The Key For the IU Safeties is to Go From Knowing the Defense to Understanding it
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IU safeties coach Noah Joseph has the IU safeties licking their chops in 2017. Image: Sammy Jacobs HoosierHuddle.com
Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)
Hoosier Nation saw what the right mindset on defense could do for a unit as the IU defense went from one of the worst defenses in the country to one that their team had to lean on to get to their second straight bowl game. Heading into the 2017 season the question is what is the next step for a defense that improved their points allowed by 10.2 points per game. For safeties coach Noah Joseph, that step is going from knowing the defense to understanding it.
"I think the big difference is, last year, we knew the defense. We knew it, but we didn’t understand it," the fourth-year coach said. "Now we are trying to get the guys to understand the defense, not just know it, so if teams give you something funky you can get everything aligned where it needs to be at a quick pace and stop a play instead of being reactive to things."
The safety (and husky) positions led by Jonathan Crawford, Tony Fields Marcelino Ball accounted for 279 of Indiana's 879 total tackles (31.7%). Crawford finished with three interceptions while Fields and Ball finished with two picks each. All of the major contributors in this group are back (Crawford, Fields, Ball, Dutra, and Walker) which gives Joseph an advantage.
"It makes my job easier because, guys know that if you’re not ready to play, I don’t need to scream and yell, somebody else is going to take your job. It’s a constant. That’s like anything you are in life it’s a constant competition to be the best you can be and now they have to or else they won’t be on the field. You come here and put in the hard work to play on the field. So that’s what it is insuring and it’s been fun to watch some of the young guys like Kahlil Bryant, who’s had a great spring and then you even watch a guy like Jameel Cook who is coming from a year off has really progressed nicely. So we are pleased with the depth and it makes my job a lot easier."
For Jonathan Crawford, experience will help with that next step. "Being out there with the same group of boys. You grow a bond with them" Crawford said. "You know how the feel is with them. Communication is much easier and I feel like going on that we can be very good.”
If the Hoosiers can go from knowing the defense to understanding it, people outside of Bloomington will know who Tom Allen is. The Hoosiers have 10 spring practices remaining and they wrap up their spring session with the annual Cream and Crimson game on Thurs. April 13th at Memorial Stadium. IU opens the regular season against the Ohio State Buckeyes on Thurs. August 31st.
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