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BLOOMINGTON – Ray Fisher went down with a knee injury while returning the opening kickoff Oct. 31 against Iowa.
Indiana not only lost the Big Ten’s leading kickoff return specialist but also the team’s top cornerback.
Fisher missed last week’s loss to Wisconsin and is listed on IU’s injury report as out for Saturday’s game at Penn State. Coach Bill Lynch said it’s unlikely the senior will return for the Nov. 21 finale at home against Purdue. It was the latest blow to a secondary that’s been bit with injuries throughout much of the Big Ten schedule.
“We’ve been hit pretty good there,” Lynch said during his weekly news conference Tuesday at Memorial Stadium. “We got hit everywhere a year ago. This year, it’s really been in the secondary.”
The Hoosiers have given up 250.4 passing yards per game, ranking last in the Big Ten and 103rd nationally.
It won’t get any easier in the last two games of the season, with the Hoosiers going against the Nittany Lions’ Daryll Clark (228.3 passing yards per game) and Purdue’s Joey Elliott (244.8 passing yards per game).
“Stopping the pass comes down to people on their assignments,” IU senior linebacker Matt Mayberry said.
“We’re so focused on stopping the run and that’s what a good offense will do. They will run the ball here and there, and then try to hit you deep in the back end. It’s all about staying on your keys and doing your job.”
IU will have to do its job without Fisher, who is seventh on the team with 40 tackles. He has two pass breakups and one fumble recovery.
Safety Austin Thomas (shoulder) and defensive back Chris Adkins (elbow) are listed as questionable.
With the injuries, Lynch said IU has used “a little bit of that next man up theory.”
“Collin Taylor is a perfect example of a guy who has really done it,” Lynch said.
“… Taylor stepped in when (starting safety Nick) Polk was hurt. Now Polk is back and Taylor is kind of our jack-of-all-trades. He’s played a little safety, some corner, played a little nickel.”
Taylor has 20 tackles, 14 of which have come in the last four games. He had two interceptions against Iowa.
Adrian Burks and Donnell Jones have started at cornerback the last two weeks. Both had six tackles last week.
“I thought (Burks) played pretty well last week. He didn’t give up any big plays,” Lynch said. “He was pretty solid. At Iowa, it was all new to him. He was better against Wisconsin, and now he’s going into his third week. Donnell Jones has show really good toughness. He’s playing with one arm out there (because of an elbow injury). He’s done a good job.
“… You get to this time of year and you just have to keep moving guys around.”
