Indiana University Athletics
Carr Jr. Continues to Generate Defensive Excitement
8/17/2023 10:00:00 AM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Lanell Carr Jr. continues to impress.
This could be bad news for opposing quarterbacks.
Carr Jr., a transfer linebacker from Western Virginia, has a knack for pressuring quarterbacks, and if he didn’t really show it with the Mountaineers (one sack in three seasons), he’s showing it now in coach Tom Allen’s attack defense.
Allen calls the 6-foot-1, 240-pounder a “pleasant surprise.”
“He's really shown a very instinctual knack for getting to the quarterback. That's a huge thing we brought him here for.
“As he's bought into the training, bought into the disciplines of what we think it takes to be a special player here and in the Big Ten, you've seen him grow in his knowledge of the defense. He and (fellow linebacker) Myles (Jackson) have really sharpened each other in a huge way.”
Co-defensive coordinator Matt Guerrieri credits Carr’s high-energy approach.
“You can feel him on the practice field,” Guerrieri says. “He brings physicality and pass rush ability. It’s unique to have that combination. He's done a really good job on the edge for us. We're excited about what he's proven in camp and we expect that to continue.”
Guerrieri was brought in last winter to call the defensive plays and work with Allen and defensive coordinator Chad Wilt to deliver difference-making defense last seen in the program in 2020.
Guerrieri says he evaluates the defense by taking the emotion out of it.
“What do the numbers show? Was it successful or was it not successful? Whether it's a normal amount of distance, a red zone opportunity, a backup situation, a two-minute situation to win a game, it’s all about what worked, what didn’t, and why?
“That's the objective side of things. It's black and white. There's no gray. Was it a poor call in that situation? Are we asking a player to do something he can't do? Those are all things we try to eliminate.
“It's a great group of guys to work with. Our guys are trending in the right direction.”
One of Guerrieri’s responsibilities is weekly game planning.
“It starts with Coach Allen’s system,” he says. “There are fundamentals of how we play defense, how we stop the run, pressure the quarterback and stop the throw game.”
Guerrieri says weekly tweaks will center on what the opponent does best and how does IU limit it. Then, what do the Hoosiers do best? That comes down to learning the players, what they do best and how do the coaches highlight that.
Allen likes the fact the Hoosiers have more bigger bodies on the defensive line to rotate and keep players fresh. He wants to rotate eight or nine guys.
“The defensive line is one where you have to play a lot of guys. The position demands it with the way we want to play and how we do things.”
On offense, the line remains a top priority. It starts with players such as Kahlil Benson, who can play guard and tackle, Joshua Sales Jr., who can play guard, and Matthew Bedford, who also can play guard and tackle. Mike Katic can play center and Zach Carpenter can play guard.
“We’re trying to find the best combination,” Allen says. “We’re working through position flexibility. That’s important.”
The plan is to play a lot of receivers, and there’s plenty of depth to do it with Omar Cooper Jr., E.J. Williams Jr., Donaven McCulley, DeQuece Carter, Andison Coby, Kamryn Perry and Cam Camper.
“All those guys are going to play,” Allen says. “We expect them to play. It’s all about who is going to be out there to help us win.”
