Indiana University Athletics
Open Grass – IU’s Quest To Build a Better Offense
4/8/2022 10:47:00 AM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Emery Simmons is no fool. He understands, as all receivers do, quarterback love.
"I have a great relationship with all the quarterbacks," Simmons says.
Hold that thought.
Cam Camper is no coach. Let's make that clear. Perhaps it's in his future, but for now, this former community college receiver turned Indiana Hoosier has it in nickname only.
"We call him Coach Cam," new offensive coordinator Walt Bell says, "because he is literally in almost every staff meeting we have."
Hold that thought, too.
Finally, Bell is no offensive rookie. There's no mistaking that. His offense, 15 years in the developing, can and will disrupt defenses. Boil it down to its essence, and it comes down to this:
Manage the grass.
"It's understanding how to get to open grass and get on their spots," Bell says.
We'll explain.
Welcome to the latest twists of a revamped Hoosier offense, the man running it, and a pair of transfer receivers poised to exploit it.
Let's start with Simmons, a North Carolina transfer driven to do what every smart receiver does who wants to make a big impact:
Bond with the quarterback.
In IU's case, it's multiple quarterbacks. A fierce competition for the starting job is underway. Veteran Jack Tuttle and Missouri transfer Connor Bazelak have the experience edge, with Donaven McCulley (IU's leading returning rusher with 135 yards), Dexter Williams II, and walk-on Grant Gremel in contention
"I try to talk to them as much as I can," Simmons says. "Catch with them. Chill with them. Get extra work with them.
"Conner is a great guy. I try to work with him as much as possible. It's the same thing with Jack, Grant, all of them. I want to have a relationship with all the quarterbacks because we're one team. We love by L-E-O, Love Each Other. You've got to have that rapport and relationship with everybody. It will help the whole team."
Simmons' Cream & Crimson arrival comes with an intriguing backstory. He once committed and de-committed from Indiana, then committed and de-committed with North Carolina and then Penn State before settling on the Tar Heels.
Four years later, with a decreasing role and increasing frustration, he's finally a Hoosier.
"I'm loving every minute of it," he says.
Once Simmons decided to leave North Carolina, after 30 catches for 516 yards and three touchdowns in 30 games over three seasons, IU was the obvious choice.
"I only have two more years of eligibility," he says, "and I want to make the best of them. I felt Indiana was the place to do it.
"I already had a relationship with Coach (Tom) Allen. I know he is really big on faith. That is something me and my family stand behind 100 percent.
"Committing here out of high school, I already had a relationship with the place. I felt, don't even waste my time. You already know the head man, so why not (come to Indiana)?"
Now that he's here, Simmons works to stand out. He comes to the football complex early and stays late. The goal is to "carry myself like a professional."
"I strive to carry a professional mindset, because at the end of the day, that's the end goal for all of us. We want to get to that next level
"I try to go over extra stuff, look at extra plays for the day, and watch extra film."
When Simmons needs a break, he hangs out with his dog, Rocco, and "chills out."
"I don't talk a lot, but when I do, I feel like it is heard."
Then there is Camper, who in two seasons at Trinity Valley Community College in Texas caught 50 passes for 858 yards and four touchdowns.
But if you believe Bell, Camper's attitude and work ethic overshadow his receiving skills
"I think the biggest thing with Cam is his diligence," Bell says. "Cam is unbelievably committed to being the best player that he can be mentally, physically, the way he takes care of his body.
"If he is not in class, he is with us. I don't know if I have seen a newcomer receiver be as invested in the process of improving."
Camper says he's always been that way.
"That's how I came up. Everything wasn't given to me. I need to put the extra work in because I want to make plays for my team.
"I've always been the underdog, I feel I have to do the extra steps to be successful."
In high school, the 6-2, 201-pound Camper says, "I was undersized. I hit a late growth spurt, so I decided to take the JUCO route.
"Every day I try to be my best."
In practice, Camper goes against All-Big Ten cornerback Jaylin Williams.
"We go at it every day," Camper says. "He's a great corner. I know I have to be at my best every time.
As far as his receiving strengths, he says, "Just make plays in space, and make big catches."
Adds Bell: "I am incredibly proud of him. He is an unbelievable worker on and off the field. He is always extremely prepared. He takes pride in his performance. He has a chance to be a really good player."
Bell was hired to restore firepower to an offense that rated among the Big Ten's worst last season.
It starts, he says, with "Creating unbelievable competition. That is ultimately what you want at every position" so you "are able to get the best out of everybody."
That includes having players work at different positions so they can learn the entire concept of the offense and not just their positions.
"Every position guy has had to learn the whole part, conceptually, because we are trying to identify who can do what," Bell says. "To me, that is what spring really is, trying to identify what ultimately is going to allow us to be at our best on game day."
When it comes to receivers, Bell doesn't want them locked into specific routes if there's open space to exploit. He calls it "managing the grass."
"How we play is a lot different than most people from a wideout standpoint," Bell says. "Those guys have done a nice job trying to figure out what we want and aspiring every day to give us what the offense needs... I feel really good about the winnable tools in the group."
Adds Simmons: "The best way I can explain it, is when you have a set route, if you see grass, run to it. You manage the grass.
"You get more freedom than you think. It's something you learn over time."
As for the fact everyone has to learn a new offense, Simmons adds, "It brings everybody together. It makes everybody ask each other for help. We're all in the same boat. Everybody is starting from scratch, and getting better."
