Indiana University Athletics
Mullen Counters ‘Tough Times’ with Leadership
11/4/2022 10:00:00 AM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Tiawan Mullen pauses. Indiana's senior cornerback is assessing his season and the focus isn't on individual glory.
"It's improve on being a leader," he says at last. "In tough times, when adversity comes, keep being a leader. That's one of the hardest jobs."
Tough times have dominated the last six weeks. A 3-0 start was followed by a five-game losing streak. Four games remain to, as head coach Tom Allen says, finish strong.
For Mullen, it starts with leadership.
"When you're made for it, you're made for it. I'm one of the guys who is made for it."
This is not a solo responsibility, he adds.
"A leader sometimes needs help himself. When guys on the team need help, you help them. It's all about a bond on the team. When the bond is strong, everyone has each other's back. You keep being a leader and keep fighting."
Mullen's fight includes covering some of opposing teams' best receivers as well providing run support. He projects as an NFL Draft pick with a month to improve.
First, though, there are games to win.
In eight games, Mullen has 34 tackles (four off his career-high), three pass breakups, one interception and one forced fumble. He is trying to put an exclamation point to his strong IU run.
As a freshman, he led the Big Ten with 13 pass breakups. As a sophomore, he intercepted three passes and earned All-America honors, just the second Hoosier cornerback to do so.
Injuries limited him to seven games and 19 tackles last season.
The challenge for Mullen and the entire defense, defensive coordinator Chad Wilt says, "is being at the best at the end." That's the best at the end of a drive or the half, or in two-minute situations or, "at the end of the season."
The Hoosiers (3-5), coming off a bye week, hope to be at their best Saturday against No. 16 Penn State (6-2).
Mullen says the bye week was about, "Refocusing and getting healthy. Get everybody mentally and physically right. Reengage and refocus."
The Hoosiers will need all of that against a rugged closing lineup that also has No. 2 Ohio State, Michigan State, and Purdue still ahead. Doing that, Mullen adds, means, "Getting mentally and physically focused."
Takeaways are a big key. IU has five interceptions and five fumble recoveries. Given the Hoosiers have forced 12 fumbles, they haven't taken full advantage.
"We've got to punch out the ball more, rake at the ball more," Mullen says. "When the ball is in the air, grab it. The offense won't give you the ball. Assess the ball in any form or fashion, and get it."
Those missed fumble recovery opportunities have been especially frustrating.
"We had opportunities when the ball was on the ground and used the wrong technique to get the ball," Mullen says. "That's on us as players. It's nothing to do with the coaches.
"We know when the ball is on the ground and there are a lot of people around it, there's a certain technique you have to use. We weren't using those techniques to give the offense the ball. That's on the players."
What are those techniques?
"If you're around a bunch of people," Mullen says, "it's called 'a city.' You have to catch the tip of the ball, tuck, and squeeze. You can't roll on your back. Catch the tip and squeeze the ball.
"If you're out in the open field, you have to put your fingertips and pinkie together and scoop the ball up. That's called 'the country.' "
At times, IU has played strong defense, such as when it held Michigan to just 10 first-half points. At other times, such as the second half against Maryland, breakdowns have led to big plays and touchdowns.
Why the difference?
"You've got to do your job," Mullen says. "Defense is like a puzzle. If one of the pieces is missing, it won't go well. If the whole puzzle is together, the whole puzzle will look good.
"You have to be consistent. If you do that, things look like the first half at Michigan. If you're not, they look like Maryland."
Not having standout linebacker Cam Jones hurts. He's missed the last three games with a foot injury, although players such as Aaron Casey, Bradley Jennings Jr., and Matt Hohlt have played well in his absence.
Casey has a team-leading 64 tackles. Jennings has 47 tackles and a team-best five pass breakups. Hohlt has 13 tackles.
"(Jones) isn't playing the game he loves," Mullen says. "That hurts. We love him out there. He's a big part of the team.
"We have guys who stepped up -- Ace, Matt Hohlt, BJ. Those guys are playing their tails off.
"Aaron Casey has been a heck of a linebacker for us. Matt Hohlt as a young guy is playing his very best. You see him filling the gaps and making great plays.
"We have linebackers doing their parts. We're all about accountability. When that time comes and (Jones) gets back, he won't miss a beat."
Penn State presents a formidable offensive challenge, led by quarterback Sean Clifford (62.8 percent completions, 1,816 passing yards, 16 touchdowns), freshman running backs Nicholas Singleton (606 rushing yards, seven touchdowns) and Kaytron Allen (472 rushing yards, five TDs), and receiver Parker Washington (41 catches, 567 yards two touchdowns).
"This is a new week, a new opportunity," Mullen says. "They're a good team, but we've faced them before. We have to do our job, play Indiana football, and do what we do best."
While Penn State has won 23 of the 25 series meetings, IU's dramatic 2020 Memorial Stadium victory (quarterback Michael Penix Jr. diving for the winning 2-point conversion in overtime remains among the program's best moments) shows what belief, effort, and toughness can do.
