Big Ten: Kellen Lewis
Q&A: Badgers O-coordinator Matt Canada
February, 22, 2012
Feb 22
9:00
AM ET
By
Adam Rittenberg | ESPN.com
Wisconsin's offense has put up record-setting numbers in each of the past two seasons, surviving key personnel losses after the 2010 campaign, only to reload in 2011. The Badgers have ranked in the top 25 nationally in rushing in each of the past five seasons, replacing productive running backs and offensive linemen almost every year. The one constant throughout had been offensive coordinator Paul Chryst, but he's no longer in Madison after taking the head-coaching job at Pitt.
Bret Bielema selected Northern Illinois offensive coordinator Matt Canada to replace Chryst. Canada, one of six new Badgers assistants for the 2012 season, returns to the Big Ten after spending seven seasons at Indiana from 2004-10, the last four as IU's offensive coordinator. While he ran a spread offense at both Indiana and NIU, he'll direct a pro-style system in Madison that has become Wisconsin's identity. Canada's biggest priority: keep the momentum going.
ESPN.com recently caught up with Canada. Here are his thoughts:
You expressed a lot of excitement about this job when you were hired. What has it been like being in Madison these last few weeks?
Matt Canada: I'm still real excited. It's a great place, and I continue to enjoy the opportunity that's been presented. I'm really excited about getting to know the players, and very, very happy with what great kids we have here in the program. Obviously, there's a reason for the success that's going on here. We've got great players, and [Bielema] has put together a really good staff. I'm excited about getting to know all the staff, focusing with the offense, obviously, and reconnecting with a couple guys I knew and getting to know a couple guys I don't. It's been a really, really good month.
What was your perception of Wisconsin from the outside, and how has that changed being on the inside?
MC: My perception is it's a very physical program. They're going to come in and run the football and stop the run. They do the things the right way. They're very, very sound. They don't beat themselves. And you come in and study the film, and it's exactly what I thought it was. I've played against them for a lot of years and been around the program as an opponent, so I've spent time studying it because it's a program you look at and want to emulate in why they are so successful. I don't think it's anything different [being there]. Things are even better than you thought they might be.
Bret wanted to bring in assistants from different backgrounds and different parts of the country. How many of the offensive assistants did you know and how many were you involved in bringing in?
MC: Well, I knew all but one, and the other one, I had a chance to be involved in the interviewing process. Thomas Hammock, obviously I coached when he was a running back at Northern Illinois. I was involved in recruiting Thomas and then coached him as a position coach for a couple of years, so I've known him a long, long time. Eddie Faulkner, who we hired, I worked with last year at Northern Illinois. Zach Azzanni, I've known through recruiting, so not as well, and then Mike Markuson, I was simply involved with [Bielema] on making that decision. I've known two really well, if you want to be specific.
You have a varied background, running some spread, running some pro-style. I know Bret wants to keep the pro-style in place. How do you blend your background with what Wisconsin has done and what it wants the identity to be?
MC: The identity won't change. There's no question what this place is about. Our job as coaches is putting our kids in positions to make plays and utilize the talent you've got. We certainly have talent on this team to continue to run what is considered a pro-style, downhill offense. We're going to continue to do that. Our recruiting base gives us a chance to recruit those types of players, so we're going to continue to be what Wisconsin has been. There's a reason I wanted to be here so bad. I certainly am well aware of what has gone on here. We're not going to come in here and change something that's not broke. Obviously, there's going to be nuances and little things. We all coach in our own way, we all have our own tendencies and things that we like, but the general rule is it's going to stay the same.
Is the Northern Illinois offense you coordinated in 2003 the most similar to what you want to do with Wisconsin now, rather than what you did at Indiana or NIU the second time?
MC: I would say so. We had a real special back [Michael Turner]. We had [Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle] Doug Free on the line. He was a young kid then. We had some pretty good linemen. We had some good tight ends, both went on to play in the league. So we had a real good program and real good players that year. It was such a special year. I feel good about what we've done in the sense that at certain times we used our talent as what it was. Obviously, we had a great runner in Michael and were able to utilize him. We go to Indiana and had some success with Kellen Lewis, who people considered a running type of quarterback. Ben Chappell was a drop-back guy. And you go to Northern and we rushed for 250 yards a game for the majority of the season in a different way. So we're going to maximize our talent. We've got a really good staff on offense, guys who are going to find ways to use what we've got, matchups and all the things that come along with it. We certainly understand how the system is going to work.
A lot of people on the outside see Wisconsin and these two record-setting seasons on offense. Now there's all this change with players and coaches. Is it a challenge to keep the momentum going with all the transition?
MC: It's all the way around. They won two Big Ten titles here, so obviously the challenge is to be great today and keep doing everything that's been done. But as a competitor, you have that regardless. I've been very, very fortunate, you look at the last two moves I had to make. I went to a program that won 11 games [in 2010] and we came in and found a way to do it again and go ahead and get the championship and win a bowl game and all those things we wanted to do. You compete against today. You compete against where you are and being great today. That's what we're going to do. We're certainly respectful of what we've done, but we're moving forward and looking ahead to the opportunities we've got and the great players we have that want to play. We have a bunch of great players still here. We're excited about that, and the guys who need to step up, they get a chance to show what they can do now.
Some of those guys are going to be at the quarterback position. Have you reviewed tape of those guys? What type of players are you inheriting?
MC: A little bit. I know some of them through things in the past. We've got a couple guys who have been nicked up, so it's a bit of a clean slate for those guys. We're certainly embracing everybody's concern. Look at what Russell [Wilson] was able to do when he came in here. What a great talent. When you watch the film, my goodness, he made some plays. He made some things happen when they weren't there. Certainly an unbelievable year for him, which led to the success. I told [the quarterbacks] the first day I met them that they play the greatest position in all of sports, and they get to do it at a great place with great players, great running backs and the whole deal. So I'm excited about it. We've got a good group of good kids that get along well, but obviously it's competition and we're excited about getting going with that.
You mentioned some guys are nicked up. How are Jon [Budmayr] and Curt [Phillips] from what you can tell?
MC: Everything is coming along well. This time of year, we're being very, very cautious in trying to get ourselves back, but everything is going well and they're working hard and feeling good about where they are.
You've been around some great running backs. Where does Montee Ball rank in that mix?
MC: I've certainly been fortunate to be around to be around [some good backs]. Thomas was a great, great player, and then Michael was a great player, and on and on. Montee, we're certainly excited he's here. I knew Montee through recruiting, and Montee was the first player I got to meet when I got here. It was over winter breaks, and most of the kids were gone, but he had been honored at the basketball game the night before and came up and said hello. Montee's just proven to be such a great kid, and everything he's seen and done is about the team and the program. He told me he was excited I was here. I certainly reassured him I was a lot more excited he's here. There's no doubt about that.
He's a great ambassador for what our program is about. Everything Coach B talks about in the quality of kids we have, everything he shows is what this place is about. It's going to be fun to watch him really explode into his senior year. I'm fired up to be part of that.
How much of spring practice is going to be the players getting to know you and the other new assistants?
MC: That happens all the way around. We're talking about coming into a place that has unbelievable success. They're going to get to know us, and the great part about it is this is what Wisconsin's about. It's a developmental program where guys are excited to work. They're excited to see how we're going to be, and we're excited to get to coach them. So it's a two-way street in getting to know each other. There's no confusion. We're trying to win a third Big Ten championship and take it from there, and let's go. Let's keep doing what they've been doing.
You're about a month away from spring ball. What will your main objectives be with the unit in the spring?
MC: Just get better every day. We feel we need to find a quarterback. That's one area everybody can talk about. But each day, I would be remiss in imagining I know exactly who we are. There's changes and we've got some guys nicked up, we're finding some guys to step in there currently and then maybe get those guys back. All those things come into spring football. So it's really about embracing the challenge of being great every day, and enjoying and getting to know each other.
Bret Bielema selected Northern Illinois offensive coordinator Matt Canada to replace Chryst. Canada, one of six new Badgers assistants for the 2012 season, returns to the Big Ten after spending seven seasons at Indiana from 2004-10, the last four as IU's offensive coordinator. While he ran a spread offense at both Indiana and NIU, he'll direct a pro-style system in Madison that has become Wisconsin's identity. Canada's biggest priority: keep the momentum going.
ESPN.com recently caught up with Canada. Here are his thoughts:
[+] Enlarge
Kelvin Kuo/US PRESSWIREMatt Canada should be excited about his gig at Wisconsin. He gets to coach Heisman finalist Montee Ball.
Kelvin Kuo/US PRESSWIREMatt Canada should be excited about his gig at Wisconsin. He gets to coach Heisman finalist Montee Ball.Matt Canada: I'm still real excited. It's a great place, and I continue to enjoy the opportunity that's been presented. I'm really excited about getting to know the players, and very, very happy with what great kids we have here in the program. Obviously, there's a reason for the success that's going on here. We've got great players, and [Bielema] has put together a really good staff. I'm excited about getting to know all the staff, focusing with the offense, obviously, and reconnecting with a couple guys I knew and getting to know a couple guys I don't. It's been a really, really good month.
What was your perception of Wisconsin from the outside, and how has that changed being on the inside?
