Quarterback Battle – Fierce Competition Excites Allen
3/7/2022 11:39:00 AM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Win the locker room. It starts with that for Connor Bazelak. He transferred from Missouri to make a run at Indiana's starting quarterback job, and he'll have to earn it.
That means more than throwing a pretty pass.
"The biggest thing is getting to know the players," he says. "That's such a big part of being a good team, players meshing and trust each other and love each other. It takes time. That's what I'm working on."
Win the games. It drives Jack Tuttle. He's set to begin his fourth season as a Hoosier, and has his own starting quarterback ambitions, but more importantly, a determination to blast away the sting from last season's 2-10 record.
"I have a giant chip on my shoulder," he says. "I'm not happy. I'm motivated. Every day is a grind and an absolute push to be the best we want to be.
"I don't like talking about it, and venting. It's doing it. Every day has motivated us to work our fricking tails off and be better."
Welcome to a new Indiana quarterback competition that will have huge implications for next season.
One thing is clear -- nothing is given to anyone under head coach Tom Allen. Performance supersedes affection. Whoever plays the best and gives the Hoosiers the best chance to win gets the job.
"We're looking forward (to the competition)," Allen says. "That excites me. I'm anxious to see these guys."
Bazelak started at Missouri and put up solid numbers over two seasons -- 5,084 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, 17 interceptions, and a 66.4 completion percentage in two seasons. He was the SEC co-freshman of the year in 2020. He has thrown for more than 300 yards six times, with a best of 406 yards and four touchdowns in a win over No. 17 LSU.
He decided to move on, and didn't choose a cupboard-is-bare program.
Tuttle has started for the Hoosiers. So have Donaven McCulley and Grant Gremel. Dexter Williams II has never played a college down, but has strong dual-threat potential.
It should produce fierce competition, which is exactly what Allen wants. With spring practice underway, it's already begun.
"We've got to give them all reps and they'll get those opportunities," he says. "We are excited to see them compete and excited to see those guys do a tremendous job of improving their fundamentals and skills as well as learning the system and then being able to get on the field and take the team and score touchdowns, and put points on the board."
As the new guy, Bazelak has to prove himself to his quarterback competitors, to his coaches, to his teammates.
"There is a challenge to it," he says. "It comes with repetition and practice and getting to know the guys, the receivers, offensive linemen, tight ends, running backs, and the whole crew. Getting to know the defensive guys. We have to work off each other.
"Try to get to know everyone on the team and win their trust from hard work and dedication to the workouts and walk-throughs, knowing the plays and the offense."
Given his experience, Tuttle figures to be the main competition. He played behind Michael Penix Jr. for two seasons, but got significant action due to Penix's multiple injuries. He has won a huge game at Wisconsin, a place where so many Hoosier hopes have gone to die.
In 14 career games, Tuttle has completed 58.5 percent of his passes for 819 yards, four touchdowns, and six interceptions.
He, too, knows he will have to earn the starting designation. He says he's fine with that.
"All of us are good players and competitors," he says. "The thing I need to do is focus on being the best version of myself. If I do that I'll be fine and be where I want to be."
It helps that Tuttle, once a four-star high school prospect out of California, is back to full health.
"The body is doing (well). It was beat up a little bit last year. It's recovered well. Things are going well with treatment. I'm very excited about the upcoming year. It should be a great one."
The hiring of Walt Bell as new offensive coordinator means Tuttle is working with his fourth different college offensive coordinator, and third since joining the Hoosiers after transferring from Utah.
"I've had a lot of relationships with OCs," he says, "and all of them have been good.
"Coach Bell is great. It's been extremely positive and will continue to progress through the spring and camp."
Bazelak, once a four-star prospect out of Ohio, left Missouri with transfer options. IU's recruiting pitch centered on the 1-2 punch of Allen and Bell.
"The biggest thing was my visit here," Bazelak says. "Coach Allen's honesty. He was very genuine about everything. It was similar to what drew me to Missouri. I could tell this was a good place to be. It was a loving work experience. That drew me there.
"Coach Bell called me every day. He texted me every day. He started teaching me the offense before I visited or signed. That's how much he wanted me. The whole coaching staff reached out. It felt like the place to be."
Bazelak's work load is formidable, starting with learning a new offense and a new coach.
"I'm getting a grasp of the offense. I need to get that down. Get in the film room and watching practice over and over.
"Get with Coach Bell. See how he coaches, the things he likes and certain reads. Learning the little details and how coaches coach and players play."
