Notes and Quotes from Tom Allen's Week Seven Media Monday
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Written by Lauralys Shallow
Head coach Tom Allen discussed IU’s 49-26 loss to No. 3 Ohio State and previewed IU’s homecoming matchup with Iowa.
Notes
Players of the game
Offensive: Nick Westbrook
Defensive: Dameon Willis
Special teams: Isaac James, Raheem Layne and Jaylin Williams
IU’s Oct. 20th game vs. Penn State will kickoff at 3:30PM
Quotes From Tom Allen
On the outcome at Ohio State:
“Just as we reminded our team today as we discussed the game, talked about situations and opportunities and just the critical nature of playing a team of that caliber in that setting and being able to maximize execution on both sides of the ball at critical times. That became apparent, giving up big plays on defense and had to get stops, and then offensively, when we have opportunities to change the momentum and take the game, and be able to do those things, we have to capitalize.”
On his initial impression of Iowa:
“They're a very well-coached football team. Very big, physical, everything you'd expect from an Iowa football team. Great defense, especially in the box. Gives us long, big, strong, and they really are very stingy, don't give up a lot of plays.”
On Iowa’s offense:
“They really expanded their passing game. (Nate) Stanley is a great quarterback, big, physical, 6'4, 245 pound guy, physical backs, big offensive line. Best tight end corps we've gone against. A very, very talented tight ends and receivers that are making ask more and more plays each week.”
On J-Shun Harris’s growing role as a receiver with Luke Timian and Whop Philyor injured:
“So I just think that for J-Shun to come in there and do such a great job in that role because I think it's one thing to say, hey, you're going to return punts and be able to get ready for that and what that means, it's huge for our team. But the pounding, and the constant hits, all the things you take as a receiver. So, just for him to be able to do that, and to be so productive and make so many big plays, it's been big. But that's just the kind of guy he is. He's rallied and stepped up.”
On how his defense has caused 13 turnovers so far this year:
“I think we have a more athletic defense as a group. And I said that going in, I felt like we were going to be. I think when you have a more athletic group, you create more takeaways. Because number one, you get to the ball quicker to force them, and you're around the ball more to recover them.”
On how the front seven can create more defensive pressure to make quarterbacks uncomfortable:
“It's a two-edged sword. You do that with blitzes, and you can't blitz every snap. So you try to change it up and try to get pressure with four at times, sometimes three with a spy, or however you decide to make that combination work, and we're working so hard. Because you see it, when we get the pressure, you get a different result.”
On his assessment of the freshmen at the midway point of the season:
“Just continue to allow them to grow and develop and they're helping us on special teams and helping us on defense. I still go out there and we freeze our film, and we said yesterday, man, we're awfully young out there at times, and it's just part of it. Those guys are growing up and playing a lot of football at this point. I think the assessment is they're a really good class, they proved that on the field, and there are a lot more players that haven't even played yet. I think they're going to be a really, really big part of this program. They may be as soon as next season.”
On the four-game redshirt option for guys like Michael Penix:
“So I would say at this point the plan would be you like to be able to maximize unless a guy's going to be playing the majority of the time and the rest of the half of the season, you'd like to be able to save a full year of eligibility, if at all possible. Doesn't always work out that way, and you have to make adjustments on the fly, and we will.”
On injury updates on Timian, Philyor, Jacob Robinson, Coy Cronk and Devon Matthews:
“My hope and intent is that the majority of those guys will be back. I feel good about the progress we're making from the guys that got dinged up during the game, and then the guys that wore out the week before, to be able to continually work them back into the fold.”