MC: My perception is it's a very physical program. They're going to come in and run the football and stop the run. They do the things the right way. They're very, very sound. They don't beat themselves. And you come in and study the film, and it's exactly what I thought it was. I've played against them for a lot of years and been around the program as an opponent, so I've spent time studying it because it's a program you look at and want to emulate in why they are so successful. I don't think it's anything different [being there]. Things are even better than you thought they might be.
Bret wanted to bring in assistants from different backgrounds and different parts of the country. How many of the offensive assistants did you know and how many were you involved in bringing in?
MC: Well, I knew all but one, and the other one, I had a chance to be involved in the interviewing process. Thomas Hammock, obviously I coached when he was a running back at Northern Illinois. I was involved in recruiting Thomas and then coached him as a position coach for a couple of years, so I've known him a long, long time. Eddie Faulkner, who we hired, I worked with last year at Northern Illinois. Zach Azzanni, I've known through recruiting, so not as well, and then Mike Markuson, I was simply involved with [Bielema] on making that decision. I've known two really well, if you want to be specific.
You have a varied background, running some spread, running some pro-style. I know Bret wants to keep the pro-style in place. How do you blend your background with what Wisconsin has done and what it wants the identity to be?
MC: The identity won't change. There's no question what this place is about. Our job as coaches is putting our kids in positions to make plays and utilize the talent you've got. We certainly have talent on this team to continue to run what is considered a pro-style, downhill offense. We're going to continue to do that. Our recruiting base gives us a chance to recruit those types of players, so we're going to continue to be what Wisconsin has been. There's a reason I wanted to be here so bad. I certainly am well aware of what has gone on here. We're not going to come in here and change something that's not broke. Obviously, there's going to be nuances and little things. We all coach in our own way, we all have our own tendencies and things that we like, but the general rule is it's going to stay the same.
Is the Northern Illinois offense you coordinated in 2003 the most similar to what you want to do with Wisconsin now, rather than what you did at Indiana or NIU the second time?
MC: I would say so. We had a real special back [Michael Turner]. We had [Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle] Doug Free on the line. He was a young kid then. We had some pretty good linemen. We had some good tight ends, both went on to play in the league. So we had a real good program and real good players that year. It was such a special year. I feel good about what we've done in the sense that at certain times we used our talent as what it was. Obviously, we had a great runner in Michael and were able to utilize him. We go to Indiana and had some success with Kellen Lewis, who people considered a running type of quarterback. Ben Chappell was a drop-back guy. And you go to Northern and we rushed for 250 yards a game for the majority of the season in a different way. So we're going to maximize our talent. We've got a really good staff on offense, guys who are going to find ways to use what we've got, matchups and all the things that come along with it. We certainly understand how the system is going to work.
A lot of people on the outside see Wisconsin and these two record-setting seasons on offense. Now there's all this change with players and coaches. Is it a challenge to keep the momentum going with all the transition?
MC: It's all the way around. They won two Big Ten titles here, so obviously the challenge is to be great today and keep doing everything that's been done. But as a competitor, you have that regardless. I've been very, very fortunate, you look at the last two moves I had to make. I went to a program that won 11 games [in 2010] and we came in and found a way to do it again and go ahead and get the championship and win a bowl game and all those things we wanted to do. You compete against today. You compete against where you are and being great today. That's what we're going to do. We're certainly respectful of what we've done, but we're moving forward and looking ahead to the opportunities we've got and the great players we have that want to play. We have a bunch of great players still here. We're excited about that, and the guys who need to step up, they get a chance to show what they can do now.
Some of those guys are going to be at the quarterback position. Have you reviewed tape of those guys? What type of players are you inheriting?
MC: A little bit. I know some of them through things in the past. We've got a couple guys who have been nicked up, so it's a bit of a clean slate for those guys. We're certainly embracing everybody's concern. Look at what Russell [Wilson] was able to do when he came in here. What a great talent. When you watch the film, my goodness, he made some plays. He made some things happen when they weren't there. Certainly an unbelievable year for him, which led to the success. I told [the quarterbacks] the first day I met them that they play the greatest position in all of sports, and they get to do it at a great place with great players, great running backs and the whole deal. So I'm excited about it. We've got a good group of good kids that get along well, but obviously it's competition and we're excited about getting going with that.
You mentioned some guys are nicked up. How are Jon [Budmayr] and Curt [Phillips] from what you can tell?
MC: Everything is coming along well. This time of year, we're being very, very cautious in trying to get ourselves back, but everything is going well and they're working hard and feeling good about where they are.
You've been around some great running backs. Where does Montee Ball rank in that mix?
MC: I've certainly been fortunate to be around to be around [some good backs]. Thomas was a great, great player, and then Michael was a great player, and on and on. Montee, we're certainly excited he's here. I knew Montee through recruiting, and Montee was the first player I got to meet when I got here. It was over winter breaks, and most of the kids were gone, but he had been honored at the basketball game the night before and came up and said hello. Montee's just proven to be such a great kid, and everything he's seen and done is about the team and the program. He told me he was excited I was here. I certainly reassured him I was a lot more excited he's here. There's no doubt about that.
He's a great ambassador for what our program is about. Everything Coach B talks about in the quality of kids we have, everything he shows is what this place is about. It's going to be fun to watch him really explode into his senior year. I'm fired up to be part of that.
How much of spring practice is going to be the players getting to know you and the other new assistants?
MC: That happens all the way around. We're talking about coming into a place that has unbelievable success. They're going to get to know us, and the great part about it is this is what Wisconsin's about. It's a developmental program where guys are excited to work. They're excited to see how we're going to be, and we're excited to get to coach them. So it's a two-way street in getting to know each other. There's no confusion. We're trying to win a third Big Ten championship and take it from there, and let's go. Let's keep doing what they've been doing.
You're about a month away from spring ball. What will your main objectives be with the unit in the spring?
MC: Just get better every day. We feel we need to find a quarterback. That's one area everybody can talk about. But each day, I would be remiss in imagining I know exactly who we are. There's changes and we've got some guys nicked up, we're finding some guys to step in there currently and then maybe get those guys back. All those things come into spring football. So it's really about embracing the challenge of being great every day, and enjoying and getting to know each other.
Big Ten QBs on the move more than ever
September, 21, 2011
9/21/11
9:00
AM ET
By
Adam Rittenberg | ESPN.com
In 2001, the Big Ten presented its MVP award to a quarterback whose unique skill set made him somewhat of an athletic wonder at the time.
He had become the first player in FBS (then Division I-A) history to record 40 passing touchdowns and 40 rushing touchdowns in his career. He had recorded the top three single-season rushing performances by a quarterback in Big Ten history. He had recorded three of the top four single-game quarterback rushing performances in league history.
He had set the Big Ten career quarterback rushing record with 3,895 yards, eclipsing the previous mark, set by Michigan's Rich Leach, by 1,719 yards.
The Big Ten hadn't seen anyone quite like Indiana's Antwaan Randle El.
But if Randle El played today, he'd have plenty of company.
A year after Michigan's Denard Robinson set several NCAA records, including single-season rushing yards by a quarterback (1,702), the Big Ten is a league filled with quarterbacks who can scoot.
Three weeks into the 2011 season, here's how the Big Ten's rushing chart looks.
1. Taylor Martinez, QB, Nebraska: 384 yards (128 ypg)
2. Denard Robinson, QB, Michigan: 352 yards (117.3 ypg)*
3. MarQueis Gray, QB, Minnesota: 328 yards (109.3 ypg)
4. Montee Ball, RB, Wisconsin: 272 yards (90.7 ypg)
*-includes stats from opener against Western Michigan
The league's top three rushers are quarterbacks, and all of them rank among the nation's top 25 rushers. In fact, the nation's top three quarterback rushers all come from the Big Ten.
While the season remains very young and the rushing chart likely will change in the coming weeks, the Big Ten has become a haven for dual-threat quarterbacks.
Six of the league's top single-game quarterback rushing performances have taken place in the past four seasons (four by Robinson, one by former Northwestern quarterback Mike Kafka and one by former Indiana quarterback Kellen Lewis). Robinson set the Big Ten single-season quarterback rushing record in 2010, and Illinois' Nathan Scheelhaase finished fifth -- behind Randle El's three seasons -- with 868 yards.
Gray set a Minnesota single-game quarterback rushing record last Saturday by racking up 171 yards in a win against Miami (Ohio). The junior is the first Gophers quarterback to record consecutive 100-yard rushing performances since Billy Cockerham in 1999.
"We're seeing it week in and week out," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. "This is our fourth straight week of playing quarterbacks that have a lot of designed runs. That just seems to be the direction college football is going in right now."
Although the Big Ten has never seen rushing numbers quite like these from its quarterbacks, the league has gone through similar waves.
"Back when I played, it was more option-based," said Nebraska coach Bo Pelini, who played safety at Ohio State from 1987-90. "Now it's a little bit more the spread, zone-read, zone-option type thing. Everybody's a little bit different, but either way, that quarterback can put some pressure on you pretty quick."
Minnesota coach Jerry Kill made it clear he hopes the Big Ten rushing chart looks dramatically different in a few weeks.
His worry is valid. The more quarterbacks carry the football, the more hits they absorb and the greater their injury risk will be.
Martinez wasn't the same player -- nor Nebraska the same team -- after getting banged up midway through last season. Robinson missed time in most of Michigan's games last season after being shaken up.
