Focus on turnovers paying off for Hoosiers
There was a constant theme during fall camp for Indiana defensive players.
“All through fall camp, we preached turnovers, turnovers,” freshman linebacker Cam Jones said to iuhoosiers,com.
“Every single day, our defense had to have at least three or more turnovers or we had to run. Those runs after fall camp practices were something serious. We’d run until coach said stop. When we do gassers, our whole defensive coaching staff runs with us. When they get tired, that’s when we stop. And they don’t get tired. They’re in shape.”
The results have been significant, however.
Entering the Hoosiers’ (4-2, 1-2 Big Ten) homecoming game against visiting Iowa (4-1,1-1) Saturday, IU shares first in the Big Ten and ranks 13th nationally with six fumble recoveries and are tied for third in the league and 20th in the nation with seven interceptions.
“We didn’t emphasize it any different in the past, but I do think this fall camp I got back to really attacking the ball in practice,” Hoosiers coach Tom Allen said. “When you try to emphasize those, especially when you’re going against your own team as fall camp is unfolding, you don’t want it to injure your offensive guys as you’re raking at the ball, punching at the ball.”
But Allen decided the team had to get back to attacking the ball in practice.
“So we were much more aggressive with that in fall camp with our guys because we just feel like we didn’t get enough takeaways the year before. So I know the first takeaway we got of the year was Jonathan Crawford down there at (Florida International, in the season-opening victory) raking at the football. So to me it was just a direct reflection of that emphasis.”
Jones had his second fumble recovery of the season and it was one of three takeaways by IU in a 49-26 loss at No. 3 Ohio State.
“To be a good defense, you got to get turnovers and you got to score as a defense,” Jones said. “The goal is we want the ball. No matter how we get it, we want the ball.”
