Special Teams Explosion Powers IU to Blow Out Victory
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Image: Sarah Miller, Hoosier Huddle
Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)
The Indiana Hoosiers special teams unit had an historic night. The unit blocked two punt, one picked up for a touchdown, returned another punt for a touchdown and set up the offense with great field position multiple times in Saturday’s 56-14 win over Idaho. It was the first time the Hoosiers have scored two special teams touchdowns in a game since Sept. 20, 1969, at Kentucky.
Since Tom Allen arrived in Bloomington he has made special teams a priority and the unit is under the watchful eyes of special teams coordinator Kasey Teegardin and quality control coach Ryan McInerney.
“We make such a huge emphasis on special teams. I am in every single meeting, and that's on purpose.” Allen said after the game Saturday night. “I want our guys to know how important they are. I interject a lot. Kasey does a tremendous job and Ryan McInerney, quality control guy, does a phenomenal job studying film and getting us in great position.”
Including the block punt return yardage the Hoosiers had 266 yards in the return game (154 in punts, 112 on kickoffs), which nearly totaled the offensive output or the Hoosiers (338).
The coaches are not the only ones who know the importance of special teams either. The players have also taken pride in upgrading the unit.
“The players know how important special teams are to us and we work on them so much.” Allen added. ”But the challenge was, hey, let's make those game-changing plays. We've always been really solid the last few years and now I said it's time to help us go win the game. We have three DNAs for each area and for -- providing the winning edge is No. 1; for special teams be at your best when it counts the most, and make game-changing plays and they lived those three out tonight and I thought it was awesome."
Indiana wide receiver D.J. Matthews had his breakout moment with a spectacular punt return for an 81-yard touchdown. He zig-zagged across the field before breaking a couple tackles and running past the final couple of Idaho defenders.
“We've been emphasizing it a lot this week you know, special teams.” Matthews said after the game. “You know, just coming out making plays, changing the game. You know winning the hit in yardage. And you know, when it was my time, it was my time to make a play. Just thinking about catching the ball, you know, fielding it. If anything, getting it back to my teammates once I seen my team come out and execute it, they set up a nice wall for me and I was able to get around, make a few guys miss and score a touchdown.”
Matthews was not the only contributor on Saturday night. Kickers Charles Campbell and Chris Freeman nailed a combined eight extra points, kick returner Jacolby Hewitt added 91 yards on kickoff returns, Reece Taylor also had a solid night returning punts and James Evans looked more consistent although he only averaged 37.5 yards per punt.
If the Hoosiers are going to pull an upset next week and down the road this season, these are the plays that can help take much of the pressure of an offense still trying to find its footing.