Indiana University Athletics
Stopping the Run Tops IU’s Michigan State To-Do List
11/18/2022 4:00:00 PM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Cream & Crimson motivation hangs heavy for Saturday.
There's the Old Brass Spittoon, the trophy that symbolizes the rivalry between Indiana and Michigan State. The Spartans have it. The Hoosiers want it back.
There's the goal to finish strong with back-to-back rivalry games.
MSU deploys balance on offense behind quarterback Payton Thorne (2,152 passing yards, 16 touchdowns) and a rushing attack that has three tailbacks with at least 178 yards and three touchdowns.
For head coach Tom Allen, the defensive priority starts as it always does, with stopping the run.
"They run the ball well and have a talented crew of running backs that can all be effective," he says. "They have a big, physical offensive line. I like their receivers, they have several good ones with two that really stick out, but others that have made plays, as well. They have a good core of tight ends.
"You address all areas. Their quarterback is gritty and tough. He makes plays for them, gets first downs, and scores points. He is a highly competitive guy."
IU has competitive guys of its own.
Consider do-it-all Alfred Bryant, whose defensive impact goes way behind his numbers of 33 tackles, two sacks, and one forced fumble.
"He's played three different positions -- nose tackle, defensive end, and bull," special teams coordinator/outside linebackers coach Kasey Teegardin says. "The IQ he has, the understanding he has, allows us to do that."
Outside linebackers Dasan McCullough and Myles Jackson, and defensive end James Head Jr. have benefitted, Teegardin adds.
"We move people around and it frees up Dasan, Myles, and James. Those aren't his stats, but that's a tribute to how great a development he has had."
Before this season, Bryant had never had more than 26 tackles. His improvement, Teegardin says, isn't a surprise.
"He attacked the off-season. He's studied the game more than he has in the past. Pass-rush wise, he's given us a huge element. He doesn't always get the sack, but he's forced the issue back to Dasan. He's made teams worry about him and (McCullough) at the same time. That's critical.
"It's the film he's watching. The pass rush work he does after practice. He has a full grasp of the defense. It's incredible. I can tell him to play this position, and ask, do you have any questions? He says, 'No, I'm good.'
"We're asking him to do a lot. I pray it gets him an opportunity at a NFL camp. He's the healthiest he's ever been, and is having a good year."
After a slow start, senior cornerback Tiawan Mullen is starting to regain the form that once earned him All-America recognition. He has 46 tackles, two interceptions, one forced fumble, and six pass breakups.
Allen isn't sure what caused Mullen to struggle.
"He and I have had a lot of talks. He knew he wasn't playing to his standard and expectation, and our standard and expectation. He finally got back to being himself."
Putting too much pressure on himself might have been part of the problem, Allen adds.
"You are expected to do all these things," Allen says, "and he's been pressing too much and trying to do too many things, and not playing with great technique.
"He just needed to play the way he did his first year here when he didn't have that pressure and those expectations."
Mullen had a strong performance last Saturday at No. 2 Ohio State with four tackles and three pass breakups against one of the nation's best offenses.
"He played his best game of the season last weekend against a really good group of receivers," Allen says. "We're excited for him to continue that trend."
There's the Old Brass Spittoon, the trophy that symbolizes the rivalry between Indiana and Michigan State. The Spartans have it. The Hoosiers want it back.
There's the goal to finish strong with back-to-back rivalry games.
MSU deploys balance on offense behind quarterback Payton Thorne (2,152 passing yards, 16 touchdowns) and a rushing attack that has three tailbacks with at least 178 yards and three touchdowns.
For head coach Tom Allen, the defensive priority starts as it always does, with stopping the run.
"They run the ball well and have a talented crew of running backs that can all be effective," he says. "They have a big, physical offensive line. I like their receivers, they have several good ones with two that really stick out, but others that have made plays, as well. They have a good core of tight ends.
"You address all areas. Their quarterback is gritty and tough. He makes plays for them, gets first downs, and scores points. He is a highly competitive guy."
IU has competitive guys of its own.
Consider do-it-all Alfred Bryant, whose defensive impact goes way behind his numbers of 33 tackles, two sacks, and one forced fumble.
"He's played three different positions -- nose tackle, defensive end, and bull," special teams coordinator/outside linebackers coach Kasey Teegardin says. "The IQ he has, the understanding he has, allows us to do that."
Outside linebackers Dasan McCullough and Myles Jackson, and defensive end James Head Jr. have benefitted, Teegardin adds.
"We move people around and it frees up Dasan, Myles, and James. Those aren't his stats, but that's a tribute to how great a development he has had."
Before this season, Bryant had never had more than 26 tackles. His improvement, Teegardin says, isn't a surprise.
"He attacked the off-season. He's studied the game more than he has in the past. Pass-rush wise, he's given us a huge element. He doesn't always get the sack, but he's forced the issue back to Dasan. He's made teams worry about him and (McCullough) at the same time. That's critical.
"It's the film he's watching. The pass rush work he does after practice. He has a full grasp of the defense. It's incredible. I can tell him to play this position, and ask, do you have any questions? He says, 'No, I'm good.'
"We're asking him to do a lot. I pray it gets him an opportunity at a NFL camp. He's the healthiest he's ever been, and is having a good year."
After a slow start, senior cornerback Tiawan Mullen is starting to regain the form that once earned him All-America recognition. He has 46 tackles, two interceptions, one forced fumble, and six pass breakups.
Allen isn't sure what caused Mullen to struggle.
"He and I have had a lot of talks. He knew he wasn't playing to his standard and expectation, and our standard and expectation. He finally got back to being himself."
Putting too much pressure on himself might have been part of the problem, Allen adds.
"You are expected to do all these things," Allen says, "and he's been pressing too much and trying to do too many things, and not playing with great technique.
"He just needed to play the way he did his first year here when he didn't have that pressure and those expectations."
Mullen had a strong performance last Saturday at No. 2 Ohio State with four tackles and three pass breakups against one of the nation's best offenses.
"He played his best game of the season last weekend against a really good group of receivers," Allen says. "We're excited for him to continue that trend."
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