Iowa at IU, noon Saturday, ESPN2

BLOOMINGTON – The idea isn’t complicated.

It isn’t the be-all and end-all, but don’t doubt the magnitude of the effect a simple idea can have.

Indiana football forced just 13 turnovers — what coach Tom Allen would call takeaways — during its 5-7 season last year. The total ranked 111th among FBS programs and, before anyone points to the fact some teams played 13 or even 14 games, Western Michigan tied for 16th with 26 takeaways in just 12 games.

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So Allen and his staff instituted a policy. One he thought both re-emphasized how critical turnovers are for a successful defense while not creating dissension in the locker room.

“All through fall camp we preached turnovers, turnovers, every single day,” freshman husky Cam Jones said. “Our defense, we had to have at least three or more turnovers every single day or we had to run. Them runs after fall-camp practice were something serious and we didn’t want to do that.”

Fast forward and the Hoosiers have matched their 13-turnover total from 2017 through just six games. IU (4-2, 1-2) leads all Big Ten teams with eight so far during conference play, and with 13 overall is tied for seventh overall among FBS programs.

It’s something Jones, Allen and the rest of the team takes pride in. And something Jones doesn’t doubt has at least something to do with those dreaded post-practice conditioning exercises.

“We run till coach says stop, till coach gets tired,” Jones said. “When we do gassers, our whole defensive coaching staff run with us. When they get tired, that’s when we stop, and they don’t get tired. They’re in shape.”

Seven different Hoosiers are responsible for the seven interceptions so far. Senior safety Jonathan Crawford had a pick-six in the win against Florida International and freshman safety Devon Matthews, nicknamed “Monster,” recorded his first interception last weekend in the loss to Ohio State. Jones’ first career pick came against Michigan State, and he’s one of six players responsible for IU’s six fumble recoveries.

Jones, Crawford and redshirt freshman safety Bryant Fitzgerald are the only Hoosiers who have an interception, forced fumble and fumble recovery.

“I think we have a more athletic defense as a group,” said Allen comparing this year’s takeaway success to 2017. “And I said that going in. I felt like we were going to be. I think when you have a more athletic group, you create more takeaways. Because number one, you get to the ball quicker to force them, and you’re around the ball more to recover them.”

Allen said he and his staff made a video after fall camp practices that showed all the takeaway attempts the defense had and the ones they completed. Jones’ fumble recovery against Ohio State came in part because he remembered what he’d been taught, getting on the ball and covering the ball in tight situations, and just fell on the ball instead of trying to pick it up and run.

There have been missed opportunities. There have been miscues that allowed big plays. Ohio State doesn't put up 49 points if those things don't happen and IU isn't outscored 73-44 in the second half through six games if the Hoosiers capitalize more often. But the season’s a process and IU’s defense is still maturing.

“You don’t want to tell them, ‘Don’t be too aggressive,’” Crawford said. “The thing we say is, ‘Play to technique. Play to technique as best you can and just be aggressive.’ I feel like technique comes first, and then be aggressive.”

Iowa (4-1, 1-1) is tied for 66th in the FBS with eight turnovers lost, three fumbles and five interceptions. Whether the Hoosiers rattle the Hawkeyes enough to add to that total will be decided Saturday in Memorial Stadium, but if IU fails to force at least three turnovers there won't be any fall-camp-like penalties.

The wear and tear on their bodies the season's brought so far ensures it'll just be a talking point.

But Crawford doesn't doubt Allen and his staff would want to.

“During the season they try and take care of us,” Crawford said. “I’m sure if he could run us and we’d still be 100 percent he would run us.”

Follow IndyStar sports reporter Jordan Guskey on Twitter at @JordanGuskey or email him at jguskey@gannett.com.