Indiana University Athletics
Thursday Takeaways: at Illinois
11/9/2023 1:30:00 PM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. –––– Indiana football head coach Tom Allen talked to the media once more before the team's trip to Illinois at Memorial Stadium. The Hoosiers and Fighting Illini will begin at noon on BTN this Saturday (November 11).
Below is a partial transcript of the press conference, while video of the media session can be found on the right sidebar at IUHoosiers.com.
Tom Allen | Head Coach
On practice players that have stood out…
Allen: I would say Ta'Derius Collins is a guy that has a chance to be a really special player at the defensive end and a bull combination that he can play both positions. Austin Barrett, offensive tackle, is another one that we see every day and I think Nico (Nicholas Radicic) as a kicker. Even though he's behind Chris (Freeman) right now and Chris is doing some great things, I think Nico's got a talented leg and he's continuing to get better and better. We feel comfortable with him kicking in the game right now. Derrick Bohler, receiver, is another guy that has really flashed to me. I think he's going to be a really good football player. I love his ball skills. He got here late in the summer, but I'm excited about him. Sam West and Jaxon Miller, the two true freshmen tight ends, I think that they have a chance to be really, really good football players. There are several in that group, and I'm excited about them.
On the increase in energy of practices following the win over Wisconsin…
Allen: When you get re-enforced in a positive way from all of your hard work, it just adds to the momentum that you have and the energy that you bring every day. I think our guys have done a great job of bringing good energy, even in the midst of not getting results on gameday, which is a testament to their character and the leadership of our team. I think it's been amplified this week and increased this week, which you would expect and hope for. We're going into week ten, so it's late in the season. Guys are dinged up and your body gets hit a lot and gets worn down, but you've got to mentally get tough and lock in every week. I think that the effort has been really good, the focus has been good, and the energy has been really good. Coaches and everybody have been elevating. It's that time of year. We understand what's at stake on gameday now, and our backs are against the wall. We've got to come out swinging.
On how to contain Illinois wide receiver Isaiah Williams…
Allen: He's an elite playmaker and a very good athlete. Get the ball in his hands as a return guy and he's very dangerous and one of the top in the country. He's really shifty and has improved his ball skills, route running, and just became a more elite receiver I believe this year, and he's making plays each week. This past week was impressive, and he (Williams) came up big for them (Illinois). You've got to know where he is at all the time and you've got to do a great job defending him and having good answers for him because he's a guy that can beat you if you don't have a good plan against him.
On the key focuses on offense and defense in order to win the game…
Allen: First of all, offensively, they (Illinois) are really stout in the box. They have some really good and physical players and one of the best defensive lineman in the country, and they've got a good scheme and system that they run well, so we have to do a great job of executing up front. That is going to be a big matchup for us and the offensive line is going to have to play really well. We have got to be able to run the football and that's the bottom line and I know that's hard against them, but that's what we need to be able to do, and just execute. We cannot be able to hurt ourselves, so the executional piece is going to be big. Each week you talk about these things, but third down efficiency. That obviously starts on first and second down, but we have to try and stay out of third-and-long for our offense. I'm giving you more than two, but we have to protect the football now. Defensively, It's the opposite. We've got to create takeaways. That is going to be a major variable in this game. Stopping the run, for us, and then containing a really athletic quarterback (Luke Altmyer). He's hurt a lot of guys and a lot of teams with his legs when he scrambles. There will be some quarterback-designed runs, but he keeps drives going by running around and being really hard to get on the ground on third downs or even second downs. Keeping him contained is going to be a big key thing for us. We've already talked about number one (Isaiah Williams) obviously at the receiver position. They've got two receivers who I think are really special. They make a lot of contested catches. They've got strong hands, and they do a good job running routes, So they're really coming into their own offensively and that's a big challenge. I think special teams is going to play a big role in field position. Being able to be clean on special teams and whoever can make an explosive play or a game-changing play on special teams going to provide that winning edge for that team.
Below is a partial transcript of the press conference, while video of the media session can be found on the right sidebar at IUHoosiers.com.
Tom Allen | Head Coach
On practice players that have stood out…
Allen: I would say Ta'Derius Collins is a guy that has a chance to be a really special player at the defensive end and a bull combination that he can play both positions. Austin Barrett, offensive tackle, is another one that we see every day and I think Nico (Nicholas Radicic) as a kicker. Even though he's behind Chris (Freeman) right now and Chris is doing some great things, I think Nico's got a talented leg and he's continuing to get better and better. We feel comfortable with him kicking in the game right now. Derrick Bohler, receiver, is another guy that has really flashed to me. I think he's going to be a really good football player. I love his ball skills. He got here late in the summer, but I'm excited about him. Sam West and Jaxon Miller, the two true freshmen tight ends, I think that they have a chance to be really, really good football players. There are several in that group, and I'm excited about them.
On the increase in energy of practices following the win over Wisconsin…
Allen: When you get re-enforced in a positive way from all of your hard work, it just adds to the momentum that you have and the energy that you bring every day. I think our guys have done a great job of bringing good energy, even in the midst of not getting results on gameday, which is a testament to their character and the leadership of our team. I think it's been amplified this week and increased this week, which you would expect and hope for. We're going into week ten, so it's late in the season. Guys are dinged up and your body gets hit a lot and gets worn down, but you've got to mentally get tough and lock in every week. I think that the effort has been really good, the focus has been good, and the energy has been really good. Coaches and everybody have been elevating. It's that time of year. We understand what's at stake on gameday now, and our backs are against the wall. We've got to come out swinging.
On how to contain Illinois wide receiver Isaiah Williams…
Allen: He's an elite playmaker and a very good athlete. Get the ball in his hands as a return guy and he's very dangerous and one of the top in the country. He's really shifty and has improved his ball skills, route running, and just became a more elite receiver I believe this year, and he's making plays each week. This past week was impressive, and he (Williams) came up big for them (Illinois). You've got to know where he is at all the time and you've got to do a great job defending him and having good answers for him because he's a guy that can beat you if you don't have a good plan against him.
On the key focuses on offense and defense in order to win the game…
Allen: First of all, offensively, they (Illinois) are really stout in the box. They have some really good and physical players and one of the best defensive lineman in the country, and they've got a good scheme and system that they run well, so we have to do a great job of executing up front. That is going to be a big matchup for us and the offensive line is going to have to play really well. We have got to be able to run the football and that's the bottom line and I know that's hard against them, but that's what we need to be able to do, and just execute. We cannot be able to hurt ourselves, so the executional piece is going to be big. Each week you talk about these things, but third down efficiency. That obviously starts on first and second down, but we have to try and stay out of third-and-long for our offense. I'm giving you more than two, but we have to protect the football now. Defensively, It's the opposite. We've got to create takeaways. That is going to be a major variable in this game. Stopping the run, for us, and then containing a really athletic quarterback (Luke Altmyer). He's hurt a lot of guys and a lot of teams with his legs when he scrambles. There will be some quarterback-designed runs, but he keeps drives going by running around and being really hard to get on the ground on third downs or even second downs. Keeping him contained is going to be a big key thing for us. We've already talked about number one (Isaiah Williams) obviously at the receiver position. They've got two receivers who I think are really special. They make a lot of contested catches. They've got strong hands, and they do a good job running routes, So they're really coming into their own offensively and that's a big challenge. I think special teams is going to play a big role in field position. Being able to be clean on special teams and whoever can make an explosive play or a game-changing play on special teams going to provide that winning edge for that team.
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