Defense focuses on stopping the run

Sophomore defensive lineman Greg Brown knows that whether it's the University of Connecticut this weekend or a Big Ten opponent, stopping the run all starts with his group of linemen.\n"It starts up front with any team. It doesn't matter if it was Ohio State or UConn or Ball State," Brown said. "Those front guys are going to stop everything from happening."\nThe defensive line will be particularly important this week as the Hoosiers (2-1) welcome Connecticut (1-1) to Memorial Stadium. The Huskies are the No. 4-ranked rushing offense in the country after two games, averaging 5.5 yards per carry and 272 yards per game. \nConnecticut has four running backs averaging more than 38 yards per game. Leading the way is senior Terry Caulley, averaging 88 yards per game, followed by Donald Brown and Lou Allen, each averaging more than 50 yards per game. \nTo combat this, the IU defense doesn't expect to make any major changes in its schemes. Fixing fundamentals will be the key, players said. \n"Mostly we're just going back to the basics," senior safety Will Meyers said. "What hurt us (last) Saturday was not tackling and not getting off blocks."\nThe team expects shoring up tackling will help against Connecticut, and they won't necessarily have to bring up the safeties to help, Meyers said. \nIU gave up its highest rushing total of the young season when it surrendered 244 yards on the ground in last weekend's 35-28 loss to Southern Illinois. Saluki running back Arkee Whitlock ran for 103 yards and one touchdown, while three other players had 30 or more yards against the Hoosier defense. \nThe Salukis won time of possession and were able to keep drives going in critical situations. \nLast season, the IU defense was ranked 110th nationally against the run. It gave up an average of 215 yards per game. IU is ranked 56th against the run so far this season, giving up 119 yards per game on average. \nLike IU, Connecticut is coming off a loss. Wake Forest was able to contain Connecticut's running game, holding the Huskies to 116 yards in the game en route to a 24-13 victory.\nThe coaching staff believes Connecticut will give IU a taste of what it can expect in conference play and said it is important for IU to rebound after last week's loss. Wisconsin comes to Bloomington for the Big Ten opener next weekend. \n"Connecticut is real physical; they're real big up front," IU interim head coach Bill Lynch said during his weekly press conference Tuesday. "They are very well coached and will be good preparation for what we're going to see in the Big Ten." \nDespite the approach of conference play, the coaching staff is not looking past this week. \n"We need to get last Saturday out of our system," Lynch said. "We need to play our best football game to win on Saturday"