Bazelak also continues working on timing with receivers. Spring practice -- which began last Saturday -- will allow that to happen against defensive backs rather than air.
"You get a sense of how they release and get by (defenders)," he says.
Beyond that, "Continue to work on my mechanics and accuracy. We'll throw down the field a lot. Be efficient doing that with throwing deep balls."
Relationship building is another priority.
"It's been great working with the other transfers and the skill guys who were already here," Bazelak says. "Whether you're working with a freshman or a sixth-year senior, it's difficult to come in and demand respect from day one as the new guy. You have to build relationships, talk to guys, text them if they want to go throw.
"I know Emery (Simmons, a transfer from North Carolina) texted me and asked if I wanted to throw. Stuff like that to build relationships. That pays off in the future."
It's a payoff Allen can't wait to see.
"It's about, more than anything, learning the system and being able to win the team just because you think he's the new guy. They don't know him. He's been here since January, but they've never all been in a practice with one another yet. Workouts, yes, and when the guys throw on their own, that's happened already, but to be able to do those things in a normal practice setting with our coaches there, with everybody there is different.
"We always talk about the quarterback, and this goes for whoever becomes the starting quarterback, they have to win the locker room, and the guys' belief in them. That's something for a new player coming in is just a systematic establishment of that because to me that's really a big part of it. You can't force that. You can't manufacture that. It has to be authentic and real from the players. That's part of what you have to do when you come into a program."
Allen also has high expectations for Tuttle.
"Jack is the most experienced of the group from the guys coming back. Getting him healthy was a big objective this offseason, which has been accomplished.
"Then just being able to play at a high level of execution and confidence. He's got the arm talent. He's got a tremendously gifted mind. His work ethic has been phenomenal. Leadership has been really, really strong. Really pleased with that and really proud of him for that. He's done a great job. To me it's just the on-field consistency and being able to put the team on his back and lead them."
As for all his quarterbacks, Allen says, "They've been working extremely hard. So, it's a full room and a competitive room. Excited to see how it's going to make each other better."
In a rarity for Allen, all the quarterbacks are healthy and will maximize spring practice opportunities.
"If you go back and look at the history of spring ball since we've been here, we've had very few quarterbacks that were healthy to be able to have full participation throughout the spring. Our health is definitely a positive, and with having a new offensive coordinator, that's going to be critical."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Win the locker room. It starts with that for Connor Bazelak. He transferred from Missouri to make a run at Indiana's starting quarterback job, and he'll have to earn it.
That means more than throwing a pretty pass.
"The biggest thing is getting to know the players," he says. "That's such a big part of being a good team, players meshing and trust each other and love each other. It takes time. That's what I'm working on."
Win the games. It drives Jack Tuttle. He's set to begin his fourth season as a Hoosier, and has his own starting quarterback ambitions, but more importantly, a determination to blast away the sting from last season's 2-10 record.
"I have a giant chip on my shoulder," he says. "I'm not happy. I'm motivated. Every day is a grind and an absolute push to be the best we want to be.
"I don't like talking about it, and venting. It's doing it. Every day has motivated us to work our fricking tails off and be better."
Welcome to a new Indiana quarterback competition that will have huge implications for next season.
One thing is clear -- nothing is given to anyone under head coach Tom Allen. Performance supersedes affection. Whoever plays the best and gives the Hoosiers the best chance to win gets the job.
"We're looking forward (to the competition)," Allen says. "That excites me. I'm anxious to see these guys."
Bazelak started at Missouri and put up solid numbers over two seasons -- 5,084 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, 17 interceptions, and a 66.4 completion percentage in two seasons. He was the SEC co-freshman of the year in 2020. He has thrown for more than 300 yards six times, with a best of 406 yards and four touchdowns in a win over No. 17 LSU.
He decided to move on, and didn't choose a cupboard-is-bare program.
Tuttle has started for the Hoosiers. So have Donaven McCulley and Grant Gremel. Dexter Williams II has never played a college down, but has strong dual-threat potential.
It should produce fierce competition, which is exactly what Allen wants. With spring practice underway, it's already begun.
"We've got to give them all reps and they'll get those opportunities," he says. "We are excited to see them compete and excited to see those guys do a tremendous job of improving their fundamentals and skills as well as learning the system and then being able to get on the field and take the team and score touchdowns, and put points on the board."
As the new guy, Bazelak has to prove himself to his quarterback competitors, to his coaches, to his teammates.
