Head Makes It Clear He’s On the Attack
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – James Head Jr. refuses to hold back. There’s no point. His fifth and final college season looms; he’s stronger and fitter than he’s ever been; and everything seems possible if he goes for it.
“My mindset is different,” the defensive end says. “I am trying to attack everything with all I've got knowing this is my last year. The urgency is more amped up. I'm attacking everything like it could be my last play.”
New defensive line coach Paul Randolph knows what that can mean. Ask him what’s stood out about Head, and Randolph says, “Just his work ethic.”
“He approached (camp) as a guy that (thought), ‘I've got to get better; I've got to improve in different fundamental techniques,’ and he's worked hard to do it.
“He hasn't missed a practice. He’s worked his tail off. He's gotten better every day at working and focusing on getting better at one specific thing a day -- pad level, aggressiveness, playing the run, different things like that.
“He's really improved. I’m excited about his mindset.”
The 6-5, 258-pounder has always radiated potential. In high school in Miami, Fla., Head was athletic enough to force seven fumbles, record five fumble recoveries, intercept one pass, break up nine more, and block three field goals.
But he hasn’t broken through as a Hoosier, never totaling more than 20 tackles in a season. Last year, a foot injury limited him to seven games and four total tackles.
“Coming off that injury,” he says, “I was doubting myself. I was sad, but the coaching staff and the players all backed me up on everything. They were all on my side.”
They will be again as Head seeks a final season to remember.
“I'm more motivated than ever. Trying to get back out there and prove myself again. That's what I'm battling with myself right now. Trying to prove I can do it at a high level still.”
Working with Randolph, whose 24 years of college coaching experience include stops at Alabama, Pitt, West Virginia, Arizona State, and Texas Tech, has helped.
“Coach Randolph is like a pass-rush master,” Head says. “We're pass rushing everyday focusing on little things, little moves that I've been missing. Making sure all our technique is where it needs to be.”
Head coach Tom Allen is well aware of the impact a healthy Head can make.
“He had such a tough year last year with a foot injury that kept him out for the first half of the season,” Allen says. “He never was close to being back to being what he was before that.
“He's changed his body and really bought in. We are finally seeing the benefits of (strength coach Aaron Wellman) come through.
“James finally had a chance to have a full cycle of being healthy and training and getting his lean muscle mass numbers right, reducing his body fat percentage and it's showing up.
“He's been playing his best football this fall camp since he's been here. We need him to do that. He's worked so hard. I like where he’s at.”
So does defensive coordinator Chad Wilt.
“James is really another guy that you see growing and developing,” Wilt says. “He's healthy. He's strong. Being a veteran guy, he has great understanding, awareness of our scheme, our system.
“Credit to Coach Randolph, (Head is) really growing in confidence. You see him doing some things he hasn't done in the past. Whether that's how he's taking on run blocks and sitting in an anchor and being strong and sturdy, to his pass rush.
“You see some athleticism, some series of efforts, second move, third move, counter moves, that maybe weren't there in the past.
“He's a veteran guy. He’s been around here a bunch. I’m excited about where he is, his growth, his production, his mentality and mindset. I’m looking forward to seeing James play.”
In his first season as an IU coach, Wilt looks forward to seeing so many Hoosier defenders play. He and Allen have joined forces, determined to produce a takeaway-forcing, offense-stuffing defensive machine.
Wilt wants to do it with depth. He wants to rotate players, share the reps and have players maintain full-throttle energy for as long as it takes.
“I see that happening with our guys,” he says. “They’re competing with each other knowing it's going to allow each of them to compete at a higher level when their number is called on Saturdays.”
Excellence doesn’t come to those who just get by, who do what’s expected and nothing more.
Wilt embraces that. He preaches it, pushes it, demands it. Being the son of a coach, it’s the way he grew up, the way he works and directs.
“Growing up with my dad and playing for my dad, he talked about pride. Pride was personal, responsibility in your daily effort, energy and execution. And that's what we challenge each guy for.
“As you look at the depth of taking that personal responsibility that you can be trusted. Trust comes from proof consistently over time. So, we're asking each guy – ‘What are you proving? What are you putting on film? How are you doing that to execute with that edge, with that energy, with the ownership that we're looking for?’”
Wilt says he sees growth from every position group, which is what he’d better see with the season opener against Illinois just over two weeks away.
“We're at the point in camp where we're looking for execution,” Wilt says. “Most of the installs are done. We're not throwing a bunch of stuff on them every day. Now it's time to really start executing and go be brilliant at the basics of your position.”