Video, Quotes: Isaiah Jones on Under the Hood podcast with Rhett Lewis

IU football linebacker Isaiah Jones joined host Rhett Lewis ahead of tomorrow’s Big Ten opener against Northwestern on the Under the Hood podcast.

Watch the full interview below or read some of what Jones had to say below:

On the consecutive shutouts and what it says about how the defense has played over the last two games:

“We’re just always trying to play solid football, trying to play your 111th and doing your job. And I think we like the result of that. And we’re always trying to find the corrections; no game’s perfect. And I think we’re always very critical of our play. And so we’re always going back to the grease board and trying to see, how can we be better?”

On how the team has responded through the first three weeks coming off the success of last season:

“Yeah, I think that’s behind us. We don’t really think about that. For us, it’s every week, making the corrections, making the little tweaks. How can we become a better football team, individual football players? I think that’s where you see teams excel throughout the years. The team you have week one or week two or week five isn’t going to be the team you have week 12. And it shouldn’t be. It’s either going to be a better team or a worse team. So we’re always trying to find that edge to become a better team as the season goes on.”

On what excites him about what’s left out there for them to grow after the first three weeks:

“Yeah, I think we’re not even to our full potential being an explosive defense. We still feel like we have sacks, TFLs, big plays left out there. So for us, it’s finding, that edge, that extra maybe one, two plays where we’re going to become an even more explosive defense.

“And we have a lot of games ahead of us that we’re excited to be able to showcase how the Indiana defense plays.”

On what he saw last week on the interception:

“Yeah, they like to do a lot of sprint out, kind of roll pass to his throwing hand, which we call the boot hash. And when they’re doing that, the Mike linebacker has to look for the spot route. The rovers, Sam’s going to be pushing through. So you’re looking for that spot route. It’s a receiver that’s going to try to get friendly in the zone. So, recognize rollout, sprint to that. Got my eyes back in time to be able to make a play. It’s just, it’s a textbook play that’s supposed to be made by the Mike backer.”

On how he feels in the role of being the Mike linebacker:

“Yeah, I feel comfortable. I’ve got a lot of playmakers around me. You don’t have to do too much. That’s something that I love about this defense is the freedom. You don’t have to do too much. You just have to make your plays, play fast, run to the ball, and the plays will come to you with this defense.

“It’s an explosive defense. And I got great teammates around me that I know are going to make the plays when it’s not my turn.”

On the first play of the game by Rolijah Hardy against WKU and the tone-setting plays that make a difference:

“Yeah, I mean, you’ve got a linebacker that shoots a gap and TFLs the first play. Like I said, I got great players around me. You’ve got guys that are going to make plays and it’s fun to play in that type of defense.

“And that’s a tone-setter. You come out, you get a TFL first play. It’s rough to try to get the offense going after that.”

On the growth of young players like Jeff Utzinger and Kaiden Turner:

“Yeah, both those guys are really good players, really smart, really instinctual. I think having a deep room is important, as you saw last year. So, it’s finding the scheme of who it fits that week.

“And both those guys can come in and make plays when their name is called. So, it’s about having a deep room. It’s about having guys that can step up. It’s about having a versatile defense that can match whatever the offense gives you. And I think you saw that in these last few weeks that both those guys make a lot of plays.”

On the growth of the defensive line:

It’s their ability to understand the scheme, understand what the coaches want done. And then when they understand their scheme, they’re playing faster. When they play fast, it clears up our reads.

“We got to play fast. We’ll correct them. They know, like, if they make a mistake, we’ll make them right. Same way safeties will make us right. So, they play fast. It’s just their ability to learn and then to put on the field.

“You can have a guy that knows it all in the film room, but you got to go out there on Saturdays and perform. So, those guys are just quick learners and they play hard and enjoy playing behind them.”

On the growth of Byron Baldwin:

“His maturity has just been off the charts. Kind of a guy that we’ve kind of taken under our wing and kind of just trying to show him the ropes. He’s a younger guy on the field, but his maturity level has been exponential from spring ball to fall camp to now, and I think it’s exponential throughout the season by each game we’ve been playing.

“So, he’s a guy that makes plays, knows where to be. And then, like you said, he’s going to fly around and give it 100%. So, that’s all you can ask for.”

On the Big Ten opener against Northwestern:

“It’s our first Big Ten game. I know we have our non-conference out of the way, so a lot of guys are excited to start playing our Big Ten games, playing a lot of great opponents. Northwestern’s a great team.

“They’ve got a lot of good players, good transfers coming in. They’re 2-0, so it’s an exciting challenge for us. We’re excited to be put to the test, kind of see what we have as a team and where we’ll be able to take it this year.

“But it’s at The Rock. It’s home. It’s not going to be 150 degrees, so like Coach Cig said, hopefully we have a packed stands all four quarters, loud, and I think we will. So it’s an exciting atmosphere here, and I’m excited to get back to it.”

See More: Video