Bringing the Edge – Shivers Is Ready to Rock
By Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Shaun Shivers aims to rock somebody’s world.
Specifically, it’s any defender who gets in his way.
If you understand nothing else about Indiana’s transfer tailback, understand that.
“I always tell our defense,” Shivers says, “be ready, because you never know when I’m going to drop you.”
Barely a week into the Hoosiers’ fall camp and Shivers draws the running back line in the sand. In an era of limited practice contact to avoid injuries, the Auburn transfer is old school.
Bring on the hitting.
“It doesn't matter if it's helmet or shoulder pads,” he says, “(The defense) knows what's coming. I am going to lay that shoulder down. You got that helmet and shoulder pads on, that means full contact to me.”
At 5-7 and 186 pounds, Shivers does not wow with size, but with heart, power, and speed.
Head coach Tom Allen, “Loves it.”
“He's different,” Allen says. “He's very compact, very strong, and very powerful. I love his mindset.
“He’s probably never been considered tall. He's probably always been short and undersized and that creates a toughness to him. That’s never left him. It’s made him who he is.”
Who is Shivers? Consider he rushed for 1,020 yards in four seasons at Auburn, averaging 5.1 yards a carry. He had a pair of 100-yard-plus games. He also caught 38 passes for 211 yards. He scored nine touchdowns and returned 14 kickoffs for 233 yards.
After a limited-role senior season, and with a final year of eligibility available, Shivers sought a new beginning, and found it as a Hoosier.
“He has a tremendous edge about him,” Allen says. “I think he's already infected our whole offense with that mindset. That's a big deal to have a guy like that who has the ability to have a positive impact on the entire team. That's a toughness that you have to have and that mindset to try to run somebody over regardless.”
It's a toughness crucial for Big Ten success.
“He's not looking for the sideline,” Allen says. “He's looking for somebody to run over. You saw it on film. That's what he did and he did it in some really big games against some really high-caliber opponents.
“When I talked to coaches from down that way, the first thing they commented on was his power and how much of an explosive and physical runner he is. He brings that with his mindset. As we always say, your mindset drives your expectations and beliefs. That's case with Shaun, for sure.”
Given Shivers’ 10.29-second 100-meter time on his resume, he’s more than an under-sized power guy.
“The other thing about him,” Allen says, “which is awesome as a coach, is he also has the ability to make you miss. He can do that really well.”
Or, as associate head coach/running backs coach Craig Johnson underplays it, “Certainly, Shaun has some quickness, some strength.”
In 18 years of NFL coaching, Johnson developed Pro Bowlers at quarterback (Steve McNair, Kerry Collins, and Vince Young) and running back (Saquon Barkley and Chris Johnson).
Twenty years of college coaching included stints as an offensive coordinator, quarterback, and running backs coach. Twice while at Northwestern the Wildcats won Big Ten titles.
Shivers hopes to take full advantage of that experience.
“Coach Johnson has coached some great guys. It's really about the attitude that he brings.
“He is very detailed. He wants you to do the right thing at all times. He also knows that sometimes you are going to have to play above (the play call) because it is not always going to be there. Sometimes you are going to have to create your own hole.”
Shivers is fine with that, as are such fellow running backs such as Jaylin Lucas, Josh Henderson (a North Carolina transfer with 209 career rushing yards), Trent Howland, David Holloman, and Charlie Spegal.
“We are all different kinds of backs,” Shivers says. “We can use our abilities to do those things and make those plays.”
“We've got a couple guys like that,” Allen says. “It came up in practice the other day. We have several guys that we'd put in that category. They've got a special edge because of their size. They've been small their whole lives and they've had to learn to fight, to be tough, physical. They have to be mean and nasty in their mindset in order to compete against bigger guys when they were younger.”
Like Shivers, the 5-9, 185-pound Lucas lacks perceived Big Ten size. Still, he came out of high school in Louisiana last season as the nation’s No. 12 all-purpose back according to Rivals. As a senior, he totaled 1,883 yards -- 958 by run, 705 by receiving, 135 by kickoff return, and 85 by punt return.
Lucas also finished sixth in the 100-meter dash at the 5A Louisiana state track meet.
Johnson sees the potential.
“He's got a lot of burst and is quick. He’s really coming along well.
“He is a young player, and like all young players, there is a lot of stuff that you love and there is some stuff that you know you have to get corrected. And that is what I am going to make sure I do. He is good out of the break; he's got good hands and he understands the concepts.
“Like all younger players, he has to work on the concepts more. That's just the way it goes. The terminology that we use is different than what he used in high school, as it is with all of the young backs that we have. The more they understand it, the faster they’ll play.
“Then, they have to learn to slow down. If you play too fast, it hurts you: you can't set your blocks on the passes and sometimes you can't get into your release lanes for the passing game.
“Eventually, we are trying to get them to play faster and then as they progress, slow them down so they can get to the tempo of the game. Then, they'll know when to speed up or slow down.”
Johnson isn’t ready to name a running back starter. There’s too much competition to build, too many demands to meet.
“As far as how much for each back,” Johnson says, “that is yet to be determined. The head coach is the guy who has to sign off on everybody, then (offensive coordinator) Walt Bell, and then all of the assistants will have that talk (and decide) who is the first guy out the first week or how much they are going to play.”
In terms of juggling playing time, Johnson says, “Sometimes you rotate. Sometimes you go by play counts. I have had all types.
“In the preseason, I focus on group development. I don't worry about who is the guy who walks out first or third. I want to coach from the top to the bottom because I know that there is a chance, at some point, the guy that doesn't walk out as a starter has to be prepared to be ready to play. That is what I've learned.”
Johnson wants versatile running backs who thrive in all aspects of the position.
“Every back is known for something,” he says. “I've always trained, have continued to train, and will train every back that I have been with. I’m trying get to get them better in all three phases: running, catching, and blocking.
“That is the challenge I put out to them, so they can be, hopefully, three-down backs. That is the ideal (situation).”
Shivers is fine with whatever challenge Johnson provides.
“I think that makes everyone want to compete harder. Everyone wants to be that guy, but there can only be one (starter).
“No matter who wins the job, we are still going to compete hard; we are still going to love each other; and still going to help each other out. We can't be selfish. We have to help each other out.
“Like Coach Allen always says, love each other -- LEO -- and that is what we are going to do.”
