Defense plays tough despite offense's struggles

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The IU defense had routinely given up big plays for big yards and big points during the first half of the 2010 season.

Same case Saturday, right? Not so fast.

In their 43-13 loss at Illinois, the Hoosiers (4-3, 0-3) surrendered just 289 yards of total offense and allowed just 14 points on drives that began outside their territory.

The unit forced its opponent into punt- and field-goal situations on all but three of its offensive possessions, one of which began just outside the IU red zone.

“I thought our defense really played hard,” IU coach Bill Lynch said. “I thought we held (Illinois) off in some key situations. We’ve improved each week defensively, and I saw that out there today.”

Of the 289 yards the IU defense allowed the Fighting Illini (4-3, 2-2), 98 came in the first quarter, particularly on three plays.

The Illinois offense picked up its chunks late in the period following IU redshirt freshman tight end Ted Bolser’s single-season record-setting touchdown reception.

Illinois running back Mikel Leshoure broke loose on second-and-nine for a 39-yard gain, and quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase scrambled for 25 yards two plays later.

Scheelhaase then found tight end Evan Wilson down the north sideline for a 29-yard touchdown connection to put the Fighting Illini up 10-7 in the waning moments of the quarter.

From there, the Hoosiers began to contain Illinois in terms of yards gained.

IU allowed gains of just 20, 23 and 36 yards, respectively, during the Fighting Illini’s final three offensive series of the first half.

Illinois’ second-quarter touchdowns occurred only after the Fighting Illini recovered a Dusty Kiel fumble at the Hoosiers’ 23-yard line and when Illinois defensive back Patrick Nixon-Youman returned senior quarterback Ben Chappell’s second interception of the game to the house.

Chappell’s first pick on the game’s opening series also pitted his team’s defense in unfavorable field position, giving Illinois possession at the IU 16-yard line and ultimately a field goal.

However, senior linebacker Tyler Replogle insisted the Hoosier defense wasn’t concerned about its starting positions after the offense’s turnovers.

“We got put in some tough situations, but that’s football,” the defensive captain said. “I think as a defense, that’s when your play is most important. ... And I think we responded well.”

The defense remained stout to begin the second half.

The Hoosiers forced a three-and-out on the Fighting Illini’s opening possession and after junior punter Chris Hagerup’s punt was blocked and recovered at the IU 21-yard line, forced a turnover of their own.

Junior defensive end Darius Johnson forced the ball out of Scheelhaase’s grasp after the Illinois quarterback picked up 11 yards on the ground, and junior safety Donnell Jones recovered the loose ball at the IU 7-yard line.

However, the offense was unable to capitalize on the turnover, and Illinois blocked another Hagerup punt and recovered it in the end zone for a safety — two more points that didn’t come at the expense of the Hoosiers’ defensive squad.

“That we have to get corrected,” Lynch said of the two blocked punts. “That’s one of those things you cannot have in the kicking game, but we did, and we’ll get those corrected.”

On a day those blocked punts and IU’s turnovers resulted in 26 of the Fighting Illini’s 43 points, the defense felt it put forth one of its stronger efforts of the season.

The Hoosiers stopped Leshoure — who entered Saturday as the nation’s 14th-leading rusher, averaging 113.3 yards per game — to just 77 yards on the ground.

Junior linebacker Jeff Thomas, who led the Hoosiers with 13 tackles, attributed that success to the team’s tackling as a whole.

“I feel like we’ve been making a lot better tackles,” Thomas said. “Open-field tackles, one-on-one tackles and all that. I definitely feel like we’re playing better there.”

The junior also said he expects the defense to continue to improve.

“We continually come together week-in and week-out,” Thomas said. “We make mistakes together, but we make good plays together, and I feel like we just continue to build every week.”