Indiana Football's Media Monday: Indiana at Rutgers

Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

After a much-needed win over Maryland Kevin Wilson and the Hoosiers turned their attention to this week’s opponent the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Indiana will kick off against Rutgers at noon on BTN from High Point Solutions Stadium on Saturday

Coach Wilson Quotes

After starting slow because of a lack of third down conversions, Wilson said that picking up the first two or three were huge in getting out to the 13-0 lead last week. He also praised the running game. 

“Offensively, the good start, the two drives early, and we bogged down, drive three and four in the scoring zone, but that was good to see. Two touchdowns out of the gate really got us going. The first third-down conversion, we didn't make our first third down at Northwestern where we drop a pass. We actually misconnect -- we didn't get that first drive going, we got that first drive going, it was just a little shallow crosser that Nick Westbrook had a 9-yard gain that got us going. That's a play that no one remembers, but it was a really good play that got us going, because we hadn't gotten going a few times. So some simple plays were critical to the offense, they had no turnovers, they're third downs were better, rushing yardage was really, really good”

Wilson was not pleased with all the phases of the game as he was critical in pointing out the errors on special teams that need to be addressed. 

“Kicking game, kick coverage wasn't good, two out of bounds, our kicking game was very, very poor. Which is not good. Didn't get much out of kick return. Only had two punts. One wasn't that good. Punt return didn't do much. We can impact the game there. Didn't. PAT, field goal. We miss a hold on a PAT and we miss a field goal. So us kicking the ball was very, very poor.”

With Brandon Knight being side-lined with a lower-body injury, Delroy Baker filled in nicely and will have to continue to get better. Here is what Wilson had to say about players stepping up off the bench.

“He did good. He did all right. Bailey did good when Feeney wasn't there. We've got 85 scholarships.

Guys like he and Diamont, you're in a world where sometimes you get down, you get selfish. Those are two guys that haven't played probably as much as they would like. They both played a lot the other day. But they have been pretty good teammates. When you're in a world where selfishness is kind of easy and individual needs and your things, those have been pretty good teammates. So it was good. Greg's coaching him hard. He's been here for a while. We'll have big DaVondre Love, he can play out there. Feeney has played out there if we need it. There will be -- we'll have five guys. But it was good for Delroy and that's why, again, patience, working hard, getting better.” 

On the continued use of the Bacon-and-Legs wildcat package.

“We'll see, some of those weeks our base stuff we didn't run block it very well and we didn't get a run game going, so it was just trying to jump start the run game. And now that doesn't really change our offense still, it's still the same offense and we'll -- to me we've always played the personnel. We're a little bit different when Tevin was a running back, a little bit different when Jordan is the running back, we're a little bit different when Shane was in the slot. You're a little bit different when Teddy is tight end versus Danny Friend. You always play to personnel and what guys can and can't do. But that's a unique group and we'll find ways we can -- and I couldn't have told you last week we were going to do a lot or a little. I had no idea. Because you really don't know. You just get in the flow of games and all of a sudden you kind of ride some hot hands. I thought the way we transitioned back and forth was good. The credit was the blocking, the credit was the kids executed.”

Quick-Hitters

Conference Awards

Marcus Oliver- Co-Defensive Player of the Week
Tyler Natee: Freshman Player of the Week

Players of the Week

Offense- Dan Feeney (OG), Devine Redding (RB), Tyler Natee (RB)
Defense- Marcus Oliver (LB)
Special Teams- None

Scout Offense- Peyton Ramsey (QB), Chris Gajcak (WR), Alex Rodriguez (RB)
Scout Defense- Andre Brown (CB), Thomas Henderson (LB), Jake Attar (DB)

Injuries

Brandon Knight (OL)- “He got a leg injury that -- he's not going to require surgery, but he's going to be kind of gimped up here for awhile. I don't know if he'll be going this week. He's got a lower leg deal.” Says coach Kevin Wilson.