Written by Amanda Pavelka (@amandapavelka3)

With the loss of Michael Penix to a season-ending sternoclavicular injury, Peyton Ramsey has stepped up to his previous role as starting quarterback. The redshirt junior heads a No. 13 national passing offense, and with just three picks on the season, has grown into quarterback every team wishes they had to call for backup.

What’s different this year? How has Ramsey gotten so good at his job?

Experience and Kalen DeBoer.

“I’ve had the opportunity to see when defenses are mixing it up and throwing change upside us,” Ramsey said, “I think another thing is Coach DeBoer and the situations he puts me in, that he puts us in as quarterbacks.”

“He simplifies things so much and he makes it easier and quicker to go through progressions,” Ramsey said, “when you’re able to identify things pre-snap because you’re so prepared and so locked in.”

Indiana has jumped from a No. 52 offensive team to No. 31 in just a year, and all the changes in offense point to the coordinator, DeBoer.

DeBoer does not take credit, but rather gives credit to Ramsey for his hard work and dedication to the team, even when he was demoted to backup.

“He’s just been all in since I got here and he seems confident in everything ever since, even the end of spring ball,” DeBoer said. “I understand the amount of preparation he puts in, so it doesn’t surprise me. He’s just so prepared. He wants it so bad. He’s got strengths he knows how to utilize and he just knows his people and as long as he knows the offense and what he’s going to face, he’s going to get the ball where it needs to go, and that’s what he did.”

Ramsey came prepared against Penn State, where completed 31 of 41 (75.6 percent) for a career-high 371 yards. He managed to keep the Hoosiers close with nationally-ranked Nittany Lions, bringing the Hoosiers to score a passing touchdown and two rushing touchdowns.

At the head of the team effort that has kept Indiana’s offense at No. 3 in the Big Ten is Ramsey. From there, credit to the whole team for Indiana’s offensive success.

With Whop Philyor’s second quarter injury, it was the entire team that adjusted and managed to keep Indiana competitive at State College.

“I think there's just an overall understanding from the receivers of what the quarterback’s doing and that's a huge tribute to not just Coach (Grant) Heard but the receivers, Coach (Nick) Sheridan with the tight ends and Coach (Mike) Hart and the running backs,” DeBoer said, “(They) know where they're at in the protection of the check releases and all that, what the timing is. We’re just constantly preaching that and talking that it’s not just what, but why and how.”

“When our guys get in those moments where there’s a lot of things going on and something might be a little bit different, they can understand where our offense is and what the objective is of that play what the timing is, where the quarterbacks eyes are starting, what his read is. I'm proud of the way our guys understand things. We threw some guys into the fire on Saturday Whop went down. I think it’s easy to see David Ellis goes in for Whop, but there’s more to it than that.”

David Ellis’ substitution was not exactly flawless, but adjustments set up the freshman running back/wide receiver combo for a career 85-yard day.

It has taken some time, but Indiana’s offense is clicking. DeBoer has things turned around in Bloomington, and the Hoosiers’ next test lies in Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan squad they will face on Saturday.

The Huddle

Ramsey’s Work Ethic and DeBoer’s Offense Lead to Improved Performance in 2019

Hoosier Huddle