Craig Johnson Previews Indiana's Running Back Room
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00:00 Even as far back as spring, we saw maybe some work where you get two guys from your room on the field at the same time.
00:08 You've obviously got kind of a variety of skill sets there.
00:11 How much do you think maybe you've got the diversity in that room of traits and skills and attributes to be able to put two guys on the field
00:19 and maybe even have two guys involved in some of the same concepts?
00:22 Well, I like to think all of our guys can play multiple positions.
00:26 We don't really key them for one position or another.
00:30 We try to have some one-back sets. We'll try to have some two-back sets.
00:37 Our guys try to learn every position. I think that's key.
00:41 That way they can play it if needed to go against our opponent.
00:46 So I think they're all coming along in that.
00:49 That's really a challenge for you to have to play multiple positions, but it makes you a little bit more multiple.
00:55 And so we're going to continue to test those guys to the limit, especially in the preseason, and then see if we can be effective with that.
01:02 You know, Jalen Lucas obviously had a tremendous true freshman season, but how far has this game advanced from where he was from a year ago to now?
01:12 Well, I think the biggest thing from a year ago to where he's at is that he when he played last year, he didn't come into about the fourth or fifth game.
01:22 And then, of course, he had the kind of season that you like to have as more so as a returner than as a back.
01:28 I think the early game jitters, like when he was a true freshman, early enrollee, that was a lot for him.
01:37 And he plays like a second year player, which I think he's understanding the game, the pace of the game, what he's got to do.
01:45 He practices at a really high level. Football is very important to him.
01:49 He works on his craft hard, and I think I like what I have seen so far, but I'm never in love with what I see so far.
01:58 They know that there's always room to grow.
02:01 Yeah, I just think that as a three phase player running the ball, catching the ball and pass protection, I think those are the three phases.
02:13 I put that on every back I've been on for all the years I've coached them.
02:19 And don't be happy that you had such and such a year ago because last year is over. No one cares.
02:25 And so this year I expect him to step up in all three phases.
02:29 And that's he is attempting to do that. And he has made some very good strides.
02:34 Take Mason front row on the left. Coach, obviously a big part of the run game is kind of offensive line there, push up front.
02:42 You have an offensive line coach and run game coordinator, Bob Ross. How has that been working with him?
02:47 What has that been like and kind of how have you seen him improve in such an offensive line?
02:50 Well, I think that Bob has a really good hold on the offensive line, both from the run game and the pass protection.
02:59 He is, I'll just say, we have very similar backgrounds in a lot of a lot of ways.
03:06 And so it's been really easy. He's very demanding for those guys.
03:10 He's tough on his players, but he's going to get the best out of those guys.
03:14 And I'm very much looking forward to see how our line is going to continue to grow this year.
03:22 And they are there's a lot of good things that they're doing. And I'm sure if he was speaking here, he'd say we still got a ways to go, as I would say, too.
03:30 But we have worked. We like I said, we have some of a common history as far as the people that we've had in our backgrounds.
03:37 And so our run game philosophy and pass protection philosophy are very much in sync.
03:42 Jack on the left and Zach. Yeah, I know you guys were excited about Jalen at this point last year,
03:47 but now a year ahead, he obviously has more responsibilities, more expectations.
03:51 How do you feel like you've seen him handle that side of it?
03:58 Well, any time that you have success as a young player, people always going to try to see what's the next step for you, what he's going to do.
04:07 And I just tell him your burning desire is to play at the maximum of what you have.
04:14 I'm saying whatever that is at this time, that's what you want to do. I want you to turn it loose.
04:20 I don't want you to play afraid to make mistakes with that being there.
04:26 If he's in the backfield that plays for IU, he better take care of the ball.
04:30 You better take care of the quarterback.
04:31 And I'm not concerned too much about what he's going to do when he touches the ball because there's a lot of good things there.
04:37 But he's got he's always one to challenge yourself to improve at all the time.
04:44 Always be on the rise. A lot of guys put it that way.
04:47 You always want to be a player on the rise. And I think and believe right now that J.
04:53 Lou is on that path. He talked to Big Ten Media Day about studying some guys like him in the offseason.
05:01 Guys are a little smaller. We're explosive. You mentioned the Anthony Thomas and Duce Vaughn.
05:05 He also mentioned Tavon Austin. What's the balance? You want a guy like that to strike where I imagine he's moved around some in his career,
05:11 but you would classify him in one position, but maybe you want him to diversify himself offensively to where you could play him,
05:19 you know, split out or, you know, swing him out, that kind of thing. Just what's the from a coach's perspective?
05:24 What's the process of maybe letting him study a little bit of that and then trying to maybe implement and teach that?
05:30 Well, I just think that when you have he's got obviously a diverse set of skills.
05:36 And if he does that, we're going to push him. We're going to push him to see what he can do.
05:40 I've had some backs like that. I've been with before in the past that can both play in the backfield.
05:47 They can they can motion out of the backfield.
05:50 Obviously, they can do all the runs that they need to do within the backfield and they can catch a couple of passes down the field.
05:57 I've been blessed to be around a couple of guys that have really mastered that.
06:03 And so we're going to keep pushing him, realizing that the guys I'm thinking about are up in the next level. He's not there yet.
06:10 So we've got to make sure he's good in his core things.
06:12 And then but keep on pushing them because most guys want to have a challenge.
