Thursday Takeaways: Western Kentucky
9/15/2022 3:00:00 PM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – One final update from Indiana head football coach Tom Allen before Western Kentucky heads to Memorial Stadium for a Noon kickoff on Saturday (Sept. 17) kickoff on the Big Ten Network, as he met with the media via Zoom on Thursday (Sept. 15).
Below is a partial transcript of the Tom Allen press conference, while video of the full media sessions can be found near the top of this story at IUHoosiers.com or via IUHoosiers.com/watch.
Tom Allen | Head Coach
On the impact his veteran defensive backs can have versus the passing attack of Western Kentucky…
TA: I would think so, as far as from their perspective. That has definitely been my expectation as we coach then and prepare them. They have seen a lot of football and they need to do a great job.
This is a very high-powered offense that we are playing against, No. 1 in the country a year ago and they have the same scheme, a lot of the same receivers and we need that leadership to show up. Obviously, we need a lot of guys to contribute and that starts up front. We need to do a good job of getting pressure and not let their quarterback feel comfortable, then do a good job of making sure he feels us mentally and physically. That is going to be the objective.
On building depth on defense…
TA: That is definitely a major focus for us and a goal to be able to play a lot of guys. Definitely 22 at the minimum and play more per position. I think [the young guys] are growing and I think that each week they are getting a little bit better. Obviously the more they play the better they are going to get as they get out there and learn our system and learn to communicate and play at a high level of confidence and a high level of execution together.
To me, it is more about the collective group. To be able to have a scheme that all of these guys can learn and execute at a high level for 60 minutes or beyond, whatever it takes. I think those guys are definitely coming along and want to see that continue. We have to take another step forward this week with the type of offense that we are about to play.
On the differences between Western Kentucky last season compared to this season…
TA: When you go through, like you said, it is a different play caller but the same system. Every play caller has his own personality. You have two games to evaluate from this year, so you lead heavily on those, but you also can use all 14 games they had from last year; they played in their conference championship game, and they played in a bowl game.
You have a lot of film to study, but that also creates a lot of things for you consider as you prepare for them. We are trying to do a blend of both and get a feel as to how we feel they are going to call the game. A lot of it is going to be reacting to what they choose to do. That is typical for the first two, three or four games of the year until you get a 3-4 game base. They have already been off ... since they played in week zero.
Bottom line is that you don't have a lot of statistical data to support what you are going to see this year, just two games worth. You have to be able to use some from the past, as well. That is the challenge, without question.
It is a talented quarterback, even though he is new [to the program]. He has a really strong arm, very high IQ from a football perspective, you can tell. He is a tough kid, big kid and can run it as well. He has a lot of weapons on offense, as well.
On his expectations for the offense this weekend…
TA: Looking for consistency and looking for a strong first quarter start and be able to play at a high level right out of the gate. To be able to execute for four quarters. It is about us doing our jobs. We have to be very consistent up front in our technique, in our run game technique and in our pass protection techniques.
We have to understand the way they are going to bring pressure. They do a really good job on third downs and give you a lot of different looks. I feel like for me, it is more about us doing a great job of reacting to what we are going to see. You still don't know for sure how they are going to defend us until you get into the game, so being able to adjust to that is going to be our coach's responsibility. So, from Connor's perspective it is about being mentally focused and ready to go from the very beginning.
Below is a partial transcript of the Tom Allen press conference, while video of the full media sessions can be found near the top of this story at IUHoosiers.com or via IUHoosiers.com/watch.
Tom Allen | Head Coach
On the impact his veteran defensive backs can have versus the passing attack of Western Kentucky…
TA: I would think so, as far as from their perspective. That has definitely been my expectation as we coach then and prepare them. They have seen a lot of football and they need to do a great job.
This is a very high-powered offense that we are playing against, No. 1 in the country a year ago and they have the same scheme, a lot of the same receivers and we need that leadership to show up. Obviously, we need a lot of guys to contribute and that starts up front. We need to do a good job of getting pressure and not let their quarterback feel comfortable, then do a good job of making sure he feels us mentally and physically. That is going to be the objective.
On building depth on defense…
TA: That is definitely a major focus for us and a goal to be able to play a lot of guys. Definitely 22 at the minimum and play more per position. I think [the young guys] are growing and I think that each week they are getting a little bit better. Obviously the more they play the better they are going to get as they get out there and learn our system and learn to communicate and play at a high level of confidence and a high level of execution together.
To me, it is more about the collective group. To be able to have a scheme that all of these guys can learn and execute at a high level for 60 minutes or beyond, whatever it takes. I think those guys are definitely coming along and want to see that continue. We have to take another step forward this week with the type of offense that we are about to play.
On the differences between Western Kentucky last season compared to this season…
TA: When you go through, like you said, it is a different play caller but the same system. Every play caller has his own personality. You have two games to evaluate from this year, so you lead heavily on those, but you also can use all 14 games they had from last year; they played in their conference championship game, and they played in a bowl game.
You have a lot of film to study, but that also creates a lot of things for you consider as you prepare for them. We are trying to do a blend of both and get a feel as to how we feel they are going to call the game. A lot of it is going to be reacting to what they choose to do. That is typical for the first two, three or four games of the year until you get a 3-4 game base. They have already been off ... since they played in week zero.
Bottom line is that you don't have a lot of statistical data to support what you are going to see this year, just two games worth. You have to be able to use some from the past, as well. That is the challenge, without question.
It is a talented quarterback, even though he is new [to the program]. He has a really strong arm, very high IQ from a football perspective, you can tell. He is a tough kid, big kid and can run it as well. He has a lot of weapons on offense, as well.
On his expectations for the offense this weekend…
TA: Looking for consistency and looking for a strong first quarter start and be able to play at a high level right out of the gate. To be able to execute for four quarters. It is about us doing our jobs. We have to be very consistent up front in our technique, in our run game technique and in our pass protection techniques.
We have to understand the way they are going to bring pressure. They do a really good job on third downs and give you a lot of different looks. I feel like for me, it is more about us doing a great job of reacting to what we are going to see. You still don't know for sure how they are going to defend us until you get into the game, so being able to adjust to that is going to be our coach's responsibility. So, from Connor's perspective it is about being mentally focused and ready to go from the very beginning.
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