NOTEBOOK: Cam Jones Takes Leadership to Elite Level
9/20/2022 10:00:00 AM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - No Hoosier leads like Cam Jones.
Understand that first about Indiana's senior linebacker.
Yes, he dominates on the field. Entering Saturday's game at Cincinnati, he has a team-leading 32 tackles, 11 more than runner-up Aaron Casey. He has two quarterback hits, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one sack.
But it's the way he speaks his mind that sets him apart.
"When your words and your actions align," head coach Tom Allen says, "you've got a powerful combination. That's what he's doing."
When the Hoosiers (3-0) are in trouble, Jones rises to the verbal challenge. He says what needs to be said when it needs to be said and in the way it needs to be said.
That's rare, Allen says.
"In this sport, when you have so many guys on a team (125), to have one guy become the spokesperson is unusual.
"There's a reason he's a three-time team captain. I shouldn't be surprised. But he has embraced it."
Jones could have passed on his final college season to take a shot at the NFL. But he wanted to go out on a high, the team more than his personal development.
With standout linebacker Micah McFadden off to the NFL, the IU leadership burden fell on Jones, who takes it to another level.
"Some guys really fight it because it's not their comfort zone," Allen says. "It's hard. Leading is hard. It takes energy. It's a mental drain to make sure -- we go to Cam and have him talk to certain guys. He did that even this last week."
Jones understands how big Saturday's game is and how important it is for the Hoosiers to find the consistency they've lacked despite their unbeaten start.
In case the team didn't understand, he provided reinforcement.
"He texted me late (Sunday) night that he wanted to say something to the team," Allen says. "I trust him so much I didn't even ask him what he was going to say. It's all good stuff. Just challenging guys.
"He is always in tune with everything that's going on. He seems to know what to say, when to say it. That's a unique quality."
Allen has been a college coach since 2007, a coach at any level since 1992. He's never had a player quite like Jones, and challenged him to play and lead as he never had before.
"Sometimes guys talk too much when they're younger," Allen says, "and I understand that. Sometimes they don't say enough.
"Cam seems to have a good balance. He doesn't talk too much, by any means. He's naturally pretty quiet. He's embraced the challenge I've given to him.
"He needed to develop more things as a linebacker. He had to take his leadership to another level. He's done that.
"You challenge a player and sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. It's frustrating when they don't respond.
"With him, it's been amazing. He's earned the right to speak. And he's not just leading verbally, he's leading physically. He's making plays. He's backed it up with his play and his words."
*****
Charles Campbell might have kicked four field goals, including the game winner, in last Saturday's overtime victory over Western Kentucky to earn Big Ten special teams player of the week honors.
Quarterback Connor Bazelak might have thrown for more than 300 yards and directed the crucial OT-forcing touchdown drive.
Neither were IU's offensive player of the game.
Caleb Murphy was.
The seldom-used redshirt sophomore offensive lineman, forced into action minutes before Saturday's game when starting center Zach Carpenter injured his hand during warmups, played all 90 snaps and more than held his own.
"That's something that our staff felt strongly about," Allen says. "He was not expected to play like he did in terms of his reps. He did a great, great job. Really proud of him."
Then there was Jaylin Williams, who blocked the Hilltoppers' overtime field goal (Allen calls it "massive") after earlier downing an IU punt at the Western Kentucky 2-yard line.
"Just his special teams play in general was huge," Allen says.
*****
Winning through inconsistency won't work anymore.
The Hoosiers understand that. Their 3-0 record is built on toughness, resolve, and tenacity.
It was enough to beat Illinois, Idaho, and Western Kentucky. It almost certainly won't be enough to beat a 2-1 Cincinnati team with plenty of returning talent off a College Playoff team.
The Hoosiers know it.
"We've got to get better," Allen says. "I get that. I understand that. That's going to be the focus.
"The exciting thing is we're 3-0 with a lot of things to improve on. We're not even close to playing our best football."
IU's unbeaten start reflects fourth-quarter dominance, which is not a fluke. The Hoosiers planned for this, prepared for this, trained for this, and if nothing is guaranteed, well, it gave them a chance, and they've taken full advantage.
Specifically, they have outscored opponents 36-21 in the final 15 minutes, 39-21 if you count overtime.
However, they've been outscored 37-26 in the first half, and have trailed at halftime in every game.
"We're really strong in the fourth quarter," Allen says. "I'll tell you what; we made a big deal about that this whole offseason. We were going to dominate the fourth quarter in our conditioning, in our execution, and our guys believe in that. We've talked about that and we've talked about that and we've talked about that.
"I'm really proud of that part of it. We've got to make sure that we understand as this season progresses it's going to take four quarters to beat really good teams on a consistent basis. That's what we've got to do."
*****
Cincinnati has beaten Kennesaw State and Miami (Ohio) after a season-opening 31-24 loss at then-No. 10 Arkansas.
It also has dominated the second half, outscoring opponents 80-24.
Quarterback Ben Bryant completes 70.1 percent of his passes for 863 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions.
He has two receivers averaging more than 15.3 yards per catch – Tyler Scott (15 catches for 238 yards and two touchdowns) and Tre Tucker (12 for 183).
Tailback Charles McClelland has rushed for 211 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 6.4 yards per carry.
The Bearcats, 46-8 in the last four-plus years under coach Luke Fickell, were 13-1 last season, losing to Alabama in the playoff semifinals.
"Really excited about this opportunity this week," Allen says. "Coach Fickell has done a tremendous job. Just impressive what they built there.
"They've got a lot of guys back on offense. A lot of new faces on defense, but they still play at a high level.
"It's a great challenge. A great opportunity for us to be able to be on the road for our first road game of the season. And just impressed with what they've done.
