Indiana University Athletics
Thursday Takeaways: at Michigan
10/12/2023 1:00:00 PM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. –––– Just two days shy of the team's road game at Michigan on Saturday (October 14), Indiana head coach Tom Allen caught up with the media for one last briefing prior to the Indiana football program's trip to Ann Arbor.
Below is a partial transcript of the press conference, while video of the media sessions can be found on the right sidebar at IUHoosiers.com.
Tom Allen | Head Coach
On his thoughts with Coach Carey's first week leading the offense...
TA: Well, I like his personality toward the guys, very professional, business-like. Good rapport with them, and they obviously know him which is a huge positive. So, obviously, it's only been a week-and-a-half here with a couple practices during the bye week. I feel like he's done a good job with the energy we have on offense. Obviously, we made a change for a reason and trying to create some change on the field, did some things different in our schedule in how we practice, and he's been a big part of that. So, just like what I see so far, but all that matters is how you play on game day.
On the response from the guys in practice since making a change in offensive coordinator…
TA: That's the goal for sure, just talking as coaches and then with players and so obviously scout teams are a big part of what you do during the season, always have been, every place I've been. I'm just trying to create some change to create a different outcome for our guys. A lot of it is just the quality of those reps, the intensity of those reps when you go against each other. Obviously, when you get into fall camp, the reps ones vs. twos, twos-ones, however you decide to divide that up is always very intense and very competitive and sometimes you get into some scuffles during spring fall ball and fall camp. You don't really get that when you go against your scouts, just a different level in that regard. I just think we felt it was necessary and the players did, too. So, I think it's been good, obviously we're trying to think of the big picture of this whole thing and how we build this, from this week moving forward as well, and I think the guys have responded well. I love the intensity during those parts of practice, obviously we don't do it the whole time, but definitely have grown those reps and have increased them quite a bit. And I do think it's been very positive. Obviously, time will tell exactly the extent of the benefit, but right now I think it's been a good next step.
On how Coach Carey has led the quarterbacks and his work with Tayven Jackson…
TA: I think it's been good. Obviously, Coach (Walt) Bell did a great job of working with those guys and that was his role, as well. Rod was around them in meetings to that type of situation, didn't coach them on the field in that role, but already knew them. I sat in all those meetings with week with the quarterbacks and last week as well when we practiced those first couple of days. So, I just like the way he handles them. I think the guys have responded to him well. I think there's a good base to that relationship that was already established, so I think that's going to go to another level now, spend a whole lot more time together coaching them on the field. The essence of coaching is the correction of errors and just how you do that, how you handle that. He has a good demeanor in how he handles our guys and I think that they've responded well. All the quarterbacks, and obviously Tayven's the guy, Brendan's (Sorsby) getting lots of reps and so is Dexter (Williams II), excited about that room being able to have Rod in there leading them.
Below is a partial transcript of the press conference, while video of the media sessions can be found on the right sidebar at IUHoosiers.com.
Tom Allen | Head Coach
On his thoughts with Coach Carey's first week leading the offense...
TA: Well, I like his personality toward the guys, very professional, business-like. Good rapport with them, and they obviously know him which is a huge positive. So, obviously, it's only been a week-and-a-half here with a couple practices during the bye week. I feel like he's done a good job with the energy we have on offense. Obviously, we made a change for a reason and trying to create some change on the field, did some things different in our schedule in how we practice, and he's been a big part of that. So, just like what I see so far, but all that matters is how you play on game day.
On the response from the guys in practice since making a change in offensive coordinator…
TA: That's the goal for sure, just talking as coaches and then with players and so obviously scout teams are a big part of what you do during the season, always have been, every place I've been. I'm just trying to create some change to create a different outcome for our guys. A lot of it is just the quality of those reps, the intensity of those reps when you go against each other. Obviously, when you get into fall camp, the reps ones vs. twos, twos-ones, however you decide to divide that up is always very intense and very competitive and sometimes you get into some scuffles during spring fall ball and fall camp. You don't really get that when you go against your scouts, just a different level in that regard. I just think we felt it was necessary and the players did, too. So, I think it's been good, obviously we're trying to think of the big picture of this whole thing and how we build this, from this week moving forward as well, and I think the guys have responded well. I love the intensity during those parts of practice, obviously we don't do it the whole time, but definitely have grown those reps and have increased them quite a bit. And I do think it's been very positive. Obviously, time will tell exactly the extent of the benefit, but right now I think it's been a good next step.
On how Coach Carey has led the quarterbacks and his work with Tayven Jackson…
TA: I think it's been good. Obviously, Coach (Walt) Bell did a great job of working with those guys and that was his role, as well. Rod was around them in meetings to that type of situation, didn't coach them on the field in that role, but already knew them. I sat in all those meetings with week with the quarterbacks and last week as well when we practiced those first couple of days. So, I just like the way he handles them. I think the guys have responded to him well. I think there's a good base to that relationship that was already established, so I think that's going to go to another level now, spend a whole lot more time together coaching them on the field. The essence of coaching is the correction of errors and just how you do that, how you handle that. He has a good demeanor in how he handles our guys and I think that they've responded well. All the quarterbacks, and obviously Tayven's the guy, Brendan's (Sorsby) getting lots of reps and so is Dexter (Williams II), excited about that room being able to have Rod in there leading them.
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