IU cornerbacks coach Brandon Shelby wants everybody to play.
What may be different this season, though, is Shelby’s confidence in the depth of defensive backs on IU’s roster.
“You look at last season, we’re playing in a bowl game with only two guys, two corners had to go the whole game,” Shelby said. “This is the first time in a long time that we’ve had the depth we have.”
IU Coach Tom Allen's 4-2-5 defensive scheme demands effective coverage of wide receivers by the secondary, a group entering the season with significant experience.
All five starters from last season's secondary return: senior cornerback Rashard Fant, sophomore cornerback A'Shon Riggins, junior safety Jonathan Crawford, senior safety Tony Fields and sophomore husky Marcelino Ball.
But it isn’t just the returning players receiving praise from Allen and Shelby.
Sophomore cornerback Andre Brown Jr., who played extensively as a freshman in 2015 before suffering a season-ending injury prior to last season, has impressed his defensive coaches.
Freshman cornerbacks Raheem Layne and LaDamion Hunt have also been praised for their aggressiveness and receptiveness to coaching.
“I really love their attitude, love their skill set, more than anything their mind-set,” Allen said. “You got these certain guys who come here ready to play.”
As little as eight months ago, Layne wasn’t slated to be a part of IU’s secondary. The Florida native was committed to the University of Minnesota before re-opening his recruitment following a coaching change at Minnesota.
By late January, Layne selected IU, and now looks set to receive playing time during his freshman campaign.
“What we have to make sure is as the season goes these guys are getting reps,” Shelby said.
New things are also expected of Shelby in his seventh season with IU. During the offseason, Shelby became the latest IU coach to benefit from the Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship.
As part of the fellowship, Shelby spent time in June with the Houston Texans, specifically Houston defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel.
Former IU running backs coach Deland McCullough also participated in the fellowship last offseason. Shelby said he was both appreciative and fortunate to receive the invite to the fellowship.
“Great communication down there,” Shelby said. “Those guys are pros. They hold each other to a great standard.”
With the season opener against preseason No. 2 Ohio State just two weeks away, Shelby is also looking to cut down on penalties in the secondary.
One way he is trying to remedy what he describes as “a holding problem” is to have cornerbacks practice while wearing mixed-martial arts gloves, with only players’ thumbs sticking out.
“It cuts down on the holding penalties,” Shelby said. “Sometimes it’s kind of a grabbing match out there. We don’t want to give up any cheap penalties.”
Fant and Riggins may be the top-two cornerbacks on the roster, but Shelby is counting on contributions from all players for IU to continue its defensive improvements.
“Hopefully we play all of them,” Shelby said. “In this day and age with so many people kind of going hurry-up, you’re going to need everybody.
