At first I thought Gunner Kiel was a Notre Dame lock, but that was proven quickly to be false. Then we all got word it was basically down to Oklahoma, Alabama and Michigan...
Big Ten Breakdown: Indiana Hoosiers, Part 3 (Schedule and Final Breakdown)
Recruiting rankings only mean so much, and the Hoosiers are hardly recruiting at a level with Ohio State. Nevertheless, in most years, IU and Northwestern are in a two-team race for bottom of the conference recruiting rankings.
In fact, between 2005-2010, Rivals ranked Indiana dead last in the conference every year but one (2008).
One of this year's recruits that could contribute right away is Zack Shaw, a linebacker out of Ohio and the coup of the 2011 class.
In my opinion, he looks more the part of a defensive lineman. If Indiana goes that way, or chooses to use him as a blitzing backer in 3-4 packages, he could immediately help shore up the moribund pass rush.
Also, as previously mentioned, Indiana's secondary doesn't look particularly intimidating. They signed five defensive backs in this class, but the most promising player might be Forisse Hardin out of Kentucky. He boasts impressive speed, and unlike the other four backs, he is already at playing weight.
The next in the line of inexplicably solid Indiana receivers could be Cody Latimer out of Dayton, Ohio. At 6'3" with 4.48 speed, he is physically ready to continue the recent tradition of James Hardy and Tandon Doss, and could immediately help the Hoosiers fill out their four and five wide packages.
Intangibles
Regardless of anything else, Bill Lynch was a fine offensive coordinator. Certainly, his resume is not as impressive as Kevin Wilson's, but Bill Lynch knew how to run an offense.
On the other hand, at least in respect to his tenure at Indiana, he was a terrible head coach.
I can't begin to count how many times over the last three years I've watched the Hoosiers squander opportunities, because Bill Lynch was too busy arguing with the refs about a play that occurred five plays before.
At multiple points, I wished I could magically transport myself to Bloomington, grab Lynch by his collar, slap him and tell him to stop screaming and pay attention to the game. And I'm not even an IU fan.
Well, Lynch is gone and Indiana has hired itself another fine offensive coordinator. I know Wilson is a fine offensive coordinator because one doesn't become the OC at Oklahoma without having some abilities.
In short, Wilson has the abilities to put together an offense, but that doesn't make him a quality head coach. I am not in any way damning him before he even names his first starting lineup. I am saying that one really doesn't know what to expect from Kevin Wilson's Hoosiers, and that is a substantial intangible.
Schedule
09/03: At Ball State (Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis). Indiana is the slight favorite.
09/10: Virginia. IU is the slight underdog (UVA isn't very good either).
09/17: South Carolina State (FCS). Favorite.
09/24: At North Texas. Slight favorite.
10/01: Penn State. Heavy underdog.
10/08: Illinois. Underdog.
10/15: At Wisconsin. Heavy underdog.
10/22: At Iowa. Heavy underdog.
10/29: Northwestern. Underdog.
11/05: At Ohio State. Heavy Underdog.
11/12: Open
11/19: At Michigan State. Heavy Underdog.
11/26: Purdue. Slight Underdog.
Best Case Scenario
Kevin Wilson is that good a coach. He immediately makes the Hoosiers into a group that believes they can compete with anybody.
The defense comes together, and while they are not dominant, they are a middle-of-the-pack defense, which is something Indiana has been unable to say since the early 90s.
The offense is surprisingly fluid. The receivers are amongst the top in the conference, the running game comes together and while the quarterback makes some mistakes, he grows as the year goes on.
IU goes 3-1 out of conference.
In conference, they are hardly world beaters, but they are competitive in almost every game. They pull two upsets (maybe Illinois, Northwestern or Iowa) and finish the season by beating Purdue.
A new quarterback and a new system mean turnovers, turnovers, turnovers.
While the offense is not bad, the turnovers keep the Hoosiers out of the end zone. Due to the turnovers, the quarterback position becomes a game of musical chairs.
Meanwhile, the IU defense can't keep anybody out of the end zone. For the third time in six years, Indiana has the worst defense in the conference, and that equates to more blowouts than Kevin Wilson would like to see in his first season.
Indiana splits the out-of-conference at 2-2, with losses to Ball State and Virginia. In conference, Penn State, Ohio State, Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan State clear their benches by the fourth quarter.
Outside of the Purdue rivalry, the season is effectively over after the Northwestern game. Unfortunately, IU also loses to Purdue.
The Hoosiers finish 2-10 (0-8 in the Big Ten), and fans in Bloomington hope their basketball team can give them more to cheer about.
My Prediction
This year's Indiana team might have had a shot with last year's schedule.
Last year's out-of-conference was a cake walk. On the other hand, this year, Virginia and Ball State should present substantial challenges (for IU anyway), while a trip to North Texas won't be a gimme.
