Game Management Highlights Sorsby’s Improvement
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana quarterback Brendan Sorsby adjusts. He has no choice. His body dictates when he’s pushed too hard and challenged too many defensive players with his physical nature.
The redshirt freshman likes his contact, after all.
Leading up to the Wisconsin game, in the aftermath of some rugged hits against Penn State, he had limited physical practice reps and lots of film study and mental preparation.
The result -- a must-have victory to snap a four-game losing streak and keep bowl hopes alive. That bottom-line reality overshadows Sorsby’s game numbers (19-for-31, 186 yards and a touchdown, plus a rushing TD, no turnovers).
Offensive coordinator Rod Carey liked what he saw then, the maturity it demonstrated, the dedication and discipline it took, and what he hopes to see on Saturday when IU (3-6) plays at Illinois (4-5) under more must-win pressure.
“It was a whale of a game by him, all things considered,” Carey says. “It certainly wasn’t perfect. We have a long way to go. He knows that. I know that. We know that as an offense, too. But I would put it up there as one of the better performances I’ve seen given all the circumstances involved.”
It reflects Sorsby’s improvement since becoming the permanent start three weeks ago. Carey says the main growth has come in game management.
“That’s understanding where you are on the field, what’s the game situation, and what needs to be accomplished.”
Carey refers to IU’s last drive against Wisconsin, which resulted in Chris Freeman’s 50-yard field goal. On third down in the final two minutes, with the Hoosiers leading 17-14 and in field-goal position, Carey called a pass play. The hope was to get a first down and run out the clock. The priority was to avoid a mistake that could give the Badgers a chance to tie or win.
“We told (Sorsby), it can’t be incomplete,” Carey says. “It can’t be completed out of bounds short of a first down. It’s either open, or you’ve got to run it. You can’t take a sack.”
When no passing options were open, Sorsby ran for a yard to set up Freeman’s field goal.
“There was a lot there,” Carey says. “We got to drain the clock down and hit a big field goal. That’s big growth for a young guy.”
Heading into Saturday’s game, Sorsby says he feels physically better, but remains committed to doing what will best get him on the field.
“Maybe I’m a little limited (in practice). I feel like I will do more than last week.”
Limited or not, he plans on being fully prepared.
“When you can’t do as much physical work,” he says, “you try to make up for it on the mental side. I’ll watch the same amount, if not more, film on Illinois than I did against Wisconsin. You move on and progress.”
As for dialing back on his tendency to sometimes seek rather than avoid contact, he says, “In the moment, you’re not thinking about it. As soon as it happens, it starts going through your head. Your shoulder starts talking to you. ‘That one hurt a little bit. Let’s lay off of those.’
“But in the moment, you just try to be a player.”
Sorsby and the Hoosiers will face an Illinois defense that allows 27.6 points per game. Only IU (28.0) and Purdue (31.2) allow more in the Big Ten. Its 14 sacks rank last in the Big Ten. It’s been vulnerable against the run and the pass.
Still, it has one of the Big Ten’s best defensive linemen in Jer’Zhan Newton (4.5 sacks). It is solid at linebacker with Dylan Rosiek (three forced fumbles) and at defensive back with Xavier Scott (eight pass breakups, two interceptions).
“Like all Big Ten defenses,” Carey says, “they present problems with personnel and scheme. They run something a little unique. More teams are copying them because they’ve had success with what they’re doing.
“They have good personnel. They have a defensive tackle (Newton) as good as we’ve faced, and other positions as good as we’ve faced.
“It’s a good defense predicated on not letting you run the ball and challenging the pass. It will be a tough challenge, but it’s the Big Ten. They’re all tough.”
Head coach Tom Allen says the Hoosiers can counter that with an effective running game.
“(Illinois is) stout in the box. They have some good, physical players. They’ve got a good scheme and system. We have to do a great job of executing up front. The offensive line has to play well.”
Allen added that the Wisconsin victory ramped up the Hoosiers’ practice intensity.
“It’s Week 10, late in the season, and guys are dinged up,” he says. “Your body gets hit a lot and worn down, but you’ve got to mentally get tough and lock in.
“The effort has been good; the focus has been good; and the energy has been really good. Coaches and players are elevating. It’s that time of year. We understand what’s at stake. Our backs are against the wall. We’ve got to come out swinging.”