarlet Knights have a new offensive coordinator in Nunzio Campanile, who took over from Sean Gleeson during their bye week.
What will the new offense look like?
Coach Greg Schiano indicated during his Monday press conference that the offense will be tweaked, but not dramatically changed because there isn't time. He wants more consistency and precision and, above all else, scoring. Rutgers has scored just 33 points during their three-game losing streak.
IU also has to prepare for three quarterbacks. Noah Vedral, Evan Simon, and Gavin Wimsatt are all healthy and available to play.
Simon is the statistical leader by completing 57 .7 percent of his passes for 740 yards, four touchdowns, and six interceptions.
"Quarterback has kind of been their issue," Allen says. "You don't know who that's going to be. That's probably the biggest question mark. You've got to have thoughts about each guy, what his strengths are and what he brings to the table."
Rutgers, which has eight interceptions, hasn't played since a 14-13 loss to Nebraska on Oct. 7. It had a bye week to implement offensive changes. IU also faced that with Nebraska, which had a bye week after replacing its defensive coordinator.
"That is the challenge," Allen says. "We seem to be getting many opportunities to figure that out.
"You can't just change your whole system, but there will be new things for sure you're going to see. It's a lot of unknowns."
The Scarlet Knights have four players with more than 100 rushing yards, led by Samuel Brown V's 273 yards and two touchdowns. They have two big-play receivers in Shannon Jones (17.7-yard-per-catch average) and Sean Ryan (18.2 average).
*****
Another cliché is that football is a game of inches. Bell firmly believes that. He says Bazelak just missed going 34-for-35 rather than 29-for-42, and that the Hoosiers are close to a break-through.
"When you play great teams like we do every week," Bell says, "the game is decided by four to eight plays. You never know which ones it will be.
"We've had opportunities to win these games. Our kids have been resilient. We'll fight and prepare and do everything we can to get this next one."
Quarterback Connor Bazelak looks at Indiana's 3-4 record and sees a hidden Cream & Crimson truth.
"What's different about this team is we know we're a good team," he says. "The only ones to beat us is ourselves with mistakes and turnovers. We're the ones to blame.
"If we can limit the mistakes, we'll be more explosive on offense. We have to find ways to win like we did the first three games. We can easily be 5-2."
The Hoosiers' four-game losing streak reflects an inability to finish. They've been positioned to win all four of their losses with strong fourth quarters. Last Saturday against Maryland, they had a three-point lead with six minutes left in the game and couldn't hold it.
"We have to stay motivated and keep the guy focused," Bazelak says. "Take it one game at a time."
When it comes to how good the Hoosiers are, head coach Tom Allen sees what his quarterback sees.
"We've obviously lost four in a row, which is not positive," he says. "But you get to decide how you think. Each person gets to decide how he responds to adversity.
"I do believe our team thinks that way, which makes it more frustrating. But at the same time, if you don't believe in yourself, why should anybody else? Our guys understand that.
"We have done enough good things each week to recognize that. But it also comes to the point that we've got to find ways to finish out."
Time is running out. The Hoosiers need to win three of their last five games to reach six victories and bowl eligibility.
"Our guys recognize who we are," Allen says. "They recognize what we can become. Obviously, the clock is ticking.
"We've got to stay together, keep fighting, and finish this thing off right."
*****
Jack Tuttle remains IU's backup quarterback, even though he has entered the transfer portal.
Tuttle hasn't played at all since losing the quarterback competition to Bazelak. He played behind Michael Penix Jr. in his first couple of seasons as a Hoosier after transferring from Utah.
Allen said Tuttle, who is wrapping up his master's degree at the Kelley School of Business, approached him last week. He wants to go to a school that gives him a better chance of playing in his final college season.
"I'm doing everything I can to support him in that," Allen says. "He's been a great leader for us. A great teammate. I don't expect that to change."
Tuttle will not lose his backup role to third-string quarterback Dexter Williams II. He has started five games and played in 14 for the Hoosiers, including a dramatic win at Wisconsin and in the Outback Bowl.
"No, because I trust Jack," Allen says when asked if Tuttle will no longer be the backup. "He and I talked that through. He's always been ready in the past when called upon. I don't think that's going to change.
"I appreciate all he's done for us. He's going to finish out with our team and do everything the right way, as he's always done."
Offensive coordinator Walt Bell says he'd recommend Tuttle to any team.
"There's not a better teammate or person or kid," he says. "If he wants to get in this profession, I'd hire him in a heartbeat. He's a great kid and will make somebody a good quarterback."
****
Rutgers offers intrigue beyond its 3-3 record, 0-3 in the Big Ten. The Scarlet Knights have a new offensive coordinator in Nunzio Campanile, who took over from Sean Gleeson during their bye week.
What will the new offense look like?
Coach Greg Schiano indicated during his Monday press conference that the offense will be tweaked, but not dramatically changed because there isn't time. He wants more consistency and precision and, above all else, scoring. Rutgers has scored just 33 points during their three-game losing streak.
IU also has to prepare for three quarterbacks. Noah Vedral, Evan Simon, and Gavin Wimsatt are all healthy and available to play.
Simon is the statistical leader by completing 57 .7 percent of his passes for 740 yards, four touchdowns, and six interceptions.
"Quarterback has kind of been their issue," Allen says. "You don't know who that's going to be. That's probably the biggest question mark. You've got to have thoughts about each guy, what his strengths are and what he brings to the table."
Rutgers, which has eight interceptions, hasn't played since a 14-13 loss to Nebraska on Oct. 7. It had a bye week to implement offensive changes. IU also faced that with Nebraska, which had a bye week after replacing its defensive coordinator.
"That is the challenge," Allen says. "We seem to be getting many opportunities to figure that out.
"You can't just change your whole system, but there will be new things for sure you're going to see. It's a lot of unknowns."
The Scarlet Knights have four players with more than 100 rushing yards, led by Samuel Brown V's 273 yards and two touchdowns. They have two big-play receivers in Shannon Jones (17.7-yard-per-catch average) and Sean Ryan (18.2 average).
*****
Another cliché is that football is a game of inches. Bell firmly believes that. He says Bazelak just missed going 34-for-35 rather than 29-for-42, and that the Hoosiers are close to a break-through.
"When you play great teams like we do every week," Bell says, "the game is decided by four to eight plays. You never know which ones it will be.
"We've had opportunities to win these games. Our kids have been resilient. We'll fight and prepare and do everything we can to get this next one."
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