Production and Growth is Spring Focus
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Sometimes, you need a little “Kung Fu Fighting” in your life.
We’ll explain.
Sometimes, you need to get a takeaway, catch a pass, tackle Jaylin Lucas in the open field (good luck with that), and rehab your way back to full-throttle football.
Welcome to a recent Indiana football practice that featured some live moments to help prepare the Hoosiers for major-college physicality. And when you open your season against powerhouse Ohio State, as IU does on Sept. 2, preparation can’t come soon enough.
“We want to stress our guys,” head coach Tom Allen says. “We want to expose them to some things from a mental and physical perspective.
“I want those young guys to learn to do that. It’s a physical, long season. You have to be able to produce from Day 1.”
For now, production comes from a spring practice inside the Mellencamp Pavilion.
The offense has the ball, and a voice rises from the defensive side -- “We want a stop!”
A tackle is made, the ball is jarred loose and the defense celebrates.
“We need takeaways!” Allen shouts in praise.
A snap is dropped, a play is not made and Allen expects better.
“Ball security!” he shouts. “Ball security!”
Off to the side, talented receiver Cam Camper, still recovering from last season’s knee surgery, straight-line sprints with a vigor that suggests a full recovery is imminent. This is huge given he caught more passes (46) for more yards (569) in seven games last year than any other Hoosier caught in 12.
“Cam is doing fine,” Allen says. “His mind and rehab have been impressive. I’m not surprised by that.”
A siren ends the practice period, a break begins and “Kung Fu Fighting” echoes throughout the facility. It was a 1970s’ hit song that featured quirky lyrics that reflected martial art popularity in movies and TV shows at the time.
It was a bit of whimsy to help break the practice grind, although finding responsibility for the musical choice was as elusive as a definitive Loch Ness Monster proof.
Practice resumes, a live hitting session starts and quarterback Brendan Sorsby breaks free for a 70-or-so-yard touchdown run.
The offense celebrates. The defense fumes. In the give-and-take nature of practice, the roles soon reverse.
“Physical!” Allen shouts. “Physical!” And, when a defensive player slips, “Stay on your feet!”
From behind the defense, cornerbacks coach Brandon Shelby eyes his guys.
Literally.
“Get your eyes right!” he says.
Receiver is a big spring priority. With Camper out, veteran Donaven McCulley gets plenty of work. Once a 4-star quarterback prospect at Indianapolis Lawrence North High School (more than 6,200 passing yards and 47 touchdowns) who showed IU freshman possibilities (475 passing yards, 135 rushing yards, 4 total touchdowns), the 6-5, 198-pounder has transitioned to receiver and potential is obvious. Last year showed some of that with 16 catches for 169 yards and a touchdown.
He and Allen want more.
“He made more plays,” Allen says about a recent practice. “Every day, he’s made plays.
“We have had some heart to hearts about it. He knows where he wants to be and where I believe he can be. It’s about him continuing to grow at that position, learning it. Find a way to get open, make plays, and score.”
Redshirt freshman receivers Omar Cooper Jr. and Kamryn Perry show spring promise. Neither caught a pass last season in limited action.
“Both of those guys have made plays, especially Omar,” Allen says. “He’s been consistent.
“Kam is so dynamic and explosive. I see him as a guy in the slot. We’ll have multiple ways to get him the ball.
“They have made progress. They needed to. Continued growth has to be there. I’m looking for consistency and maturity as you go from freshman to redshirt freshman.”
This is their first college spring practice.
“They’re learning how to practice in this setting,” Allen says. “You have 15 practice days. You’re not preparing for a game. There’s a grind component you have to work through. We have four-straight weeks of Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday practices.”
The hope is all the receivers will be healthy by the summer to work with quarterbacks Sorsby, Tayven Jackson, and Broc Lowry.
“There’s a comfort you have to have with receivers,” Allen says. “The timing you have to have with receivers. That doesn’t happen quickly. It happens all through the spring, the summer. All those sessions together. Then you get into fall camp.”
The fast, elusive Lucas will have a big receiving role along with his running back and returner duties.
“Jalen has proven he can do some special things, especially in space,” Allen says. “We want to maximize that. Find creative ways to get him the ball.”
The Hoosiers build toward an April 15 spring practice conclusion. More than that, they build toward a toughness crucial to Big Ten success.