Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Hope to Make it ‘Special’ Against Nebraska
9/28/2022 10:00:00 AM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - It's out there. The Indiana Hoosiers know it. That complete game, that dominating performance, that high-level execution that separates good teams -- great teams -- from mediocre ones.
Make no mistake -- the Hoosiers strive for greatness.
"We have to play our football," senior linebacker Cam Jones says. "Block out all the noise and distractions. Play football from start to finish. Once we do that, the people who believe in us know it will be special. That's what we have to do."
IU (3-1) has played four games and, perhaps, eight good quarters.
That's not special. It's certainly not good enough.
It wasn't against Cincinnati last Saturday, and likely won't be against the eight remaining Big Ten opponents, starting Saturday night against Nebraska (1-3).
"We have yet to put a complete game together," Jones says. "We have yet to put a complete quarter or half together. We have to work together."
How do you explain the slow starts?
"College football changes," Jones says. "We have new players and new coaches. It takes time for the puzzle pieces to click and for everybody to get on the same page. Whether it's communication or overall man-to-man on his assignment, we have to keep working."
Jones works at a fierce pace befitting a rare three-time team captain. His 43 tackles after four games are the most by a Hoosier since at least 2005. He sets an example few can match.
Others will have to if Indiana is to bounce back from the Cincinnati loss.
IU has been outscored 75-36 in the first half. It has trailed at halftime in every game. Fellow linebacker Aaron Casey is clear about one thing -- it has to stop.
"That's something we can't do. We've done it in previous games. We need to stop doing that, start fast, and play like we know we can play."
How do you do that?
"Lock into our technique and details, and just play hard," Casey says. "Play the way we're supposed to play the whole game."
That means playing with discipline and staying within the scheme of the defense and not freelance.
"We need to pay attention to detail," Casey says. "Focus more on our job and what we're supposed to do, and not try to make every play, but make the play that comes to us. If we do that, it will carry over."
Lessons from the Cincinnati loss need to be learned, Jones says.
"We didn't play to our standards in all three phases of the game.
"It's all correctable. We practice every day. We go over these things every day. Little details. Technique. We do it every day. No excuses. It's self-inflicted wounds. Things we can correct that can change a game."
As for the defensive breakdowns that allowed six pass plays of 20-or-more yards through one-on-one coverage that matched Cincinnati's fast and skilled receivers against IU's fast and skilled cornerbacks, Jones adds, "Putting those guys on an island was the plan. You've got to bow up and make a play."
The Hoosiers (1-0 Big Ten) will get that opportunity against a Nebraska team averaging 30.5 points.
Stopping them, stopping any team, defensive coordinator Chad Wilt says, starts by "being brilliant at the basics," follow the game plan and "execute."
"Make the play when it's your turn to make it," he says. "See that and continue to grow. Guys trust the system and each other. Do your job. Trust the scheme and your teammates. Have that consistent execution. Then make a play."
After Nebraska comes a home game against No. 4 Michigan, with Big Ten powers No. 3 Ohio State and No. 11 Penn State still ahead. Those teams are a combined 12-0.
What are the keys to success against that kind of grueling schedule?
"It's coming together as a team and putting together a whole game," Casey says. "If we do that, we can compete with anybody.
"We know coming into Big Ten play that the competition gets better each week. We have to hone into the details and play like we know we can play."
Make no mistake -- the Hoosiers strive for greatness.
"We have to play our football," senior linebacker Cam Jones says. "Block out all the noise and distractions. Play football from start to finish. Once we do that, the people who believe in us know it will be special. That's what we have to do."
IU (3-1) has played four games and, perhaps, eight good quarters.
That's not special. It's certainly not good enough.
It wasn't against Cincinnati last Saturday, and likely won't be against the eight remaining Big Ten opponents, starting Saturday night against Nebraska (1-3).
"We have yet to put a complete game together," Jones says. "We have yet to put a complete quarter or half together. We have to work together."
How do you explain the slow starts?
"College football changes," Jones says. "We have new players and new coaches. It takes time for the puzzle pieces to click and for everybody to get on the same page. Whether it's communication or overall man-to-man on his assignment, we have to keep working."
Jones works at a fierce pace befitting a rare three-time team captain. His 43 tackles after four games are the most by a Hoosier since at least 2005. He sets an example few can match.
Others will have to if Indiana is to bounce back from the Cincinnati loss.
IU has been outscored 75-36 in the first half. It has trailed at halftime in every game. Fellow linebacker Aaron Casey is clear about one thing -- it has to stop.
"That's something we can't do. We've done it in previous games. We need to stop doing that, start fast, and play like we know we can play."
How do you do that?
"Lock into our technique and details, and just play hard," Casey says. "Play the way we're supposed to play the whole game."
That means playing with discipline and staying within the scheme of the defense and not freelance.
"We need to pay attention to detail," Casey says. "Focus more on our job and what we're supposed to do, and not try to make every play, but make the play that comes to us. If we do that, it will carry over."
Lessons from the Cincinnati loss need to be learned, Jones says.
"We didn't play to our standards in all three phases of the game.
"It's all correctable. We practice every day. We go over these things every day. Little details. Technique. We do it every day. No excuses. It's self-inflicted wounds. Things we can correct that can change a game."
As for the defensive breakdowns that allowed six pass plays of 20-or-more yards through one-on-one coverage that matched Cincinnati's fast and skilled receivers against IU's fast and skilled cornerbacks, Jones adds, "Putting those guys on an island was the plan. You've got to bow up and make a play."
The Hoosiers (1-0 Big Ten) will get that opportunity against a Nebraska team averaging 30.5 points.
Stopping them, stopping any team, defensive coordinator Chad Wilt says, starts by "being brilliant at the basics," follow the game plan and "execute."
"Make the play when it's your turn to make it," he says. "See that and continue to grow. Guys trust the system and each other. Do your job. Trust the scheme and your teammates. Have that consistent execution. Then make a play."
After Nebraska comes a home game against No. 4 Michigan, with Big Ten powers No. 3 Ohio State and No. 11 Penn State still ahead. Those teams are a combined 12-0.
What are the keys to success against that kind of grueling schedule?
"It's coming together as a team and putting together a whole game," Casey says. "If we do that, we can compete with anybody.
"We know coming into Big Ten play that the competition gets better each week. We have to hone into the details and play like we know we can play."
Players Mentioned
LB
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