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WATCH: Tom Allen recaps Idaho, looks ahead to Cincinnati

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Indiana head coach Tom Allen recaps IU’s home opener against Idaho and looks ahead to Cincinnati.

Above is the full Q&A.

(Video courtesy of IU Athletics)

Below is the transcript.

Opening Statement

What a great atmosphere that the fans created for us [against Idaho]. We really appreciate that. And obviously need that again this week.

I thought our performance was very solid. Special teams really stuck out. As we saw in-person and as you go back and watch the film, just really proud of Coach [Kasey] Teegardin and the job that he's done there. Ryan McInerney is his quality control guy. They do a tremendous job working together and coming up with a great game plan, and the guys executed it. Creating explosive plays in that area of the game is really important for us moving forward to be able to set up our offense.

Defensively we tackled well, we ran to the football and played physical. Made some adjustments there as they got a couple drives on us late in the half and early in the third quarter. Offensively being able to get some more guys involved I thought was very important for us to be able to do that with some different guys. Getting Michael [Penix Jr.] to continue to grow and develop and comfortable with his situation.

It was just a very important game for us. Now we turn our full attention to Cincinnati. We are just really impressed with their football team. Had a chance to spend the last couple days watching them. Coach [Luke] Fickell's done a tremendous job there in both recruiting and, the last couple seasons, they've won a lot of football games. They have a very talented quarterback and a lot of good speed and skill guys across the board, in the backfield and big men up front. Defensively they are very disciplined, very sound, and don't give up a lot of things. They really do a good job tackling and keeping things in front of them.

So really, really good football team. They're ranked what they are for a reason, and they've earned it. So just very excited about the opportunity that creates this weekend and excited for our fans to be there in full force. I know it's already a sellout, and that really means a lot to me that the fans are getting behind us. We understand the opportunity that this presents. So really excited about this coming weekend and ready for questions.

On the opportunity this presents for the program…

TA: I think a sense of urgency is probably a good way to put it. I think there's no question that's what this situation creates. I think that, just like you mentioned, you have an opportunity week one, and we're going to have many opportunities as you see the polls out as the season unfolds to be able to play against top teams in the country.

Our schedule is full of them. And this is the next one.

We talked about, even before two weeks ago and leading up to that, being able to understand that it's about earning it every single week. When you play such a [tough] schedule like we do, then you are blessed with the opportunities to be able to play elite teams consistently.

So, no matter what happened in the past, good or bad, you've got to flush it and you've got to get ready for the next opportunity. And that's what this one presents. So definitely one we want to make sure we're fully ready for.

On Michael Penix Jr. getting more comfortable…

TA: I thought it was an important next step [to have a couple of scrambles against Idaho]. Definitely have more work to do, but I feel like it was important to get the run game going with Stephen Carr, too. He was our offensive player of the game. I think that's indicative of how their offensive line blocked and the perimeter blocking and tight ends blocking and he and all of the running backs running the football well.

I just think getting [the run game] established and then being able to have good sound protection. A couple things in there that we didn't [do well] after going back and watching the film and meeting as a stuff, but we just need to continue to help him feel comfortable with the progressions and play calling and everything that we're doing.

I did think there was one where he was flushed out of the pocket, got a facemask call, and then ran and slid. The decisiveness of that decision was good. Just to be able to get back there and play football and not over think things. That's part of it you're just working through and that's where I think he's got to continue to just play. I think it was definitely a very positive step in the right direction for Michael to just getting more comfortable every single week. Like I said, during the week, it's not an issue because you know the situation and you're able to know what's going on around you. I felt last week's practice was better for him than it was the week before. So, as we continue to help this process move forward, I think you're just going to see him getting better and better.

On James Head and Jaylin Williams status and the impressions of Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder…

TA: We do expect Jaylin Williams to be back this week. James Head I doubt will be. He's still coming back from an injury. He's progressing well, doing more and more every single week. I think he'll be back hopefully in the near future.

In regard to Desmond Ridder, he's a special player. The thing about it, he's a long guy, 6-foot-4. He's big. He's 215-plus pounds. Runs a lot and runs really effectively. As we all know, that puts challenges on a defense when a quarterback can do that. He runs the ball a lot but has to be able to stay healthy, and that's a tough thing to do at this level.

