Indiana University Athletics
Quoted: Game Three vs. Western Kentucky
9/14/2015 4:31:00 PM | Football
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana football players and members of the coaching staff met with the media Monday leading up to Saturday's 4 p.m. kickoff against Western Kentucky (2-0) at Memorial Stadium.
Here are five standout quotes and storylines from the media session to give better insight into what the Hoosiers (2-0) are working on heading into week three.
Redshirt sophomore linebacker Marcus Oliver: "(Western Kentucky) is kind of like us in a lot of ways. They play a lot like our offense. It's just exciting to finally be able to go out there and play against a team that's going to spread the ball out and try to run it outside and try to trick you with their eyes—do what we do on offense, basically."
Indiana's defense won't need to look much further than its own offense in preparing for Western Kentucky, Oliver said. The Hilltoppers play a similar style of offense that Indiana does.
IU's own familiarity defending an up-tempo spread offense may prove to be beneficial come gameday, Oliver said. The Hoosiers are more than comfortable keeping up with a quick offense, and he said he's excited for the challenge.
Even without starting running back Leon Allen—who was lost for the season due to a knee injury—Western Kentucky managed 590 yards of offense in a 41-38 win against Louisiana Tech last Thursday.
Senior quarterback Nate Sudfeld: "I think it's huge for our team. The confidence and just to know we can win a close game. Whether it should have been that close or not, we're pulling it out in the end. That's just good for guys. Hey, when it's close, we're going to win the game."
For two consecutive games, Indiana has fallen behind in the second half.
And for two consecutive games, Indiana has walked away with victories.
The Hoosiers have seemingly made a knack of mounting come-from-behind victories. They've won their first two games of the season by a combined 15 points.
Sudfeld would certainly accept a blowout victory on any given week, but he said the adversity is a good sign for the Hoosiers. The early-season struggle serves as a reminder that no game is over just because IU falls behind early.
Wilson: "Coach (Brandon) Shelby (and I) were just laughing about it. I said before the game, 'You have got some young corners that are going to be tested. One of those guys is going to get beat. Don't snap on him. Just know it's going to happen.' He needs to learn, hey, calm down. That's part of growing up."
It's natural that Indiana's secondary is going to make mistakes. The Hoosiers are rotating young players in and out who don't have much experience and are going to mess up every now and again.
When they inevitably do, Wilson doesn't want to hear coaches yelling. They're going to need to get burned a few times in order to make plays later, Wilson said.
As if it was on cue, freshman defensive back Jameel Cook, Jr., went on to haul in a 96-yard interception touchdown against Florida International last weekend. His interception was a reflection on the growth in the secondary, Wilson said, and they're expected to continue to make strides as they mature.
Junior running back Jordan Howard: "I don't really think about the numbers. I just keep running."
Indiana's starting running back doesn't look at his own numbers, but if he did, he'd like what he's seeing.
Howard's 304 rushing yards lead the Big Ten. The second running back on the list, Nebraska's Terrell Newby, stands 63 yards behind.
After rushing for 159 yards last weekend against Florida International, Howard enters the coming week having recorded six consecutive 100-yard games. As a team, Indiana has had a rusher go for over 100 yards in 14 of its last 15 games.
Fifth-year senior tight end Michael Cooper: "We've got a lot of depth, a lot of confidence in the tight end group. We did a lot of two tight end sets this last week… We just feel like we've got a lot of depth and a lot of diversity in our guys. We feel we're capable of doing everything."
Indiana's tight ends promised before the season they'd be more involved in the passing game this year.
After two weeks, it appears that promise has been fulfilled.
Cooper has combined with fellow senior tight end Anthony Corsaro for six catches for 95 yards through two games. They've added diversity to the offense, sometimes lining up two tight ends at once or other times having one in the slot.
Cooper expects the tight ends to only see more involvement this weekend and in the future. He said they'll do whatever it takes to help Indiana win more games.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana football players and members of the coaching staff met with the media Monday leading up to Saturday's 4 p.m. kickoff against Western Kentucky (2-0) at Memorial Stadium.
Here are five standout quotes and storylines from the media session to give better insight into what the Hoosiers (2-0) are working on heading into week three.
Redshirt sophomore linebacker Marcus Oliver: "(Western Kentucky) is kind of like us in a lot of ways. They play a lot like our offense. It's just exciting to finally be able to go out there and play against a team that's going to spread the ball out and try to run it outside and try to trick you with their eyes—do what we do on offense, basically."
Indiana's defense won't need to look much further than its own offense in preparing for Western Kentucky, Oliver said. The Hilltoppers play a similar style of offense that Indiana does.
IU's own familiarity defending an up-tempo spread offense may prove to be beneficial come gameday, Oliver said. The Hoosiers are more than comfortable keeping up with a quick offense, and he said he's excited for the challenge.
Even without starting running back Leon Allen—who was lost for the season due to a knee injury—Western Kentucky managed 590 yards of offense in a 41-38 win against Louisiana Tech last Thursday.
Senior quarterback Nate Sudfeld: "I think it's huge for our team. The confidence and just to know we can win a close game. Whether it should have been that close or not, we're pulling it out in the end. That's just good for guys. Hey, when it's close, we're going to win the game."
For two consecutive games, Indiana has fallen behind in the second half.
And for two consecutive games, Indiana has walked away with victories.
The Hoosiers have seemingly made a knack of mounting come-from-behind victories. They've won their first two games of the season by a combined 15 points.
Sudfeld would certainly accept a blowout victory on any given week, but he said the adversity is a good sign for the Hoosiers. The early-season struggle serves as a reminder that no game is over just because IU falls behind early.
Wilson: "Coach (Brandon) Shelby (and I) were just laughing about it. I said before the game, 'You have got some young corners that are going to be tested. One of those guys is going to get beat. Don't snap on him. Just know it's going to happen.' He needs to learn, hey, calm down. That's part of growing up."
It's natural that Indiana's secondary is going to make mistakes. The Hoosiers are rotating young players in and out who don't have much experience and are going to mess up every now and again.
When they inevitably do, Wilson doesn't want to hear coaches yelling. They're going to need to get burned a few times in order to make plays later, Wilson said.
As if it was on cue, freshman defensive back Jameel Cook, Jr., went on to haul in a 96-yard interception touchdown against Florida International last weekend. His interception was a reflection on the growth in the secondary, Wilson said, and they're expected to continue to make strides as they mature.
Junior running back Jordan Howard: "I don't really think about the numbers. I just keep running."
Indiana's starting running back doesn't look at his own numbers, but if he did, he'd like what he's seeing.
Howard's 304 rushing yards lead the Big Ten. The second running back on the list, Nebraska's Terrell Newby, stands 63 yards behind.
After rushing for 159 yards last weekend against Florida International, Howard enters the coming week having recorded six consecutive 100-yard games. As a team, Indiana has had a rusher go for over 100 yards in 14 of its last 15 games.
Fifth-year senior tight end Michael Cooper: "We've got a lot of depth, a lot of confidence in the tight end group. We did a lot of two tight end sets this last week… We just feel like we've got a lot of depth and a lot of diversity in our guys. We feel we're capable of doing everything."
Indiana's tight ends promised before the season they'd be more involved in the passing game this year.
After two weeks, it appears that promise has been fulfilled.
Cooper has combined with fellow senior tight end Anthony Corsaro for six catches for 95 yards through two games. They've added diversity to the offense, sometimes lining up two tight ends at once or other times having one in the slot.
Cooper expects the tight ends to only see more involvement this weekend and in the future. He said they'll do whatever it takes to help Indiana win more games.
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