"You'd rather have your tailback [leading the league in rushing]," Kill said. "... We all worry when a quarterback's running that much [about] the health of that quarterback when it comes to Game 9, 10, 11 and 12. It's a concern."
He had become the first player in FBS (then Division I-A) history to record 40 passing touchdowns and 40 rushing touchdowns in his career. He had recorded the top three single-season rushing performances by a quarterback in Big Ten history. He had recorded three of the top four single-game quarterback rushing performances in league history.
He had set the Big Ten career quarterback rushing record with 3,895 yards, eclipsing the previous mark, set by Michigan's Rich Leach, by 1,719 yards.
The Big Ten hadn't seen anyone quite like Indiana's Antwaan Randle El.
But if Randle El played today, he'd have plenty of company.
A year after Michigan's Denard Robinson set several NCAA records, including single-season rushing yards by a quarterback (1,702), the Big Ten is a league filled with quarterbacks who can scoot.
Three weeks into the 2011 season, here's how the Big Ten's rushing chart looks.
1. Taylor Martinez, QB, Nebraska: 384 yards (128 ypg)
2. Denard Robinson, QB, Michigan: 352 yards (117.3 ypg)*
3. MarQueis Gray, QB, Minnesota: 328 yards (109.3 ypg)
4. Montee Ball, RB, Wisconsin: 272 yards (90.7 ypg)
*-includes stats from opener against Western Michigan
The league's top three rushers are quarterbacks, and all of them rank among the nation's top 25 rushers. In fact, the nation's top three quarterback rushers all come from the Big Ten.
While the season remains very young and the rushing chart likely will change in the coming weeks, the Big Ten has become a haven for dual-threat quarterbacks.
Six of the league's top single-game quarterback rushing performances have taken place in the past four seasons (four by Robinson, one by former Northwestern quarterback Mike Kafka and one by former Indiana quarterback Kellen Lewis). Robinson set the Big Ten single-season quarterback rushing record in 2010, and Illinois' Nathan Scheelhaase finished fifth -- behind Randle El's three seasons -- with 868 yards.
Gray set a Minnesota single-game quarterback rushing record last Saturday by racking up 171 yards in a win against Miami (Ohio). The junior is the first Gophers quarterback to record consecutive 100-yard rushing performances since Billy Cockerham in 1999.
"We're seeing it week in and week out," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. "This is our fourth straight week of playing quarterbacks that have a lot of designed runs. That just seems to be the direction college football is going in right now."
Although the Big Ten has never seen rushing numbers quite like these from its quarterbacks, the league has gone through similar waves.
"Back when I played, it was more option-based," said Nebraska coach Bo Pelini, who played safety at Ohio State from 1987-90. "Now it's a little bit more the spread, zone-read, zone-option type thing. Everybody's a little bit different, but either way, that quarterback can put some pressure on you pretty quick."
Minnesota coach Jerry Kill made it clear he hopes the Big Ten rushing chart looks dramatically different in a few weeks.
His worry is valid. The more quarterbacks carry the football, the more hits they absorb and the greater their injury risk will be.
Martinez wasn't the same player -- nor Nebraska the same team -- after getting banged up midway through last season. Robinson missed time in most of Michigan's games last season after being shaken up.
"You'd rather have your tailback [leading the league in rushing]," Kill said. "... We all worry when a quarterback's running that much [about] the health of that quarterback when it comes to Game 9, 10, 11 and 12. It's a concern."
Indiana should value defense in search
December, 2, 2010
12/02/10
5:00
PM ET
By
Adam Rittenberg | ESPN.com
Indiana has been down this road before.
The school is no stranger to hiring offensive-minded coaches.
Cam Cameron came to Indiana in 1997 after coaching quarterbacks at Michigan and then with the Washington Redskins. He was succeeded in 2002 by Gerry DiNardo, who won a national title as Colorado's offensive coordinator before becoming a head coach at Vanderbilt and LSU. Indiana broke the mold in 2005 with Terry Hoeppner, a longtime defensive assistant at Miami (Ohio) before taking the top job in Oxford. But when Hoeppner died tragically in 2007, Indiana handed the head-coaching duties to Bill Lynch, the team's offensive coordinator.
After firing Lynch on Sunday, Indiana once again is looking for a coach to lead its football program.
It might be time for the Hoosiers to look to the other side of the ball.
Indiana's defense has dragged down the program for more than a decade. The Hoosiers have scored points and produced offensive standouts like Antwaan Randle El, Kellen Lewis, James Hardy and Ben Chappell, but their repeated inability to field adequate defenses has kept them out of bowl games. It still baffles me how IU couldn't make a single bowl game during Randle El's four years as the starting quarterback.
Defense was a large part of Lynch's downfall. His offenses fared well, but Indiana couldn't stop the opposition on a consistent basis.
Here's where Indiana's defense has ranked nationally in the 11 years:
2010: 89th (410.2 ypg)
2009: 88th (401 ypg)
2008: 107th (432.2 ypg)
2007: 71st (403.4 ypg)
2006: 109th (402.3 ypg)
2005: 93rd (417.7 ypg)
2004: 110th (453.2 ypg)
2003: 94th (429.7 ypg)
2002: 101st (428.4 ypg)
2001: 72nd (393.8 ypg)
2000: 112th (457.3 ypg)
Just dreadful.
I've been told most of the candidates for the Indiana job come from the offensive side, guys like Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson, Michigan State offensive coordinator Don Treadwell, Northern Illinois coach Jerry Kill and former Minnesota coach Glen Mason.
Not saying these guys wouldn't work well at IU, but given the deficiencies on defense in Bloomington, the Hoosiers might be better off with a defense-oriented head coach.
Here are a few suggestions:
Wisconsin defensive coordinator Dave Doeren: Doeren has the charisma, the recruiting skills and the track record to succeed as a head coach. His defense ranks in the top four of the Big Ten in all the key categories, including second in takeaways and third in yards allowed, despite losing star linebacker Chris Borland in September. Doeren has helped mold standout players like Borland, defensive end J.J. Watt and defensive end O'Brien Schofield.
San Diego State coach Brady Hoke: I doubt Indiana could lure Hoke away from the West Coast, but he would qualify as a very good hire for the Hoosiers. He knows the area as the former Ball State coach, and he has a background in defense as the former defensive line coach at Michigan, among other spots. Hoke coached three All-American defensive linemen at Michigan.
Toledo coach Tim Beckman: Beckman led Toledo to an 8-4 mark in his second season at the school. He previously served as defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State, cornerbacks coach at Ohio State and defensive coordinator at Bowling Green. Beckman coached six All-Big Ten defensive backs in Columbus, including Donte Whitner.
Offense sells these days. I get that. But Indiana might be wise to hire a guy who knows a thing or two about defense.
The school is no stranger to hiring offensive-minded coaches.
Cam Cameron came to Indiana in 1997 after coaching quarterbacks at Michigan and then with the Washington Redskins. He was succeeded in 2002 by Gerry DiNardo, who won a national title as Colorado's offensive coordinator before becoming a head coach at Vanderbilt and LSU. Indiana broke the mold in 2005 with Terry Hoeppner, a longtime defensive assistant at Miami (Ohio) before taking the top job in Oxford. But when Hoeppner died tragically in 2007, Indiana handed the head-coaching duties to Bill Lynch, the team's offensive coordinator.
After firing Lynch on Sunday, Indiana once again is looking for a coach to lead its football program.
It might be time for the Hoosiers to look to the other side of the ball.
Indiana's defense has dragged down the program for more than a decade. The Hoosiers have scored points and produced offensive standouts like Antwaan Randle El, Kellen Lewis, James Hardy and Ben Chappell, but their repeated inability to field adequate defenses has kept them out of bowl games. It still baffles me how IU couldn't make a single bowl game during Randle El's four years as the starting quarterback.
Defense was a large part of Lynch's downfall. His offenses fared well, but Indiana couldn't stop the opposition on a consistent basis.
Here's where Indiana's defense has ranked nationally in the 11 years:
2010: 89th (410.2 ypg)
2009: 88th (401 ypg)
2008: 107th (432.2 ypg)
2007: 71st (403.4 ypg)
2006: 109th (402.3 ypg)
2005: 93rd (417.7 ypg)
2004: 110th (453.2 ypg)
2003: 94th (429.7 ypg)
2002: 101st (428.4 ypg)
2001: 72nd (393.8 ypg)
2000: 112th (457.3 ypg)
Just dreadful.
I've been told most of the candidates for the Indiana job come from the offensive side, guys like Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson, Michigan State offensive coordinator Don Treadwell, Northern Illinois coach Jerry Kill and former Minnesota coach Glen Mason.
Not saying these guys wouldn't work well at IU, but given the deficiencies on defense in Bloomington, the Hoosiers might be better off with a defense-oriented head coach.
Here are a few suggestions:
Wisconsin defensive coordinator Dave Doeren: Doeren has the charisma, the recruiting skills and the track record to succeed as a head coach. His defense ranks in the top four of the Big Ten in all the key categories, including second in takeaways and third in yards allowed, despite losing star linebacker Chris Borland in September. Doeren has helped mold standout players like Borland, defensive end J.J. Watt and defensive end O'Brien Schofield.