Really, his passing just keeps getting better and better. You go back and watch in years past, which we've done that … we spend a lot of time studying over the summer as well and look in previous years and see his growth as a quarterback. He's just really throws the ball down the field with a lot of accuracy now and has a really talented receiver core.

He’s a very good football player. Definitely a future NFL guy. You have that kind of guy leading your team, that's a very good formula for a lot of success.

On his assessment of the secondary so far…

TA: We have been a little bit [banged up]. Devon Matthews, we'll know more about him later this week. We also found out that Christopher Keys tore his ACL [against Idaho] and he'll be out for the season, which is disappointing for him. I really feel bad for him. He's worked really, really hard. So, Noah Pierre is probably going to be elevated and we will move him from playing safety to corner.

That's just part of going through the season. And getting Jaylin [Williams] back will be big for us. We just have to continue to develop our younger guys. That's where it's going to be big. We are hoping to get Jonathan Haynes back in the mix this week, as well. So that will help us as we wait to get Devon with us as soon as possible.

But, yeah, every year seems like maybe a certain position has a few more challenges than others. That seems to be our spot for this year. But guys are working really, really hard back there. Obviously, their role is going to be huge this weekend because our secondary is going to be tested by a very talented receiver core and really elite quarterback. So, we expect them to play a little better this week than we did last week.

That's the whole key. The defense made a lot of growth in some areas last week -- or week one to week two. And because of that, Micah McFadden and Ryder Anderson were both our defensive players of the game. Those guys, their leadership and production continue to be at a high level. So just really encouraged by the secondary. I know they caught some passes on us underneath. A lot of that was leverage and positioning and different things. But just got to continue to get better. And I know we will because our guys are really, really motivated. We've got a great staff.

On the offensive line…

TA: To me, they need to continue to develop there. The two plays that you alluded to, the first one we got beat on a tight end stunt, which shouldn't happen. It was a mistake in communication. That's what I talked about before and that's the part you have to continue to work through when you have the guard/tackle working together. With Luke [Haggard] back, those guys have another week to be together. There was poor communication on the one side. Then Luke just got beat one-on-one off the edge, which can't happen. But those were the only two sacks that we gave up.

And, definitely, I just think every single week you go through, and I felt like there was -- even in the run game --there was some improvement for sure. I felt like that, and as I mentioned before, they're two inside guys who are very big and strong and talented guys and just really guys had to really strain and work and finish, which is good. I felt like that we were on the right people more even than in the past. Stayed on guys. I thought we had better effort up front, better finish up front. Still got to make sure we don't misread with our backs. That happened a couple times, which affected some runs. We'll continue to get better with that. I think as a collective group with Stephen Carr, he is new working with those guys, with our system, learning more and more on each rep. He wasn't here in the springtime, so you just continue to get everything you've done from fall camp on.

It's just a group that continues to mesh. And to me, that's what we say, teams are made during the season. Every single week, the work that you put into it and everything we do in practice. [To help that] the one thing we're doing a lot more of this year is we're doing more good on good during practice to be able to create a better look for each side of the football to be able to really do a good job of preparing our front because that's the key on both sides to be able to work against high-level guys that can give you the proper resistance, proper movements. You have to execute technique at a high level to be able to get that. That's something we're really working hard on. The O-line needs to keep coming together. They have to play really well because it starts and stops with them.

On Michael Penix Jr. playing more instinctive…

TA: I think it's more rhythm. I think it's more timing than technical. I think it's being able to do what you do fundamentally sound and at a high level, you know, with being live. I think that's the key, just the whole dynamic that it creates is part of it.

That's where, like I say, you only get that [quarterback contact] on game day. You're not going to do that during the week. The timing you do, those different things, but doing that when it's live, when there's full pressure and everything, full speed and tackle, that's why the games are so critical. Even being able to in the game Saturday to keep him out there as long as we felt we should and needed to in order to be able to get what we wanted to get out of that was very important, yet still be wise in how we used those reps. Then, get a chance for Jack [Tuttle] to compete and play at a high level.

So, to me, that's really important that he's able to do that. I feel like the more he plays, the better he's going to get and the more of those natural things, those instinctive things that he does and has built inside of him, those keep coming out more and more each week. That's what we expect to happen. Even as the competition increases and intensity increases, you have to play at a high, high level.