In this quest to build a potent offense, that's certainly a thought to hold on to.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Emery Simmons is no fool. He understands, as all receivers do, quarterback love.
"I have a great relationship with all the quarterbacks," Simmons says.
Hold that thought.
Cam Camper is no coach. Let's make that clear. Perhaps it's in his future, but for now, this former community college receiver turned Indiana Hoosier has it in nickname only.
"We call him Coach Cam," new offensive coordinator Walt Bell says, "because he is literally in almost every staff meeting we have."
Hold that thought, too.
Finally, Bell is no offensive rookie. There's no mistaking that. His offense, 15 years in the developing, can and will disrupt defenses. Boil it down to its essence, and it comes down to this:
Manage the grass.
"It's understanding how to get to open grass and get on their spots," Bell says.
We'll explain.
Welcome to the latest twists of a revamped Hoosier offense, the man running it, and a pair of transfer receivers poised to exploit it.
Let's start with Simmons, a North Carolina transfer driven to do what every smart receiver does who wants to make a big impact:
Bond with the quarterback.
In IU's case, it's multiple quarterbacks. A fierce competition for the starting job is underway. Veteran Jack Tuttle and Missouri transfer Connor Bazelak have the experience edge, with Donaven McCulley (IU's leading returning rusher with 135 yards), Dexter Williams II, and walk-on Grant Gremel in contention
"I try to talk to them as much as I can," Simmons says. "Catch with them. Chill with them. Get extra work with them.
"Conner is a great guy. I try to work with him as much as possible. It's the same thing with Jack, Grant, all of them. I want to have a relationship with all the quarterbacks because we're one team. We love by L-E-O, Love Each Other. You've got to have that rapport and relationship with everybody. It will help the whole team."
Simmons' Cream & Crimson arrival comes with an intriguing backstory. He once committed and de-committed from Indiana, then committed and de-committed with North Carolina and then Penn State before settling on the Tar Heels.
Four years later, with a decreasing role and increasing frustration, he's finally a Hoosier.
"I'm loving every minute of it," he says.
Once Simmons decided to leave North Carolina, after 30 catches for 516 yards and three touchdowns in 30 games over three seasons, IU was the obvious choice.
"I only have two more years of eligibility," he says, "and I want to make the best of them. I felt Indiana was the place to do it.
"I already had a relationship with Coach (Tom) Allen. I know he is really big on faith. That is something me and my family stand behind 100 percent.
"Committing here out of high school, I already had a relationship with the place. I felt, don't even waste my time. You already know the head man, so why not (come to Indiana)?"
Now that he's here, Simmons works to stand out. He comes to the football complex early and stays late. The goal is to "carry myself like a professional."
"I strive to carry a professional mindset, because at the end of the day, that's the end goal for all of us. We want to get to that next level
"I try to go over extra stuff, look at extra plays for the day, and watch extra film."
When Simmons needs a break, he hangs out with his dog, Rocco, and "chills out."
"I don't talk a lot, but when I do, I feel like it is heard."
Then there is Camper, who in two seasons at Trinity Valley Community College in Texas caught 50 passes for 858 yards and four touchdowns.
But if you believe Bell, Camper's attitude and work ethic overshadow his receiving skills
"I think the biggest thing with Cam is his diligence," Bell says. "Cam is unbelievably committed to being the best player that he can be mentally, physically, the way he takes care of his body.
"If he is not in class, he is with us. I don't know if I have seen a newcomer receiver be as invested in the process of improving."
Camper says he's always been that way.
"That's how I came up. Everything wasn't given to me. I need to put the extra work in because I want to make plays for my team.
"I've always been the underdog, I feel I have to do the extra steps to be successful."
In high school, the 6-2, 201-pound Camper says, "I was undersized. I hit a late growth spurt, so I decided to take the JUCO route.
"Every day I try to be my best."
In practice, Camper goes against All-Big Ten cornerback Jaylin Williams.
"We go at it every day," Camper says. "He's a great corner. I know I have to be at my best every time.
As far as his receiving strengths, he says, "Just make plays in space, and make big catches."
Adds Bell: "I am incredibly proud of him. He is an unbelievable worker on and off the field. He is always extremely prepared. He takes pride in his performance. He has a chance to be a really good player."
Bell was hired to restore firepower to an offense that rated among the Big Ten's worst last season.
It starts, he says, with "Creating unbelievable competition. That is ultimately what you want at every position" so you "are able to get the best out of everybody."
That includes having players work at different positions so they can learn the entire concept of the offense and not just their positions.
"Every position guy has had to learn the whole part, conceptually, because we are trying to identify who can do what," Bell says. "To me, that is what spring really is, trying to identify what ultimately is going to allow us to be at our best on game day."
When it comes to receivers, Bell doesn't want them locked into specific routes if there's open space to exploit. He calls it "managing the grass."
"How we play is a lot different than most people from a wideout standpoint," Bell says. "Those guys have done a nice job trying to figure out what we want and aspiring every day to give us what the offense needs... I feel really good about the winnable tools in the group."
Adds Simmons: "The best way I can explain it, is when you have a set route, if you see grass, run to it. You manage the grass.
"You get more freedom than you think. It's something you learn over time."
As for the fact everyone has to learn a new offense, Simmons adds, "It brings everybody together. It makes everybody ask each other for help. We're all in the same boat. Everybody is starting from scratch, and getting better."
In this quest to build a potent offense, that's certainly a thought to hold on to.
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