Lee Beebe credits downfield blocking for Indiana’s success on the ground

Lee Beebe had room to run against Northwestern. Once he got past the line of scrimmage he saw why, Indiana’s receivers were still working.

“Once I saw Nick and Shazz, my eyes got super huge,” Beebe said Tuesday. “I was like, ‘Okay, cool, we’re gonna have a big run here.’”

Beebe took on a larger workload after Turbo went down with an injury, but he was quick to share credit for what Indiana accomplished on the ground. He said the offensive line created movement up front and worked its way to the linebackers. Farther downfield, the receivers helped keep plays alive.

“They did a great job blocking down the field,” Beebe said. “We were all just tuned in.”

Beebe singled out Nick Marsh and Shazz Preston, along with Charlie and the rest of the receiver room. He said some of their blocks came more than 20 yards downfield, giving him space to keep running after he broke through the first level.

Marsh said after the game that he takes pride in that part of his role.

“My job is to do the best I can for my teammates,” Marsh said. “Downfield blocking is one of the things I’m good at.”

That work mattered even more with Beebe being asked to take on additional reps. Beebe said he understood what was needed of him when Turbo went down, while Marsh said the way he responded looked familiar to his teammates.

“Lee is a great leader,” Marsh said. “He do those things at practice. After Turbo went down, he was already right there ready to step up. That’s normal for Lee.”

Still, Beebe saw things he could have done better when he reviewed the Northwestern game. He gave himself somewhere between a B+ and an A, pointing to missed reads, yards he could have gained and an early touchdown opportunity he felt he could have finished.

“I think my ability to make guys miss is something that I haven’t really showcased yet,” Beebe said. “I would like to do that a little more.”

For now, Beebe knows the runs he wants are not his alone to create. Against Northwestern, Indiana’s blocking carried past the line of scrimmage, and when Beebe saw his receivers ahead of him, he knew what that could mean for the play.

If Indiana’s blockers keep giving Beebe room to run, he’ll have another chance to show what he can do with it on Saturday when the Hoosiers travel to New Brunswick to face The Scarlet Knights.