On points of emphasis for the Cincinnati game…

TA: I think number one, it's just continued focus on the relentless attention to detail. I just think that has to be how you perform in those pressure moments. We've had a chance to play a really good football team week one and that exposed certain things. Now, to have another opportunity to play top 10 team and to play them and have the execution of our offense, execution of our defense, execution of our special teams at an elite level, the attention to detail and those things in those moments against that type of competition is the focus. That's the way I want our guys to prepare and how we ultimately are going to play. So that's step number one for me.

Number two is the fundamental things. Even though as the games get bigger throughout the season, the emphasis on fundamentals doesn't change. To be able to fundamentally position yourself with footwork and hand placement and how we're going to tackle and the angles we're going to take and where our eyes are going to be. We're continuing to teach those things because those are fundamental things that don't go away. They are part of what you do. So much a part of defense is eye discipline and making sure we put a huge emphasis on that. That's going to be another huge point this week.

The third is communication with our guys. Working together on the offensive line, working together with our defense. Everything that we do with our quarterbacks and our running backs. The different things they have in protections and the receivers and the things that they're doing together. Then our secondary with the linebackers and linebackers with the D-line.

Those are just things to me that show up. They come out in big games when you have crowds and noise and you have to have the ability to make sure you're on the same page. It's just one miscommunication here or there that can be the difference in the game. That's why those things in a game like this when it's going to be so much -- every play is going to have so much on the line, which is what I see in games like this where you have to be able to be at your best in those moments and have those executions that you're looking for.

To me, that's what you emphasize. It's the process that you go through to continue to get better at that, and every week you want to see those mistakes continue to diminish.

On the student section creating a great atmosphere in pregame against Idaho…

TA: Well, to me, that’s really important. That's why I've talked about it multiple times and did right after the game and went over there afterwards to thank them for being there early and just encouraging them to come back next week. And for that to continue.

To me, you just create a culture. That's just what our student section looks like. That's what the student section looks like when you come to a game at Indiana. That hasn't always been that way in the past, but they have been awesome [this season], and I appreciate that. That's why I don't want them to ever think that we take any of that for granted whatsoever. Just know that our players, they talked about it and they were interacting with them too on social media about it and just showing their appreciation and thankfulness for it.

So, yeah, crowds energize [the teams]. That's why home field is an advantage for a reason. Part of it is the familiarity of your routine, but the bigger part of it is crowd noise and the energy it gives the home team.

And then the distraction it can become to the visiting team. And the ability for them to have to struggle in communicating when they're on offense. If it's third down and our defense is on the field [it is important] that it's just deafening to where [the opponent] can't hear anything. Everything has to be silent count, communication with hand signals and that gives us an advantage on the snap. All those different things that go into play when you play with that behind you.

And so that's why -- just the energy that they bring pregame and during warm-ups -- just everything that goes into that, to the psyche of our guys. So, yeah, it's important as we very much appreciate it and are really excited for it to continue the rest of the season.

On which version of his team he thinks we will see the rest of the season…

TOM ALLEN: Well, certain parts of that game [at Iowa] I hope we never see again. But, obviously, we played a different opponent week two. So, what you're looking for is consistent performance and consistent execution. Consistent energy. There's power in consistency.

We challenge our team all the time about embracing the boredom of that consistency. That's a powerful concept of how you stick to the process and become great. And it's something that we teach a lot of the time to our guys. Even though we've got a lot of guys that have played a lot of football, you just have to rephrase it in certain ways to be able to emphasize it so it doesn't become stale, but, at the same time, that's what you want. It's consistent performance.

To be able to execute things I've talked about and answered in previous questions about to be able to do the fundamental things the right way, critical moments of the game and being able to execute offense, defense, special teams in those moments when it counts the most and when the game is on the line and when there's a lot to play for. That's where you want guys to get to where [execution] just becomes the norm. This is how we play. This is the standard. The opponent doesn't drive that. The clock doesn't drive that. The circumstances don't drive that. You drive that and you control that, your focus and your attention to detail.

