(Eds: With AP Photos.)
By MICHAEL MAROT
AP Sports Writer
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) – Indiana coach Kevin Wilson has been tough on his players at practice.
Maybe too tough.
Wilson believes the hard practices in August and the first week of September took a toll and led to a lackluster effort in Saturday’s season-opening loss to Ball State.
“In this game, you’ve got to have some fun,” Wilson said Tuesday during his weekly news conference. “I think we got into that pattern where we kind of lost that lovin’ feeling. So without trying to be a jokester or whatever, we’re going to try to have some fun this week.”
The new coach didn’t elaborate on exactly what would change at the team’s practices, which are closed.
But he did show players and coaches examples of what he meant, including a film clip from a field goal attempt on which nine players were watching to see if the kick was good rather than continuing to play. That kind of reaction simply doesn’t cut it in Wilson’s world, so things are going to be changing — and fast.
When the Hoosiers open the home portion of their schedule against Virginia, they will be on the opposite east side of the field instead of the traditional west side, so they can be directly in front of the student section and band. The hope among coaches and administrators is that the emotion of the students will keep Indiana’s players pumped up throughout the game.
“It’s about passion,” senior safety Chris Adkins said. “You’ve got to play with your hair on fire and have fun with that. That’s what we need to start doing.”
The coaching staff is pondering more substantial adjustments, too.
Co-defensive coordinator Mike Ekeler said there could be some personnel changes this week, including new rotations and new players in those rotations after Ball State rushed for 210 yards and held the ball for nearly 37 minutes. Ekeler did not drop any hints about who may move up or down on the depth chart.
Wilson also acknowledged more freshmen are working their way onto the depth chart. Ten true freshmen played Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium, and more could see action this weekend.
Indiana also needs more consistency on offense. After scoring 17 first-half points, they managed only one late field goal in the second half.
Part of the problem was an inability to run the ball. Indiana averaged only 3.2 yards per carry and the offensive line allowed four sacks. Those are things Wilson wants rectified, too.
“We did not look like a team playing sloppy football,” Wilson said. “We were reasonably clean in terms of penalties and turnovers, but we were not physical or emotional and that showed on both sides of the ball.”
Other adjustments will not be by choice.
Senior linebacker Leon Beckum hurt his knee late in the fourth quarter and is expected to miss 2-6 weeks.
Right tackle Josh Hager could miss even more time with a right knee injury. Wilson said Hager would have surgery this week but did not divulge details of the injury or provide a timetable for Hager’s return. He has been replaced on the depth chart by redshirt freshman Cody Evers.
Receiver Duwyce Wilson and tight end Ted Bolser, both projected starters, are still working their way back after being hobbled by injuries. Darius Willis, Indiana’s top returning rusher, still is not 100 percent after having knee surgery last October, and Wilson wouldn’t say if his top pass rusher, starting end Darius Johnson, would play this week after sitting out last week.
The toughest balancing act, however, will be trying to make sure Indiana plays with the kind of emotion Wilson wants and the kind of poise they need to beat Virginia.
“That’s got to come from us and we have to ask ourselves what do we have to do different?” co-offensive coordinator Rod Smith said. “It’s a work in progress. I think we have to show the kids the enthusiasm we have in our job and once they see that and feel that, hopefully, it will trickle down. Right now we don’t have that, and we need that and we’ve got to get that fast.”
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