IU adjusting defense after injuries

However, Hoeppner and his team will be without senior linebacker John Pannozzo for the next three games, including this Saturday's against Minnesota.\n"I think we're in a good frame of mind," Hoeppner said. "Obviously, physically we are a little short-handed with losing John Pannozzo. But that's the nature of this game and somebody's gotta step up. I've said it before, this is the biggest game of the week."\nPannozzo went down in the third quarter of Oct. 29's game and had surgery on Monday to repair his injured hand. Despite losing their senior captain, the Hoosier players remain optimistic.\n"John's a great player, but the biggest thing that you have to remember is that a team is a team," sophomore quarterback Blake Powers said. "When somebody's injured, somebody else has to step up."\nAfter last Saturday's 46-15 loss to Michigan State, Hoeppner indicated that the coaching staff would look to change up the Hoosier defense a bit, and insert players who could "make big plays".\n"By design, there will have to be some new faces because somebody has to take Johnny's place," Hoeppner said in a statement. "We made some substitutions the other day. Some because we had to, and some because we were giving other guys opportunities. We need guys to compete. I want a lot of guys who want to play and are ready to play."\nSenior defensive back Will Lumpkin said that while he hopes the substitutions will strengthen the defense, IU will also need to finish its tackles.\n"Guys have to start being held accountable, including me," Lumpkin said. "If you're not making the tackles, you're not going to win."\nLumpkin said the IU defense was making extra efforts during practice this week to ensure that they would be ready for Saturday's game and particularly Minnesota running back Laurence Maroney.\n"He's the best back in the country and they have the best running game in the country," Lumpkin said. "We gotta make tackles and that's what we're trying to do. That's why guys are running a lot after practice. You miss tackles in practice, you're gonna miss them in the game."\nMichigan State running back Javon Ringer racked up 109 rushing yards and a touchdown in the Spartans' rout of the Hoosiers last Saturday. This weekend, the IU defense will be faced with the task of containing Maroney, who averages more than 150 yards rushing per game.\n"He's a great running back with a lot of power and he's really fast," said senior defensive end Victor Adeyanju. "(Minnesota is) a high-powered offense. We have to have a great enthusiasm and great energy. We need to get after them."\nAlmost exactly a year ago, the Hoosiers defeated the then-No. 24 Golden Gophers 30-21 in front of a Homecoming crowd at Memorial Stadium.\n"It is not fiction, it is not some myth or something that happened 20 years ago," Hoeppner said. "It was last year in this stadium against this team. Now, is that going to win the game for us? No. Is that going to provide some momentum and motivation for them? Probably, but it is the truth and I am not going to ignore it as a point of reference."\nWith Pannozzo out and the Hoosiers carrying a three-game losing streak, Powers said it is clear to the team what needs to be done.\n"We've never lacked the confidence, it's just been the execution and the enthusiasm," Powers said. "We just have to eliminate the mistakes."\nPowers broke the Hoosiers single-season passing record of 17 touchdowns just weeks ago. But since then, the sophomore quarterback and the rest of the Hoosier offense has struggled, scoring just 16 points in their last two games. \n"We need to rally together," Adeyanju said. "We need to play hard and win these last couple of games."\nThe Hoosiers currently hold a 4-4 record overall and are 1-4 in the Big Ten. Still, IU hopes to fulfill its motto embedded on bracelets that the team has worn all season.\n"Play 12, that's our goal," Lumpkin said. "That's why guys are still running around excited. We need guys to step up and just take it to the next level"