That's where we're trying to get to as a program, as a team. And that, to me, is where you want to be able to play, just that steady, that's who we are when we play [mentality]. That's what we talk about our DNA on each side of the football: offense, defense, special teams. That's who we are. That's what we're known for. And when you see us play, that's what you think of and that's what we want. And we talk about those things. They're plastered in every single room. We talk about them every single day. And we want that consistent performance from our guys. So that's the expectation for this program is to be able to perform in those moments at a high level.

On a game being schedule so far in advance and now looks like a top 25 matchup…

TA: I would say if you think back -- I don't know exactly when the game was scheduled -- before I got here, and I got here in 2016. If it was scheduled in 2014, I know we played them when I was at the University of South Florida in 2015 and they had the No. 4-ranked offense in the country. They were a really good football team.

But at that time, Indiana was building and was not in that situation. So, yeah, to be able to predict it in 2021, I think that probably would not have been part of what anybody thought at the time. I think it's even been written about the upcoming game, in anticipation of this game, the two programs are in a different spot than they had been in the past, even though Cincinnati was a successful program at that point. They weren't top 10.

They've elevated their program and we've elevated our program. So definitely different than what it maybe would have been projected when it was contracted all these years ago. That's what makes it awesome and exciting and a great opportunity for both programs to be able to play in these types of games that people are talking about and they're interested in. That's how you build your program. You get those opportunities and a chance for them to be put in a certain position. And when those come, you've got to take advantage of it.

On if there was anything different they could have done in camp to get Michael Penix Jr. ready…

TA: We've gone back and talked about it. I don't think there's anything we would have done different physically. There's no question he would have never gotten hit. That would not have happened. We did do a lot of things to stress him, but when we do special teams work usually a quarterback would do certain fundamental things that were maybe not physically stressful, but he was conditioning. He was doing everything rehab wise and strengthening and running and working with our strength staff and just really stressing his body in a big, big way.

I think that the actual -- it's like when you have a young player. It's one thing you can't do is simulate a game and being able to have all it involves in that and how you feel in that moment. There's no game simulation machine for that. I just think we still did a lot of things mentally and different things.

He's got to go play and work through it. That's part of what we're going through right now. I think you're seeing growth. But if you go back and you look back at different thing you can try and do better. We'll continue to do that as we talk to him. I think every situation is a little different based on the injury and the person's past and what position they play and different things. So, it's obviously one of those where -- it was not a point where you would say, ‘hey, we wish we would have had our guys tackling him during fall camp.’ That wasn't the case. And you would never do that. But here we are, and he's growing and getting better and feeling better about it. So that's what you can do.

On Luke Fickell also being a defensive minded head coach…

TA: You know, he's one coach I really don't know very well. I've shaken his hand a few times but really not spoken to him or not sat down and talked ball.

I have a lot of respect for him. He's a wrestler. That's one of those guys -- a lot of respect for that. I love that. But he’s just tough. Those kids play hard. They're physical, disciplined. Everything that we [are teaching], as well.

When you've got defensive-minded head coaches that are former wrestlers, you kind of get that same toughness emphasis and guys are going to play with a lot of grit and fight and just be relentless.

So those are the kind of things that I see from their defense and the consistency, no matter who the coordinators have been. You kind of get changes there, but you're going to see the common denominator is him and his personality and how hard they play. Just a lot of respect for him and what he's built there. He's done a great job of recruiting. He's done a really good job in the state of Ohio and convincing kids to stay home there, which is important now they're moving into the Big 12 and that will just enhance that for them. That's just part of building a program. He's done that, but I don't know him that well for sure but have a lot of respect for him.

On Cincinnati ranking top-10 in the FBS in passing yards allowed and third-down conversion rates…

TA: Yeah. I think just any time you have the ability to move the pocket around is a positive thing. To be able to make it more difficult for them to pressure him. But, once again, as we've stated before today, it starts up front and our ability to truly protect [Michael Penix Jr.].

You're right, just like we do with different parts of our scheme, you want to be able to change certain points so they can't just target whether it's the coverages run on defense and the way they look and present it and whether it's your punts and your pockets and all different things that you do football wise.

I think that's just a part of the continued growth of [Penix] because he can run. You've seen him run around. That's not an issue at all. He's 100 percent with all that. It's just a matter of him being able to continue to move around and play football. Whenever people are stressing us, just extending the pocket if we have to, sliding in the pocket to move around and get the ball down field.

Have a great day. LEO.

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