"There is a challenge to it," he says. "It comes with repetition and practice and getting to know the guys, the receivers, offensive linemen, tight ends, running backs, and the whole crew. Getting to know the defensive guys. We have to work off each other.
"Try to get to know everyone on the team and win their trust from hard work and dedication to the workouts and walk-throughs, knowing the plays and the offense."
Given his experience, Tuttle figures to be the main competition. He played behind Michael Penix Jr. for two seasons, but got significant action due to Penix's multiple injuries. He has won a huge game at Wisconsin, a place where so many Hoosier hopes have gone to die.
In 14 career games, Tuttle has completed 58.5 percent of his passes for 819 yards, four touchdowns, and six interceptions.
He, too, knows he will have to earn the starting designation. He says he's fine with that.
"All of us are good players and competitors," he says. "The thing I need to do is focus on being the best version of myself. If I do that I'll be fine and be where I want to be."
It helps that Tuttle, once a four-star high school prospect out of California, is back to full health.
"The body is doing (well). It was beat up a little bit last year. It's recovered well. Things are going well with treatment. I'm very excited about the upcoming year. It should be a great one."
The hiring of Walt Bell as new offensive coordinator means Tuttle is working with his fourth different college offensive coordinator, and third since joining the Hoosiers after transferring from Utah.
"I've had a lot of relationships with OCs," he says, "and all of them have been good.
"Coach Bell is great. It's been extremely positive and will continue to progress through the spring and camp."
Bazelak, once a four-star prospect out of Ohio, left Missouri with transfer options. IU's recruiting pitch centered on the 1-2 punch of Allen and Bell.
"The biggest thing was my visit here," Bazelak says. "Coach Allen's honesty. He was very genuine about everything. It was similar to what drew me to Missouri. I could tell this was a good place to be. It was a loving work experience. That drew me there.
"Coach Bell called me every day. He texted me every day. He started teaching me the offense before I visited or signed. That's how much he wanted me. The whole coaching staff reached out. It felt like the place to be."
Bazelak's work load is formidable, starting with learning a new offense and a new coach.
"I'm getting a grasp of the offense. I need to get that down. Get in the film room and watching practice over and over.
"Get with Coach Bell. See how he coaches, the things he likes and certain reads. Learning the little details and how coaches coach and players play."
Bazelak also continues working on timing with receivers. Spring practice -- which began last Saturday -- will allow that to happen against defensive backs rather than air.
"You get a sense of how they release and get by (defenders)," he says.
Beyond that, "Continue to work on my mechanics and accuracy. We'll throw down the field a lot. Be efficient doing that with throwing deep balls."
Relationship building is another priority.
"It's been great working with the other transfers and the skill guys who were already here," Bazelak says. "Whether you're working with a freshman or a sixth-year senior, it's difficult to come in and demand respect from day one as the new guy. You have to build relationships, talk to guys, text them if they want to go throw.
"I know Emery (Simmons, a transfer from North Carolina) texted me and asked if I wanted to throw. Stuff like that to build relationships. That pays off in the future."
It's a payoff Allen can't wait to see.
"It's about, more than anything, learning the system and being able to win the team just because you think he's the new guy. They don't know him. He's been here since January, but they've never all been in a practice with one another yet. Workouts, yes, and when the guys throw on their own, that's happened already, but to be able to do those things in a normal practice setting with our coaches there, with everybody there is different.
"We always talk about the quarterback, and this goes for whoever becomes the starting quarterback, they have to win the locker room, and the guys' belief in them. That's something for a new player coming in is just a systematic establishment of that because to me that's really a big part of it. You can't force that. You can't manufacture that. It has to be authentic and real from the players. That's part of what you have to do when you come into a program."
Allen also has high expectations for Tuttle.
"Jack is the most experienced of the group from the guys coming back. Getting him healthy was a big objective this offseason, which has been accomplished.
"Then just being able to play at a high level of execution and confidence. He's got the arm talent. He's got a tremendously gifted mind. His work ethic has been phenomenal. Leadership has been really, really strong. Really pleased with that and really proud of him for that. He's done a great job. To me it's just the on-field consistency and being able to put the team on his back and lead them."
As for all his quarterbacks, Allen says, "They've been working extremely hard. So, it's a full room and a competitive room. Excited to see how it's going to make each other better."
In a rarity for Allen, all the quarterbacks are healthy and will maximize spring practice opportunities.
"If you go back and look at the history of spring ball since we've been here, we've had very few quarterbacks that were healthy to be able to have full participation throughout the spring. Our health is definitely a positive, and with having a new offensive coordinator, that's going to be critical."
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