‘Let The Dogs Eat’ – IU’s Attack Defense Wrecks Offenses
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana wrecks offenses. You know that, right? Evidence plays out every week as the Hoosiers punish opponents no matter their offensive attack, talent level, or national ranking.
From Big Ten-leading totals of 22 sacks and 57 tackles for loss, to holding teams to just 11.3 points (it’s actually 10.2 if you take away the pick-6 against Oregon during last Saturday’s 30-20 win) and 229 total yards a game (tying top-ranked Ohio State for the conference lead), this is defense as you don’t want to face it.
As linebacker Isaiah Jones says, the Hoosiers want to force as many third-and-long situations as they can.
“If you let them do what they want to do, it’s third and three. We want to get them to third and eight, third and nine.”
He pauses. Smiles.
“That’s when the dogs can start eating.”
Eating resumes Saturday afternoon when No. 3/3 IU (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) hosts Michigan State (3-3, 0-3) at Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium.
IU has never won so many games in a two-year span -- 17 and counting -- with six more regular-season games remaining. Defense is a big reason. Why does defensive coordinator Bryant Haines’ attacking system work so well?
Jones, in the midst of a breakthrough season, credits all the hard work done in the film room breaking down film to provide cutups of opponents.
“Then, it’s using angles and attacking the offense,” Jones says. “We don't want to sit back and react to the offense; we want to get after them, get after the quarterback, and get them off schedule.”
All-America cornerback D’Angelo Ponds offers another dominant-defense reason:
It’s fun to play.
“(Haines) has a good scheme,” Ponds says. “He schemes up every team very well. It’s fun to see the guys up front go eat. They have a sack almost every drive. That's very fun to watch.”
Against Oregon, fun started on the game’s first play from scrimmage with a sack of quarterback Dante Moore, a Heisman Trophy contender, by defensive linemen Kellan Wyatt and Mario Landino. Moore had only been sacked once before last Saturday’s game. IU got him six times.
“Our (defensive coordinator) prepared us well,” Ponds says. “We hit (Moore) with stuff he hadn’t seen before.”
The Hoosiers can do that, Ponds adds, because Haines “knows his personnel and puts everyone in the right position.”
“Then he finds out what (opposing) teams do well, and he eliminates it. He attacks their weaknesses. That makes us play faster. It takes a weight off our shoulders. It makes the game easier.”
That approach has had a big impact on Jones, who has emerged as a difference-maker by leading IU in tackles for loss (10) and sacks (4.5). Overall, Jones has 32 tackles, one interception, one pass breakup, one quarterback hit, and one blocked kick.
“Coach Haines gets us prepared all week,” Jones says. “He gives us looks (teams) might have done five years ago. He’ll give us everything.”
The defensive game plan, Jones adds, is always thorough, detailed, and suited to what players do best.
“He gets us ready to play. He won’t put in a play or a defense that we’re not confident in.
“We have a lot (of defensive plays and schemes) and run a lot. Everyone is confident in every play. Every guy knows exactly what he’s doing. It’s about playing fast and getting after the offense. Don’t sit back and react.”
No Hoosier does that better than veteran linebacker Aiden Fisher. He’s this week’s Big Ten defensive player of the week after totaling 13 tackles and 1.5 sacks against Oregon. For the season, he has a team-leading 39 tackles, plus five tackles for loss and four quarterback hits.
His leadership, along with veterans such as Ponds, defensive lineman Mikail Kamara and so many others, is crucial to IU’s no-letup mindset.
“That’s always the mindset under Coach Cignetti,” Ponds says. “We don’t dwell on the past -- good, bad, or indifferent. We’re on to the next game. We had a big win (against Oregon). We enjoyed it. It’s on to the next.
“Coach Cig doesn’t have to say anything. The whole building is bought in. We all have that mindset.”