Jamar and Jerome Johnson Allow Hoosier Defense to Make Justin Fields Look Mortal
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Photo: indiana university athletics
Written by Amanda Pavelka (@AmandaPavelka3)
42-35, Ohio State.
It was a one-score game for Indiana football when time ran out in Columbus. It was first-half hiccups, though, that came back to bite the Hoosiers. Defense came out hot and did their job, but offense did not make it mean anything. And when the offense found their rhythm, it was just too late. The Hoosiers lost, but Kane Wommack and his defense stood out as a bright spot in Saturday’s game against Ryan Day and the No. 3 Buckeyes.
IU’s defense knew they’d have their work cut out for them against Justin Fields and came to Ohio State hot and scheme(y).
Fields, a Heisman frontrunner, was completing at a wildly accurate 87-percent before Saturday, with three career interceptions— and zero in 2020. That was until he met Jamar Johnson and Jerome Johnson.
Less than five minutes into Saturday’s game Jamar Johnson picked off a pass to give Fields his very first interception of the season.
Little did Fields’ know that would be one of three interceptions on Saturday, that would double his career interceptions in a single game.
Eight minutes later, Fields threw a ball that hit OSU star receiver Chris Olave’s hands, and bounced off two Hoosiers before defensive lineman Jerome Johnson snagged it and collapsed to the ground.
Jerome Johnson wasn’t through with Fields, and went in for a monster highlight-reel worthy sack the next drive. He was one of five Hoosiers to sack Fields on Saturday.
Indiana’s third takeaway was by the hands of Jamar Johnson once again, but he just could not keep the ball secure as he was hit by three Buckeyes. He made up for it with his 5 tackles, a pass breakup and this sack.
Nonetheless, IU pressured a Heisman Trophy frontrunner who had zero interceptions this season, and three in his career, to throw three interceptions in a single game.
“We knew in weeks prior that the teams that (Fields) has been playing have been lining up in the coverage and showing them that same coverage, so it makes it easier on him to know where the holes are at in the defense.” Jamar Johnson told the media. “This week we started showing different coverages. We would show Cover 2 and play Cover 3 or show Cover 3 and play Cover 2. We were messing up his reads and trying to get him that way. We know he mainly likes to look at one receiver. He really does not go through his progression that much. We were just disguising our coverages.”
Unfortunately offense couldn’t find a way to cash in on takeaways, which was the ultimate reason for the Hoosiers’ loss. Fields’ throws were 27% less accurate (60%) than his 87% average completion— an impressive statistic for IU’s defense.
The dropped interception and missed tackles are the biggest mistakes Wommack and defensive coaching staff will find as they rewatch film in preparation for Maryland.
“The tackling was pretty apparent,” Allen said. “I thought it was not good. A lot of them were on Justin Fields. He is so strong and quick, and some of our best players consistently could not get him on the ground. Which is disappointing and frustrating.”
Overall, an outstanding plan and execution by Wommack and defense who proved themselves once again to be the strength of the IU football team, who deserves to be ranked No. 9 in the nation.