Both Good and Bad, Indiana Defense Frustrates in TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
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Indiana’s defense celebrates a score in the Gator Bowl Image: Amanda Pavelka Hoosier Huddle
Written by: Nate Comp (@NathanComp1)
Throughout the entire contest of Jacksonville’s 75th TaxsSlayer Gator Bowl, the Indiana defense was frustrating.
For the first 50 minutes, it was frustrating in a good way. The defense perfected the “bend but don’t break” philosophy and never allowed any explosive, momentum-shifting scoring plays. But the tides turned in crunch time, and Vols fans came back to life as Tennessee began to carve up the Indiana defense.
Ultimately, the Hoosiers suffered a heartbreaking defeat, falling 23-22.
We’ll take a look at the defense’s role in Indiana’s fifth consecutive bowl defeat.
In the beginning, things couldn’t have gone better for the Hoosier defense. The defensive line looked better than it had all year, never allowing Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano to get comfortable and essentially stifling the Vols rushing attack. The Vols were frustrated and outside of a 46-yard strike from Guarantano to Ramel Keyton, settling for small gains of yardage to construct their drives.
Despite spending nearly 18 minutes of the opening half on the field and allowing 202 yards of total offense, an interception and Indiana’s red zone defense emerged as a game-changer. Three red zone trips for Tennessee resulted in just 6 points, both being field goals and the other being a turnover on downs after four straight goal line stuffs by the Hoosiers.
In the second half, the defense continued to frustrate the Vols. After Peyton Ramsey led a 12-play, five-and-a-half-minute drive to put Indiana on top to start the half, the Hoosier defense added to the box score on Tennessee’s opening drive with a Jamar Johnson 63-yard interception return for a touchdown.
The Vols were frustrated. So much so that they benched Guarantano for true freshman Brian Maurer.
The Vols frustration continued late into the fourth quarter, when things completely changed.
The Indiana defense went into their prevent style of coverage and showed signs of being on the field for the majority of the first half as Tennessee began to gain large chunks at a time and the exhausted defense looked on with no answer. In just three minutes and fifteen seconds, Tennessee had compiled 14 points and taken the lead 23-22.
In a matter of minutes, the tides had turned. The frustration shifted with it. Unfortunately, it would not flip back.
"Obviously, very very disappointing to have a fourth-quarter lead and let it slip away," said Tom Allen. "I'm not going to sit here and point fingers and blame. At the end of the day, it's my responsibility for us to find a way to win the game. We didn't do that."
The Hoosiers’ season ended in disappointing fashion, unable to carry a win streak into the offseason.
The defense will look to use the frustrating finish to the 2019 season to motivate them going into 2020 preparation.