On top of that, the Hoosiers' conference road schedule is vicious. They miss Nebraska and Michigan from the Western Division, but they also miss Minnesota.
As previously mentioned, there is no reason to think the IU defense will be good, no matter how many players are returning.
Meanwhile, the offense might have some firepower, but with a new and inexperienced quarterback, combined with a new playbook, I don't like the outlook in the turnover department.
In the end, I think they will go 2-10 (0-8 in conference), though I don't think it will be a worst case scenario 2-10. There will be some blowouts, but they'll probably let two-three games slip away via turnovers.
If Wilson and his Hoosiers manage four-five wins, then he might be for real, and Indiana might be a force to reckon with in the near future.
But not this year.
Big Ten Breakdown: Indiana Hoosiers, Part 2 (Defense and Specialists)
Defensive Overview: 2010 scoring defense: 34 PPG (10th in the conference), total defense: 410.2 YPG (9), rushing defense: 5.07 YPC (9), passing efficiency allowed: 156.50 (11).
Average scoring defense conference ranking over last five years: 10.2
Best scoring defense conference ranking over last five years: Ninth (2007)
Worst scoring defense conference ranking over last five years: 11th (2006 and 2008)
Returning starters: DL Larry Black Jr., DL Adam Repogle, DT Mick Mentzer, DE Darius Johnson, LB Leon Beckum, MLB Jeff Thomas, LB Chad Sherer, CB Greg Heban, S Donnell Jones
Open Positions: CB, S
Defensive Breakdown: Obviously, it's difficult to make any sort of forecast when one has no real background on the coaches involved.
Wilson's background is purely offense, but his staff does have a defensive emphasis. He realizes that the Hoosiers have had good offenses for the past two decades; they have been held back by atrocious defense. He knows that he will have to turn that around if he expects to find success in Bloomington.
Both coaches have worked for winning programs, and both have plenty of connections to the Midwest and the Big Ten.
Ekeler was a linebacker coach under Bo Pelini at Nebraska. He has never been a coordinator. Mallory made stops in a number of places, but his most successful stint was as a defensive backs coach at LSU from 2005-2008 (and co-coordinator in '08).
He was most recently the defensive coordinator at New Mexico (2009-10), and the results were, uh, terrible. Last year, his defense ranked dead last in scoring in the country. The year before, they were 113th.
It would be easy to write these results off as being par for the course at New Mexico, but the Lobos had top 50 defenses the two years before Mallory and head coach Mike Locksley's arrival. They were No. 14 in the country in 2007.
I'm not saying that Mallory cannot be a quality defensive coordinator; I'm simply saying that his time at New Mexico doesn't inspire confidence.
The question, therefore, concerns the degree of inability.
Defensive Line: The Hoosiers will continue to run a 4-3, though last year they did experiment a bit with a 3-4. It remains to be seen what Mallory and Ekeler choose to do.
They've got four returning linemen with substantial starting experience and a fifth lineman that is something of a journeyman.
The four returning starters are senior defensive end Darius Johnson, junior defensive tackles Adam Repogle and Mick Mentzer, and junior lineman Larry Black Jr., who has started both inside and out. The journeyman is senior Fred Jones.
In short, the experience is there, but how much does that mean?
As both Mentzer and Jones were regularly rotated into the spring game, one has to assume Phillis is that good, or Wilson and his coordinators are unimpressed with the upperclassmen.
Also of note is junior Nick Sliger, who started one game last season and got plenty of spring game reps at defensive tackle.
As the statistics indicate, last year's rush defense was flimsy and that began with the defensive line.
The 2010 line had to replace three starters. This season, the line will get most of its experience back. In effect, there will be palpable improvements against the rush. They won't be a steel wall, but they'll be formidable.
I can't say the same for the pass defense. A large part of the reason IU had such a weak pass defense in 2010 was because there was no pass rush. The Hoosiers ranked second-to-last in the conference in sacks.
Johnson led the team in sacks with 4.5. He is a legitimate threat off the edge, but unless Indiana finds somebody else that can consistently get to the quarterback, it will be easy enough for teams to double-team Johnson, thereby nullifying him.
The line's job will be magnified by what looks to be a fairly bad secondary. If somebody doesn't get to the opposing quarterback quickly, odds are pretty good that the opposing receiver will get open.
Overall, this is not a bad line. They should be technically sound, which is the advantage of experience. If there were quality players behind them, they could cause some damage.
Nevertheless, their talent level has a ceiling, and, outside of Johnson, I don't see any players that will consistently menace the quarterback.
Big Ten Position Group Ranking: 10
Linebackers: The Hoosiers return two starting linebackers in seniors Leon Beckum and Jeff Thomas. Also, junior Chad Sherer started three games last season, though he was not at the top of the depth chart at any point this spring, including the spring game.