San Diego State coach Brady Hoke: I doubt Indiana could lure Hoke away from the West Coast, but he would qualify as a very good hire for the Hoosiers. He knows the area as the former Ball State coach, and he has a background in defense as the former defensive line coach at Michigan, among other spots. Hoke coached three All-American defensive linemen at Michigan.
Toledo coach Tim Beckman: Beckman led Toledo to an 8-4 mark in his second season at the school. He previously served as defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State, cornerbacks coach at Ohio State and defensive coordinator at Bowling Green. Beckman coached six All-Big Ten defensive backs in Columbus, including Donte Whitner.
Offense sells these days. I get that. But Indiana might be wise to hire a guy who knows a thing or two about defense.
Big Ten helmet stickers: Week 13
November, 27, 2010
11/27/10
9:00
PM ET
By
Adam Rittenberg | ESPN.com
It's time to recognize the best and the brightest from Week 13 in Big Ten play.
Indiana QB Ben Chappell: Chappell delivered a heroic performance in Indiana's overtime win against Purdue, completing 31 of 50 passes for 330 yards and three touchdowns. He broke Kellen Lewis' single-season passing yards record and helped Indiana stop its 12-game Big Ten road losing streak with its first win at Ross-Ade Stadium since 1996.
Wisconsin's cast of stars: I could do a separate set of helmet stickers just for the Badgers after their 70-23 win against Northwestern. Instead, I'll consolidate all the performances here. The sticker is to be shared by defensive end J.J. Watt (3 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles, 1 sack, 3 quarterback hurries, 1 blocked kick), running back Montee Ball (174 rush yards, 4 TDs), running back James White (138 rush yards, TD), quarterback Scott Tolzien (15-for-19 passing, 231 yards, 4 TDs) and safety Aaron Henry (50-yard interception return for a touchdown, 1 fumble recovery).
Ohio State RB Dan Herron: After finishing the first half with one yard on three carries, Herron exploded for 174 rushing yards and a touchdown in the final two quarters. He had a 31-yard touchdown run and tied a team record for longest run from scrimmage with an 89-yard burst that should have been a 98-yard touchdown if not for a bogus holding call. Herron shares the sticker with defensive end Nathan Williams (2.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 2 pass breakups, 1 fumble recovery).
Michigan State QB Kirk Cousins and RB Edwin Baker: The Spartans' backfield tandem came up big in helping Michigan State win a share of its first Big Ten title since 1990. Baker racked up 118 rush yards and a touchdown on 28 carries, while Cousins, playing hurt, completed 17 of 22 passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns.
Minnesota CB Troy Stoudermire: Stoudermire earns a sticker in both of Minnesota's Big Ten victories. He came up big against Iowa by forcing two fumbles, recovering one and recording a pass breakup. Stoudermire's second forced fumble allowed Minnesota to take over with 4:14 left and run out the clock to secure a 27-24 win.
Indiana QB Ben Chappell: Chappell delivered a heroic performance in Indiana's overtime win against Purdue, completing 31 of 50 passes for 330 yards and three touchdowns. He broke Kellen Lewis' single-season passing yards record and helped Indiana stop its 12-game Big Ten road losing streak with its first win at Ross-Ade Stadium since 1996.
Wisconsin's cast of stars: I could do a separate set of helmet stickers just for the Badgers after their 70-23 win against Northwestern. Instead, I'll consolidate all the performances here. The sticker is to be shared by defensive end J.J. Watt (3 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles, 1 sack, 3 quarterback hurries, 1 blocked kick), running back Montee Ball (174 rush yards, 4 TDs), running back James White (138 rush yards, TD), quarterback Scott Tolzien (15-for-19 passing, 231 yards, 4 TDs) and safety Aaron Henry (50-yard interception return for a touchdown, 1 fumble recovery).
Ohio State RB Dan Herron: After finishing the first half with one yard on three carries, Herron exploded for 174 rushing yards and a touchdown in the final two quarters. He had a 31-yard touchdown run and tied a team record for longest run from scrimmage with an 89-yard burst that should have been a 98-yard touchdown if not for a bogus holding call. Herron shares the sticker with defensive end Nathan Williams (2.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 2 pass breakups, 1 fumble recovery).
Michigan State QB Kirk Cousins and RB Edwin Baker: The Spartans' backfield tandem came up big in helping Michigan State win a share of its first Big Ten title since 1990. Baker racked up 118 rush yards and a touchdown on 28 carries, while Cousins, playing hurt, completed 17 of 22 passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns.
Minnesota CB Troy Stoudermire: Stoudermire earns a sticker in both of Minnesota's Big Ten victories. He came up big against Iowa by forcing two fumbles, recovering one and recording a pass breakup. Stoudermire's second forced fumble allowed Minnesota to take over with 4:14 left and run out the clock to secure a 27-24 win.
It's time to get smarter before you head out to the stadiums. Thanks to the fine folks at ESPN Stats & Info for several of these nuggets.
- Wisconsin has just six turnovers this season, the third fewest in the nation. Only Oregon State (4) and Iowa (5) have fewer. The Badgers are second in the nation in fewest penalties per game, averaging just 3.38.
- Michigan State's Greg Jones and Eric Gordon have a combined 737 tackles, the most of any active linebacker tandem in the FBS.
- Since Joe Paterno became Penn State's head coach in 1966, there have been 863 head coaching changes in Division I-A football, an average of more than six changes per institution, including 22 changes after the 2009 season.
- Indiana quarterback Ben Chappell is two completions shy of tying Kellen Lewis’ school record for most career completions. Lewis completed 565 passes at Indiana from 2006-08.
- Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz and Indiana’s Bill Lynch both enter Saturday’s game with 99 career wins. Ferentz is 99-78 in 15 seasons (three at Maine, last 12 at Iowa). Lynch is 99-94-3 in 18 seasons (five at Butler, eight at Ball State, one at DePauw, four at Indiana).
- Northwestern is 4-0 on the road this season and 8-2 in its past 10 Big Ten road contests stretching back to the start of the 208 season. The Wildcats have not won five road games in a season since 1995.
- Illinois' 34-point margin of victory against Purdue last week, combined with the 30-point win against Indiana on Oct. 23, marked the first time an Illini team registered consecutive 30-point wins since 1944 and the first time they won consecutive Big Ten games by 30 or more points since 1914.
- Michigan has scored 19 touchdowns on drives that have taken two minutes or less. Eight of those drives spanned less than one minute.
- Purdue leads the Big Ten with 24 sacks and 63 tackles for loss. The Boilers' averages of 3 sacks and 7.9 TFLs per game are also tops in the conference and rank seventh nationally. Purdue has at least one sack and five tackles for loss in all eight games.
- Despite a school-record time of possession of 45:34 in the season-opener, Minnesota has slipped to No. 5 in the Big Ten in average possession time after ranking No. 1 through the first six weeks.
Best case-worst case rewind: Indiana
December, 22, 2009
12/22/09
3:30
PM ET
By
Adam Rittenberg | ESPN.com
My look back at the best case-worst case series continues with ... Indiana.
In case you missed it: Indiana's best case-worst case.
Best-case synopsis: Indiana has no trouble replacing the dismissed Kellen Lewis and shows greater depth on both sides of the ball as it returns to a bowl for the second time in three years. ... Junior quarterback Ben Chappell flourishes in the pistol formation, and wide receivers Tandon Doss and Damarlo Belcher become stars. ... IU faces some challenges on defense, but ends Jammie Kirlew and Greg Middleton lead a formidable pass rush and linebacker Matt Mayberry dominates. ... Indiana starts 6-1 with wins against both Michigan and Virginia and reaches the Insight Bowl, where it beats Colorado to finish 9-4.
Worst-case synopsis: The Hoosiers' depth concerns turn out to be true and the offense falls apart in another lost season. ... Chappell struggles as the full-time starting quarterback and spends most games trying to avoid the pass rush. ... Indiana once again has no running game, and the defense shows its warts in the interior line and the secondary. ... After a 2-2 start, Indiana drops its final eight games and the university drops Bill Lynch as head coach. ... Home attendance declines and new athletics director Fred Glass searches for the team's fifth head coach since 2001.
You can't handle the truth: (quotes from the original post) "Lynch's confidence in quarterback Ben Chappell pays off." ... "Heralded recruit Darius Willis blossoms to become the team's featured back. Left tackle Rodger Saffold anchors an improved offensive line, and young wideouts Damarlo Belcher and Tandon Doss torch opposing secondaries." ... "Indiana survives its opener against Eastern Kentucky." ... "A much improved defense then shuts down Tim Hiller and Western Michigan in Week 2, gaining confidence before a tricky trip to Akron. Indiana improves to 3-0 by zipping through the Zips." ... "Despite a veteran presence on defense, Indiana's holes on the interior line and in the secondary doom the unit."
Lies, lies, lies: "The pistol formation energizes Indiana's rushing attack." ... "The Hoosiers send an early warning shot to new Purdue head coach Danny Hope by thumping Hope's former team, Eastern Kentucky, by 30 points in the opener." ... "A 4-1 Hoosiers team heads to Charlottesville and knocks off a beatable Virginia team, pushing head coach Al Groh further out the door." ... "In the regular-season finale, the Hoosiers avenge their 52-point loss last year at rival Purdue and pound the Boilers 40-10." ... Indiana caps a surprising season by beating Colorado in the Insight Bowl. The Hoosiers win nine games for the first time since 1967." ... "With a 2-10 mark, Lynch's fate is sealed."