"We have to play our game," Mullen says. "They are a good team. We're a good team, also. We just have to do our part. If we do, I'm pretty sure everything will take care of itself."
"It's improve on being a leader," he says at last. "In tough times, when adversity comes, keep being a leader. That's one of the hardest jobs."
Tough times have dominated the last six weeks. A 3-0 start was followed by a five-game losing streak. Four games remain to, as head coach Tom Allen says, finish strong.
For Mullen, it starts with leadership.
"When you're made for it, you're made for it. I'm one of the guys who is made for it."
This is not a solo responsibility, he adds.
"A leader sometimes needs help himself. When guys on the team need help, you help them. It's all about a bond on the team. When the bond is strong, everyone has each other's back. You keep being a leader and keep fighting."
Mullen's fight includes covering some of opposing teams' best receivers as well providing run support. He projects as an NFL Draft pick with a month to improve.
First, though, there are games to win.
In eight games, Mullen has 34 tackles (four off his career-high), three pass breakups, one interception and one forced fumble. He is trying to put an exclamation point to his strong IU run.
As a freshman, he led the Big Ten with 13 pass breakups. As a sophomore, he intercepted three passes and earned All-America honors, just the second Hoosier cornerback to do so.
Injuries limited him to seven games and 19 tackles last season.
The challenge for Mullen and the entire defense, defensive coordinator Chad Wilt says, "is being at the best at the end." That's the best at the end of a drive or the half, or in two-minute situations or, "at the end of the season."
The Hoosiers (3-5), coming off a bye week, hope to be at their best Saturday against No. 16 Penn State (6-2).
Mullen says the bye week was about, "Refocusing and getting healthy. Get everybody mentally and physically right. Reengage and refocus."
The Hoosiers will need all of that against a rugged closing lineup that also has No. 2 Ohio State, Michigan State, and Purdue still ahead. Doing that, Mullen adds, means, "Getting mentally and physically focused."
Takeaways are a big key. IU has five interceptions and five fumble recoveries. Given the Hoosiers have forced 12 fumbles, they haven't taken full advantage.
"We've got to punch out the ball more, rake at the ball more," Mullen says. "When the ball is in the air, grab it. The offense won't give you the ball. Assess the ball in any form or fashion, and get it."
Those missed fumble recovery opportunities have been especially frustrating.
"We had opportunities when the ball was on the ground and used the wrong technique to get the ball," Mullen says. "That's on us as players. It's nothing to do with the coaches.
"We know when the ball is on the ground and there are a lot of people around it, there's a certain technique you have to use. We weren't using those techniques to give the offense the ball. That's on the players."
What are those techniques?
"If you're around a bunch of people," Mullen says, "it's called 'a city.' You have to catch the tip of the ball, tuck, and squeeze. You can't roll on your back. Catch the tip and squeeze the ball.
"If you're out in the open field, you have to put your fingertips and pinkie together and scoop the ball up. That's called 'the country.' "
At times, IU has played strong defense, such as when it held Michigan to just 10 first-half points. At other times, such as the second half against Maryland, breakdowns have led to big plays and touchdowns.
Why the difference?
"You've got to do your job," Mullen says. "Defense is like a puzzle. If one of the pieces is missing, it won't go well. If the whole puzzle is together, the whole puzzle will look good.
"You have to be consistent. If you do that, things look like the first half at Michigan. If you're not, they look like Maryland."
Not having standout linebacker Cam Jones hurts. He's missed the last three games with a foot injury, although players such as Aaron Casey, Bradley Jennings Jr., and Matt Hohlt have played well in his absence.
Casey has a team-leading 64 tackles. Jennings has 47 tackles and a team-best five pass breakups. Hohlt has 13 tackles.
"(Jones) isn't playing the game he loves," Mullen says. "That hurts. We love him out there. He's a big part of the team.
"We have guys who stepped up -- Ace, Matt Hohlt, BJ. Those guys are playing their tails off.
"Aaron Casey has been a heck of a linebacker for us. Matt Hohlt as a young guy is playing his very best. You see him filling the gaps and making great plays.
"We have linebackers doing their parts. We're all about accountability. When that time comes and (Jones) gets back, he won't miss a beat."
Penn State presents a formidable offensive challenge, led by quarterback Sean Clifford (62.8 percent completions, 1,816 passing yards, 16 touchdowns), freshman running backs Nicholas Singleton (606 rushing yards, seven touchdowns) and Kaytron Allen (472 rushing yards, five TDs), and receiver Parker Washington (41 catches, 567 yards two touchdowns).
"This is a new week, a new opportunity," Mullen says. "They're a good team, but we've faced them before. We have to do our job, play Indiana football, and do what we do best."
While Penn State has won 23 of the 25 series meetings, IU's dramatic 2020 Memorial Stadium victory (quarterback Michael Penix Jr. diving for the winning 2-point conversion in overtime remains among the program's best moments) shows what belief, effort, and toughness can do.
"We have to play our game," Mullen says. "They are a good team. We're a good team, also. We just have to do our part. If we do, I'm pretty sure everything will take care of itself."
Tuesday, August 11
Tuesday, August 11
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