The football team got an earful from IU coach Bill Lynch after Tuesday’s practice, and afterward the offense had to do extra conditioning drills.\nIn the post-practice team meeting, Lynch berated the team before making the offense do a series of up-downs, a drill in which players dive to the ground only to shoot straight back up at the order of a whistle.\nLynch said his anger with the team was because of the lack of intensity members showed throughout practice.\n“We need to play better than that,” Lynch said. “We have to come back out here, Thursday, harder.”\nLynch said communication problems on the defensive side of the ball were also problematic, and during all 25 of the five-\nminute mini-sessions the team does during practice, not one player stood out in Lynch’s eyes as particularly impressive. \nEven with the first regular season game months away, Lynch said he still wants the concentration level of the team to be just as high throughout the spring as it was in the fall. \n“You only get so many chances,” Lynch said. “You can’t waist opportunities.”
Middleton receives Lombardi attention
Entering last season, sophomore Greg Middleton had a mere six tackles and zero sacks to his name as a Hoosier. After 16 sacks, 50 tackles and a first-team all-Big Ten season selection last fall, Middleton said he expects teams to be more aware of him on the field this season. \n“I know they’re going to key in on me,” Middleton said. “That’s why I need to work even harder this year.”\nMiddleton, who’s on the Rotary Lombardi Award preliminary watch list, an award presented to the best down lineman or defensive player within 5 yards of the snap, said working against a no-huddle offense has helped his conditioning this spring. Middleton said even with his success last season, he doesn’t think he needs to take more of a vocal leadership role this year, and said the best thing for him and the team will be to let his play do the talking. \n“I’m not the type to lead vocally, that’s not my style,” Middleton said. “I try to lead by example.”
Starting defensive back spots have not been decided
The departure of last year’s starting cornerbacks Tracy Porter and Leslie Majors has resulted in a battle for the starting positions. The depth chart shows junior Christopher Phillips and sophomore Bruce Hampton as the starters, but freshmen Adrian Burks and Richard Council have also seen time working with the first-team defense. \nBurks said the battle has become a healthy competition between himself and his teammates vying for the jobs. \n“It’s definitely competitive; everyone does their job differently,” Burks said. “But the competition is good stuff, good stuff.” \nSophomore Matt Mayberry, who was recently bumped up to No. 1 on the depth chart at middle linebacker, wouldn’t pick a favorite to win the job but said the competitiveness of those competing will help the team in the long run. \n“We’re not worried who wins the cornerback job,” Mayberry said. “We just want them all to compete.”