Reality check: Indiana's 4-8 record seems fairly close to the worst-case scenario, but the team showed obvious improvement for much of the season. Chappell certainly validated himself as a legit Big Ten quarterback, while Doss will 2010 as one of the league's best wide receivers after a great year this fall. Yet once again, Indiana couldn't get over the hump in winnable games against Michigan, Northwestern, Iowa and Wisconsin. The defense received strong performances from several individuals but once again struggled as a unit, raising some concerns for 2010. Glass made the right call in giving Lynch one more year, but next fall will be pivotal for the program.
In case you missed it: Indiana's best case-worst case.
Best-case synopsis: Indiana has no trouble replacing the dismissed Kellen Lewis and shows greater depth on both sides of the ball as it returns to a bowl for the second time in three years. ... Junior quarterback Ben Chappell flourishes in the pistol formation, and wide receivers Tandon Doss and Damarlo Belcher become stars. ... IU faces some challenges on defense, but ends Jammie Kirlew and Greg Middleton lead a formidable pass rush and linebacker Matt Mayberry dominates. ... Indiana starts 6-1 with wins against both Michigan and Virginia and reaches the Insight Bowl, where it beats Colorado to finish 9-4.
Worst-case synopsis: The Hoosiers' depth concerns turn out to be true and the offense falls apart in another lost season. ... Chappell struggles as the full-time starting quarterback and spends most games trying to avoid the pass rush. ... Indiana once again has no running game, and the defense shows its warts in the interior line and the secondary. ... After a 2-2 start, Indiana drops its final eight games and the university drops Bill Lynch as head coach. ... Home attendance declines and new athletics director Fred Glass searches for the team's fifth head coach since 2001.
You can't handle the truth: (quotes from the original post) "Lynch's confidence in quarterback Ben Chappell pays off." ... "Heralded recruit Darius Willis blossoms to become the team's featured back. Left tackle Rodger Saffold anchors an improved offensive line, and young wideouts Damarlo Belcher and Tandon Doss torch opposing secondaries." ... "Indiana survives its opener against Eastern Kentucky." ... "A much improved defense then shuts down Tim Hiller and Western Michigan in Week 2, gaining confidence before a tricky trip to Akron. Indiana improves to 3-0 by zipping through the Zips." ... "Despite a veteran presence on defense, Indiana's holes on the interior line and in the secondary doom the unit."
Lies, lies, lies: "The pistol formation energizes Indiana's rushing attack." ... "The Hoosiers send an early warning shot to new Purdue head coach Danny Hope by thumping Hope's former team, Eastern Kentucky, by 30 points in the opener." ... "A 4-1 Hoosiers team heads to Charlottesville and knocks off a beatable Virginia team, pushing head coach Al Groh further out the door." ... "In the regular-season finale, the Hoosiers avenge their 52-point loss last year at rival Purdue and pound the Boilers 40-10." ... Indiana caps a surprising season by beating Colorado in the Insight Bowl. The Hoosiers win nine games for the first time since 1967." ... "With a 2-10 mark, Lynch's fate is sealed."
Reality check: Indiana's 4-8 record seems fairly close to the worst-case scenario, but the team showed obvious improvement for much of the season. Chappell certainly validated himself as a legit Big Ten quarterback, while Doss will 2010 as one of the league's best wide receivers after a great year this fall. Yet once again, Indiana couldn't get over the hump in winnable games against Michigan, Northwestern, Iowa and Wisconsin. The defense received strong performances from several individuals but once again struggled as a unit, raising some concerns for 2010. Glass made the right call in giving Lynch one more year, but next fall will be pivotal for the program.
Most projections pegged Indiana for three to five victories this season, so with a 4-8 final record, you could say the Hoosiers met expectations.
But they could have done so much better.
Anyone who watched Indiana play this fall noticed the obvious upgrades. Junior quarterback Ben Chappell was a real weapon under center, while wideouts Tandon Doss and Damarlo Belcher could start for any Big Ten team. Running back Darius Willis showed tremendous promise at times, while the defense boasted standouts in end Jammie Kirlew and linebacker Matt Mayberry.
There seemed to be a new feeling around the Indiana program this year, but the results were all too familiar. Indiana showed it could compete against good teams. The Hoosiers simply couldn't beat them.
A second bowl appearance in three years seemed possible after a 3-0 start, and even after a very competitive performance at Michigan Stadium in the Big Ten opener. And if Indiana had held onto leads against Northwestern (28-3), Iowa (21-7) and Penn State (10-0), it would have gone bowling.
IU fans should be pleased with the individual performances from Chappell, Doss, Willis, Kirlew, Mayberry and others, but the collective result still isn't good enough. Indiana was outscored 162-106 in the second half this season and finished near the bottom of the Big Ten in several key defensive categories, including third-down conversion percentage (47.5).
Offensive MVP: Ben Chappell. Many were skeptical about Indiana's offense following Kellen Lewis' dismissal this spring, but Chappell backed up the coaches' beliefs with a solid junior season. He finished second in the league in passing (245.1 yards per game) and 15th nationally in completions (22.3 completions per game). Honorable mention goes to Doss, a first-team All-Big Ten selection by the media.
Defensive MVP: Matt Mayberry. A very tough call here between Mayberry and Kirlew, but anyone who watched Indiana saw Mayberry all over the field. The senior linebacker led IU with 108 tackles, including 11 for loss and 5.5 sacks. He also was excellent in pass coverage with three interceptions and three pass breakups. If not for a large group of solid linebackers, Mayberry would have been an All-Big Ten selection. Kirlew obviously deserves a mention here after forcing five fumbles and 15.5 tackles for loss.
Turning point: Indiana took a 4-3 record to Northwestern for what looked like a bowl play-in game on Oct. 24. The Hoosiers surged to a 28-3 lead but fell apart in the final two and a half quarters, as Northwestern mounted the biggest comeback in team history. Indiana blew a 21-7 lead the next week at Iowa and slipped out of bowl contention.
What's next: Head coach Bill Lynch will be back for a fourth season, which is the right call for a program lacking much continuity since the Bill Mallory era. Lynch still must prove he can win consistently in the Big Ten, however, and he'll need to bolster a defense that loses most of its top players.
But they could have done so much better.
Anyone who watched Indiana play this fall noticed the obvious upgrades. Junior quarterback Ben Chappell was a real weapon under center, while wideouts Tandon Doss and Damarlo Belcher could start for any Big Ten team. Running back Darius Willis showed tremendous promise at times, while the defense boasted standouts in end Jammie Kirlew and linebacker Matt Mayberry.
There seemed to be a new feeling around the Indiana program this year, but the results were all too familiar. Indiana showed it could compete against good teams. The Hoosiers simply couldn't beat them.
A second bowl appearance in three years seemed possible after a 3-0 start, and even after a very competitive performance at Michigan Stadium in the Big Ten opener. And if Indiana had held onto leads against Northwestern (28-3), Iowa (21-7) and Penn State (10-0), it would have gone bowling.
IU fans should be pleased with the individual performances from Chappell, Doss, Willis, Kirlew, Mayberry and others, but the collective result still isn't good enough. Indiana was outscored 162-106 in the second half this season and finished near the bottom of the Big Ten in several key defensive categories, including third-down conversion percentage (47.5).
Offensive MVP: Ben Chappell. Many were skeptical about Indiana's offense following Kellen Lewis' dismissal this spring, but Chappell backed up the coaches' beliefs with a solid junior season. He finished second in the league in passing (245.1 yards per game) and 15th nationally in completions (22.3 completions per game). Honorable mention goes to Doss, a first-team All-Big Ten selection by the media.
Defensive MVP: Matt Mayberry. A very tough call here between Mayberry and Kirlew, but anyone who watched Indiana saw Mayberry all over the field. The senior linebacker led IU with 108 tackles, including 11 for loss and 5.5 sacks. He also was excellent in pass coverage with three interceptions and three pass breakups. If not for a large group of solid linebackers, Mayberry would have been an All-Big Ten selection. Kirlew obviously deserves a mention here after forcing five fumbles and 15.5 tackles for loss.
Turning point: Indiana took a 4-3 record to Northwestern for what looked like a bowl play-in game on Oct. 24. The Hoosiers surged to a 28-3 lead but fell apart in the final two and a half quarters, as Northwestern mounted the biggest comeback in team history. Indiana blew a 21-7 lead the next week at Iowa and slipped out of bowl contention.
What's next: Head coach Bill Lynch will be back for a fourth season, which is the right call for a program lacking much continuity since the Bill Mallory era. Lynch still must prove he can win consistently in the Big Ten, however, and he'll need to bolster a defense that loses most of its top players.
Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
Follow me on Twitter during the Big Ten coaches teleconference, which begins right now.
Follow me on Twitter during the Big Ten coaches teleconference, which begins right now.
- Iowa should be rooting hard for Oklahoma State this weekend, Andrew Logue writes in the Des Moines Register. The near consensus on Iowa's postseason destination is the Rose Bowl, Mike Hlas writes in The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette.
- Penn State and Pitt likely won't meet in a bowl game, but it's fun to compare the two rivals, Bob Flounders writes in The (Harrisburg) Patriot-News.
