There’s a lot of changes this season with the IU defensive line.
There’s a new 4-2-5 scheme. There’s the departures of several key starters. Then, there’s new IU defensive line coach Mark Hagen.
“They got a crazy bald-headed guy yelling at them on the field,” Hagen said.
Hagen returned to IU on Feb. 10 after three years at Texas A&M. Before that, he was the defensive tackles and special teams coach for IU Coach Kevin Wilson’s first two years.
Hagen came back to work with Wilson as well another coach — new IU defensive coordinator Tom Allen.
Allen and Hagen’s relationship goes back to 1984, when the two met in the Indiana 4A Sectional Finals as high-schoolers. Allen was a freshman at New Castle, Hagen a sophomore at Carmel.
Hagen’s team won 27-6.
Their relationship continued as Allen was an assistant at Ben Davis High School and Hagen was coaching at Purdue. Allen said he would drive up to West Lafayette to meet with Hagen and talk football.
Now, the two are tied together as the new staff members of a defense trying to change a culture of struggles.
“Our philosophies are very similar, and that’s obviously what drew us together,” Allen said.
Allen said having a coach like Hagen on the defensive line allows him to focus on the back seven of the defense that may have more work adapting to Allen’s new 4-2-5 scheme.
But the defensive line is trying to replace most of its production as Nick Mangieri, Zack Shaw and Darius Latham have moved on. The three combined for more than half of IU’s sacks last season.
“I don’t think we have any just pure standout, play every snap type of guys,” Hagen said. “But we have enough good players where we just got to all be working in the same direction.”
One consistent topic of conversation after practice Thursday was the defensive line’s verticality. Under former defensive coordinator Brian Knorr’s 3-4 scheme, linemen played sideways and reacted.
Hagen acknowledged, as someone who has played in those types of systems, it isn’t fun for lineman.
Senior defensive lineman Ralph Green III brought up how IU went with a vertical approach last year against Ohio State, resulting in a 7-point game.
The question then becomes who will be providing that pass rush for IU.
“I’m not sure we have a ton of guys that can just create their own pass rush up front,” Hagen said. “We’re going to have to get creative.”
Green III is one of the more experienced returning members of the IU defense. He’s averaged four tackles for loss the past three seasons and may be seeing a greater role in his final year.
Hagen actually recruited Green III to IU during his first stint with the Hoosiers. The 320-pound lineman said Hagen’s pitch was that he would be on his butt pushing him to be better like a father. This goes back to that “crazy bald-headed guy” yelling.
“That’s exactly what he is,” Green III said.
Junior defensive lineman Robert McCray III is another player coaches often bring up as a skilled pass rusher, but Hagen said he’s been “banged up” with a not serious injury.
At Allen’s new bull position — a defensive end, linebacker hybrid — junior Greg Gooch and sophomore Nile Sikes have been two Allen has pressured to step up. Allen puts up a production chart after practice each day to mark good plays.
“I tell the guys, ‘your name better show up on there,’” Allen said. “And those guys’ names are showing up.”
Sophomore Jacob Robinson earned time as a freshman last season. Former defensive line coach Larry McDaniel said last season the sky was the limit with Robinson.
Allen said he likes Robinson because he is a big body that can play different spots and help the pass rush.
Some other players to watch are freshman Brandon Wilson and a sophomore transfer from Cincinnati, Ja’Merez Bowen.
Wilson is someone who Hagen says can be a good player but hasn’t practiced hard enough or tapped into his potential. With Bowen, it is more a matter of learning because he is switching from offensive to defensive line.
The consensus with Bowen is he can move well for his 310 pound frame but needs more fundamental skills.
As Hagen said, it’s a defensive line without as many obvious go-to guys. This spring will provide IU with an opportunity to find who stands out and evaluate things for the fall.
“You’re only as good as your front,” Allen said. “It’s a big man’s league.”
