Hardy always on the move

Keeping track of sophomore wide receiver James Hardy during a game isn't easy.\nOne play he's split wide right. The next play he's in the slot on the left. Next time he's in the slot on the right only to be split wide left the next drive.\nThat is exactly how Hardy spent last week's game against Illinois. He moved across the formation throughout the game, barely lining up in the same spot twice in a row. He went on to have his best statistical game of the season, catching five balls for 67 yards.\n"They had me playing both inside and outside receivers," Hardy said after practice Tuesday. "I'm getting double coverage on the outside every single game."\nAnd that's exactly how the IU coaching staff wants it. If it's difficult for spectators to figure out where Hardy is lining up from play to play, it means the opposing defense will have a hard time keeping track of his movements, too.\nHardy has experienced much more double coverage than he did last year. Through four games last season, Hardy had 24 receptions for 423 yards and four touchdowns.\nHardy has appeared in four of IU's six games this season. He missed two games for undisclosed personal reasons.\nFreshman quarterback Kellen Lewis said after last week's game that moving Hardy around in the formation was important to getting him the ball. During practice this week, however, Lewis said he knew it would be difficult to get Hardy the ball as the season went on. \n"It's going to be kind of rough. Teams are mixing up coverages and trying to cloud him," Lewis said after practice Wednesday. "But it's definitely a priority -- get him the ball and get him rolling."\nIowa's pass defense offers a challenge for Hardy and Lewis. The Hawkeyes have the third-best pass defense in the conference, allowing 188 yards per game.\nSenior free safety Marcus Paschal is the leader of the Iowa secondary. Paschal was named preseason first team All Big Ten by three publications and was named the fourth-best free safety in the nation by The Sporting News.\nHardy exploded against Iowa last season, catching 12 passes for 203 yards and one touchdown in the game. The receptions and yards were both season highs.\nWhile it's important to keep Hardy involved in the offense, Lewis also said it is important not to force the ball to him against tough Big Ten defenses.\n"(Quarterbacks coach Matt) Canada kind of nails it into our head," Lewis said. "One second, two seconds, make your read. Don't force it anywhere."\nThis week against Iowa -- and for the rest of the season -- the coaching staff believes Hardy will be an important ingredient to scoring more points and winning football games. The key, though, is that they keep him on the move.\n"That's all part of game planning and creating situations, if you can, get a matchup," IU wide receivers coach Billy Lynch said after practice Wednesday. "It's like anything else: If the defense wants to really hone in on taking something away, it leaves something there"