Indiana University Athletics
Thursday Takeaways: Idaho
9/8/2022 2:00:00 PM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – As gameday against Idaho nears at Memorial Stadium, Indiana head football coach Tom Allen spoke to the media on Thursday (Sept. 8) afternoon.
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 preparing for a new-look Idaho team…
TA: Yeah, you got a new scheme, you know on all three phases. And not a lot of film to really evaluate. There's no question you go back and evaluate, you know Coach Eck came from a very good program there at South Dakota State, one of the top programs in the country at the FCS level. He does a tremendous job offensively, we've studied their film extensively, got one game against Washington State.
They've got some dynamic receivers that caught our attention, some dynamic running backs that I think are really talented, and a really talented young quarterback. So that's to me what draws my attention. I saw athletes on defense flying around, they created a lot of trouble for Washington State's offense, caused three fumbles, one they scooped-and-scored for a touchdown. They put themselves in a position to win the game in the fourth quarter. Had the ball, driving to go score and go for the win.
So, what sticks out to me is a more disciplined team. Executed well for their first game, and I just saw athletes running around. They got a lot of new players, a lot of new faces. I feel like they have a good system on both sides of the ball, on special teams they're very sound, and they put their guys in the right spots. Like I said, they have guys who make plays, and they made plays against a Pac-12 team at critical times, especially out there at wide receiver. That to me is what you look for. You look for guys that are making plays against elite talent, and that's what they were able to do.
As a team we've got to be able to play our best, and that's what we are going to focus on is being fundamentally sound. We've got to get better, we've got to improve ourselves on offense, defense, and special teams as well. The areas we've talked about and addressed as a team. That's going to be critical for us to come out the way we want to go out Saturday.
On returning to defensive play calling duties…
TA: I would say the process portion of it felt pretty good. You know we've had a rhythm that I've gotten into over the years that we got back to. But got some new people I'm doing it with, so that's an adjustment part. And the week was a little bit modified because of playing on Friday night, and the way that you flow and schedule things. But I felt like it was smooth from a communication [standpoint] and the information we're getting from the press box.
My biggest concern was the sideline. When we come off the field, getting those adjustments with the new group of coaches. I thought Chad [Wilt] did a tremendous job with that. He was very good communicating with both the guys that collected data, the coaches on the field, as well as getting that communicated to me so we could get things fixed. I thought that was good.
I needed to do a better job of calling plays, you know there was two or three calls I wish I could have back. I didn't like the calls I made [in some] situations. I thought that I was a little rusty in that regard. But I'll get better. So, I feel like that, as an overall performance, wasn't pleased with how we stopped the run, but I was very pleased with our takeaways and our red zone defense. And that's where we were able to win the game.
On if Parker Hanna will be replacing Matthew Bedford…
TA: That is the plan. I feel like he's responded very well, we'll see. He gets a chance to prove it on gameday like everybody else does. But that's why he came here, was for this opportunity. So, he needs to step up and elevate his play, and rise to the occasion. It's what we expect him to do. Also, Joshua Sales Jr. has been given opportunities now to step up and elevate his play, and other younger players that we have on our roster. Parker's worked really hard, he's a very bright, tough kid and has played a lot of football. Now, I'm excited to see him get a chance to perform in the Big Ten.
On turning the focus to Idaho…
TA: Well, it's been a major focus. Probably one of the reasons why my voice is more strained than normal, maybe on a Thursday. It was pretty intense today, from start to finish. In the team meeting I want to make sure we understand, it's kind of been this way all week for me, the urgency about our preparation, because it's about us getting better. Any level of folks, you know what happened a year ago, and if they think it's how it's going be again it's just false.
Fortunately, we've got a lot of new faces, and we've got a team full of guys that still have a really bad taste in their mouth about how the season went a year ago. To me, that combination is going to create a focus and an edge that we have to have to play our best football. Anytime you take the field, you have to understand who you represent in both your position room and as a football team. And to me we have to play to that standard. So that's been the focus, and that's what it's going to be from right now until the bitter end of kickoff, and then as kickoff ensues, we've got to play with a fever pitch of intensity, toughness, grit, and fight.
