Charlton Warren Points to Scheme Change for Lack of Takeaways

Written by Matt Smith

Indiana’s defense struggled for the second straight week in a tough game against Michigan. There have been many ups and downs for the Hoosiers defense this season as they struggle to stay healthy.

One of the biggest positives for the entire Indiana team this season has been the stellar play by Mich McFadden. McFadden continues to lead the defense and team through a very disappointing season.

“It’s all league effort, his ability to sustain, his ability to in critical moments, puncture a gap, come off a block, make a play is pretty incredible,” defensive coordinator Charlton Warren said during his Monday press conference.

A big concern for the defense this season is the lack of takeaways. Last season the Indiana defense was very opportunistic with takeaways and giving the offense good field position.  The Hoosiers have just nine takeaways this season compared to 20 a year ago.

“There is no less focus on that,” Warren said. “We’ve missed a lot of opportunities from the standpoint of dropped ones or didn’t get on the ball.”

Warren attributed this to the change in the scheme. Last season the Hoosiers were a pure zone vision team, where everyone is seeing where the quarterback is dropping so you can see where the ball is going. 

However, when you play man, you can focus on the wide receivers more. The Hoosiers are now a mix of both defensive schemes.

Indiana’s defense needed many stops during the first half of the game against Michigan, but was not able to contain the Wolverines and keep momentum for the Hoosiers.

Warren said that there was an explosive play and they always want to stop explosive plays so that was frustrating to him and made the score worse. 

A big issue for the Hoosiers defense has been the health of the secondary. Tiawan Mullen and Reese Taylor are out which paved the way for other players to step up and different schemes needed to be implemented.

“Everyone is trying to find a way on the field to help the cause to win a football game,” Warren said. “As a coach you love the buy-in, the culture of a group of guys like that, whether we are down fifty or up fifty, no one is trying to come out of the game.”