- Michigan State's Mark Dantonio doesn't second-guess the decision to rush only three linemen down the stretch against Iowa, Chris Vannini writes in The State News.
- Former Indiana quarterback Kellen Lewis is in some trouble at his new school, Dustin Dopirak writes in The (Bloomington) Herald-Times (subscription required). A big blow to IU's recruiting class as Jibreel Black changes his commitment to Cincinnati, Terry Hutchens writes in The Indianapolis Star.
- Northwestern's banged-up secondary must "pick up the flag" this week, Teddy Greenstein writes in the Chicago Tribune.
- It doesn't say much, but here's the official notice of inquiry the NCAA sent to Michigan, courtesy of annarbor.com.
- It might be Blake Sorensen, not freshman sensation Chris Borland, who starts for Wisconsin in place of injured linebacker Mike Taylor, Tom Mulhern writes in the Wisconsin State Journal.
Christensen heads back to Happy Valley
October, 7, 2009
10/07/09
2:00
PM ET
By
Adam Rittenberg | ESPN.com
Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
One of the things Jake Christensen likes about playing football at Eastern Illinois is the appreciation Panthers players have toward the game.
"The guys care more about football at this level, honestly," Christensen said Monday on a conference call with reporters. "It’s easy to care about football when you’re playing in front of 100,000 people every weekend and you’re a superstar in town."
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|
| Stephen Mally/Icon SMI | |
| Jake Christensen returns to Penn State Saturday, this time as Eastern Illinois' quarterback. |
EIU players will get a taste of the limelight Saturday (ESPN Classic, noon ET) when they face Penn State at Beaver Stadium (capacity: 107,282). The atmosphere will be unlike any the Panthers experience in the Ohio Valley Conference.
Christensen expects many of his teammates to be "awestruck at first," but he won't be. The former Iowa quarterback will be making his second trip to Happy Valley as a player after facing Penn State in 2007. Christensen endured a rough day in a rough season, as Iowa lost 27-7 and he was sacked five teams as the Hawkeyes recorded only eight first downs.
His lasting impression from Beaver Stadium?
"Real loud," he said. "They're going to be bigger than we are and probably faster than we are at every position, but it’s been done before and there’s no reason why we can’t do it. We’re not scared, we're not intimidated. We're ready to play football."
Christensen, who transferred to EIU this summer, would rather not look back at his time in Iowa City, but his connection to the Hawkeyes does work in his favor Saturday. After all, Iowa has won seven of its last eight games against Penn State, including a 21-10 triumph on Sept. 26.
"I don’t know, man," he said when asked to explain Iowa's success in the series. "They get some breaks against that team that I’ve never seen before in my life."
That wasn't the only playful jab he took at his former team. When asked if left-handers get picked on by their coaches, Christensen, a southpaw, said with a laugh, "Well, apparently Iowa's coaches didn't like me very much."
Christensen has done well at Eastern Illinois, completing 65.4 percent of his passes for 1,090 yards and 11 touchdowns with three interceptions in five games.
Here's a look at how several quarterback transfers from the Big Ten are faring with their new teams.
- Jake Christensen (Iowa), Eastern Illinois: 89 of 136 passing for 1,090 yards, 11 TDs, 3 INTs, 218 ypg, 155.04 rating, 4-1 record
- Kellen Lewis (Indiana), Valdosta State: 93 of 142 passing for 934 yards, 3 TDs, 3 INTs, 123.5 rating, 233.5 ypg, 4 rush TDs, 2-2 record
- Pat Devlin (Penn State), Delaware: 100 of 155 passing for 1,252 yards, 7 TDs, 2 INTs, 144.7 rating, 4 rush TDs, 3-2 record
- Clint Brewster (Minnesota), Tennessee Tech: No pass attempts this season.
- Steven Threet (Michigan): sitting out the season at Arizona State, per NCAA transfer rules.
Indiana's Lynch, Chappell share Bloomington bond
September, 30, 2009
9/30/09
2:00
PM ET
By
Adam Rittenberg | ESPN.com
Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
When you hear Indiana head coach Bill Lynch talk about Ben Chappell, his faith in the junior quarterback comes through loud and clear.
Even when record-setting quarterback Kellen Lewis was still with the Hoosiers and Chappell seemed like a long shot for the starting job, Lynch always made sure to mention Chappell and his progress. Lynch often says he's a "big Ben Chappell fan."
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| Eric Bronson/Icon SMI | |
| Indiana coach Bill Lynch has a lot of faith in Hoosiers quarterback Ben Chappell. |
Doesn't every head coach have to like his starting quarterback? To a certain extent, yes.
But Lynch and Chappell have a truly unique connection, one that stretches back more than a decade in the town they both now call home -- Bloomington, Ind.
When Chappell was five and six years old, he played basketball with Lynch's youngest son, Kevin. At the time, Bill Lynch served as Indiana's quarterbacks coach.
"I’ve known coach Lynch for a long time," Chappell said. "I knew who he was back then and I’ve always respected him as a person as well as a coach."
Lynch would attend as many of his son's games as he could, though the boys' schedule was demanding.
"In southern Indiana, they take 5- and 6-year-old basketball as seriously as some people take it in high school," Chappell said. "We were always traveling around."
The Lynch family moved away in 1995 when Bill became head coach at Ball State. They returned a decade later as Lynch rejoined the Indiana staff as offensive coordinator and assistant head coach.
By that time, Chappell was an All-State quarterback at Bloomington South High School. He committed to Indiana in June 2005, six months after Lynch and the new coaching staff arrived.
"Any time you recruit a local guy out of your own community, you better have a pretty good feel for him," Lynch said, "because there’s going to be a lot of pressure on him and a lot of pressure on your program to give him an opportunity, especially when he’s a quarterback. We felt very, very confident in Ben and our evaluation as we watched him grow up through high school, and thought he’d be an excellent quarterback for us."
Indiana's Fisher puts team's needs first
September, 3, 2009
9/03/09
11:00
AM ET
By
Adam Rittenberg | ESPN.com
Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
Like many sports cliches, team player is used too liberally in college football.
That is, unless you're talking about Indiana's Ray Fisher.
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| Scott Boehm/Getty Images | |
| Ray Fisher, who led the Hoosiers in receptions and TD catches last season, has made the move from offense to defense. |
The idea of a player moving from offense to defense before his senior year sounds like cruel and unusual punishment. The idea of the player actually offering to play a new position so late in his career is even more unusual. Throw in the fact that Fisher finished as Indiana's top wide receiver in 2008, and his transition to cornerback seems either incredibly heroic or extremely unwise.
"I was just looking for the team's best interest," Fisher explained. "I know we can get better by me playing the position. I'm a team guy and I know I can help a lot at that position."
Fisher isn't a stranger to the cornerback spot, having played both corner and wide receiver at Cleveland's Glenville High School. He recorded four interceptions as a junior before missing all of his senior season with an injury, but he came to Indiana to catch passes.
After appearing in 11 games as a true freshman, Fisher became Indiana's No. 2 option behind record-setter James Hardy in 2007. Fisher recorded 482 yards and five touchdowns that fall as the Hoosiers reached the Insight Bowl. Last year, he led the team in both receptions (42) and touchdown catches (5).
"That’s the position I really love," Fisher said of wide receiver. "But since we’re lacking at corner at Indiana, I’ll play just because there’s a need for it."
Fisher first started joking with the coaches about playing cornerback during his sophomore season. Back then, Indiana was set at corner with Tracy Porter and Leslie Majors. But Fisher's tone turned more serious last fall when injuries depleted the secondary -- and pretty much the whole team -- and the Hoosiers tumbled to last in the Big Ten and 105th nationally in pass defense (260.5 yards per game).
Ideally, Fisher wanted to play both ways, but the need at corner was obvious and Indiana felt good about its wide receivers, even after the April dismissal of Kellen Lewis.
"Wide receiver was a position where we felt like we had a whole lot of depth and was able to afford to send him over to the other side," Hoosiers wide receivers coach Billy Lynch said. "Ray’s just a football player. He’s a high-energy guy, he’s a confident guy and he obviously can run, so he brings an enthusiasm and a confidence and a presence to the defensive side of the ball.
"I think that move is going to pay off big for our team."
The 5-foot-9, 185-pound Fisher makes his first start at cornerback tonight when Indiana opens the season against Eastern Kentucky.
Despite the long layoff, Fisher has gradually picked up the nuances of his new-old position. He received a taste of how cornerbacks operate by working closely with Porter as a young wide receiver.
Though he misses the wideout position and hopes to play both ways in the NFL, Fisher sees at least one bonus to his new spot.
"I talk a little bit more trash because on the defensive side of the ball, you don’t have to run back to the huddle," he said. "You can just chill and relax. All day long, it's nonstop with me."
What to watch in the Big Ten in Week 1
September, 3, 2009
9/03/09
8:00
AM ET
By
Adam Rittenberg | ESPN.com
Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
Let the games begin. Here are 10 things to watch as Big Ten football kicks off in 2009.
1. Michigan's response -- Head coach Rich Rodriguez and the program have been in the cross-hairs all week, but Michigan can ease some of the pressure by beating Western Michigan and showing tangible improvement. Team chemistry is a question mark after current players spoke publicly about possible NCAA rule violations involving time limits, but the Wolverines need a united effort Saturday. Michigan simply isn't good enough to win if the team is splintered.
