Consistency Coming -- IU Defense Builds Mental Edge
9/15/2022 10:00:00 AM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Two games in and Indiana defensive dominance remains elusive.
For this, defensive coordinator Chad Wilt has an answer:
Consistency.
"That's what we look for," he says. "Our DNA is takeaways, tackling, and effort. But the pillars of how we play are edge, hungry, focus. We have to have that in everything we do."
IU has given up 20 points to Illinois and 22 to Idaho, and in each game it showed flashes of the defense Wilt and head coach Tom Allen want.
And if flashes become the 60-minute norm ...
"We've seen the kind of defense we can become," Wilt says.
High-scoring Western Kentucky (2-0) comes to Memorial Stadium on Saturday, and defensive excellence is crucial to Hoosier success.
"If you lose that edge," Wilt says, "you won't have the consistency you need. If you're hungry, you have the drive, the work, the preparation. Usually how you prepare is how you play.
"We have to stay focused. If we keep those three things -- edge, hunger, focus -- we'll be the consistent defense we need to be. We'll have that mental edge, mental hunger, and mental focus to play the way we need to for four consistent quarters."
It would help to have veteran defensive end James Head Jr. He's missed the last two games because of an injury, which means the Hoosiers have been without a 6-5, 258-pound senior who has 58 tackles and four sacks on his resume.
"He's working his tail off to get ready," Wilt says. "He's getting close."
Without Head, Myles Jackson was moved from bull to defensive end with Beau Robbins. Dasan McCullough facilitated that by handling bull, among other positions.
This reflects Allen's goal to build elite depth, to make it so that no matter how many guys the defense loses for whatever reasons, the Hoosiers can handle it.
"We're not just trying to play our best 11," Wilt says, "but our best 22. We'd love to get to the point where we play about 30 guys a game."
He'd especially like to do that against Western Kentucky, "because of their tempo and our tempo."
"A lot of guys will play."
And when they do play, Wilt adds, "They are expected to play like a starter."
"We talk about 1-As, 1-Bs and 1-Cs. That is the standard. That's the way you are expected to execute. Whether it's Myles Jackson playing at end or at bull, and he did both on Saturday.
"We appreciate the work that Myles and Dasan have put in to give us the flexibility and versatility to play guys at multiple spots, which is want you want."
Wilt also mentioned JH Tevis, who played end, nose, and tackle against Idaho.
"Those guys are becoming a mix-and-match group, which is what you want."
And when Head returns, Wilt adds, "We'll be excited to get him back."
Now comes the Western Kentucky test, and Wilt knows easy isn't part of the answer.
"They present a challenge for us," he says.
This is not just coaching hyperbole. Wilt has watched the film, has seen the way the Hilltoppers pushed the offensive pace against Austin Peay and Hawaii, much as they did last season, when they ranked among the nation's best offenses.
They average 43.5 points, a follow up to last season's 44.2 points.
"You see what they did last year," Wilt says. "Not a lot of people slowed them down. They're explosive and dynamic. They have qualities that our offense has. They can spread the ball."
Western Kentucky's biggest threat comes through the air behind quarterback Austin Reed, who led West Florida to the 2019 NCAA Division II national title.
Reed has made the Davey O'Brien Award Watch list after throwing for 547 yards and seven touchdowns in two games. He's also rushed for 41 yards and a TD.
"He has some moxie; he has a mojo to him. He won a national championship at the Division II level. That doesn't happen by accident. He has a strong arm. He can make a lot of the throws. He has a competitive toughness to him."
So do receivers such as Davis Daewood (11 catches, 202 yards and a touchdown) and Malachi Corley (nine for 73 yards and three TDs).
"Their wide receivers are big, talented, long, athletic guys. It gives (Reed) a big catch radius. Their tailbacks are efficient runners and do exactly what they're asked to do."
For this, defensive coordinator Chad Wilt has an answer:
Consistency.
"That's what we look for," he says. "Our DNA is takeaways, tackling, and effort. But the pillars of how we play are edge, hungry, focus. We have to have that in everything we do."
IU has given up 20 points to Illinois and 22 to Idaho, and in each game it showed flashes of the defense Wilt and head coach Tom Allen want.
And if flashes become the 60-minute norm ...
"We've seen the kind of defense we can become," Wilt says.
High-scoring Western Kentucky (2-0) comes to Memorial Stadium on Saturday, and defensive excellence is crucial to Hoosier success.
"If you lose that edge," Wilt says, "you won't have the consistency you need. If you're hungry, you have the drive, the work, the preparation. Usually how you prepare is how you play.
"We have to stay focused. If we keep those three things -- edge, hunger, focus -- we'll be the consistent defense we need to be. We'll have that mental edge, mental hunger, and mental focus to play the way we need to for four consistent quarters."
It would help to have veteran defensive end James Head Jr. He's missed the last two games because of an injury, which means the Hoosiers have been without a 6-5, 258-pound senior who has 58 tackles and four sacks on his resume.
"He's working his tail off to get ready," Wilt says. "He's getting close."
Without Head, Myles Jackson was moved from bull to defensive end with Beau Robbins. Dasan McCullough facilitated that by handling bull, among other positions.
This reflects Allen's goal to build elite depth, to make it so that no matter how many guys the defense loses for whatever reasons, the Hoosiers can handle it.
"We're not just trying to play our best 11," Wilt says, "but our best 22. We'd love to get to the point where we play about 30 guys a game."
He'd especially like to do that against Western Kentucky, "because of their tempo and our tempo."
"A lot of guys will play."
And when they do play, Wilt adds, "They are expected to play like a starter."
"We talk about 1-As, 1-Bs and 1-Cs. That is the standard. That's the way you are expected to execute. Whether it's Myles Jackson playing at end or at bull, and he did both on Saturday.
"We appreciate the work that Myles and Dasan have put in to give us the flexibility and versatility to play guys at multiple spots, which is want you want."
Wilt also mentioned JH Tevis, who played end, nose, and tackle against Idaho.
"Those guys are becoming a mix-and-match group, which is what you want."
And when Head returns, Wilt adds, "We'll be excited to get him back."
Now comes the Western Kentucky test, and Wilt knows easy isn't part of the answer.
"They present a challenge for us," he says.
This is not just coaching hyperbole. Wilt has watched the film, has seen the way the Hilltoppers pushed the offensive pace against Austin Peay and Hawaii, much as they did last season, when they ranked among the nation's best offenses.
They average 43.5 points, a follow up to last season's 44.2 points.
"You see what they did last year," Wilt says. "Not a lot of people slowed them down. They're explosive and dynamic. They have qualities that our offense has. They can spread the ball."
Western Kentucky's biggest threat comes through the air behind quarterback Austin Reed, who led West Florida to the 2019 NCAA Division II national title.
Reed has made the Davey O'Brien Award Watch list after throwing for 547 yards and seven touchdowns in two games. He's also rushed for 41 yards and a TD.
"He has some moxie; he has a mojo to him. He won a national championship at the Division II level. That doesn't happen by accident. He has a strong arm. He can make a lot of the throws. He has a competitive toughness to him."
So do receivers such as Davis Daewood (11 catches, 202 yards and a touchdown) and Malachi Corley (nine for 73 yards and three TDs).
"Their wide receivers are big, talented, long, athletic guys. It gives (Reed) a big catch radius. Their tailbacks are efficient runners and do exactly what they're asked to do."
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