Next Man Up No Problem for Hoosiers
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Next man up. Every team in every sport pushes it. Players go down, replacements come in, standard stays the same.
The performance, however, often does not.
That’s not true for Indiana. Not for this season with this team; not true, in fact, for any season and team directed by Curt Cignetti.
Injuries have surfaced in punting, kickoffs, defensive line, running back, receiver, linebacker and more this season, and the No. 2/2 Hoosiers (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten) continue to win, to thrive, to perform, often with younger players, as they head to Penn State (3-5, 0-3) on Saturday.
Take linebacker, where redshirt junior reserve Kaiden Turner came in at Maryland with standout Aiden Fisher out and promptly recorded a tackle and picked off a pass before his own injury sidelined him. Or sophomore receiver Charlie Becker, who had a 52-yard reception against the Terrapins with All-American Elijah Sarratt out. Or sophomore Quinn Warren, who has punted and kicked off when starters Mitch McCarthy and Brendan Franke were hurt.
What’s the key to IU’s next-man-up-excels results?
“It’s the coaching,” linebacker Isaiah Jones says. “We have some of the best coaches in the country at all positions. They are hard on us and push us to be our best because they don’t recruit guys they don’t think can play. They want to bring out the best in each player.”
Consider heralded freshman defensive back Byron Baldwin Jr., who missed the first seven games because of injury. The former four-star prospect out of Maryland has played against UCLA and Maryland and totaled five tackles (including one for loss) and one fumble recovery.
He’s behind veteran safeties Louis Moore, Amare Ferrell, and Devan Boykin.
“He missed quite a bit of practice time, which allowed us to settle in on our three starters and keep them at the same position,” Cignetti says. “We've got position flexibility with all three of those older guys.
“Byron returned to practice maybe two weeks ago and got to play (against Maryland), so it was good to get him in there on defense. He's also playing special teams, recovered a fumble. He's a young guy that has a lot of talent.
“But there's a big difference between guys that have been around the block for five years and a freshman. I don't need to explain the difference between an 18-year-old and a 23-year-old.
“He's got a great future. We're counting on him helping us the rest of the season.”
Take the entire defense under defensive coordinator Bryant Haines. It holds teams to just 10.8 points a game. Only Ohio State, at 6.9 points, is better in the Big Ten. It allows just 80 rushing yards, the best in the Big Ten, and 248.3 total yards a game.
Against Maryland, despite multiple injuries, the Hoosiers allowed just 37 rushing yards and 10 points. They’ve held eight-straight opponents to less than 100 rushing yards, a program record. They also forced five turnovers -- three fumble recoveries and two interceptions – against the Terrapins.
Overall, IU leads the Big Ten in tackles for loss (76) and turnovers forced (19), and is second in sacks (29).
“It starts at the top with Coach Haines,” Jones says about younger players stepping up. “We push each other hard in practice, from spring ball to fall camp, to become the best players. You never know what will happen and who will have to step up.”
As far as playing multiple linebackers against Maryland because of injuries, Jones adds that’s “something that you don’t want to happen, but everyone in the room has to be ready for. That’s true for all positions.
“You hate to see your starters go down, but if you’re a 2 (backup), you know you’re one play away from having to go in. You have to play up to the standard. (Turner) did that.”
And if it happens again Saturday, Jones says, the Hoosiers will be prepared.
“Our guys are ready to go. They won’t be put in unless the coaches know they can do their jobs. Everyone is confident that if you get put in the game, you’ll do your job.”