Indiana's Tom Allen talks QB situation, matchup with Michigan
In 2020, Indiana football posted a 6-2 record and made the Outback Bowl, marking the first time it finished with a .750 record or better since 1910. But the Hoosiers have failed to meet the high expectations set for themselves to this point, and much of that has to do with injuries and a revolving door at quarterback.
Redshirt junior Michael Penix Jr. separated the AC joint in his shoulder in the team’s Oct. 2 loss to Penn State and has not played since. Indiana head coach Tom Allen has referred to him as “week to week.” Penix had completed 87 of 162 passes for 939 yards and four touchdowns with seven interceptions — not playing his best football — but is still the team’s top option at the position, by far.
Redshirt junior Jack Tuttle has also had a rough go, connecting on 40 of 77 passes for 397 yards and two touchdowns with three interceptions, and he’s also banged up with a foot injury.
“They both continue to be, as I stated after the game, week to week,” Allen said Monday. “And we’ll see how they progress this week.
“As far as with Jack’s injury, we’ll see how quickly he’ll bounce back with that. I know Michael’s throwing and moving around and doing things at a better rate than we thought.”
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Freshman Donaven McCulley was thrust into a starting role during the team’s 38-35 loss at Maryland last week. The dual-threat signal-caller was efficient, finishing 14-of-25 passing for 242 yards and two touchdowns, after completing one pass on six attempts for 30 yards in relief duty the week prior against Ohio State. It appears that he’s the favorite to start at Michigan this Saturday.
“At the same time, Donaven is the healthiest right now and is the guy that we’re getting ready to play,” Allen continued.
“To me, obviously he showed a lot of positive signs of things that I expected him to be able to do. I know not everybody saw that against Ohio State, so that’s why it was frustrating, because I knew he was a different quarterback than he showed. But it was what it was, and that’s how he played, so you have to grow from there. And he did.
“Right now, Donaven’s the guy, and we’ve got to continue to get ready to play better every week.”
Michigan Poses Huge Threat To Indiana Hoosiers
Amidst the struggles, Indiana’s offensive line has mixed and matched due to injuries and subpar play, with the group ranking 82nd nationally in run blocking and 70th in pass protection, per Pro Football Focus (PFF)
Redshirt sophomore Zach Carpenter, a Michigan transfer who departed Ann Arbor before the 2020 season concluded, was inserted as the starting right guard against the Terrapins. He figures to play the same role this week against his former team.
“I really felt that based on play the last few weeks and Zach was getting healthier,” Allen revealed. “He had something he had to deal with physically earlier in the season, so just getting him to where he was healthy enough to be able to be a guy in there, just felt like that he needed to be one of those spots.
“I think Zach is a really good football player. And I wanted to get him in there. And it just worked out that way because of [redshirt sophomore guard] Michael [Katic]’s injury. But at the same time, Zach was going to be in there somewhere. Basically, I just felt that was just what needed to happen. And that’s the direction that we went.”
While it was against a dismal Maryland defense, Indiana rushed for a season-high 204 yards and two touchdowns last week, though the pass protection remained an area of concern and allowed four sacks.
Allen was encouraged by some of what he saw, but knows the Wolverines will be a bigger challenge.
“We’re going to face a better defense this week, and so that growth needs to continue, as they continue to give the quarterback time and our running backs room to run,” Allen said.
Allen has also been impressed by a Wolverine offense that runs the ball effectively, averaging 239.9 yards per game on the ground (seventh in the country).
The Indiana defense slots 37th in the nation, yielding 127.4 rushing yards per outing, but has been more susceptible against the pass (98th; 253.4 yards let up per contest).
“They run the ball very well,” Allen said of U-M. “Big offensive line, very physical. Two very talented running backs that have been very effective.
“They do have talented receivers and a good quarterback [redshirt freshman Cade McNamara] that just seems to have a lot of moxie and toughness to him, and moves the chains and makes all the plays, more with his arm than with his legs. And they play a second quarterback [freshman J.J. McCarthy] a little bit, have some packages for him.”
Indiana must win the rest of its games to become bowl eligible, and Allen said his group is aware of the stakes.
“We’ll have to play our best football — all three phases working together, complementing one another, playing our best on Saturday,” the coach said.
