Making it Right – Allen Returns To His Coaching Strength
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Tom Allen is back doing what he loves the most:
Coaching defense.
Yes, Allen embraces all the responsibilities that come with being Indiana’s head coach. He understands the challenge in Friday night’s season opener against Illinois (1-0), which opened its season last Saturday with a 38-6 home win against Wyoming. He has hired a new defensive coordinator (Chad Wilt) with a promising upside and 21 years of coaching experience.
Still, Allen, once one of the nation’s best defensive coordinators, will call the defensive plays for the first time in four years. After a disappointing 2021 season, he is driven to make it right as the Hoosiers did with bowl appearances in 2019 and ’20.
“I'd say at the forefront was just a frustration with what we were able to do a year ago,” Allen says during Monday’s press conference.
“As you have coaching changes, you feel like if you can solidify the key area that you have the most expertise in, on defense. I want to make sure that was right. If we play really well on that side of the football, then we have a chance.
“I felt like we got away from some things that I believe in, that I want to make sure we're always doing. I feel I grew as a coach in the three years I didn't call it in terms of as a head coach, and feel better about all that, and the game day flow of everything.
“That's the area that I really feel is my strength as a coach. I want to make sure that area is right.
“If it's not getting done the way you want it done, then you do it yourself. The buck stops with me. At the end of the day that's what it comes down to.”
Allen wants to dramatically reduce the number of points allowed from last season (33.2 points a game), and it starts with getting a large number of takeaways. Last year, IU had only five interceptions and recovered just four fumbles, after being one of the nation’s best the previous season.
“We've got a great staff, great assistants to help me, and Chad has done a great job,” Allen says. “I like the balance that we have. I don't feel like I'm having to do all the things I did when I was calling it the first time, but yet it's still the scheme that we want and the calling it the way we want and the way we organize everything.
“You've got to have great people. There's no doubt. I've got to trust them. I give our guys a lot of autonomy to do some things. We have some defensive coaches that have been here a long time with me, so that's a positive thing.
“At the end of the day, we've all got to do it together. The guys have got to play at a high level defensively because that's what's demanded in this league.”
IU’s drive to return to its winning ways from 2019 and ’20 excites director of athletics Scott Dolson. So does the fact student ticket sales are up 10 percent.
“Since the Purdue game ended last year,” Dolson says, “it's been fun for me to watch Tom roll up his sleeves and then the players follow, just really get after it. I couldn't be more happy with just the process.
“I'm a big process person. I think you don't just show up at the game and expect different results. You've got to put in the work, and I know Tom feels the same way. That's really what's been going on.
“The new staff has just fit right in seamlessly. It feels like the staff has been here a long time. The integration has been really great. I'm really impressed with them.
From the players themselves, they've got an edge. You feel it. I'm impressed so much with the leadership of the team.
“Winning is a product of a lot of things. I think that process has gone well, and it starts with leadership. I couldn't be more proud of the leadership of this team.”
Marty Clark has been an IU football fixture for 33 years. That includes a long-time run as senior assistant athletic director for team purchasing and licensing.
Clark is battling serious health issues. On Sunday, Allen brought him to practice to honor his contributions in front of the team.
“He's one of those guys -- very unassuming; very quiet in a lot of ways. He treats people with a tremendously high level of character. I appreciate that about him.
“He's always kind. He's a genuine guy that you can count on and trust. He has a great heart, a great heart for people. It breaks your heart, rips your heart, to see him and his family go through this. Just seeing him was awesome. It was great having him with us at practice.”
Clark’s tenure has included time with previous coaches Bill Mallory and Cam Cameron from the late 1990s.
“He’s just a high-quality person that's just been here for so long,” Allen says. “He’s been so much a part of our history. I didn't know that he had started the tradition with the little medallion Is that we give to all the coaches and players. He was the one back in 2001 that came up with that idea and shared it with Coach Cameron.”
Allen presented Clark with an award during practice.
“He’s just a great, great man,” Allen says. “He’s an unbelievable person that cares about this place, cares about people. He's easy to root for. We are going to continue to pray for him and love him and support him all we can.”
Illinois displayed plenty of offensive balance against Wyoming with 477 total yards. Quarterback Tommy DeVito, a transfer from Syracuse, was 27-for-37 for 194 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. He completed at least one pass to 12 different receivers.
Tailback Chase Brown rushed for 151 yards and two TDs on 19 carries. Receiver Isaiah Williams had seven catches for 26 yards.
The Illini passed 40 times and ran 39 times.
Wilt was impressed.
“I’m familiar with Chase Brown. I saw him last year at Minnesota (Wilt was the defensive line coach for the Gophers) and he rushed for 147 yards. He put up about 150 again.
