Written by Amanda Pavelka (@amandapavelka3)

The Indiana defense has been especially impressive through five games in 2020. After last week’s showdown that ended in favor of Ohio State, the Hoosiers look to bounce back at home against Maryland this Saturday. Here are the keys for Indiana defense to get the job done against Mike Locksley and the Terrapins.

Handle Taulia Tagovailoa

Taulia Tagovailoa is 58-of-86 (67.4%) passing for 770 yards in three games this season, including a 76-yard pass against Minnesota. In that same game, he also burned the Gopher defense with his legs with 59 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

”I think back and go through and it has been a one-possession game every time I have been here” Indiana head coach Tom Allen said on Thursday.

The Hoosier defense doesn’t have the leeway to allow Tagovailoa to throw down on the field Saturday—any big plays will rally the Terps, and that’s dangerous. Depending on how you look at it, Maryland could have an advantage having had two weeks off following a COVID outbreak within their program. Every single possession will matter as it has in this series since 2016.

Takeaways, takeaways, takeaways

IU’s consistent ability to cause turnovers have been the key to wins in 2020 as they have forced 15 total takeaways, and this Saturday will be no different. The Hoosier defense did everything it could to set the offense up for success in Columbus last week. That same defensive hustle that caused three interceptions on a Heisman Trophy frontrunner is the kind of defense that needs to show up to face Maryland’s multiple offense.

Tagovailoa has four interceptions this season. Tom Allen’s goal for his defense is to average three takeaways per game. The Hoosiers’ Swarm D is averaging just that through five games. Should the Hoosiers reach their goal of three takeaways per game, IU should walk out of Memorial Stadium 5-1.

Tackle!

Last week’s matchup with Ohio State posed a problem the Hoosiers had not yet struggled with this season, and that is tackling. Kane Wommack said IU had 13 missed tackles and eight missed sacks against Ohio State.

“They’ve got a lot of speed,” Tom Allen said. “They always have ever since we played them. Yeah, as you mentioned, they put them in space. They put them in different positions to get them the football, even on special teams, all their speed that they have had and they still have and have had every year we have played them. And so, I think guys got to rally to the football. Guys got to make plays in space and I think it just puts stress on you. Creates more one-on-one situations because of the ability to spread you out and get those guys to the ball in those positions. And I think that has been a big part of it.”

The Terps have a trio of speedy receivers the Hoosiers will need to have an answer for Saturday. Three games into the season, Demus Jr. leads the team in receiving with 17 catches for 228 yards. Former five-star recruit Rakim Jarrett has 12 receptions for 213 yards (17.3 yards average) including a 62-yarder at Penn State. Jeshaun Jones has 152 yards off 9 catches and was a recipient of the 76-yard touchdown against Minnesota.

Halt the Running Game

Maryland has done a great job at running the ball this season. Jake Funk a veteran running back that has been key in moving the ball down the field for the Terps. Funk had a monster game against Minnesota where he ran the ball 21 times for 221 yards. He is averaging 7.8 yards per carry on 43 rushes (336 yards) so far in 2020. If the Hoosiers can find a way to stop him, they’ll have a lot more time with the football on Saturday.

Funk is not the only Maryland rusher who can take it the distance. The Terrapins rank second in the Big Ten with nine rushes over 20 yards. However, it may be boom or bust for the Terps as they sit right smack in the middle of the conference in total rushing yards per game with 156.

The Huddle

Indiana’s Defensive Keys to Victory over Maryland

Hoosier Huddle