Allen, Defensive Coaches, IU Captains Use Bye Week to Try and Fix Slow Defensive Starts

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

The Hoosiers have played five games this season and sit at 2-3 (0-2) as they head into the back half of the schedule. Lately, the issue for IU is falling behind early and having to rely on a struggling offense to climb out of a hole. However, in four of IU’s five games the defense really has struggled to keep opponents off the board not only on the first drive, but in the first half.

What constitutes the start to a game? Is it the first drive, quarter, half? Pick any of those and IU has struggled against Power Five opponents. Tom Allen, the defensive coaching staff and IU’s defensive captains are trying to find a solution.

“I think we've got to take ownership of that too as coaches. That's on me as a head coach. We're going to change some things we do in practice. Once again met with our captains. Talked about this very thing. We talked about things that we felt like -- and I just wanted to get their input on some things.” Allen said.

IU has surrendered touchdowns on the first drive against Ohio State and Maryland while Louisville missed a field goal.

The adjustments Allen is making during practice seem simple and obvious, but hopefully effective.

“We'll make adjustments in how we practice and intensify the good on good opportunities where we're going against -- still going to go against our scouts. We're going to do more work, you know, offense versus defense and just trying to create the intensity and create the look that we need to get.” Allen said.

Indiana defensive lineman Philip Blidi discussed the energy that IU’s players have to bring to practice to make the changes effective.

“We got to come out there (with) high energy. We got to just keep our energy, the whole practice, because how we practice is how we're going to play at the end of the day. And that's something that's going to be very, very important going into this week of practice. Like we got to practice like that every day to play like that.” Blidi said.

Time will only tell how these adjustments work. IU has been outscored 68-37 in the first half and 35-24 in the first quarter alone. There is a reason why some of these games feel like they are over before halftime arrives.