Hardy stresses preparation ahead of Nebraska

For Rolijah Hardy, handling another road environment starts with what Indiana does before it gets there.

Coming off their first road game against Rutgers, the Hoosiers are preparing for another test at Nebraska. Hardy said maintaining the defensive standard comes down to preparation, communication and keeping the crowd from affecting how Indiana plays.

“We always talked about preparation, you know, going into other environments and being able to play and keep that high standard,” Hardy said.

Indiana works crowd noise into practice to prepare for those situations. For Hardy, that work helps identify when defenders need to rely on signals and make sure everyone receives the same message.

“You got to be able to signal and be able to communicate very efficiently within the team,” Hardy said.

The Hoosiers played without a penalty against Rutgers, something Hardy said reflects a deep emphasis that grows from the coaching staff to the players. The goal is simple: avoid giving an opponent any help.

“We always talk about wanting to be a penalty-free team,” Hardy said. “You don’t want to beat yourself.”

That discipline will face a different test against Nebraska. Hardy described the Cornhuskers as a physical team that will demand a response from every level of Indiana’s defense, from the front to the secondary.

Nebraska’s quarterback mobility adds another responsibility. Defenders have to account for the passing game while keeping the quarterback from escaping the pocket and creating plays with his legs.

“He’s a very mobile quarterback,” Hardy said. “Being able to contain him in the pocket is going to be a big thing for us this week.”

Hardy said adding a third linebacker can help defend the run, something Indiana did effectively last season. But the defense is also using different approaches this year to contain mobile quarterbacks.

Rather than simply returning to its plan against another running quarterback, Indiana is building its preparation around the opponent in front of it.

“I think our coaches do a really good job being able to set us up for success,” Hardy said.

Communication within the defense remains part of that process. When asked about Isaiah’s transition into the green dot role, Hardy pointed to his leadership, film preparation and willingness to take on responsibility. He also emphasized that the players around him have a role in helping the defense stay organized.

Against Rutgers, Indiana twice stopped the Scarlet Knights on fourth down. Hardy said the defense views those stops as more than successful individual plays.

“We always talk about those fourth down stops being a turnover for us on defense,” Hardy said. “That’s a takeaway. So, that’s a really big part of the game for us.”

Now, the challenge is carrying that execution into another road setting. For Hardy, the approach does not change with the crowd.

“From the first play to the last play, we don’t let the crowd affect us at all,” Hardy said.

The Hoosiers will travel to the Cornhusker State to face Nebraska, Saturday October 11th, at Noon