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BLOOMINGTON – Matt Mayberry led Indiana in tackles last season, becoming the first member of the Hoosiers’ front seven to do so since 2005.
The linebacker is pacing IU in tackles again this year. In fact, linebackers occupy the top three spots in the category.
Mayberry, a senior, has 36 tackles (five tackles for loss, 2 1/2 sacks). Will Patterson, also a senior, is second with 32 tackles (team-leading 24 solo), while Tyler Replogle, a junior, ranks third with 30 tackles. Patterson and Replogle each have 1 1/2 sacks.
IU coach Bill Lynch has been pleased.
“(Patterson) has a lot of responsibility because he plays out in space and plays in the box,” Lynch said. “With the spread formations he is out on an inside receiver. He has pass coverage and running-game responsibilities chasing players down. I think he has played really well. He is fast and tackles very well.
“Mayberry is our inside guy, and Matt has to get the defense lined up. He has to recognize formations and fronts, so he has some responsibility. He is playing like a senior and is playing his best football.
“… Tyler Replogle has played excellent. He is as high-energy as anyone we have on the team and makes plays sideline to sideline. Justin Carrington (eight tackles, one fumble recovery) has played quite a bit and comes in during our nickel package. The flexibility all of our linebackers have really is important.”
Carrington, a senior, is the only Hoosier from Virginia (Leesburg).
Virginia’s 3-4 defense presents a new challenge for Indiana. The Cavaliers (1-3) are eighth nationally in pass defense, giving up 156.5 yards a game.
“With their coverages behind the 3-4, to me, it looks like a pro 3-4 defense,” Lynch said. “Akron played a mix of 3-4 and 3-5 stack defense. It was kind of a blitzing and moving defense.
“We saw the same thing at Michigan because they played a lot of different coverages. Virginia’s defense, on the other hand, is more of a true 3-4 defense.
“They have a big nose tackle and big defensive ends that play head up on our tackles. They have big outside linebackers that are typical of pro football. They have big and physical inside linebackers as well as a good-looking secondary.”
Saturday will be the third road game for Indiana, which is the only Big Ten team with two true road non-conference games this season.
“(The past road games) help a lot,” Replogle said. “Everyone is used to it, used to the routine. We pretty much know what to expect when we go to Virginia. It’s almost like playing at home.”
Indiana’s first road game of the season was the Hoosiers’ 38-21 victory Sept. 19 at Akron. IU’s other road game was the 36-33 loss at Michigan on Sept. 26.
