Key to Indiana Defensive Stability is Being “On the Same Page”

Kane Wommack has IU’s defense on the same page Image: Amanda Pavelka Hoosier Huddle

Written By: Nate Comp (@NathanComp1)

For the past couple years, there’s been a bit of uncertainty swirling around the Indiana defense when entering a new season. Whether it was Tom Allen juggling head coaching and defensive coordinator responsibilities, Kane Wommack taking over the full-time coordinator role, or balancing loss of talent with inexperienced newbies, the defense has been a wildcard.

Wommack thinks the 2020 season will bring stability.

Just five players moved on from the Hoosiers this offseason (Reakwon Jones, Andre Brown, Khalil Bryant, Gavin Everett, Allen Stallings) and the inexperienced youth has blossomed into a group with a January bowl game under its belt and a hunger for more.

“That part is very exciting because experience is much more significant coming out of last season. I think having those guys back, not changing systems defensively, having enough continuity to our defense… they know our system. They know what we're about,” said Wommack.

Additionally, the young guys that Wommack recruited when he first started are now becoming what he calls “youthful experienced” players that he is willing to trust in critical moments of the game. Players like Reese Taylor, Tiawan Mullen, and Jamar Johnson should see featured roles, whereas before they may have been used in a limited fashion.

“For us, situational downs, third down, red zone, two-minute scenarios, four-minute scenarios, how do we get guys not just on the field but how do we get them in the best position to feature them both schematically and athletically?”

Wommack felt consistency off the field would help as well. Despite two new faces to the defensive coaching staff, Jason Jones and Kevin Peoples, he stays committed to his system and made sure the new hires would as well.

“I told Tom [Allen] the other day I really am excited about this staff. Just such a good group of guys to work with. There's real chemistry with us. For having two new guys on the defensive staff, I think it's amazing how on the same page we are.”

“Jason has been in this system before. He was with us for five years at Ole Miss under my dad. So, running the same things. Then Jason and I kept in good contact since I left Ole Miss for Eastern Illinois. We've just kind of stayed up with one another.”

“Then a guy like Kevin Peoples, him and I are just fundamentally aligned in how we envision D-Line play. We've just been on such the same page about how we want to do things moving forward.”

As unstable as the world is right now, Wommack finally has had an offseason that has felt more under control. Certainly not what he is used to in terms of practice schedules or face-to-face encounters with players, but every coach is always going to want “just one more rep”.

“The transition has not been just helpful and good, it has really been a joy for me and I'm floored to be with these guys.”