Brandon Shelby said he wants IU’s secondary to have the confidence to be dominant in 2016.
The Hoosier cornerbacks coach said he doesn’t want the secondary to think too much when it’s out on the field. Just know the playbook, make adjustments when needed, and play ball.
Shelby said he saw evidence of that level of play from junior cornerback Rashard Fant and others during IU’s scrimmage Saturday. He saw them battle an experienced group of IU receivers and improving group of quarterbacks and not give up the big plays they were always susceptible to in 2015.
“I think they’ve kind of grasped the fact that the whole defense put it all together, and they played hard,” Shelby said. “That was the key. We have a chance if we can limit the big plays and make sure that everybody plays fresh and can rotate.”
Fant said he sees continuing that high level of play in the coming days as critical to performing well in the season opener.
Last season the Hoosiers ranked 127th in the nation in passing yards allowed per game per cfbstats.com because flashes of brilliance would be overshadowed by a far greater number of blunders.
“The next step is really just being consistent and doing what we have to do play-in and play-out,” Fant said. “We did well during the scrimmage, and we’ve scrimmaged a lot during our regular practices, too. The biggest thing is just being locked in.”
Though the 2015 group had a lack of experience, the 2016 group features a mix of experience and quality newcomers.
Freshmen Marcelino Ball, Khalil Bryant and A’Shon Riggins are making the most of their early time on the field. Ball has thrust himself into the conversation for the starting role at husky, a position IU defensive coordinator Tom Allen said will play a large role in determining what the Hoosiers can do schematically on defense. Coaches said Bryant and Riggins are both physical, tackling well and using reps opened up to them because others are dealing with nicks and bruises to show they deserve early playing time.
Riggins has even made himself relevant in the conversation for who has the most takeaways on defense alongside sophomores Jonathan Crawford and Zeke Walker.
“He’s had several takeaways as well,” Allen said. “He’s a freshman corner that’s been a really, really pleasant surprise because you just never know how freshmen are going to react.”
The high quality of play by IU’s freshmen falls in line with the impressive overall performance by the Hoosier defense so far during fall camp, which has had an odd mix of weather throughout.
“You go through a lot of fall camps when you hardly get any rain, and yet you know there’s going to be a game where that’s going to happen,” Allen said. “So sometimes you almost have to create — put the ball in water and all that kind of stuff. But here we’ve had more than enough opportunities to experience the rain.”
The Hoosiers have experienced their fair share of heat as well, which, when paired with the heavy rain, Allen said, is the perfect preparation for IU’s season opener in Miami against FIU.
Only time will tell if it pays off.