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 preparing for a new-look Idaho team…
TA: Yeah, you got a new scheme, you know on all three phases. And not a lot of film to really evaluate. There's no question you go back and evaluate, you know Coach Eck came from a very good program there at South Dakota State, one of the top programs in the country at the FCS level. He does a tremendous job offensively, we've studied their film extensively, got one game against Washington State.
They've got some dynamic receivers that caught our attention, some dynamic running backs that I think are really talented, and a really talented young quarterback. So that's to me what draws my attention. I saw athletes on defense flying around, they created a lot of trouble for Washington State's offense, caused three fumbles, one they scooped-and-scored for a touchdown. They put themselves in a position to win the game in the fourth quarter. Had the ball, driving to go score and go for the win.
So, what sticks out to me is a more disciplined team. Executed well for their first game, and I just saw athletes running around. They got a lot of new players, a lot of new faces. I feel like they have a good system on both sides of the ball, on special teams they're very sound, and they put their guys in the right spots. Like I said, they have guys who make plays, and they made plays against a Pac-12 team at critical times, especially out there at wide receiver. That to me is what you look for. You look for guys that are making plays against elite talent, and that's what they were able to do.
As a team we've got to be able to play our best, and that's what we are going to focus on is being fundamentally sound. We've got to get better, we've got to improve ourselves on offense, defense, and special teams as well. The areas we've talked about and addressed as a team. That's going to be critical for us to come out the way we want to go out Saturday.
On returning to defensive play calling duties…
TA: I would say the process portion of it felt pretty good. You know we've had a rhythm that I've gotten into over the years that we got back to. But got some new people I'm doing it with, so that's an adjustment part. And the week was a little bit modified because of playing on Friday night, and the way that you flow and schedule things. But I felt like it was smooth from a communication [standpoint] and the information we're getting from the press box.
My biggest concern was the sideline. When we come off the field, getting those adjustments with the new group of coaches. I thought Chad [Wilt] did a tremendous job with that. He was very good communicating with both the guys that collected data, the coaches on the field, as well as getting that communicated to me so we could get things fixed. I thought that was good.
I needed to do a better job of calling plays, you know there was two or three calls I wish I could have back. I didn't like the calls I made [in some] situations. I thought that I was a little rusty in that regard. But I'll get better. So, I feel like that, as an overall performance, wasn't pleased with how we stopped the run, but I was very pleased with our takeaways and our red zone defense. And that's where we were able to win the game.
On if Parker Hanna will be replacing Matthew Bedford…
TA: That is the plan. I feel like he's responded very well, we'll see. He gets a chance to prove it on gameday like everybody else does. But that's why he came here, was for this opportunity. So, he needs to step up and elevate his play, and rise to the occasion. It's what we expect him to do. Also, Joshua Sales Jr. has been given opportunities now to step up and elevate his play, and other younger players that we have on our roster. Parker's worked really hard, he's a very bright, tough kid and has played a lot of football. Now, I'm excited to see him get a chance to perform in the Big Ten.
On turning the focus to Idaho…
TA: Well, it's been a major focus. Probably one of the reasons why my voice is more strained than normal, maybe on a Thursday. It was pretty intense today, from start to finish. In the team meeting I want to make sure we understand, it's kind of been this way all week for me, the urgency about our preparation, because it's about us getting better. Any level of folks, you know what happened a year ago, and if they think it's how it's going be again it's just false.
Fortunately, we've got a lot of new faces, and we've got a team full of guys that still have a really bad taste in their mouth about how the season went a year ago. To me, that combination is going to create a focus and an edge that we have to have to play our best football. Anytime you take the field, you have to understand who you represent in both your position room and as a football team. And to me we have to play to that standard. So that's been the focus, and that's what it's going to be from right now until the bitter end of kickoff, and then as kickoff ensues, we've got to play with a fever pitch of intensity, toughness, grit, and fight.
Players Mentioned
Thursday, August 13
Thursday, August 13
Tuesday, August 11
Tuesday, August 11