Indiana silenced the doubters last Saturday, defeating the #3 Oregon Ducks 30-20, earning their first-ever top-five road win. For team leaders like cornerback D’Angelo Ponds, Saturday was not a surprise but rather a chance for them to show the world what they already knew –– that this team is for real.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Ponds shared his thoughts on the game, saying, “It wasn’t really a measuring stick [game]. Obviously, me knowing what I can do, I feel like I’ve always been a confident guy. Just raising up the competition. So, it wasn’t really a measuring stick; it was just competing. Going out there and competing.”
Competing is certainly what Ponds did on Saturday, playing 94 of 95 snaps, helping stymie a high-powered Ducks offense that had been averaging 40 points a game to just 20 points. For Ponds, it’s possible that he felt he had something to prove, following an injury that kept him out of the Iowa game.
“It definitely was tough on me, not being able to be out there with my guys –– especially the work we put in together. I feel like it was tough for me, but I was there to be a leader and guide the guys through the win.” Ponds said on Tuesday.
Ponds has definitely grown as a leader over the course of his two years in Bloomington, and his impact on the field was noticeable during his return against Oregon. Speaking about his growth as a leader, Ponds said, “I feel like I definitely progressed and have [grown as a leader]. Just being more vocal in my room and towards the team. I feel like I [have] definitely got better at that.”
It wasn’t just Ponds’ leadership that helped the Hoosiers get the win on Saturday; he credits Coach Haines with a great defensive scheme that highlighted both Indiana’s strengths and Oregon’s weaknesses. “It’s very fun. Our Defensive Coordinator Bryant Haines has a good scheme. He schemes up every team very well. I feel like it’s very fun just to see the guys up front go eat. They have a sack almost every drive. I feel like that’s very fun to watch.” Ponds explained.
‘The Guys Up Front’ were certainly eating on Saturday, sacking Oregon QB Dante Moore a total of 6 times. 6 sacks in a game against a top-5 opponent is an impressive feat in its own right, but the fact that the Ducks had only allowed one sack on the season entering Saturday’s game makes it that much more impressive. While part of this was due to Coach Haines’ defensive scheme, you have to imagine that the Indiana defensive line is thankful to have Ponds back in the secondary locking up opposing team’s top receivers.
In many ways last Saturday’s game felt like the moment Indiana started to get respect from the college football world. No longer could excuses like strength of schedule or the fickleness of the rankings be used to wave away Indiana’s success. No, the Hoosiers went on the road and absolutely dismantled the #3 team in the nation, shocking the college football world. However, if you ask the IU team, it is not a surprise at all; they just needed a stage to prove what they were capable of. With a scheme like Coach Haines’s and leaders like Ponds, there is no telling just how far this team will go.