Aggression Rules – IU’s Offense for Every Occasion Readies for Notre Dame
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Noise roared from a lit-up Memorial Stadium, audible from the Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall parking lot, soccer’s Bill Armstrong Stadium, and beyond.
The No. 10-seed Indiana Hoosiers (11-1) weren’t messing around with their crowd noise preparation, lessons from their November offensive struggles at Ohio Stadium well learned, Friday night’s playoff opener at No. 7-seed Notre Dame (11-1) looming ever closer.
As a spectacular sunset colored the western sky, as the Hoosiers honed their game plan, this much was certain -- cold weather is coming to northern Indiana, a rugged Irish defense with it, and offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan plans for every eventuality, which is what you’d expect from the guy directing one of the nation’s best offenses.
Indiana’s potent attack that averages 43.3 points, 265.2 passing yards and 173.6 rushing yards as the nation’s passing efficiency leader will face an Irish defense that allows 13.6 points a game and leads the nation in passing efficiency defense.
It is an intriguing clash and Hoosiers quarterback Kurtis Rourke loves what he works with, highlighted by running backs Justice Ellison (811 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns) and Ty Son Lawton (634, 12), receivers Elijah Sarratt (49 catches, 890 yards, eight touchdowns) and Ke’Shawn Williams (34, 403, five), versatile tight end Zach Horton (20, 182, four) and a solid offensive line.
“This offense really excels because we have so many different options,” Rourke says. “We're very versatile. We've got a lot of different playmakers that we can just give the ball to and then rotate in for more playmakers.
“We have one of the deepest offenses in the country and guys that are always fresh and always ready to go. It’s my job to throw and give the ball. That's one of the big reasons why this offense is so successful.”
Running to set up the pass is always a good idea, and it might be critical with Friday’s temperatures predicted to dip into the 20s, and perhaps lower as the clock approaches midnight.
No matter what, Shanahan pushes a full-attack, full-balanced approach that rocked 10 of IU’s 12 opponents. Being one-dimensional is not in the game plan and it starts, Shanahan says, with controlling the line of scrimmage. Michigan and Ohio State caused problems because their defensive lines took charge.
“Then it’s being efficient whenever we are running the football, keeping us in positive down distance scenarios,” Shanahan says. “We're going to have our (receiving) one-on-ones on the outside at some point.
“(Notre Dame likes) to play a lot of man coverage. They challenge you. They make sure every throw is contested. They make you be accurate with the football. They make you have to be great with releases, top of the routes, things down the field to create separation and get open.
“The thing about playing a lot of man-to-man (defense) is sometimes, when you can break through that first and second level, there are opportunities for explosive passes, explosive runs. We have to stay ahead of the sticks. That will be really big as far as how our whole operation on offense will go.”
IU led the Big Ten in red zone success, converting on 62-of-66 opportunities with 54 touchdowns (33 by run, 21 by pass) and eight field goals for 93.9 percent.
Iowa was next at 89.5 percent by converting on 34-of-38 chances with 24 touchdowns.
Shanahan said it started by spending a lot of time on red-zone execution during August training camp.
“We added a few things that have helped us, but we want to be aggressive when we get down there. Sometimes that means throwing the ball into the end zone on first or second down when typically, teams might expect you to run.
“We have a variety of plays. We still (run-pass option). We’ve stuck to what we've done well with the personnel that we have and find ways to create matchups down there that are favorable for us.”
Rourke vouches for that.
“I really like Coach Shanahan's mindset and the way he approaches different plays,” he says. “That was one of the reasons why I wanted to come here in the first place. Our red-zone success is attributed to the way that he calls plays. He has definitely played a big part in that.”
Having the nation’s passing efficiency leader in Rourke helps, especially with the run-pass option.
“He earned our trust since he got here in January (after transferring from Ohio University),” Shanahan says. “He had some experience with it at Ohio, as well.
“It’s the amount of reps that we accumulated throughout spring ball and then into training camp and then throughout the season. He's become really comfortable with all those things we're asking him to do.
“Then, his decision-making has been very on point. He knows when to hand the ball off. He knows when to give a receiver a chance. He trusts some guys to win versus man-to-man at times. He's very smart with the football. Every week that we've gone through the season, he's gotten more comfortable with it.”
With six years of college experience on his resume, and now well versed in the offense, Rourke has the freedom to change plays if necessary.
“(Against Purdue), I had a couple opportunities to change the play, just kind of completely wipe it," Rourke says. "But for the most part, I’m confident that we have answers against any coverage, any look, based on the play that's called.”
Beyond that, IU has thrived with its initial game plan and then adjusting to whatever opposing defenses do to counter it. That’s reflected with the Hoosiers having scored their most points in the second and fourth quarters.
“One of the things we're always trying to get a gauge on in that first series and into the second quarter is what is their plan against us?” Shanahan says. “Is it man coverage? Is it zone coverage? Are they blitzing? Are they just rushing four? How are they trying to affect the passer? Then we make the proper adjustments from there.”
Hoosier coaches have had nearly two weeks to scout Notre Dame’s defensive tendencies and prepare for whatever wrinkles come up.
“At the end of the day,” Shanahan said, “it comes down to our execution. We’ve given our players not only (the Irish’s) main looks that they like to run on defense, but some of the one-offs as well, just so whenever things come up, we're able to talk about it and get it adjusted.”