Media Monday: Notes and Quotes From Tom Allen on 8/27

Tom Allen met with the media Monday morning. Image: Sammy Jacobs Hoosier Huddle

Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

Tom Allen took to the podium for his first Media Monday for the 2018 season. There was plenty to talk about as the Hoosiers open their season in Miami against Florida International.

Notes:

-  QB Brandon Dawkins has left the program

-  ATH Reese Taylor will be moved to quarterback

-   Logan Justus Wins kicking job

-  Jared Smolar will be the kickoff specialist

Quotes:

Brandon Dawkins has left the program. Tom Allen sheds some light on the situation:

“Brandon Dawkins had to leave the program. We wish him nothing but the very best. He's a fine young man.”

Brandon’s “just going a different direction with his life, so kind of wanted to sort some things out, figure out what's next for him for him. Along the conversations we had. Those conversations are personal and private. Like I said, I wish him nothing but the best. He's a good kid.”

“you always talk to the young men the day before you announce it, which is what we did. From that point on, he was obviously making some decisions and thoughts for himself. A couple days after that he and I met, then yesterday he let us know where he's at. That's the situation. Pretty efficient timeline.”

Allen explains what has impressed him on offense this fall camp:

“The thing that sticks out to me is the multiple guys that we've been getting the ball to. I think that's a key thing you want to be able to do, is distribute the balls to your guys that can make plays in space. Receivers have done a really good job. I say that comparing back to last year's fall camp, comparing the two.

I actually went back and watched film from the scrimmages last year, different practice sessions, trying to compare where we are, what the players look like physically, how they're moving and stuff. Just encouraged by the offensive production by our receivers. A lot of different guys catching balls. That's been encouraging.

The number of running backs that have shown up that are guys making plays. Offensive line getting push in the run game, being able to have just a consistent group of guys working together there that we didn't have in the past. So those things I think have helped those guys feel more confident going into week one and feeling good about their execution.

Obviously, like anything else still a new group that has to mesh together completely. I just think they seem to work well as a unit, now they have to go out and execute on game day. That's obviously what matters most. That's what everything you do is built around. That kind of sticks out to me.”

Allen gives an update on Morgan Ellison:

“That's totally out of my hands. I have no comment.”

With Reese Taylor moving to quarterback Tom Allen was asked about his role:

“I see him definitely playing, yes. Obviously we go through and reevaluate some things as far as how that's going to look. But he's a guy that I view as a play-maker. You want to get him touching the football. In some ways this kind of gives you a chance to be more creative with that, to be honest with you.

At the same time I still want him to be utilized package-wise on offense and now it's obviously expanded. Our staff had a lot of conversation about that young man, he's really special, not just as a player, but as a person. When I talk to him, Coach, whatever I got to do to help this football team. That's the kind of kid he is. His one word is 'adapt'. He made sure I remembered that as we were meeting with the coaches. That's pretty cool to me. He's an unselfish guy that loves IU. Those are the kind of guys we want to put on the field.”

Allen on playing two quarterbacks in the opener against FIU:

“I try not to pigeonhole that, back ourselves in a corner. It wouldn't surprise me if you see him on Saturday. I don't know when, where, how. I just think he's a young man that we want to be able to grow his development into the program and see how he handles all that and responds.

We'll find out for sure on Saturday how it plays out. Yeah, I do believe I'd like to get him involved.”

Allen on new players facing new roles on the defensive line:

Jacob Robinson has elevated his leadership. Obviously been here for a long time. I love the way he owns the defense on the field, how hard we practice, how we run to the football, getting the guys together, getting their mindset right. He's a key. Gavin Everett is so solid in there, been a huge addition to be able to be a guy you can count on. His ability to produce. Allen Stallings is another one that's really grown and developed this offseason, his physical strength, stamina.

Love that group. On and on. Jerome Johnson has continued to develop. He's got to be a play-maker. Ja'merez Bowen is another guy I've been encouraged with his growth. I'm anxious to see those guys play. We're going to count on them, rotate them, play a bunch of them. I didn't even mention some of the guys. Freshmen are going to play. Just really it's going to be by committee. That's how we've done it at that position last two years since I've been here. Not going to be any different. You start on both sides of the ball, big men lead the way, then those guys have to set the tone for our defense by how hard, physical and technically sound they play. That's a big part of what we do in our scheme. It all relies on their initial movement and how well they play with their hands and run to the ball.

I think it's a good group of guys that's bought in. Coach Hagen does a tremendous job of holding them accountable.

There is a new headset rule in college football and Tom Allen has had to adjust:

It's created some changes. We've had to have several meetings about it. You have to designate who is going to be on the headsets. We're one of those staffs, whatever the rules are we're going to follow the rules. We've had to make some changes. Not massive changes. We don't have the numbers of staffing that some places do, which is really the intent for the rule, to create some competitive balance with some people's budgets, the way they're able to staff their coaches.

It's very strict about who is in the press box and who can be on a headset. Some programs are going to have a lot of guys that used to be that are not any more. That's not the case for us because we didn't have all those extra guys on our staff. It's a guy or two that we've had to tweak. But it does affect, you have to go back and look at how old certain guys are. That's part of the rules, to who can be on, who can be off a headset. The we had to go through and sometimes those rules have to be figured out, the fine print, what it actually means, ask questions, come back with all that. We feel good about it, got a good plan, feel like we're going to be able to maximize the information on game day, that's the keys.