Following a convincing victory against Alabama in the Rose Bowl, Indiana has a date in the Peach Bowl against a familiar foe: the Oregon Ducks. The Hoosiers have already beaten the Ducks once this season, but this time, a trip to the National Championship hangs in the balance. Indiana wide receiver Elijah Sarratt spoke to the media on Monday to preview how the Hoosiers stack up against the Ducks’ secondary.
Sarratt began by immediately complimenting Oregon, saying, “Yeah, talent-wise they’re right there with Ohio State, Alabama, some of the best teams in the college football world.”
Speaking on what the secondary does differently than other teams, Sarratt said, “They didn’t do too much different. They ran a lot of man against us than when we played them. Coach Shan[ahan] was just telling us yesterday, I don’t remember how many snaps, but about 70% of the snaps we were getting press. That’s something different than what Ohio State, Alabama and them did.”
Sarratt views Oregon’s press coverage as a challenge that the Indiana wide receivers are up to.“It’s a challenge that we’re going to have to face this week, as well. This whole week throughout practice, we’ll be able to go against press on scout team. Hopefully we’ll be ready if they continue to do that against us.”
Sarratt continued saying, “As a receiver you got to embrace it. If you can’t win those one-on-one matchups against press, you’re not going to make it too far in this football world. Is definitely a challenge going against those guys because Oregon have some long, athletic DBs. It’s going to be a challenge. It’s something that I take on the challenge head on and I want to do my best against it, for sure.”
True to their roots, the Hoosiers are watching film and making adjustments based on their last matchup against Oregon. “Yeah, we’ll of course make our adjustments, change some things that we maybe didn’t do as well in the first game. I’m sure they’re going to make their adjustments, as well. Of course, we’re still going to carry over some things we did like. Same for them. We’ll see as the game starts how they want to guard us, what they’re giving us, and go from there.” Sarratt said.
Luckily for the Hoosiers, they have a room full of talented wide receivers. This includes Omar Cooper Jr., who made the switch to slot receiver this season. “That’s amazing to see someone who can start outside and move in within a season and do what he’s doing. It definitely takes a lot. You get a lot of different looks at slot. You got to read your line. Your nickel, your linebacker, your safety over the top, still see that corner in your peripheral. Block-in assignments are different in slot. You’ve got to determine one high safety, two high safety. Definitely takes a little more thinking and adjustment in that slot.” Sarratt said of his teammate.
Sarratt continued to pile on the praise of Cooper, saying, “He’s done a great job of taking it head-on. He didn’t complain when Coach had asked him to move to the slot. He did his thing. That’s great having someone that can move in and out with us. If we go 12 personnel, he can go back to outside and do his thing. If we’re in 11 personnel, he’s in the slot doing his thing. To have someone like that, it really puts stress on defenses.”
While Oregon’s secondary poses a big challenge for the Indiana offense, Sarratt, Cooper, and the rest of the Indiana receiving corps are up to the challenge.