NOTEBOOK: Does New Offensive Coordinator Equal New Offense?
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana has a new offensive coordinator in Rod Carey.
But does it have a new offense? What will the Hoosier attack look like moving forward, starting with Saturday’s game at No. 2 Michigan (6-0)?
Head coach Tom Allen didn’t provide specific answers during his weekly press conference (no reason to not to keep the Wolverines guessing), but he did talk about his approach.
“You want to be physical. There's never, ‘Hey, we're going to run the ball for this many reps.’ It's what do you have to do to score points.”
Allen wants run-and-pass balance. He wants to keep defenses off balance. He wants to stretch the field and deliver big plays so the Hoosiers don’t always need 10-to-15-play drives to score. He wants to get his playmakers the ball (can you say Jaylin Lucas?) as much as possible in position to make big plays.
He also wants to convert on fourth-and-one.
With a 2-3 record, the Hoosiers know their strengths and weaknesses, and will do more of the first, less of the second.
“Teams don't just make wholesale change after five or six games,” Allen said. “You're, like, ‘This is what we do well. Let's continue that.’
“I want a physical team that executes well and has high-level quarterback play, which is an area of focus.”
Allen wants to continue to develop quarterbacks Tayven Jackson and Brendan Sorsby.
“I want to make a team feel they've got to defend the run and the throw,” he said. “We’ve got to continue to grow.”
It would help, he added, for the defense to force more takeaways (it has six interceptions and no fumble recoveries) and get off the field on third downs (opponents convert on 33 percent of third downs).
The bottom line – “I want an offense that gives you an opportunity to win,” Allen said.
Michigan has won 18 straight Big Ten games and 22 straight regular-season games. It has made the college football playoffs for two straight seasons.
It thrives behind a powerhouse defense that ranks in the top 12 in eight categories. It leads the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 6.7 points. Minnesota is the only opponent to score 10 or more points. The Gophers scored 10 and lost by 42 points.
“We're going to be more challenged than ever with this defense,” Allen said. “That's what you are going against. And it's at their place.”
Offensively, the Wolverines rank 17th nationally in scoring, at 37.3 points. They’ve scored at least 30 points in a school-record nine straight games.
Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy completes 77.6 percent of his passes (which ranks third nationally) for 1,290 yards, 11 touchdowns, and three interceptions.
Running back Blake Corum is tied for the national lead in rushing touchdowns, with 10. He’s rushed for 2,986 yards and 41 touchdowns in his career, 494 yards this season.
Receiver Roman Wilson’s eight receiving touchdowns this season rank third nationally. Receiver Cornelius Johnson has had at least 71 receiving yards in four games this season.
Allen said Michigan is playing “as well as anybody in America right now.
“They are playing with a lot of confidence. There’s a lot of experience on both sides of the ball. They are a big, physical team playing at a very high level."
During his Monday press conference, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh calls IU a "gritty, tough team" that is on "an upward trajectory."
Carey was made the permanent, full-time offensive coordinator in replacing Walt Bell. Allen said he did that for continuity moving forward.
“There's an understanding of the philosophy of what you want to do and the trust factors with the ability to move forward and make some good, positive changes to our offense. We're aligned in the things we want to align in.”
Allen said the offense needed a new voice. Carey’s familiarity with the system and the program -- Carey is in his second season with the Hoosiers after having served as offensive and defensive quality control coaches, as well as interim offensive line coach -- was an important factor. Allen also was able to see how Carey coaches.
“You get to the mind of a coach and how he thinks and how he sees the game and evaluates things and communicates with a group of individuals, both players and coaches, especially the coach piece in that role,” Allen said.
Allen added that all of that was needed as the Hoosiers aim for a strong season finish, and then postseason preparation and recruiting, which includes the transfer portal.
Jackson and Sorsby remain the quarterback options, but Dexter Williams II, who had won the starting job last season, is close to joining them.
Williams has been sidelined for the last year with knee surgery. It was his second major knee injury since coming to IU.
“He’s getting closer,” Allen said. “Every week we get closer to allowing him to play.”
Last season in four games, Williams completed 34.2 percent of his passes for 184 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. He also ran for 165 yards and a TD.
Allen said he wants to ease Williams into the opportunity, but not until doctors say he’s 100 percent ready to go.
“I know he's worked extremely hard to come back. It's been a real battle for him. It's been a long process, especially a second time. It takes a lot of mental toughness to do that when you know how hard it's going to be.
“I love the young man and his grit and toughness. Everybody on the team respects him. I believe he can help us win games.”
Allan said the bye week’s main emphasize was improvement and getting players rested and healthy from the grind of two straight months of camp, practice, and games. Coaches also were able to get early preparation for Michigan, as well as go out on the road recruiting. That included watching a lot of high school games.
“The health part is guys recovering, getting some injured guys back, and having guys get their bodies recovered,” Allen said. “They’ve been playing a lot of snaps.
“We put a lot of emphasis on fundamentals and technique, some scheme work.”
Receiver Cam Camper was among the Hoosiers who have been banged up. Allen hopes to get him, and other injured players, healthy and ready to play on Saturday.
Camper has caught 13 passes for a team-leading 249 yards and a touchdown.
“The bye week was good for him,” Allen said. “He took full advantage of it. I like where he’s at. He’s progressing in a very positive way.”
As far as other players, Allen said he hoped to get several back, but wouldn’t specify who. That announcement will come on Saturday before the game.
As far as recruiting priorities, Allen said IU might add another high school player or two.
IU also will likely bring in college transfers. It has 23 transfers on its current roster.
“The portal becomes utilized to offset any departures you might have that you either expect or didn't expect, and to be able to keep the position rooms balanced,” Allen said.
“We're really close to where we want to be from a high-school number, which is higher than a lot of people are choosing to go right now.”
The transfer portal has left a lot of high school coaches and players uncertain about college scholarship opportunities.
“That's the first thing they're asking me, where is this going, how is this going to change?” Allen said. “Is it going to continue to be as it is where high schools are getting less and less opportunities?
“Every program is different in how they approach that. I always want (high schools) to be our foundation so we can bring guys here and develop them. Some of our best players have been guys we brought here, developed here. Those are the ones that have played the best for us.
“We have some good transfers this year, more than we have had in the past. But I want to have a good balance with all that.
“It's always about recruiting and player development.”