06:17 And that's what we're going to try to put on him.
06:19 Jim second row to your right. Coach, I know the quarterback is an integral part of the running game, obviously.
06:25 What difficulties or challenges does it present you when you have a quarterback race that may not be determined until right up until the first game?
06:34 Well, if you were to ask my guys what they would answer to you is if you do the correct fundamentals and technique
06:41 and you know your assignment, it shouldn't make a difference who's in there.
06:45 If you want to. And I've told them this, regardless of the quarterback that's in there,
06:50 if you want to see that position play at a pretty good level, why don't you do your job right and do it well?
06:56 And that will help that. I put that with the running backs, but I'm sure most of our coaches on the offensive staff are going to say that.
07:02 So they don't have to think they have to come win the game.
07:05 You never want to put that on any quarterback that's going to with inexperienced.
07:10 And that's why we got to step up and do our job very well, without pressure, without being scared of making mistakes,
07:17 but push it so that we can be a strong point for our team.
07:23 We've said here in the front left, Christian Turner is a guy that came in with a lot of experience through his college career.
07:29 Just how has that experience come through and what are you bringing to the table right now?
07:33 What do you feel like you can bring to the offense?
07:34 He has a very good voice, very good short area quickness and good pass protector.
07:42 He is showing a lot in his snaps. I'm very excited about what he's been doing.
07:48 And like with everybody else, everybody's got stuff to work on.
07:52 So what I try to do is get him to scratch where it itches.
07:57 Bottom line, everybody's got something. I've yet to find that back.
08:03 Even though I've been on the team with the MVP in the NFL, I've yet to find the back that is great in everything.
08:09 So they all back have something to work on. He does, too.
08:13 But the greatest thing that he has done is he's a relentless studier of the game and he is all in the details and he is into football in a big way.
08:23 And that's a good thing. Besides, obviously, when school time and all that starts.
08:28 But he's into football. It's very serious to him.
08:31 We'll go to Daniel Second row on the left.
08:34 Hey, Coach. Obviously, with Henderson returning to basketball,
08:38 you've been watching him lesser and bringing Turner to some of his experience.
08:41 So what do you think about trying to get all three of them involved in the game?
08:46 So they're just running back like maybe you're done.
08:49 Just find ways to get them to show up.
08:51 Yeah, that's yet to be determined. We'll figure out who, how, where, when.
08:56 We still have some time to get ready to go to our game.
08:59 The bottom line is I have believed throughout my career that, you know, there's going to be somebody stepping out there as a starter on game day.
09:10 And if you are with the three guys you've mentioned or guys that have been behind them, you better be ready and prepared like a starter because you don't get do overs.
09:24 So I tell my guys all the time, knowing that some of my career probably more than I like, I had to be I was a backup.
09:31 They had to come in. You better be ready to go. Don't tell me I need to warm up.
09:35 Don't tell me I need to get the feel of the game. You're talking to the wrong coach.
09:39 So for them and for some of the other guys that we have had, the bottom line is go out there.
09:47 Don't try to make highlight plays. That's what gets you into a lot of trouble.
09:51 Just do what you do and do it well and do it consistently.
09:55 Be a physical ball player that can, you know, give us tough runs.
09:59 The explosive runs will come. Pass protection, block your guy, catch the ball, do those kind of things.
10:05 And it will all weed itself out. So I tell all those guys, you better think like a starter, whether you're the first person on that field or not.
10:14 You better practice, study and prepare like you are starting because you only get one chance to go on there and impress our head coach.
10:23 That's the key. Do you have any takeaways from the scrimmage on Saturday in terms of your guys?
10:29 I know Christian wasn't able to go, but what was your kind of take?
10:32 I thought we were very sluggish. I thought our room was I we played at a pretty high level throughout a lot of the preseason.
10:39 I didn't see a lot of that. And so I let them know one thing about me.
10:45 I'm blunt. I tell it like it is. And if they are playing at a high level, I let them know.
10:51 I'll praise them if they don't. I'm going to tell them it's not acceptable.
10:54 That's how it is. I'm not there to be their friend.
10:56 So they were not very happy when they walked out of that meeting for a practice.
11:02 And that's probably the only time I've had to really get after them.
11:05 So they responded today. That's what I look for.
11:08 The last one to Pete, top right corner coach over here. Just your thoughts on Henderson.
11:12 What do you need from him? What do you expect?
11:14 I have high expectations for him because he played well.
11:18 He played quite a bit more in the second half of the season last year.
11:23 When he played, he did. He played pretty well in all three phases.
11:27 And he needs he needs me to push him to where he can go.
11:33 And so I have very high expectations for him.
11:36 But again, I don't want guys out there when I keep saying I have high expectations.
11:42 You cannot be scared. And I don't want you to press.
11:45 That's what gets backs in trouble because they try to go make home runs and then negative plays come.
11:51 So just go do what you do and do it well and trust your preparation and trust your fundamentals and play hard for as long as you can.
12:02 And I will be able to tell when they need to blow and then we'll get them out.
12:07 And then when they go back in, I expect more of the same.
12:10 I nameless, faceless, faceless, regardless of position.
12:14 That's what my standards are. And if you want to get in Coach Johnson's doghouse,
12:19 go out there and act like you don't know what you're doing. That will not make me very happy.
12:24 Great. Thanks, Coach. Thank you.