2. Juice vs. Weatherspoon -- Missouri star linebacker Sean Weatherspoon targeted Illinois quarterback Juice Williams in some Twitter trash talk last month. Williams gets a chance to answer in the Edward Jones Dome, where he set a total offense record (461 yards) last year against Mizzou. This is a pivotal game for Williams and the Illini, who have the more experienced team and need to get over the hump against the Tigers.
3. Defending Paulus -- Minnesota co-defensive coordinators Kevin Cosgrove and Ron Lee face an unusual scouting challenge against Syracuse, as they prepare their players for a quarterback who spent the last four years shooting baskets on Tobacco Road. Greg Paulus plays a meaningful football game for the first time in four years, and it's up to cornerback Traye Simmons and the Gophers to make sure he doesn't find a rhythm.
4. New Hope at Purdue -- The Danny Hope era begins as Purdue opens the season against Toledo. Outside expectations are low for the Boilermakers, but Hope has brought plenty of energy and a faster pace to just about everything in the program. The Big Ten's mystery team will use plenty of freshmen and other newcomers right away, while heady quarterback Joey Elliott finally gets a chance to be the starter.
5. Paterno back where he belongs -- You can probably switch off the Penn State-Akron game shortly after the opening kickoff, but it's worth tuning in to see Joe Paterno run on the field for his 44th season as Nittany Lions head coach. Paterno hasn't coached from the sidelines since Sept. 27, but he'll be back as Penn State begins its Big Ten title defense at Beaver Stadium.
6. Captain Kirk at the controls -- Michigan State's quarterback competition isn't over, but sophomore Kirk Cousins gets the first shot in the opener against Montana State. Named just the second sophomore captain in team history last week, Cousins has the intangibles and the polished passing skills to be a star in this league. But he needs a strong debut Saturday since Keith Nichol isn't far behind.
7. A surprise backfield in Madison -- Few would have pegged quarterback Scott Tolzien and running back Zach Brown to be Wisconsin's opening-day starters when preseason camp began, but both players earned the top jobs over more heralded competitors. Tolzien must continue his steady play at a position where Wisconsin simply can't afford mistakes, and Brown looks to build on an excellent preseason as he'll likely share carries with John Clay.
8. Terrelle, Take 2 -- Ohio State should have little trouble with Navy, but it needs to see tangible signs of progress from quarterback Terrelle Pryor. The gifted sophomore spent the offseason improving his footwork and passing mechanics to become a more complete quarterback. This is Pryor's team now, and he needs a strong opening statement before facing USC in Week 2.
9. Locked and loaded in Bloomington -- Indiana's pistol formation makes its debut Thursday night against Eastern Kentucky, as the Hoosiers try to jumpstart a downhill rushing attack. Without Kellen Lewis on the field, the Hoosiers need a reliable run game and will look to an improved offensive line and a deep group of running backs led by Demetrius McCray and Darius Willis.
10. New backs on the block -- Iowa and Northwestern are among several Big Ten teams starting unproven running backs. The Hawkeyes likely won't find another Shonn Greene this fall, but they need decent production from former walk-on Paki O'Meara and redshirt freshman Adam Robinson to ease concerns after Jewel Hampton's season-ending injury. Northwestern will start junior Stephen Simmons at running back, but true freshman Arby Fields generated plenty of buzz in camp and should get plenty of work against Towson.
Let the games begin. Here are 10 things to watch as Big Ten football kicks off in 2009.
1. Michigan's response -- Head coach Rich Rodriguez and the program have been in the cross-hairs all week, but Michigan can ease some of the pressure by beating Western Michigan and showing tangible improvement. Team chemistry is a question mark after current players spoke publicly about possible NCAA rule violations involving time limits, but the Wolverines need a united effort Saturday. Michigan simply isn't good enough to win if the team is splintered.
2. Juice vs. Weatherspoon -- Missouri star linebacker Sean Weatherspoon targeted Illinois quarterback Juice Williams in some Twitter trash talk last month. Williams gets a chance to answer in the Edward Jones Dome, where he set a total offense record (461 yards) last year against Mizzou. This is a pivotal game for Williams and the Illini, who have the more experienced team and need to get over the hump against the Tigers.
3. Defending Paulus -- Minnesota co-defensive coordinators Kevin Cosgrove and Ron Lee face an unusual scouting challenge against Syracuse, as they prepare their players for a quarterback who spent the last four years shooting baskets on Tobacco Road. Greg Paulus plays a meaningful football game for the first time in four years, and it's up to cornerback Traye Simmons and the Gophers to make sure he doesn't find a rhythm.
4. New Hope at Purdue -- The Danny Hope era begins as Purdue opens the season against Toledo. Outside expectations are low for the Boilermakers, but Hope has brought plenty of energy and a faster pace to just about everything in the program. The Big Ten's mystery team will use plenty of freshmen and other newcomers right away, while heady quarterback Joey Elliott finally gets a chance to be the starter.
5. Paterno back where he belongs -- You can probably switch off the Penn State-Akron game shortly after the opening kickoff, but it's worth tuning in to see Joe Paterno run on the field for his 44th season as Nittany Lions head coach. Paterno hasn't coached from the sidelines since Sept. 27, but he'll be back as Penn State begins its Big Ten title defense at Beaver Stadium.
6. Captain Kirk at the controls -- Michigan State's quarterback competition isn't over, but sophomore Kirk Cousins gets the first shot in the opener against Montana State. Named just the second sophomore captain in team history last week, Cousins has the intangibles and the polished passing skills to be a star in this league. But he needs a strong debut Saturday since Keith Nichol isn't far behind.
7. A surprise backfield in Madison -- Few would have pegged quarterback Scott Tolzien and running back Zach Brown to be Wisconsin's opening-day starters when preseason camp began, but both players earned the top jobs over more heralded competitors. Tolzien must continue his steady play at a position where Wisconsin simply can't afford mistakes, and Brown looks to build on an excellent preseason as he'll likely share carries with John Clay.
8. Terrelle, Take 2 -- Ohio State should have little trouble with Navy, but it needs to see tangible signs of progress from quarterback Terrelle Pryor. The gifted sophomore spent the offseason improving his footwork and passing mechanics to become a more complete quarterback. This is Pryor's team now, and he needs a strong opening statement before facing USC in Week 2.
9. Locked and loaded in Bloomington -- Indiana's pistol formation makes its debut Thursday night against Eastern Kentucky, as the Hoosiers try to jumpstart a downhill rushing attack. Without Kellen Lewis on the field, the Hoosiers need a reliable run game and will look to an improved offensive line and a deep group of running backs led by Demetrius McCray and Darius Willis.
10. New backs on the block -- Iowa and Northwestern are among several Big Ten teams starting unproven running backs. The Hawkeyes likely won't find another Shonn Greene this fall, but they need decent production from former walk-on Paki O'Meara and redshirt freshman Adam Robinson to ease concerns after Jewel Hampton's season-ending injury. Northwestern will start junior Stephen Simmons at running back, but true freshman Arby Fields generated plenty of buzz in camp and should get plenty of work against Towson.
Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
The second installment in a series examining the best and worst outcomes, within reason, for each Big Ten squad.
BEST CASE
Better depth and better health has the folks in Bloomington asking, "Kellen, who?"
After a season where Indiana couldn't catch a break, the team gets luck back on its side and maximizes what head coach Bill Lynch feels is a deeper and more talented roster. Lynch's confidence in quarterback Ben Chappell pays off, and the junior executes the pistol offense to perfection. The pistol formation energizes Indiana's rushing attack, and heralded recruit Darius Willis blossoms to become the team's featured back. Left tackle Rodger Saffold anchors an improved offensive line, and young wideouts Damarlo Belcher and Tandon Doss torch opposing secondaries. The biggest changes come on defense, which turns the page on its dreadful past to finish in the top half of the league. Defensive ends Jammie Kirlew and Greg Middleton each reach double-digits in sacks, and linebacker Matt Mayberry stuffs the run. Cornerback Ray Fisher, a converted wide receiver, rediscovers himself in the secondary and records four interceptions.
The Hoosiers send an early warning shot to new Purdue head coach Danny Hope by thumping Hope's former team, Eastern Kentucky, by 30 points in the opener. A much improved defense then shuts down Tim Hiller and Western Michigan in Week 2, gaining confidence before a tricky trip to Akron. Indiana improves to 3-0 by zipping through the Zips, and shocks Michigan in the Big Ten opener for its first win at the Big House since 1967.
After keeping things close for a half against Ohio State, a 4-1 Hoosiers team heads to Charlottesville and knocks off a beatable Virginia team, pushing head coach Al Groh further out the door. Indiana then enters its toughest stretch of the season, against five teams all projected to have winning records.
Things start well,
as Mayberry sacks good friend Juice Williams four times in an upset of Illinois. Indiana drops three of its next four but secures bowl eligibility, not to mention Lynch's immediate future at the school. In the regular-season finale, the Hoosiers avenge their 52-point loss last year at rival Purdue and pound the Boilers 40-10 before a large crowd at Memorial Stadium. Several fans hold up a makeshift signs reading: "We Love Bill Lynch." Indiana continues its strong recruiting push from the summer -- the team already has 21 commits for the 2010 class -- and top players marvel at Indiana's new end zone facility.