Redshirt freshman Chase Hoobler is currently the third starting linebacker, though the official starting lineup for the spring game featured a nickelback instead of a third backer.
Thomas is the epitome of an extremely hard working player with limited ability. He hits hard, is physical, and is much better than average against the run. The problem is he is not a strong blitzer and is a liability in coverage. Along with Darius Johnson, he will be the leader of the D.
Beckum is better against the pass than Thomas, not quite as good against the run, and he can be gameplanned against.
The two of them form a nice nucleus for the defense.
If the spring game is any indication, IU will be looking to play a nickelback in the base defense for two reasons.
Firstly, because nickelback Greg Heban was the Hoosiers' best defensive player in the spring practice. Secondly, after Beckum and Thomas, there don't seem to be many quality linebackers. This not only translates into an issue with a third linebacker, but also a depth problem.
Much as with the D-line, the linebacking corps should be solid if unspectacular, provided the top two stay healthy.
If the weakest links in the front seven can improve and/or be minimized, this should be a good group against the run. On the other hand, the ceiling against the pass looks low.
Big Ten Position Group Ranking: Nine
Secondary: This is an area of great concern for Indiana. Statistically, they had the worst pass defense in the conference last season.
They also graduated arguably their best defensive back in safety Mitch Evans. On top of that, they lost two more contributors in cornerbacks Matt Ernest and Richard Council.
They do have two players with starting experience—CB/S Greg Heban and S Donnell Jones. As previously mentioned, Heban started the spring game at nickelback, which the IU coaches seem to be using as a hybrid position. On the other hand, Jones, who started the spring at the top of the depth chart, was not at the top of the chart at the end of spring.
If Jones does regain the starting spot, he has been solid in run support, but his coverage skills have been mediocre at best.
Along with Heban, the current starters are: senior Lenyatta Kiles and sophomore Lawrence Barnett at CB; seniors Jarrell Drane and Chris Adkins at safety.
Part of the reason last year's pass defense was so bad had to do with a weak pass rush, though the secondary had its own problems.
This year's spring game also saw the secondary let far too many receivers get behind them. It is true that they were going up against the very talented Hoosier receiving corps, but there is no reason that Indiana's inexperienced quarterbacks should have finished the game with a combined efficiency rating of 138.52.
This is especially true when you consider the dynamic of a spring practice. These two squads have been going against each other for almost a month. By now, the defense has seen most, if not all of the offense's plays. In effect, the advantage should go to the defense.
As previously mentioned, Heban looks to have made strides this offseason. Also, as the front seven will be a notable improvement over last year, the job of the back four should be easier.
Still, I don't expect much from this bunch.
Big Ten Position Group Ranking: 12
Special Teams Specialists: The Hoosiers return both kicking specialists, though they lose their primary return man in Tandon Doss.
Starting with the kicker, Mitch Ewald had the second highest field goal completion percentage in the Big Ten in 2010. He made 16 of 19 kicks, which is impressive for any kicker, let alone a redshirt freshman. His long was 49 yards.
He also made all his extra points.
The punter will be senior Chris Hagerup. Hagerup's net has dropped every year since his freshman campaign, though I wouldn't read too much into that. He has also gotten steadier with his ball placement, and in 2010, he landed more punts inside the 20 than any previous season.
He is not going to change the momentum or field position of too many games, but he is also not going to shank many balls.
Meanwhile, sophomore receiver Duwyce Wilson is currently listed as the starting kick and punt returner. He has some collegiate experience returning kicks, having returned eight last season for 22.50 yards per return.
Another option will be sophomore running back Nick Turner, who returned 12 kicks in 2010 for 21.08 yards.
It remains to be seen if the return man will be a game changer, but it is unlikely he will be a liability.
IU has no players on their roster with collegiate punt returning experience.
With a good kicker, a dependable punter and solid-at-worst and explosive-at-best return men, the specialists will be an asset for the Hoosiers.
During that time, the Hoosiers have had exactly one winning season—7-6 in 2007—and their overall record has been 41-77.
Of course, this is nothing new for IU. They have been the bottom feeders of Big Ten football for much of their existence. In fact, they have only had consecutive winning seasons nine times since 1900. They have had more than two consecutive winning seasons in a row once since 1900 (1944-1947).
In short, it's going to be an uphill battle for Wilson, but there's no reason to think it is impossible. After all, if Northwestern can be a consistently competitive team, Indiana should also be able to regularly win six games a year. Furthermore, that sort of against-all-odds success is something Wilson knows about, as he was former NU coach Randy Walker's offensive coordinator, first at Miami (OH) and then at Northwestern.
Nevertheless, achieving this sort of success may take a bit of doing.
In the end, the biggest challenge Wilson will face is the same challenge all coaches of perennially losing programs face: how to make a team of doormats believe it can compete with any team in the conference?
