Football
Junior safety Tregg Waters tackles junior Jamonne Chester with the help of freshman linebacker Mike Replogle during practice March 31 at Memorial Stadium.
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Junior safety Tregg Waters tackles junior Jamonne Chester with the help of freshman linebacker Mike Replogle during practice March 31 at Memorial Stadium.
Rising sophomore quarterback Tre Roberson searches for a receiver during practice Saturday, March 31 a Memorial Stadium.
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After a season in which the Hoosiers ran well against Big Ten opposition, rising junior tight end Ted Bolser and his teammates are preparing to improve in the passing game with the help of new Offensive Coordinator Seth Littrell.“Last year, we were running a lot of triple option with (freshman quarterback) Tre (Roberson),” Bolser said. “Coach (Littrell) said we need to be throwing the ball for at least 350 a game to win, so that’s what we’re going to be doing.”The Hoosiers only managed to surpass 350 passing yards in one game in 2011 — a loss to North Texas.In contrast, Littrell’s Arizona Wildcats averaged 370 passing yards per game and only failed to reach the 350-yard mark twice in 2011. Littrell said he and IU Coach Kevin Wilson have similar coaching backgrounds and that nothing dramatic is being added to the offensive scheme.“I’m not coming in here and bringing something that he hadn’t already done,” Littrell said. “Obviously, there’s a foundation already set here. Now we’ve just got to continue to get better there.”Rising junior wide receiver Kofi Hughes said the plays themselves are very similar to last year’s playbook but the differences are in the routes the receivers are running.“We’re finding the green grass,” Hughes said. “When you have a dig, it isn’t just going to be a regular dig. You’re going to have to come out of that dig, and you’re going to have to find where the open hole is, and that’s how we’re going to really play with teams.”Hughes said the quarterback then has to see the same hole the receiver sees. Hughes also said the communication has been steadily improving but will still take more time to perfect.Although a great deal of the offense depends on how the defense reacts to the offense, Littrell said it’s far too early to prepare for specific defenses.“When we’re talking about looking at other defenses and scouting for next year, we’ve got to worry about us right now,” Littrell said. “We can’t even begin to go there yet.”In terms of preparing for the future of the offense, however, a selection of pro-style, pass-heavy quarterbacks have been visiting Bloomington. Included in this group are Masillon, Ohio, native — and recent Cincinnati commit — Kyle Kempt and Arlington Heights, Ill., quarterback Mickey Macius.Both high-school juniors said they received the impression that the offense was becoming much more pass-oriented. Macius said the dual-threat, option offense could become less and less prominent for the Hoosiers in the coming years.“I think they’re actually moving away from that,” Macius said, “because the new offensive coordinator, Coach Littrell, he comes from those Oklahoma State and Texas Tech, pass-heavy offenses, and they don’t necessarily have those dual-threat quarterbacks where I think they’re trying to start recruiting a pass-oriented quarterback now.”Littrell has coached at Texas Tech and Arizona prior to heading to Bloomington in early January of this year.Though Roberson made a name for himself in 2011 with his legs more than his arm, Hughes said he has seen his quarterback change into a pass-first quarterback. Hughes said Roberson gladly accepted the role of changing from more of a running quarterback to a passer.“I think that’s what he took as a challenge,” Hughes said. “Whatever the blogs said or whatever people are saying, that he’s a run-first quarterback and this and that. I’d say he’s definitely a pass-first quarterback now.”
Junior Michael McGee tries to coax a tee shot to the left during Sunday's round at the NYX Hoosier Invitational at the IU Golf Course. IU finished in third place.
Junior John Beringer lines up a putt during his round at the NYX Hoosier Invitational on Sunday at the IU Golf Course. IU finished in third place.
Junior John Beringer tries to follow his tee shot with the sun in his face during Sunday's round of the NYX Hoosier Invitational at the IU Golf Course. IU finished in third place.
Junior Kyle Perry hits a tee shot during Sunday's round of the NYX Hoosier Invitational at the IU Golf Course. IU finished in third place.
Junior Michael McGee and freshman Nicholas Grubnich share a laugh while waiting to tee off on the fourth hole during Sunday's round of the NYX Hoosier Invitational at the IU Golf Course. IU finished in third place.
Freshman Andrew Fogg watches his tee shot during his round at the NYX Hoosier Invitational on Sunday at the IU Golf Course. IU finished in third place.
