Notes and Quotes From Sunday's Spring Practice
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Richard Lagow (21) and Mike Majette (24) work on the mesh point. Image: Sammy Jacobs HoosierHuddle.com
Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)
The Hoosiers wrapped up their second of 15 spring practices on Sunday afternoon and we had a chance to talk with linebacker Chris Covington, corner Rashard Fant, and head coach Tom Allen. Topics ranged from offensive tempo to spring practice schedules and much more in between. Here are some quotes from each party.
Tom Allen
“Practice, in cloth we call it. It’s helmets only so we can only get so many things done with that, but I thought it was very productive. I thought practice was very productive with re-establishing our expectations for our defense in terms of how we are going to practice, create takeaways and playing with fanatical effort. I thought that was excellent today. Offensively, putting in some new concepts with obviously a whole new system. Our heads are spinning a little bit, but that’s ok. It’s part of the process. Our specialists did good things, kicked the ball well. Good first couple of days, beautiful weather, couldn't ask for anything more than blue skies and 60 degrees.”
It was a beautiful day in Bloomington Sunday and coach Allen was pleased with the work his team put in heading into an off-day on Monday. As the players learn and become more comfortable in the new offensive system their heads should stop spinning.
Many fans are wondering what the new offensive scheme will look like and if they will continue to go uptempo. Allen shed a little light on how fast he would like his offense to go.
"You’re talking about 15, 20 seconds. Obviously it’s a matter of just wanting to be as fast as we can go and still be able to execute. It’s about controlling that tempo. You can obviously vary it based on the situation, but I know as a defensive coach that gives us trouble. You go back and look and see when you can’t get your feet set, can’t get your eyes right it causes trouble. The big thing is that you try and force the defense to be able to substitute their guys and be playing against their two’s and three’s at times upfront. That’s what you have got to be able to do. It’s probably the one unit that struggles the most defending the tempo. It’s a matter of us getting to the point where we can execute at the highest possible speed we can function at."
As far as the defensive side of the ball goes, Allen believes the jumping off point is much higher than it was last spring since the players have been in his system for a full season.
"It's completely different than a year ago, before I felt like I had to always set the tone for everything. Now there's players doing it, there's other coaches doing it. The standards have been set, the expectations have been set. They're not satisfied. We had a good year last defensively, but we want to have a great defense."
When asked about which players have stood out early on in spring ball Allen mentioned four guys: Safety Jonathan Crawford, Husky Marcellino Ball, Defensive Lineman Greg Gooch, and Quarterback Richard Lagow.
"Jonathan Crawford is a guy who continues to do a really good job establishing himself. Marcellino Ball wasn't even here last year, so this is his first spring. He just feels like he's been here for a long, long time. I think he's improved a lot just from the fall in terms of mental discipline and the little things and just being able to play at a certain level. Then (Greg) Gooch to me is one that is different. From a maturity, leadership (standpoint). I am just really, really pleased with how he's handled himself both in workouts and in the first two practices. So those guys jump out to me on defense. I'll tell you what, I think Richard Lagow has really, leadership-wise, has really impressed me the first couple days. Just taking things over and taking it personal, owning it, epsecially with a lot of new faces there and new scheme and O-Line a lot of different guys, but really please with his leadership."
Linebacker Chris Covington
Covington is coming off a very solid season in a backup role and is looking to break into the starting lineup. His thoughts on what year two of Allen's defense will look like:
“It just feels good flying around you know. You know we got that confidence built up from last year moving from 100 and something in defensive rankings to 40 something and now we got that confidence to be in the Top 25. So it just feels good to get out there flying around with my teammates.”
Covington will be playing along side one of the best linebackers in the country. He said playing next to Tegray Scales is "exciting. With the name he has and I’m playing next to him, it just means a lot to me. It means I’m blessed. Just to be able to play to him and communicate with him it’s just fun you know? He’s an exciting guy, I love him to death and hopefully we can do our thing this year"
Rashard Fant
Fant is entering his final spring practice in 2017. What does he think is the difference between spring ball as a youngster was as opposed to a fifth-year senior.
“I think when you’re younger you’re just trying to make plays no matter what. You don’t care if you’re technique is bad, you don’t care you just gotta make the play. Being older now it’s more focused on things I need at the next level and going against great receivers in the Big Ten. So for me personally it’s just focusing on my technique each and every play. Really not false stepping cause that’s a second off that a good receiver, he’s going to get the benefit of the doubt. Just trying to tighten up everything, be faster, be not as handsy on some routes and just use more technique all around cause at the next level I know for sure that’s what it’s all about.”
Being an older player, Fant was asked about his thoughts on having spring break in the middle of spring practice. His answer shed some light on why breaking up spring ball is beneficial for him and other players.
“I love it. We did it like this my freshman year. We get a week, we get about four or five practices out before Spring break. Get a little breather break and come back and spaces out the practice more. You can keep your body fresher and it just doesn’t seem as long. I know when it’s all after Spring break for me personally, some other guys, it just seems so long and we have a lot of back to backs and that’s a lot on your body. Especially with the freshman not being here yet cause the numbers aren’t as much. I know right now we’re only at four or five corners so it’s a lot different in fall camp when we’ll have seven, eight, nine so it’s a lot more rotation. So I think having a week out to get under our belts before Spring break helps you and breaks you in.”
One of the areas that IU will need to find a replacement is at punt returner. Mitchell Paige, the returner the last two seasons, has graduated and Fant is looking to fill that role.
"I’m just excited you know given the opportunity I’ll be excited to be back there. I had four last year. Having Mitchell (Paige) back there is kind of comforting for my first time really going back so this year hopefully I can get the job and be able to do some of the things I did in high school back there in the college game and see if I can make some plays and change the game. That’s the big thing. I want to be that Adoree Jackson type of guy that goes back there and people have to worry about him taking a punt to the house or just flipping the field for our offense which is going to be dynamic again.I’m excited to be back there, I’ve been working with J-Shun (Harris). Shane (Wynn) taught us some things he’s learned in the league so just been working on those, catching some extra balls and making sure I’m ready.”
The Hoosiers will be back on the practice field Tuesday and Thursday before breaking camp for spring break. IU will end spring practice on April 13th with their annual Cream and Crimson game.