NOTEBOOK: Allen Looks Ahead After Six Practices
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- When it comes to naming Indiana’s starting quarterback, Walt Bell makes it clear:
There’s no rush.
The offensive coordinator continues to evaluate the progress of top contenders Tayven Jackson and Brendan Sorsby, as well as true freshman Broc Lowry and veteran Dexter Williams II (recovering from knee surgery).
“We have a lot of time,” he says.
IU’s first fall camp scrimmage will come on Saturday. It has another scrimmage a week later before dialing in on the Sept. 2 season opener against national title contender Ohio State.
Bell says a decision won’t be made from Saturday’s scrimmage, “unless it’s evident.”
“If it is, good. If it’s not, good. We have a second scrimmage.”
Still, after two weeks of camp, Bell adds, “Now is the time when you start to see that separation.”
Bell says he’s seen significant progress from Jackson and Sorsby, and expects to see more.
“They’ve done a great job in preparing themselves. They’ve had some good moments, some special moments, some average moments, and some below-average moments. They are two young guys with a lot of physical talent. They are competing really well.”
Jackson is in his first year in Bloomington after transferring from Tennessee. Sorsby is in his second year with the Hoosiers. Both are redshirt freshmen who each have completed three college passes. Both can attack defenses by running as well as throwing.
“You've got two guys now that are very similar,” head coach Tom Allen says. “Neither one played much last year. I think they're at the same starting point.
“At the end of the day, we're going to pick the guy that we think is going to give us the best chance to win. That's the bottom line.”
Still, Saturday’s scrimmage will be a big first step in naming a starter.
“You have a long season, and a very challenging first (game),” Allen says. “You're going to go up against one of the best teams in the nation right out of the gate.
“(Saturday’s scrimmage) will be the most game-like reps in one setting that we've had. I’m looking forward to seeing how they perform in those situations.”
No matter who starts or plays, quarterback runs figure to be part of the game plan.
“It’s whatever we have to do to run successfully,” Bell says. “Everybody in the (quarterback) room is a good athlete.”
Replacing the entire starting secondary -- Jaylin Williams, Tiawan Mullen, Bryant Fitzgerald, and Devon Matthews all completed their eligibility -- has its upside given the returning and added talent.
Noah Pierre, Louis Moore, Josh Sanguinetti, and Phillip Dunnam are back. Additions include JoJo Johnson, who arrived at the start of fall camp. He was a standout at Merrillville (Ind.) High School. He spent one year at Notre Dame (he redshirted after missing the season because of a knee injury) and then spent last year at Iowa Western Community College, where he totaled 16 tackles and three interceptions.
“He’s already turned some heads, and done some really good things,” Allen says.
Other defensive back newcomers include Jamier Johnson from Texas and Nic Toomer from Stanford.
“Noah gives us a lot of experience and strong leadership,” Allen says. “Louis Moore has really stepped up. That’s been huge for us.
“A guy like Josh Sanguinetti has played a lot of football. Phillip continues to grow and develop.
“Since I've been here, it's the most new faces we've had in the secondary. Those guys are making plays and that's what we expect them to do.
“We've got a lot more length than we've had in the past at those positions. That's indicative of what we're trying to do to match their skillsets and what they can do best with what we're trying to do schematically.”
No matter who wins the starting quarterback job, the offense projects significant improvement. Progress had been made in camp, with more required.
“There are certain guys who have physical ability that have to get caught up to speed, and guys who have been here and are trying to find their place in the system,” Bell says.
“No matter what you do or what your plans are, you go through the first week of camp and realize we might be better at this than we thought, or we might not be as good at that as we thought.
“A lot of times, no matter who’s back or what’s going on or what you did a year ago, even if they’re all back, things always develop.”
More speed and athleticism at all the offensive skill positions bodes well for an attack pushing for more explosive plays.
“Any time, you have multipurpose tools, that allows you to be really versatile,” Bell says. “It allows you to create deception.
“Take our tight ends. We have some great end-line players, and we also have tight ends who can play off the ball, play wideout. We have wideouts who can play outside and inside.
“Any time you have position flexibility and versatility, it gives you a chance to put players in position to take advantage. We have a great group of backs, a group of athletic quarterbacks, some Swiss army knives when it comes to skills. It will make us better.”
There’s plenty of talent at running back with Josh Henderson, Jaylin Lucas, Christian Turner, Trent Howland, and David Holloman.
Last year, Henderson rushed for 398 yards and four touchdowns, and caught 24 passes for 274 yards and four TDs. Lucas ran for 271 yards and two touchdowns, caught 16 passes for 82 yardsk and was among the nation’s best kickoff returners. Turner ran for almost 1,300 yards in four seasons at Wake Forest.
Lucas, who earned All-America honors last year, has made the Doak Walker Award list. The award honors the nation’s top running back.
At receiver, Cam Camper (46 catches, 569 yards) returns as do veterans Donaven McCulley, Andison Coby, and Lucas. IU added transfers E.J. Williams Jr. from Clemson (40 catches, 442 yards, 2 touchdowns as a Tiger) and Dequece Carter from Fordham (176 catches, 3,035 yards, 31 TDs for his career). Redshirt freshmen Kamryn Perry and Omar Cooper Jr. seem poised for prominent roles.
“We have a good group of wideouts and running backs,” Bell says. “We’re better at the tight end position. I’m excited about the weapons we have.”
Plus, the offensive line should be significantly improved under new offensive line coach Bob Bostad.
“We feel good about the offense,” Bell says. “It’s about trying to fit them all in our system, and put them in a position to make them the best players they can be.”
The addition of Anthony Tucker as co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach, and Bostad as offensive line coach and run-game coordinator, adds to Bell’s offensive optimism.
“Both of them are unbelievable professionals,” he says. “They make my job easier.”
Starting his second IU season gives Bell a better handle on what he’ll be able to do with the offense.
“You know your personnel better,” he says. “You know what you can and can’t do, what your struggles and strengths are. Hopefully that gets us moving in the direction where we’re a better team earlier in the year.”
True freshman offensive lineman Austin Barrett has made an early impression. The 6-6, 293-pounder was a nationally-rated high school heavyweight wrestler as well as a top football player at St. Charles East High School in Illinois.
“He’s going to be a really good player,” Bell says. “He’s still young, and very developmental. It’s the physical and mental development. He still has a long way to go, but he has a chance to be really good someday.”
Allen likes what he’s seen so far, and the overall offensive potential.
“I think there's a natural progression because we have enough core guys back that makes it a lot smoother. Just knowing our guys better and being able to adapt to them and figuring out the strengths of who we are and what we're trying to do.
“We're making a lot of progress up front with the O-line. That to me has a good feel to it. I thought the last couple practices have really shown that. During the team "move the ball" periods in practice we've been able to make some plays and show the ability to be explosive. That's a big key for us.”
Allen wants big plays so the offense doesn’t have to rely on long, time-consuming drives that require elite execution and discipline for 12 to 15 plays against powerful Big Ten defenses.
“Our receivers are coming together and starting to make plays,” Allen says.
Perry is poised for a big jump in his second Hoosier season. He only played one game as a true freshman. He has speed and elusiveness to rival that of the more heralded Lucas.
“Kam was already fast,” Bell says. “The biggest step for Kam is how much further ahead mentally he is from last year. That’s a tribute to him and all his work. He’s so much further ahead mentally, which will make that speed show itself. I’m excited about where he is from a maturity level within the offense.”