Indiana caps a surprising season by beating Colorado in the Insight Bowl. The Hoosiers win nine games for the first time since 1967, when they captured a Big Ten title under John Pont.
WORST CASE
The injury bug bites again, the pistol misfires and Indiana is searching for yet another coach by November.
Indiana isn't nearly as deep as Lynch thinks and Chappell struggles as the full-time starting quarterback, completing just 50 percent of his passes. Without Kellen Lewis, the Hoosiers lack a dynamic playmaker who defenses have to respect, and Chappell spends most games with his face in the turf. The run game stalls and injuries once again crop up on the O-line. Despite a veteran presence on defense, Indiana's holes on the interior line and in the secondary doom the unit, which once again finishes last in the league.
Indiana survives its opener against Eastern Kentucky but needs overtime to do so. Much like last season, the Hoosiers' downhill slide begins against a solid MAC team, and this time Western Michigan exposes the flaws in IU's defense. Hiller passes for 375 yards and four touchdowns as the Broncos roll. After a win at Akron, Indiana heads to Ann Arbor and can't keep pace with speedy Wolverines quarterbacks Tate Forcier and Denard Robinson. Things only get worse the next week as Terrelle Pryor runs wild.
The Ohio State loss lingers the next week as Indiana falls behind Virginia early and never recovers. Williams and the dynamic Illini offense hang 50 on Indiana, and the sparse crowd at Memorial Stadium filters out, leaving only a smattering of boo-birds. Lynch's future becomes a major question for athletic director Fred Glass, who says a decision will be made at the end of the season.
Indiana drops its final five games, including a 31-28 overtime decision to Purdue. With a 2-10 mark, Lynch's fate is sealed. Attendance steadily declines and Glass begins the search for the team's fifth head coach since 2001.
The second installment in a series examining the best and worst outcomes, within reason, for each Big Ten squad.
BEST CASE
Better depth and better health has the folks in Bloomington asking, "Kellen, who?"
After a season where Indiana couldn't catch a break, the team gets luck back on its side and maximizes what head coach Bill Lynch feels is a deeper and more talented roster. Lynch's confidence in quarterback Ben Chappell pays off, and the junior executes the pistol offense to perfection. The pistol formation energizes Indiana's rushing attack, and heralded recruit Darius Willis blossoms to become the team's featured back. Left tackle Rodger Saffold anchors an improved offensive line, and young wideouts Damarlo Belcher and Tandon Doss torch opposing secondaries. The biggest changes come on defense, which turns the page on its dreadful past to finish in the top half of the league. Defensive ends Jammie Kirlew and Greg Middleton each reach double-digits in sacks, and linebacker Matt Mayberry stuffs the run. Cornerback Ray Fisher, a converted wide receiver, rediscovers himself in the secondary and records four interceptions.
The Hoosiers send an early warning shot to new Purdue head coach Danny Hope by thumping Hope's former team, Eastern Kentucky, by 30 points in the opener. A much improved defense then shuts down Tim Hiller and Western Michigan in Week 2, gaining confidence before a tricky trip to Akron. Indiana improves to 3-0 by zipping through the Zips, and shocks Michigan in the Big Ten opener for its first win at the Big House since 1967.
After keeping things close for a half against Ohio State, a 4-1 Hoosiers team heads to Charlottesville and knocks off a beatable Virginia team, pushing head coach Al Groh further out the door. Indiana then enters its toughest stretch of the season, against five teams all projected to have winning records.
Things start well,
as Mayberry sacks good friend Juice Williams four times in an upset of Illinois. Indiana drops three of its next four but secures bowl eligibility, not to mention Lynch's immediate future at the school. In the regular-season finale, the Hoosiers avenge their 52-point loss last year at rival Purdue and pound the Boilers 40-10 before a large crowd at Memorial Stadium. Several fans hold up a makeshift signs reading: "We Love Bill Lynch." Indiana continues its strong recruiting push from the summer -- the team already has 21 commits for the 2010 class -- and top players marvel at Indiana's new end zone facility.
Indiana caps a surprising season by beating Colorado in the Insight Bowl. The Hoosiers win nine games for the first time since 1967, when they captured a Big Ten title under John Pont.
WORST CASE
The injury bug bites again, the pistol misfires and Indiana is searching for yet another coach by November.
Indiana isn't nearly as deep as Lynch thinks and Chappell struggles as the full-time starting quarterback, completing just 50 percent of his passes. Without Kellen Lewis, the Hoosiers lack a dynamic playmaker who defenses have to respect, and Chappell spends most games with his face in the turf. The run game stalls and injuries once again crop up on the O-line. Despite a veteran presence on defense, Indiana's holes on the interior line and in the secondary doom the unit, which once again finishes last in the league.
Indiana survives its opener against Eastern Kentucky but needs overtime to do so. Much like last season, the Hoosiers' downhill slide begins against a solid MAC team, and this time Western Michigan exposes the flaws in IU's defense. Hiller passes for 375 yards and four touchdowns as the Broncos roll. After a win at Akron, Indiana heads to Ann Arbor and can't keep pace with speedy Wolverines quarterbacks Tate Forcier and Denard Robinson. Things only get worse the next week as Terrelle Pryor runs wild.
The Ohio State loss lingers the next week as Indiana falls behind Virginia early and never recovers. Williams and the dynamic Illini offense hang 50 on Indiana, and the sparse crowd at Memorial Stadium filters out, leaving only a smattering of boo-birds. Lynch's future becomes a major question for athletic director Fred Glass, who says a decision will be made at the end of the season.
Indiana drops its final five games, including a 31-28 overtime decision to Purdue. With a 2-10 mark, Lynch's fate is sealed. Attendance steadily declines and Glass begins the search for the team's fifth head coach since 2001.
Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
Find the missing link.
- In case you missed it, ESPN.com's bowl projections.
- Injured Minnesota defensive end Derek Onwuachi doesn't need surgery on his knee, and the team hopes he can return before Sept. 5, the Star Tribune's Kent Youngblood writes in his blog.
- Michigan athletic director Bill Martin will review the recruiting process for football in the wake of the problems involving former player Justin Feagin, Mark Snyder writes in the Detroit Free Press.
- Forget the quarterback competition. Michigan State's offense won't do anything without solid line play, Joe Rexrode writes in the Lansing State Journal. As for those QBs, head coach Mark Dantonio likes the competition, though history isn't on the Spartans' side, Eric Lacy writes in The Detroit News.
- Without Kellen Lewis, Indiana sophomore wideouts Damarlo Belcher and Tandon Doss are stepping into featured roles this fall, Ryan Gregg writes in The (Bloomington) Herald-Times.
- Purdue's Royce Adams is adjusting to wide receiver after moving over from cornerback, Mike Carmin writes in The (Lafayette) Journal and Courier.
- A disappointing 2008 season still stings Wisconsin players and coaches, Tom Oates writes in the Wisconsin State Journal.
- It looks like Brian Rolle, not Austin Spitler, will be Ohio State's top middle linebacker this fall, Doug Lesmerises writes in The Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
A few quick questions and answers.
Stewart from Dallas writes: In regards to recent reports that Rich Rodriguez did not know of Justin Feagin's criminal past or police record, how can a head coach of a major program not be aware of this? Shouldn't someone know or is Rodriguez lying again (he did it before at WVU)?And is Feagin just the first of a pattern of questionable players that will be brought into Ann Arbor (he did it before at WVU)?
Adam Rittenberg: Feagin didn't appear to have any known issues during the recruiting process, and coaches do miss things from time to time. Still, it's a knock against Rodriguez, who, like many successful coaches, has had his share of bad apples. Feagin told police that he didn't face any repercussions for his arrests as a minor, so there might not be records that are readily available on him. The key part is your last sentence. If Feagin is the only Rodriguez recruit to turn out like this, the clamor will die down. If other problems follow, it could spell trouble for Rodriguez.
Dr. Jack from North Hollywood, Calif., writes: Dear Adam,I enjoyed your article on returning starters. I read another article written on that same subject. They did a statistical breakdown of returning starters and the amount of wins generated over a 3 year span. The author used the Big 12 conference.It basically showed that it didn't matter. The big schools could reload and still find success where as the smaller schools could return 22 and still have issues.My feeling is that is all comes down to what position is coming back. Obviously quarterbacks being the most important. Beyond that it becomes extremely difficult to quantify.Pete Carroll/USC are a perfect example. He was so upset that Sanchez left that he trashed him initially to the media. [Terrelle] Pryor will be the deciding factor when, in my view, OSU beats the Trojans. Can you tell me where to find a breakdown of the players that are returning from individual schools.
Adam Rittenberg: An excellent analysis, and I'd expect nothing less from the good doctor. Returning starters don't mean everything, and the position group can definitely loom large when evaluating who's back and who's not. It's never easy to replace a multiyear starter at quarterback or on the offensive line, while replacing a star wide receiver seems a bit easier because freshmen and sophomores can contribute right away at those spots. As for finding the returning players from each team, check out the online media guides for each Big Ten school.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Adam Rittenberg
Rittenberg joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four years at the Arlington Heights (Ill.) Daily Herald, where he covered sports at Notre Dame, Northwestern, DePaul and several other colleges. He lives in Chicago.
Brian Bennett
Bennett joined ESPN.com in August 2008 after nine years at The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky., where he covered college sports and the University of Louisville beat. He lives in Louisville.
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