Freshman Andrew Fogg records his strokes on his scorecard midway through his round Sunday. Fogg had a combined weekend score of 219 as IU finished third at the NYX Hoosier Invitational at the IU Golf Course.
Sophomore David Mills hits a tee shot on the fourth hole at the NYX Hoosier Invitational on Sunday at the IU Golf Course. IU finished in third place.
Offensive Line Coach Greg Frey has been making an impression on offensive line recruits such as Orlando, Fla. left tackle Shawn Curtis and Columbus (Ind.) North tackle Ethan Brown.
After Tuesday's practice, rising junior wide receiver Kofi Hughes spoke with the IDS. Hughes, who led the team in receptions, receiving yardage and receiving touchdowns, talked about changes in the offense and how the team, especially the quarterbacks and wide receivers, are adjusting.
Sophomore defensive back Greg Heban attempts to tackle junior wide receiver Kofi Hughes during practice Saturday, March 31 at Memorial Stadium.
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Senior safety Alexander Webb is ready for a new spring season after a 2011 spring filled with introductions and adjustments.“It’s completely different,” Webb said. “We know what to expect. We know what effort we need to bring every day. Last year, going into spring ball, we didn’t know what to expect or what was expected of us from the coaches. This year, we know everything.”As Webb and other defenders become more accustomed to spring practices, the departure of linebackers Jeff Thomas and Leon Beckum and the addition of Defensive Ends Coach Jon Fabris are changing the makeup of the IU defense that surrendered 37.3 points per game in 2011.Rising sophomore linebacker Chase Hoobler said the absence of Thomas and Beckum left a number of players battling for the three starting linebacker jobs.“The positions are open,” Hoobler said. “We’ve got some new linebackers in, and it’s just straight competition, which I think is best for us because it pushes everybody to go harder and play their best, and you’ve got to be on your game everyday.”The new linebackers include junior college transfers sophomore David Cooper and junior Jacarri Alexander.Defensive Tackles Coach Mark Hagen said that after a down year, the Hoosiers need the intangibles brought by experienced junior college players.“When you’re a 1-11 football team, you’re just not getting it done,” Hagen said. “We brought those guys in for all those things — for swagger, for some confidence, for some physicality, for some instincts. They haven’t disappointed so far.”Webb’s raspy voice consistently rises above the din of practice, whether he’s quoting movies or hyping himself up before a snap.“You can hear Jacarri all day on the field,” Hoobler said. “That’s good for us. He’s kind of taken the role over of being the hype man on the team, so that’s good for us.”As Webb fills the role of verbal spark plug, Fabris is becoming another leader of the defense, more in the sage role. His extensive speeches include rhymes, anecdotes and pieces of wisdom from a career that has spanned 29 years and nine teams.Fabris said he has noticed during his career that many collegiate athletes overthink during drills and scrimmages, and that the Hoosiers are no different.“If they start thinking, it’s paralysis by analysis,” Fabris said. “They’re thinking too much as opposed to honing in on what they’re supposed to be doing.”His presence during the spring only lasts for the 15 spring practices, however. He said the majority of the responsibility falls on the players during their summer, which spans about 100 days during which the coaches cannot work with them.“I only get 15 days with them,” Fabris said. “They have 100 days. Yeah, they’re going to lift weights, they’re going to run, those things are important, but the great players will use those 100 days to make themselves better football players.”With last year’s seniors departed, these 15 practices are the first chances for rising seniors to embrace a leadership role, and Hagen said for the defense, it starts with the defensive tackles.Senior defensive tackle Larry Black Jr. said he needs to “light a fire” under his teammates and get the defense to start faster both in practice and in games.“We definitely have to have the upper leadership role, and it’s up to us to take control and stand out on the defense,” Black said. “We’re not doing our team any justice if we don’t go out there and make plays. This season is going to be upon us, and we have to take control.”
Junior fullback Mike Carter (left) and sophomore linebacker Jake Michalek grapple during a board drill at practice March 24 at Memorial Stadium.
Rising sophomore quarterback Tre Roberson searches for a receiver during practice Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Freshman wide receiver Nick Stoner changes direction to dive for a pass in practice Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Junior safety Ryan Thompson forces a fumble from freshman running back D'Angelo Roberts during practice Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
As the IU offense lined up inside the red zone during Saturday's scrimmage, a loud, raspy voice rose above the chatter and shouts of practice.