"We have to play our best football. We have to play a complete game from start to finish, whatever it takes."
Understand that first about Indiana's senior linebacker.
Yes, he dominates on the field. Entering Saturday's game at Cincinnati, he has a team-leading 32 tackles, 11 more than runner-up Aaron Casey. He has two quarterback hits, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one sack.
But it's the way he speaks his mind that sets him apart.
"When your words and your actions align," head coach Tom Allen says, "you've got a powerful combination. That's what he's doing."
When the Hoosiers (3-0) are in trouble, Jones rises to the verbal challenge. He says what needs to be said when it needs to be said and in the way it needs to be said.
That's rare, Allen says.
"In this sport, when you have so many guys on a team (125), to have one guy become the spokesperson is unusual.
"There's a reason he's a three-time team captain. I shouldn't be surprised. But he has embraced it."
Jones could have passed on his final college season to take a shot at the NFL. But he wanted to go out on a high, the team more than his personal development.
With standout linebacker Micah McFadden off to the NFL, the IU leadership burden fell on Jones, who takes it to another level.
"Some guys really fight it because it's not their comfort zone," Allen says. "It's hard. Leading is hard. It takes energy. It's a mental drain to make sure -- we go to Cam and have him talk to certain guys. He did that even this last week."
Jones understands how big Saturday's game is and how important it is for the Hoosiers to find the consistency they've lacked despite their unbeaten start.
In case the team didn't understand, he provided reinforcement.
"He texted me late (Sunday) night that he wanted to say something to the team," Allen says. "I trust him so much I didn't even ask him what he was going to say. It's all good stuff. Just challenging guys.
"He is always in tune with everything that's going on. He seems to know what to say, when to say it. That's a unique quality."
Allen has been a college coach since 2007, a coach at any level since 1992. He's never had a player quite like Jones, and challenged him to play and lead as he never had before.
"Sometimes guys talk too much when they're younger," Allen says, "and I understand that. Sometimes they don't say enough.
"Cam seems to have a good balance. He doesn't talk too much, by any means. He's naturally pretty quiet. He's embraced the challenge I've given to him.
"He needed to develop more things as a linebacker. He had to take his leadership to another level. He's done that.
"You challenge a player and sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. It's frustrating when they don't respond.
"With him, it's been amazing. He's earned the right to speak. And he's not just leading verbally, he's leading physically. He's making plays. He's backed it up with his play and his words."
*****
Charles Campbell might have kicked four field goals, including the game winner, in last Saturday's overtime victory over Western Kentucky to earn Big Ten special teams player of the week honors.
Quarterback Connor Bazelak might have thrown for more than 300 yards and directed the crucial OT-forcing touchdown drive.
Neither were IU's offensive player of the game.
Caleb Murphy was.
The seldom-used redshirt sophomore offensive lineman, forced into action minutes before Saturday's game when starting center Zach Carpenter injured his hand during warmups, played all 90 snaps and more than held his own.
"That's something that our staff felt strongly about," Allen says. "He was not expected to play like he did in terms of his reps. He did a great, great job. Really proud of him."
Then there was Jaylin Williams, who blocked the Hilltoppers' overtime field goal (Allen calls it "massive") after earlier downing an IU punt at the Western Kentucky 2-yard line.
"Just his special teams play in general was huge," Allen says.
*****
Winning through inconsistency won't work anymore.
The Hoosiers understand that. Their 3-0 record is built on toughness, resolve, and tenacity.
It was enough to beat Illinois, Idaho, and Western Kentucky. It almost certainly won't be enough to beat a 2-1 Cincinnati team with plenty of returning talent off a College Playoff team.
The Hoosiers know it.
"We've got to get better," Allen says. "I get that. I understand that. That's going to be the focus.
"The exciting thing is we're 3-0 with a lot of things to improve on. We're not even close to playing our best football."
IU's unbeaten start reflects fourth-quarter dominance, which is not a fluke. The Hoosiers planned for this, prepared for this, trained for this, and if nothing is guaranteed, well, it gave them a chance, and they've taken full advantage.
Specifically, they have outscored opponents 36-21 in the final 15 minutes, 39-21 if you count overtime.
However, they've been outscored 37-26 in the first half, and have trailed at halftime in every game.
"We're really strong in the fourth quarter," Allen says. "I'll tell you what; we made a big deal about that this whole offseason. We were going to dominate the fourth quarter in our conditioning, in our execution, and our guys believe in that. We've talked about that and we've talked about that and we've talked about that.
"I'm really proud of that part of it. We've got to make sure that we understand as this season progresses it's going to take four quarters to beat really good teams on a consistent basis. That's what we've got to do."
*****
Cincinnati has beaten Kennesaw State and Miami (Ohio) after a season-opening 31-24 loss at then-No. 10 Arkansas.
It also has dominated the second half, outscoring opponents 80-24.
Quarterback Ben Bryant completes 70.1 percent of his passes for 863 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions.
He has two receivers averaging more than 15.3 yards per catch – Tyler Scott (15 catches for 238 yards and two touchdowns) and Tre Tucker (12 for 183).
Tailback Charles McClelland has rushed for 211 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 6.4 yards per carry.
The Bearcats, 46-8 in the last four-plus years under coach Luke Fickell, were 13-1 last season, losing to Alabama in the playoff semifinals.
"Really excited about this opportunity this week," Allen says. "Coach Fickell has done a tremendous job. Just impressive what they built there.
"They've got a lot of guys back on offense. A lot of new faces on defense, but they still play at a high level.
"It's a great challenge. A great opportunity for us to be able to be on the road for our first road game of the season. And just impressed with what they've done.
"We have to play our best football. We have to play a complete game from start to finish, whatever it takes."
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