Football Focus is Clear Heading into Spring Practice
3/4/2022 1:14:00 PM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Are you ready for Cream & Crimson football?
Tom Allen is, the Indiana Hoosiers are, and this much we know with spring practice starting on Saturday.
Change is everywhere you look.
Forget quarterback potential (Indiana might be the healthiest and most talented it's ever been under Allen at this position).
IU bounce-back prospects after last season's disappointment center on the offensive line, a group that struggled to protect the quarterback and open running back holes.
That's going to change, Allen insists during Thursday's media availability.
"There's no question that's a huge focus," he says. "From a fundamentals perspective, that's a key focus."
Allen will take an active role in the unit's development, along with new offensive coordinator Walt Bell and veteran offensive line coach Darren Hiller.
"Coach Bell is going to be heavily involved during inside-run periods," Allen says. "That's just his personality. That's what he wants to do. That's how he runs things."
Allen was a driving force with the offensive line during winter workouts. Improving toughness and physicality were major themes.
"I've been really hard on this group through the whole off-season in the weight room and in our workout sessions, team runs, agility runs, and all the things we've done with that group to develop more toughness," he says.
Now work turns to the field and the push to develop a unit rich in productivity, depth, and chemistry.
"Better execution is really the key," Allen says. "That is what it comes down to. We have to execute at a higher level and do a great job of creating run lanes for our running backs, and able to give our quarterbacks time to throw and be effective."
That didn't happen last season, a major reason for the lack of a consistent running game and the injuries that ravaged the quarterback position.
"We made changes in regard to some things we're doing schematically and just trying to really do things we can do from that perspective to help our guys," Allen says.
"And then we've just got to create more depth. We've got a lot of younger guys here that it's a critical spring for them to be able to have an opportunity to grow and develop. So, to me it's about simplifying things, to be able to be more physical and more aggressive."
Offensive linemen include Matthew Bedford, Luke Haggard, Zach Carpenter, Mike Katic, Vinny Fiacable, Cameron Knight, and Randy Holtz.
"We've got to have depth, got to have guys step up, and it's a group that we've really challenged some of the key leaders," Allen says.
"We've got several guys that we've been challenging and grooming as leaders in that group, to have them step up, as well. There's no question that's going to be a big focus. It should be, and it is."'
As far as the quarterbacks, Jack Tuttle and Donaven McCulley return, as do Dexter Williams II (who missed last season with a knee injury) and walk-on Grant Gremel. The high-profile newcomer is transfer Connor Bazelak, a former Missouri starter.
"It's a very strong group," Allen says. "We've got good depth there, and a lot of guys who have played football in game situations."
Allen always devises a key word for the season and for 2022, it's "Build." That's especially appropriate, he says, given the 19 early enrollees for the second semester, the most ever for IU.
"Part of the reason for that word was understanding the number of new guys. How do you get those 19 guys gelling and meshing as a team?
"Our whole goal for the spring is to leave as a better team."
Ratcheting up player accountability is a big part of that. IU has "accountability teams," groups of players from different positions working to build communication and responsibility.
"They've been doing activities together, holding each other accountable," Allen says. "You've got things you have to do to create communication."
Losing wide receivers coach Grant Heard right before spring practice creates an unexpected challenge. He helped develop receivers earn all-Big Ten accolades nine times, highlighted by Ty Fryfogle's conference receiver-of-the-year award in 2020.
Allen doesn't figure to hire a replacement until after spring break.
"It wasn't something I was expecting," he says said. "The timing is tough.
"You have a short list of guys you're focused on and feel good about. The goal is to have him ready to be coaching our guys when we come back from spring break."
Spring reps will be limited for several players, including cornerback Tiawan Mullen, safety Devon Matthews, and wide receiver David Ellis.
"We're being very protective of those guys," Allen says. "We know what they can do.
"It's about making sure they're 100 percent healthy for the summer and for fall camp."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Are you ready for Cream & Crimson football?
Tom Allen is, the Indiana Hoosiers are, and this much we know with spring practice starting on Saturday.
Change is everywhere you look.
Forget quarterback potential (Indiana might be the healthiest and most talented it's ever been under Allen at this position).
IU bounce-back prospects after last season's disappointment center on the offensive line, a group that struggled to protect the quarterback and open running back holes.
That's going to change, Allen insists during Thursday's media availability.
"There's no question that's a huge focus," he says. "From a fundamentals perspective, that's a key focus."
Allen will take an active role in the unit's development, along with new offensive coordinator Walt Bell and veteran offensive line coach Darren Hiller.
"Coach Bell is going to be heavily involved during inside-run periods," Allen says. "That's just his personality. That's what he wants to do. That's how he runs things."
Allen was a driving force with the offensive line during winter workouts. Improving toughness and physicality were major themes.
"I've been really hard on this group through the whole off-season in the weight room and in our workout sessions, team runs, agility runs, and all the things we've done with that group to develop more toughness," he says.
Now work turns to the field and the push to develop a unit rich in productivity, depth, and chemistry.
"Better execution is really the key," Allen says. "That is what it comes down to. We have to execute at a higher level and do a great job of creating run lanes for our running backs, and able to give our quarterbacks time to throw and be effective."
That didn't happen last season, a major reason for the lack of a consistent running game and the injuries that ravaged the quarterback position.
"We made changes in regard to some things we're doing schematically and just trying to really do things we can do from that perspective to help our guys," Allen says.
"And then we've just got to create more depth. We've got a lot of younger guys here that it's a critical spring for them to be able to have an opportunity to grow and develop. So, to me it's about simplifying things, to be able to be more physical and more aggressive."
Offensive linemen include Matthew Bedford, Luke Haggard, Zach Carpenter, Mike Katic, Vinny Fiacable, Cameron Knight, and Randy Holtz.
"We've got to have depth, got to have guys step up, and it's a group that we've really challenged some of the key leaders," Allen says.
"We've got several guys that we've been challenging and grooming as leaders in that group, to have them step up, as well. There's no question that's going to be a big focus. It should be, and it is."'
As far as the quarterbacks, Jack Tuttle and Donaven McCulley return, as do Dexter Williams II (who missed last season with a knee injury) and walk-on Grant Gremel. The high-profile newcomer is transfer Connor Bazelak, a former Missouri starter.
"It's a very strong group," Allen says. "We've got good depth there, and a lot of guys who have played football in game situations."
Allen always devises a key word for the season and for 2022, it's "Build." That's especially appropriate, he says, given the 19 early enrollees for the second semester, the most ever for IU.
"Part of the reason for that word was understanding the number of new guys. How do you get those 19 guys gelling and meshing as a team?
"Our whole goal for the spring is to leave as a better team."
Ratcheting up player accountability is a big part of that. IU has "accountability teams," groups of players from different positions working to build communication and responsibility.
"They've been doing activities together, holding each other accountable," Allen says. "You've got things you have to do to create communication."
Losing wide receivers coach Grant Heard right before spring practice creates an unexpected challenge. He helped develop receivers earn all-Big Ten accolades nine times, highlighted by Ty Fryfogle's conference receiver-of-the-year award in 2020.
Allen doesn't figure to hire a replacement until after spring break.
"It wasn't something I was expecting," he says said. "The timing is tough.
"You have a short list of guys you're focused on and feel good about. The goal is to have him ready to be coaching our guys when we come back from spring break."
Spring reps will be limited for several players, including cornerback Tiawan Mullen, safety Devon Matthews, and wide receiver David Ellis.
"We're being very protective of those guys," Allen says. "We know what they can do.
"It's about making sure they're 100 percent healthy for the summer and for fall camp."
Players Mentioned
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