‘Bigger and more athletic’. Versatility and flexibility for defensive line key to Indiana football success in 2023

‘Bigger and more athletic.’ That was the emphasis from the Indiana football defensive line group during the first week of fall camp.

After two unsuccessful seasons from the defense in 2021 and 2022, this offseason has brought a heightened intensity to the group — from both the coaches and the players.

Indiana has its deepest and most versatile defensive line room in quite some time.

For defensive line coach Paul Randolph, that gives him a lot of flexibility and allows him to utilize the versatility from numerous players in multiple spots.

“Right now, there’s a lot of depth,” Randolph said last week. “What you don’t know is that big Marcus Burris is actually playing d-end, too. Truthfully, it’s crazy because he’s 287-lbs. and he moves like he is 250. That depth between Andre (Carter) being able to do both, inside or out, Marcus Burris being able to do both, inside and out, naturally (Venson) Sneed is an outside-only guy. To be able to move guys in and out, and then inside, they’re interchangeable also. My noses can play three-technique, my three-techniques can play nose. So, that’s how we’re creating depth at every position.”

The defensive line is led by Western Michigan transfer Andre Carter. Carter established himself as the go-to playmaker in spring practice and hasn’t relinquished that role. In 47 career games, he’s totaled 134 tackles, 11 sacks and six forced fumbles.

Indiana also added Marcus Burris, LeDarrius Cox, Patrick Lucas Jr, Philip Blidi, Trey Laing and others through the portal over the past few offseason.

In addition, Venson Sneed and Nick James are young prospects looking to make a big impact in year two with the program.

“There is a lot of competition,” Randolph. “That’s the best part of it. We got guys competing with each other. I think the best part of them competing with each other is that they have grown into a really close brotherhood. They understand that we are going to compete. We are going to help each other be the best, but we are also competing to play … what you are hearing is that I am excited about the depth that we have and the competition that we have going every single day.

“We all know competition breeds greatness. That’s the best part about it to me … it’s going to be heightened every single day the level of competition. We do, every day … adding the (new) guys in, it’s about your room. The best thing I got is great character young men. So, when you bring in new guys, they welcome them in like a brother. But, we’re going to compete.”

Coach Q&A: Indiana football head coach Tom Allen discusses first week of fall camp

With so much competition at the position, what will determine playing time? It’s quite simple in the eyes of Randolph.

“Attitude and effort early and just trying to be the standard,” Randolph said. “We call it break to stack. When the ball is outside of my area, I am breaking the stack. I am going to the ball. Energy, effort, physicality. We still can get that in the way we practice which is who and what we want to be. But to me, the finish, the burst, and break the stack to the ball and just being explosive in those thing.”

Indiana gave up 33.9 points per game in 2022 — last in the Big Ten.

The IU defense also totaled just 37 sacks in the past two years. It was last in the league in 2021 and 11th in the Big Ten in 2022.

“I think we are bigger and more athletic. Which allows for more playmakers, guys that can do the same thing, take two [opponents],” Randolph said. “Our whole thing is two-for-one. I tell them, ‘Mr. Randolph loves two-for-one, right, so we love to go two-for-one’. If we can do that, the linebackers are going to be great. If we’re doing that, the linebackers are going to pull one of them [opponents] off of us at some point and now we’ve got to be ready to make the play. And I think we are athletic enough now to make the play when it’s presented to us … we are going to make plays through our responsibility.”

“This is the best d-line I’ve ever been a part of, to be honest” Carter emphasized. “Collectively, as from down to size and just the ability to play hard and be able to execute and have the discipline … [opponents] won’t just be able to key me, they’ll have to key everybody on this d-line because they’re playmakers.”

Indiana football heads into this season looking to turn around the program’s downfall over the past two years. A 6-18 record the past two seasons followed a 14-7 two-year span in 2019 and 2020.

Tom Allen’s message is clear for the Indiana football roster, however. ‘Trust your preparation’ and everything else will take care of itself.

“Coach Allen talks about this a lot; he calls it trusting your preparation. This team, along with myself, has put in a lot of work this offseason and done a lot of work together. So, when you trust your preparation and you know how hard you have been working, it makes everything a lot easier,” Carter added. “At Indiana, we believe in keeping the blinders on. We are not paying too much attention to media. We just keep our heads down and continue to work.”

SEE ALSO: Key players to watch throughout fall camp for Indiana football

Make sure to follow Hoosier Illustrated on Twitter @Indiana_FRN and YouTube to stay up to date on all of the news, updates and coverage of Indiana University athletics.