Road Challenge -- IU Aims to ‘Attack’ Maryland
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Tayven Jackson doesn’t pass the buck. No good quarterback does, and this Indiana redshirt freshman has every intention of being very good.
He admits mistakes, takes responsibility, and pushes to improve. He will need to be at his best Saturday afternoon when IU (2-2) plays at Maryland (4-0). He will face a defense that allows 12.3 points a game with a Hoosier attack that averages 21.2 points.
As quarterback, the offensive spark starts with him.
“I have to put this offense in a situation where we can execute, play fast and play explosive,” Jackson says. “We’ve got Maryland and we’re gonna be explosive. We’re gonna attack the field.”
Jackson is well equipped to lead the way, offensive coordinator Walt Bell says.
“He always works hard. He does everything he’s asked to do. He practices the right way. He invests extra time the right way.
“In preparation, there’s always room to grow. He has to understand when to settle for a check down. Make the easy throw. Not try to do too much. Not try to be a hero because he’s not. Play within the confines of the offense. Make the routine plays. Every rep is very valuable moving forward.”
Big Ten defenses are hard on all quarterbacks. Jackson got a taste of that in the season opener against Ohio State, but that was at Memorial Stadium. Saturday will bring the first true road game test -- IU played Louisville at Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium.
For the season, Jackson completes 62.8 percent of his passes for 749 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Jaylin Lucas is the top receiver with 15 catches for 138 yards and a touchdown. Cam Camper has 13 catches for 249 yards and a TD. Donaven McCulley has 12 catches for 129 yards.
Ask about his favorite receiving target and Jackson says, “All the guys are my favorites. They can all be explosive.”
Jackson has rushed 23 times for 12 yards. Bell and head coach Tom Allen would like to run the option, and Jackson says he’s fine with that. He says he did some option while leading Center Grove High School to a pair of Indiana state titles.
“It’s all about taking my eyes to the right place, to the right guy, and reading him,” Jackson says about the option. “I think throughout the season, it’s going to get better.
“Anything that Coach Bell, Coach Allen want me to do, I’m going to do it and try to do it at a high level.”
It starts with preparation. All quarterbacks, Allen says, have to “prepare at a high level with an unbelievable attention to detail.” They can’t be afraid to challenge and motivate teammates.
“As a quarterback practices,” Allen says, “so practices the team. (Jackson) has a lot on his plate. We want him to do a great job of being consistent each day.”
After throwing for 299 yards and a touchdown against Louisville, Jackson slumped to 11-for-26 for 190 yards, one touchdown and one interception against Akron.
“He didn’t have his best day,” Allen says. “He takes ownership for that. He’s young and growing. We expect him to grow each week. This will be a great opportunity for him to go on the road and play his best football.”
Getting the elusive Lucas the ball in space would help. He had 10 catches against Louisville and none against Akron.
Allen says Lucas’s Louisville numbers are more in line of what he envisions for Lucas.
“We have to make sure we’re doing a great job of navigating that. With his skill set, we want him to have the ball with some green grass around him and an opportunity to make a guy miss in space and get positive yards.”
Defensively, the Hoosiers allow 19.5 points compared to Maryland’s 37.3-point offensive average. IU linebacker Aaron Casey and defensive end Andre Carter are tied with Purdue’s Kydran Jenkins for the Big Ten lead with five tackles for loss.
“Big Ten competition is elite,” Casey says. “We’ll face it every week for the rest of the season. That’s exciting. We know we have to bring our ‘A’ game.”
Carter’s 18 total pass-rushing pressures rank No. 2 in the Big Ten and tie for 14th nationally. He has been the catalyst IU coaches expected after transferring from Western Michigan last winter.
“We saw a disruptive guy,” co-defensive coordinator Matt Guerrieri says. “He’s a big, physical guy.
“I saw a guy who is a special human being. He’s a big, strong dude who gives you everything he has between the white lines. You see that in the plays he creates.”