NOTEBOOK: Better Defense, Playing Clean, and Western Kentucky
By Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana’s defense is back to its nasty self with only Saturday’s final non-conference game against Western Kentucky (0-2) left before Big Ten play begins.
The Hoosiers (2-0) bounced back from a sub-par defensive performance against North Texas by overwhelming Howard, 55-0. They have forced at least one turnover in 11-straight games and in 27 of defensive coordinator Bryant Haines’ 31 Hoosier games.
The Hoosiers held the Bison to just four first downs, the fewest they’ve allowed since at least 1958. They limited Howard to 57 total yards, the fewest by an IU defense since at least 1950. The Bison had eight three-and-outs, one four-and-out, and never crossed the 50-yard line on their own.
“We walked out feeling a lot better about things,” head coach Curt Cignetti said during Monday’s weekly press conference. “I thought the defense took a major step forward, flew around, swarmed the ball, dominated the line of scrimmage. They got the shutout. They scored a touchdown (on linebacker Rolijah Hardy’s pick-6). They flew around and played a lot better.”
That came without starting cornerbacks Jamari Sharpe and A.J. Harris, who missed the game with injuries. They are listed as day to day, as is defensive lineman Blake Smythe.
“We’re optimistic on Jamari (being ready for Saturday),” Cignetti said. “Sometimes the best ability is availability. We do expect Sharpe back. The same with Smythe. We're ready to roll.”
With Harris and Sharpe out, backup cornerbacks Jaylen Bell and Ryland Gandy assumed next-man-up responsibilities. Bell, a second-year player out of New Jersey, has four tackles. Gandy, a fifth-year transfer out of Pitt, has eight tackles and two pass break-ups.
“I thought they both took steps forward the last two weeks,” Cignetti said. “Jaylen Bell has been pretty consistent. I thought he played well against North Texas.
“Ryland had a couple mistakes, but he's certainly improved and played a lot of football. I have a lot of confidence in both of them.”
At No. 4 in the AP and coaches’ polls, Indiana is now the Big Ten's highest-ranking team after losses by Ohio State and Oregon. Texas is the new No. 1 in the AP poll with Georgia, Notre Dame and then the Hoosiers. Ohio State fell from No. 1 to No. 6 with its 24-23 loss at Texas. Oregon, ranked No. 2 in the preseason, fell to No. 18 in the coaches’ poll and No. 21 in AP after losing to Oklahoma State.
As far as the rest of the Big Ten, USC is No. 11 in the coaches’ poll and No. 12 in the AP. The Trojans are followed by No. 14/15 Penn State, No. 18/20 Iowa and No. 19/19 Michigan. Washington is No. 24 in the coaches’ poll and not ranked in the AP.
IU remains a team that doesn’t beat itself. It had just five penalties in the season-opening win against North Texas, then just two against Howard. The seven total penalties are the fewest by any Big Ten team. Penn State, Illinois and Michigan State each have eight.
UCLA and Michigan lead with 20 penalties.
The Hoosiers also have not thrown an interception and have only lost one fumble. Northwestern is the only Big Ten team without a turnover.
Still, Cignetti expects better.
“It’s a point of emphasis,” he said about playing a clean game, “and the players buy in. We’ve been successful in doing that in games.
“I’m not happy with the two penalties (against Howard). We had a false start inside the 10-yard line, then had a hold to negate (Lee Beebe Jr.’s touchdown run again).
“You like to get out of a game with zero (penalties). That’s hard to do, but that was minimal.”
As far as turnovers, Cignetti said he “wasn’t pleased with the two muffed punts (against Howard). We lost one. That was the only time Howard got the ball across the 50-yard line (the Bison got the ball on the IU 38-yard line but failed to score). We did a nice job on defense there.”
Cignetti added that, in the aftermath, he talked with punt returner Tyler Morris and special teams coordinator Grant Cain.
“We kind of misjudged the ball,” he said. “One hit his shoulder. The other one was up high. He fair caught both of them. You’ve got to catch the ball.”
Quarterback Josh Hoover has tied Nate Sudfeld’s IU record by throwing eight touchdowns in the first two games of a season. Sudfeld did it against Indiana State and Navy in 2013.
The Hoosiers’ overwhelming dominance against North Texas and Howard -- outscoring them 107-16 -- has limited Hoover’s opportunities. He’s completed 19-of-27 passes for 376 yards and no interceptions. It’s the fewest pass attempts of any conference starting quarterback and the second-most touchdowns. Only USC’s Jayden Maiava has thrown more (10).
“Somebody told me they saw a statistic where the last five home games or something, we’ve had more touchdown passes than incompletions or something like that,” Cignetti said.
“(Against Howard, our receivers) did a nice job of separating outside. Obviously, a lot of guys got to score. Charlie (Becker) had three (touchdowns).
“But I think (Hoover would) be the first to tell you it wasn't his best game. There were three or four reads that ought to be pretty basic that we didn't make that we can make. He made some really good plays, too.”
Western Kentucky, which averages 17.0 points and allows 59.5, has opened the season with a pair of road losses, to Nevada 49-14 and to Georgia 70-20. It has rushed 79 times and passed 77 times.
Against Georgia, the Hilltoppers trailed 49-0 before scoring its first points. It added 14 points in the fourth quarter.
Quarterback Brock Glenn came off the bench for his first action of the season to complete 12-of-23 passes for 84 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Eleven Hilltoppers caught at least one pass.
Starting quarterback Rodney Tisdale Jr. completes 55.5 percent of his passes for 234 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception. Running back Ajay Allen leads with 121 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Receiver Cameron Flowers has eight catches for 74 yards.
“They got off to a rough start against Nevada,” Cignetti said, “then they had to go down to Georgia.
“Their quarterback (Tisdale Jr.) returns. The wide receivers early in the game against Georgia did a nice job of separating.
“They've struggled obviously in their first two games. The goal is to continue to make them struggle defensively. They have given up some points and 280 yards rushing a game.
“It's always about preparation for the opponent, but still this week it’s more about us and tightening some things up. In some ways we're still learning about what we can do best before we go to Big Ten play.”
IU will open conference action Sept. 25 (a Friday night) at home against Northwestern; and then go on the road to Rutgers and Nebraska before hosting Ohio State on Oct. 17.
Coaching is likely in Grant Wilson’s future, but for now, the seventh-year backup quarterback, once a starter at Old Dominion, is maximizing his playing opportunities.
In two games this season, he’s thrown for two touchdowns (the only passes he’s thrown) and rushed for another. His 49 rushing yards rank third on the team behind Turbo Richard (166) and Lee Beebe Jr. (145).
“It’s been a long journey my whole career,” Wilson says. “It led me to this moment with Coach Cig and this team. I love it. I love football so much and it was just a blessing out there (Saturday against Howard).”
Wilson got a chance to play with some of the starters on Saturday.
“It’s huge,” he says. “Just being out there with the guys, especially the one offensive line, talking to them in the huddle, being a part of their group.
“Practice is different. You don’t get touched. So, feeling that rush, you get a little bit of enthusiasm, gives you a little bit of excitement, but settles you in really.”