Hoosiers Use Bye Week to Restructure and Reset
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Written by Zach Greene
Much happened last week for the Indiana Football program. The bye-week was filled with coaching changes and the firing of an offensive coordinator. Here is what the Hoosiers did the past bye week.
Firing of Walt Bell
Rod Carey as Offensive Coordinator
Hiring of Justin Fuente as Offensive Analyst
These moves come at the halfway mark of the season. . As far as what has happens on the field going forward remains to be seen with the big question is the offensive unit.
The Hoosiers have been on the grind since the beginning of August and maybe a week to get away from it all as the season has gone sideways at 2-3 (0-2).
“I think, first of all, there's a component of the bye week, I think, that's really important for your players, and that is when you address things and get some fundamental work in. They do need a mental break. We talked about, hey, do we go ahead and do something with our guys on a Thursday and then go out and recruit after that. But as we discussed it and I even met with our captains and trust those guys and where they're at, and just trying to help our players fully benefit from some time away. And I think that's important to do,” Allen explained.
The most significant change that occurred during the bye week was the change at offensive coordinator that saw Walt Bell get replaced with Rod Carey. A mid-season change will not be the overhaul that an offseason move would have had, but there are changes that can be made.
“So obviously you go back and you evaluate, what have you done well? And you go back and you look and you use the bye week to be able to evaluate the things that our guys do a good job with and feel comfortable with and within the structure of our current system, as you mentioned, you just can't wholesale change things at this point. But obviously a bye week gives you a chance to make some subtle adjustments. So we're in the process of doing that.” Allen said of the move.
Off the field Allen and his staff used the open week to hit the recruiting trail. IU coaches started out from Bloomington Wednesday afternoon to try and find prospects that fit their idea of the IU program.
“The bye week is the main time to do that, to go watch a young person, prospective player either playing in a game, practice or lift weights, whatever they do” Allen said. “So that allows us time away for them is time for us to go out and recruit. So you still try to do a little bit of both, but we were able to make some changes in that regard to help us spend a little more time with our guys here on campus.”
The Hoosiers turn their eyes north to the Michigan Wolverines who are ranked second in the nation. Hopefully reinvigorated for the final seven games of the season.