Takeaways a Priority Against Indiana State
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The goal wasn’t met and cornerback Kobee Minor was ticked.
So were all the defensive Hoosiers.
Every game, Indiana wants at least three defensive takeaways. Head coach Tom Allen makes that clear.
Last Saturday against Ohio State, IU got one -- an interception by Phillip Dunnam. It dropped two others.
Not good enough.
A new opportunity comes Friday night, when the Hoosiers (0-1) host Indiana State (0-1) at Memorial Stadium.
“We didn’t reach our goal,” Minor said. “We can accomplish that this week.”
Indiana State quarterbacks Gavin Screws and Evan Olaes each threw two interceptions in last Saturday’s 27-0 loss to Eastern Illinois. Two were returned for touchdowns.
Minor said no matter the opponent, the Hoosier focus remains the same.
“We just play our game. We don’t worry about their personnel. Know our personnel and play to the best of our ability.”
Minor, a transfer from Texas Tech, helps set the cornerback leadership tone.
“It’s knowing the guys in my room. Make sure everybody is cool and okay. Make sure everybody plays confident, fast, and free.”
For co-defensive coordinator Matt Guerrieri, strong secondary play -- IU held Ohio State to just 2-of-13 on third-down conversions -- starts with mentality.
“You can talk about skill or talent, but you have to have the mentality,” he says. “That’s the biggest thing. Our guys had the mentality in that (Ohio State) game, but there was plenty to clean up.”
Dunnam’s interception, Guerrieri said, reflects his practice performance.
“That play he made, I could show you 50 times on the practice field he did the same thing. If you do it in practice, you’ll have the opportunity to play meaningful snaps in a game, and whatever you do in practice will show up in a game. He’s become more consistent.”
Practice performance is also the key to playing time and building defensive depth, Guerrieri added.
“Depth is earned on the practice field. Our job is to get them ready from that standpoint. You want as many guys as possible to be ready to play, get them to the point that we trust them in the game. That helps them prevent fatigue.
“Anybody you saw in the game (against Ohio State), we trust them as a staff. We trust them and expect them to do their jobs.”
Offensively, IU will again go with a quarterback rotation, only this time Tayven Jackson will start. Brendan Sorsby started against Ohio State.
The redshirt freshmen basically played the same number of snaps against the Buckeyes, and that will likely happen again against Indiana State.
Sorsby finished 8-for-16 for 58 yards. He ran six times for minus-two yards. Jackson was 1-for-5 for 24 yards. He ran three times for 11 yards, and led IU to its only points, a Chris Freeman field goal.
The goal is to name a starter. Offensive coordinator Walt Bell is high on both quarterbacks.
“It would not surprise me if down the line both have a chance to play in the NFL,” he said. “I know that’s heaping a big amount of praise that they might not live up to, but they are both talented. It just so happens we have them at the same time and they’re at the same age. Both earned the right to play.”
Because of their previous lack of playing time, IU coaches were unsure how they would handle the Ohio State opportunity.
“They’re so young,” Bell said. “You don’t know what they’re like until the lights come on. Some get better, some become a shell of who they are. I don’t think either one of them did that.
“Both can run. Both are smart. Both are composed. They are similar, so we don’t have to have two distinct game plans.
“We have another game to look at and keep evaluating.”
As far as Jackson, Bell said, “He’s a long, tall kid. He’s a better foot athlete than you expect him to be. He takes a great deal of pride in his work. He puts a lot of pressure on himself. He can distribute and spin the ball.
“Brendan is similar. He hits his spots. He can distribute the ball. He’s a big, physical runner. The reason why we took him is that he’s such a big, physical runner. That’s what we saw on tape. We didn’t know about his distribution skills. Then we got the chance to see him throw live, and we felt better about that.”
“He’s a class act. One thing that’s important for everyone to understand about him is how all-in he is about Indiana.”
Allen said good decision-making is crucial at the quarterback position.
“Sometimes they made good decisions, and sometimes they didn’t. They showed their youth sometimes and showed poise. They showed the moment wasn’t too big for them.
“I don’t think either one separated himself from the other. That’s what we’re looking for, someone to separate and become the guy.”
On the couple of miscommunication issues between quarterbacks and receivers, Bell took responsibility.
“That’s coaching. That’s not on (the players). We have to make sure they understand the plan.”
Expect a more aggressive offensive approach against Indiana State. Bell said he played “pitter-patter for too long” against the Buckeyes.
On the offensive line, Matthew Bedford and Kahlil Benson swapped positions. Against Ohio State, Bedford played right guard and Benson right tackle. During fall camp, Bedford was at right tackle and Benson was at right guard.
Bell praised both players, especially Bedford, who has fully recovered from last season’s knee injury.
“He’s a special kid,” Bell said. “He’s willing to do whatever it takes to help us be the best we can be.
“He’s a class act. One thing that’s important for everyone to understand about him is how all-in he is about Indiana.”