Offense
-I was kind of disappointed that Darius Willis did not practice. I was looking forward to at least seeing how he looked in pads.
-Gerry DiNardo loves the decision to install the pistol. He thinks it will help the running game and the defense. DiNardo feels the pistol offense will give IU more of a ball-control offense that can run in between the tackles. The more possession they have, the less the defense is on the field.
-The Hoosiers are still running the no-huddle.
-Everyone mentioned how much better the play-action pass can be with the pistol. This is because the quarterback turns his back to the defense and the defense cannot see the ball.
-Adam Follett has the #2 quarterback position right now but freshman Edward Wright-Baker is getting snaps with the second-team. Wright-Baker passes the eyeball test. He is muscular, has good size and his mechanics look good. Howard Griffith even pointed out how much Wright-Baker stood out to him.
-All of the analysts were impressed by the offensive line. They said that Rodger Saffold is "the best player on the team and one of the better linemen in the conference".
-Mike Hall asked Ben Chappell which receiver he had the best connection with. His answer, "Probably Terrance Turner. We have been together the whole time we have been here."
-Bryan Payton on Chappell: "Number one, he's a leader. He takes control of the situation on the field and he knows what to do. He's a wonderful competitor and we're glad to have him as a starter."
-DiNardo on Chappell: "He has a very good grasp of the offense. He doesn't always make perfect throws but there is no indecision and his timing is good."
-DeMarlo Belcher looked great. He has bulked up and he was moving really well. Indiana's wideouts looked very impressive. They are a big group that have a ton of potential. Duwyce Wilson fits right in and DiNardo mentioned that he really stood out in position drills.
-Matt Canada (offensive coordinator)- "The pistol utilizes our players the best way we can."
"We have backs that can run downhill, running it downhill gives you playaction." "I think we'll have explosion in this offense."
-When Canada was asked the one key to this season, he responded, "We gotta run the football. When we do that, we can pass the ball down the field."
Defense
-Ray Fisher looked like a natural at cornerback. He really impressed the analysts.
-Brian George (defensive coordinator) on Fisher: "Fisher is a natural. He is a really good tackler."
-George on the rest of the defense: "Middleton had a great offseason and he is now refocused. "Depth is now a plus after last season's injuries." "Matt Mayberry has really learned a lot. He didn't play much defense in high school but he has really honed in."
-DiNardo feels that the linebackers look good. He says they run well but need to prove they can be physical.
-The analysts all agreed that the most important thing for this defense to find is someone to step up in the middle. They need Mack, Mentzer, Smith, Replogle (Adam), and Sliger to plug the middle.
Renovations
Bryan Payton and Ben Chappell took reporter Mike Hall on a tour of the new facilities. They were extremely impressive. The offices look amazing, the weight room is massive and the Hall of Champions will be really cool when it gets done.
-138,000 square foot multi-purpose facility
-25,000 square foot weight training facility (largest in the nation and five times bigger than what IU previously had)
-Stadium enclosure that connects the East and West stands
-New offices, meeting rooms, team room, and Hall of Champions
Bill Lynch: "Shows commitment to Indiana football. It really brings a 'wow' factor." "The pistol helps the defense because it gets them used to playing power football." "Our offensive line is older, bigger and stronger."
DiNardo's final thoughts: "This is a drastically better football team. The pistol will make them a tougher team. There is absolutely no doubt that the difference between what we saw last season here and today is night and day."
It is important to remember that these guys are not going to say anything too negative while they are on campus. However, I am mildly encouraged that they see a "night and day difference" from the team. They talked about how much better the leadership under Ben Chappell appeared to be. You can't take too much from something like this but I think fans should be satisfied with the way things are going at IU's camp. Until next time, stay vigilant and God bless America.
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