Bowl Practices are Always Beneficial to Building Experience

Image: Indiana University Athletics

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

In the grand scheme of life having spring football and a normal fall camp for college football teams canceled or altered is not that big of a deal. However, in the football world losing that practice time is detrimental to how a team develops its depth and its young players who are not yet ready to crack the rotation. That makes bowl practice time that much more important. While nine of the 14 teams in the Big Ten sit the bowl season out, the Hoosiers are getting back those precious practice reps that were lost. While not a typical bowl season with 15 practice dates the Hoosiers did pick up a few practices where they could improve not just the young players, but some veterans who have not played a lot of football to this point.

“We got a couple extra days in.” Indiana head coach Tom Allen said on Wednesday. “The first two this week, kind of dedicated to that focus on fundamentals and those guys that have not gotten as many reps or periods with them. I would say a lot of our young offensive linemen that have not got the chance to play as much.”

The Hoosier offensive line, which struggled in part to not being able to gel or practice as a unit over the summer and fall, has been the focus. Allen pointed out two freshmen who have benefited the most from the extra reps along the o-line, Randy Holtz and Cameron Knight.

“Randy Holtz is one of those guys that we are just trying to bring him along. And obviously, big, big individual and just want to see him continue to grow and develop and I think that is big.” Allen said.

“Cameron Knight is a guy that you think has a bright future here. And he came early this year, although it got cut short.” Allen explained. The Hoosiers spring practice sessions were limited to just four practices before being shut down completely.

There are other player players on offense who have caught the IU coaches’ eyes. Wide receiver David Baker was mentioned by both Allen and wide receiver coach Grant Heard as a player who was stepping up. “David Baker is another one. We have got him lots of reps and he continues to make plays and does a good job.” Allen said.

Running back Tim Baldwin, who had a breakout game against Maryland, is another player who came in as an early enrollee only to have that opportunity cut short.

On the defensive side of the ball veteran Jovan Swann, who was a grad transfer from Stanford, has played a lot of meaningful minutes for the Hoosiers, but still needs the reps is making an impact. It’s rare you see a fifth-year senior mentioned as a beneficiary of extra practices, but it sets the tone for the team. Fellow defensive lineman Damarjhe Lewis and Beau Robbins has an excellent example to follow and get behind. Lewis was in for spring as well and Robbins was a four-star recruit a couple years ago who Allen says is “starting to come into his own. I think these extra practices and all the work he has done this year is starting to show up. So, I am excited about him.”

The Hoosiers are coming out of their own COVID outbreak situation in addition to having a few players that were banged up after having played seven Big Ten contests in a row. Allen said that “even guys that had maybe gotten dinged up a little bit, try to get those guys back, give them a chance to really get in there, get a ton of reps, get to get themselves physically developed and just keep getting better as a football team so those are all important things, I feel good about that we are getting accomplished these last few days.”

These practices are more than just prepping for the Outback Bowl, they set the tone for the next few years of the program. As the majority of the Big Ten is sitting at home, the Hoosiers are on the practice field trying to get better.