“He’s a talented back. They use his strengths. He’s upper echelon in this league. They will get him the ball.”
Illinois’ run-and-pass mix also caught Wilt’s attention.
“That’s balance, but they will run. They’re a Big Ten team. They believe in that. They also do a good job in distributing the ball. I think five receivers had at least three catches, including Chase Brown. They create ways for Isaiah Williams to get the ball.
“They are a good balanced team. Their quarterback did a good job of managing the game. He was at 74 percent completion. That’s pretty stinking good. They didn’t have to ask him to do a lot.”
IU figures to go heavy with its receiver rotation. Offensive coordinator Walt Bell says as many as nine receivers could see action on Friday night.
“We will definitely play eight guys,” Bell says, “and there’s a high probability we will play nine. All those guys have earned the right to play. They all have skills that fit well.
“Emery (Simmons) has really improved. He’s made a lot of contested catches and plays. Javon (Swinton) has looked good. It’s good to have Malachi (Holt-Bennett) at full speed. Cam (Camper) has a chance to be a good player. D.J. (Matthews Jr.) is a proven commodity. He’s looked great.
“I’m excited about this group. These are guys who want to get better every day.”
Defensive leadership is crucial for the Hoosiers, and you don’t get much better than cornerback Tiawan Mullen and linebacker Cam Jones.
“Those two young men, with the leadership we have on defense from all those older guys -- Tiawan, Jaylin Williams, Monster (Devon Matthews), Bryant Fitzgerald, Cam,” Wilt says.
“And then seeing some of these other guys -- (linebacker Aaron) Casey has stepped up leadership. (Linebacker) Bradley Jennings has stepped up.
“It is a strength to have so many older players who know how to handle their business. When you handle your business, it becomes easy to become a leader for the next group. That’s what you see from those guys. It allows them to hold others accountable. I’m very excited to see those guys play Friday night.”
Jones' selfless attitude makes a big impression on Allen.
"I don't know if I've ever been around a more genuine individual that just cares about people, cares about his teammates, cares about his family, wears that heavily on himself."
That's emphasized by something strength coach Aaron Wellman mentioned to Allen.
"The first person that noticed it, brought it up to me was Coach Wellman, so this was even a year ago.
"In between our special teams work and different drill work, he's getting all the equipment off the field to help the managers. Most players are either getting water or totally just focused on something totally different, and we're talking like the real big heavy bags, things that take effort.
"I never paid attention to it because I was getting ready for something else, too, but it was just like -- he's just so selfless. It doesn't matter what it is, something so small like that that nobody would ever notice and the way he leads this team and how much he cares and all the times we've spent together. He's just an other-focus person.
“He's a tremendously talented athlete, but he's going to be great in whatever he does, in football, outside of football. I'm just so proud of him and so excited for him to be a guy that he's going to be voted I'm sure here a three-time captain, which hasn't happened here very often. It's pretty special, and he's a special young man.”
Mullen has made a huge positive impression on Dolson.
“We've got really special student-athletes across the board, but Tiawan has been incredible. Just to watch him grow and see the young man that he's become.
“He's probably stopped by my office, I won't exaggerate, probably 25 times since the season ended and pops by. We've established a great friendship, but he'll pop in and a lot of times he'll just ask me how I'm doing and what's going on.
“He attended the women's basketball late games this past season with me and went to the NCAA tournament games here. He attended the NCAA track regionals.
“Tiawan is someone that represents all that we want in our student-athletes. I wanted to mention him because I think that's reflective of the culture that we're building within our football program, but also just across the departments. Special shout-out to Tiawan.”
Tight end AJ Barner, who played behind Peyton Hendershot and Matt Bjornson the last two seasons, is set to make a huge impact now that they’re gone.
“AJ has done an incredible job,” Bell says. “He hasn’t started much. He has been behind some good players.
“For a young guy to step into that (leadership) role, going all the way back to the spring. He’s very passionate about football and winning.
“I don’t mean the end product. He’s passionate about the work required to win. That’s practice, lifting, conditioning, meetings. It’s how you study. How you eat. His commitment to being the best he can be so our team has a chance to be the best it can be. That’s a special thing about him.”
Illinois held Wyoming to just 212 total yards, 30 through the air.
It’s an impressive group, Bell says.
“Number 1, they do a great job of edging the defense. Up front they’re going to make you go a long way. They make you win C gap to C gap. They do not give you any freebies on the perimeter in the run game.
“In the back end, they do a great job of disguise. Their back-end players understand the scheme, and where they fit within the scheme. They are patient and allow the game to come to them.
“They play hard. They do a great job of being violent with inside hands play. They have some really good layers. It will be very challenging.”