Highlights From Tom Allen on 'Inside Indiana Football' Radio Show Week 4

Indiana coach Tom Allen and play-by-play broadcaster Don Fischer discussed the Hoosiers' 21-14 loss against Louisville, previewed Saturday's matchup against Akron and talked about a whole lot more on Wednesday's edition of "Inside Indiana Football."

Daniel Olinger | Sep 21, 2023

Highlights From Tom Allen on 'Inside Indiana Football' Radio Show Week 4 /

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana football coach Tom Allen joined "The Voice of the Hoosiers" Don Fischer on Wednesday night's edition of the "Inside Indiana Football" radio show, live from Chop Shop Market and Table in Bloomington.

Allen and Fischer recapped Indiana's 21-14 loss against Louisville and previewed Saturday's matchup against Akron at Memorial Stadium.

Here are the highlights.

On the onside kick that got IU back in the game

"That was something that we had worked on," Allen said. "And we felt like it was there, that was just about the time when you would do it. I knew even while jogging off the field at the end of half, I'd already made up my mind that we were going to start the [second] half that way. We had to get something going."
Allen said that he and did not tell Indiana's offense or defense that that was the plan to start the second half, and that the information was limited to the IU special teams coverage unit. Allen also said that Indiana calls that group, "The Hammer Team."

On Tayven Jackson's second half performance

Similar to what he said on Monday, Allen praised Jackson's ability to create something out of nothing for the Indiana offense.
Allen said that Jackson has, "tremendous game day poise."
"As the game gets at a higher level, he seems to just get more calm," Allen said of his quarterback. "That's just a great quality that he has. I think that's something that intrinsically he has going for him and, and he believes in himself. You really got to believe that you're the guy, and you got to make plays in those situations."
Allen said him and the Indiana staff noticed early on in practices that Jackson has a really accurate deep ball.

On the IU defense playing better in the second half

Allen said the frustration from the first half was that the breakdowns were on individual players in the Hoosiers' defense. They were not team-wide breakdowns.
Allen mentioned how sometimes defensive players can make up for mistakes by still playing aggressively through the mistake, but ultimately, said that the first half execution was lacking.
Allen said the defense struggling to get off the field on third down was, "a big issue."
Allen said that on both sides of the ball, Indiana focuses a lot on first down efficiency and third down efficiency.

On wide receiver Donaven McCulley, Cam Camper

"I really believe in him, and I believe this is going to be his year to break out," Allen said of the converted wide receiver McCulley. "He believes the same thing, so it's just neat to see that come to fruition. It's gonna keep growing from here, and he's just a really, really talented player."
Allen also mentioned how Camper has a great understanding of how to get open on routes, and that he's already developed great chemistry with Jackson.

On Indiana's offensive line

Allen said that Zach Carpenter has played the best of the starting group on the offensive line so far this season. He said that when him and IU's staff go through film to evaluate and grade players that Carpenter stuck out as the best.
Allen said Carter Smith is in a tough spot as a redshirt freshman playing the hardest position on the line — left tackle. The coach said Smith has had growing pains but that the team has seen growth from him.

On linebacker Aaron Casey

Allen said that Casey is a great blitzer and has a great feel for how to time things that has come with experience.
"If you want to have a great defense, then you got to have great linebackers," Allen said.

On the defensive line

"We try to rotate as many men as we can," Allen said on how IU handles its defensive line. "We've got more depth than we've had in the past, and that's why you see us continue to play better as the game wears on."
Allen said that Philip Blidi has a "phenomenal motor," and that he practices with that same motor every single day.
Allen also said that Blidi's jersey was ripped on both sides following the game against Louisville.

On pressuring opposing quarterbacks

Allen said that Indiana has not been been blitzing as much this year as it has in the past during his coaching tenure.
Allen said a big reason behind the less blitz-heavy approach is that they're more confident in the front four on the defensive line winning some one-on-one matchups to get pressure. Allen specifically said that was not something they could rely on in the past.

On the fourth-and-goal play call

"You kind of have three options that you would go to as far as in that situation," Allen said. "You make a decision, and obviously it doesn't work, and everybody's like, 'We should have done something else.' And that's right, which is great, you know, and I agree, because that didn't work."
"But at the same time, you make a decision, and we didn't execute it," Allen said. "And you got to execute it."

On Akron in Week 4

Allen said that quarterback D.J. Irons is a big, physical and talented quarterback for his team to deal with.
Allen described Akron coach Joe Moorhead as a very talented offensive mind, and said he remembers that from Moorhead's time at Penn State.
"They throw it more than they run it, but their quarterback is about 6-foot-5 or 6-foot-6, and 220 pounds, and he can run it very well for a big guy." Allen said. "It's a spread style offense ... with a lot of misdirections, a lot of movements. They try to get you distracted and then flood zones and put pressure on you that way."