Offensive Overview: 2010 scoring offense: 27.2 PPG (seventh in the conference), total offense: 387.5 YPG (7), rushing YPC: 3.46 (11), passing efficiency: 128.44 (9).
Average scoring offense conference ranking over last five years: 7.2
Best scoring offense conference ranking over last five years: Third (2007)
Worst scoring offense conference ranking over last five years: 10th (2008)
Returning starters: RB Darius Willis, WR Damarlo Belcher, WR Duwyce Wilson, TE Ted Bolser, TE Max Dedmond, OT Andrew McDonald, OL Justin Pagan, C Will Matte, OL Marc Damisch
Open positions: QB
Offensive Breakdown: The good news is that there shouldn't be a difficult transition from former coach Bill Lynch's offense to Kevin Wilson's offense.
Both run spread offenses that like to work out of shotgun and pistol formations. Neither depend on a dual threat quarterback or a power back or huge, physical receivers.
The two big differences are that Wilson's offense is no-huddle and is more inclined to look for the big play. On the other hand, while Lynch used elements of the no-huddle, his offense was more traditional, and it was almost exclusively focused on possession.
In fact, last year, though Indiana passed more than any other team in the conference, they were near the bottom of the conference in passing plays of 20 and 30 yards or more. On the other hand, Oklahoma was at the top of the Big 12 in both categories.
Quarterbacks: Ben Chappell graduated and took three years of starting experience with him. Chappell was not a great quarterback, but he knew the ins and outs and could play within a system.
Therefore, with a new coach and a new system being put in place, perhaps Chappell's graduation is a good thing. It might be easier to start with a clean slate.
The two most likely candidates to win the job are sophomores Dusty Kiel and Edward Wright-Baker. Their combined career stats are: 29 ATT, 9 COMP, 151 YDS, 1 TD, 3 INT, 65.46 EFF.
Wright also has 25 yards rushing in eight attempts while Kiel has 12 yards in seven attempts.
As Rod Smith is coming from four years of working under Rich Rodriguez, it is likely that he will want a mobile quarterback to lead his offense, and both Kiel and Wright-Baker fit the bill.
Nevertheless, his 2010 statistics aren't pretty. Certainly, he was a redshirt freshman, but a combined 2-12 with two interceptions against FCS Towson State and Wisconsin's second and third string defense?
On the other hand, I don't see them practice, and Kevin Wilson has forgotten more about football than I will ever know. Moreover, following the spring game, Hoosierstateofmind.com, which also is more knowledgeable than I am, felt the offense looked more fluid with Kiel under center.
Still, in every tangible, comparable way that is available to the average fan, Wright-Baker has been the better signal caller.
In the end, the Hoosier offense has some talent, but given the nature of the offense, the success or failure of the team will come down to the quarterback. I expect some bumps along the road. If the starter progresses as the year goes on, that will have to be considered a success.
Big Ten Position Group Ranking: 12 (Largely Unknown)
Running Backs: Junior running back Darius Willis missed much of last year with a knee injury. In 2009, as a redshirt freshman, Willis was ostensibly impressive with 607 yards, a 4.93 YPC average and six touchdowns. Nevertheless, Willis picked up most of his yardage against second-rate defenses. In '09, against three of the conferences' four best D's, he averaged 2.19 YPC in 38 carries.
He is now healthy, but the coaches kept him very limited this spring in order to make sure he is 100 percent in the fall. He should be the starter come September, but with legal troubles potentially hanging over his head, a one-game suspension and a history of injury problems, depth could be an issue.
Coming out of spring practice, sophomore Nick Turner and redshirt freshman Matt Perez were at the top of the depth chart. Turner, among other things, picked up 103 yards against Wisconsin in 2010 (in garbage time against UW's second and third string defense).
Meanwhile, Perez has presumably climbed over sophomore Antonio Banks on the depth chart. Banks, like Turner, also has garbage time experience.
If Turner, Perez and/or Banks can establish themselves as legitimate threats, and Willis can consistently produce against top defenses, then the IU running backs will be a solid group. However, as of now, they are still largely unproven.
Also, sophomore Duwyce Wilson is a 6'3" speedster that, at least physically, could step right into Doss' shoes.
Finally, inexperienced but talented sophomore Kofi Hughes finished spring ball as the third receiver.
Rounding out the depth chart is senior Dre Muhammad and redshirt freshman Logan Young.
On top of that, Indiana has two experienced tight ends in sophomore Ted Bolser and senior Max Dedmond. Last season, the two combined for 32 receptions, 444 yards and four touchdowns.
Due to supersaturating his staff with defensive coaches, Wilson will do double-duty as the tight ends coach, so this will be an area of particular concentration.
Overall, pass catchers are not only Indiana's strongest position group, but given their youth, they also have the most upside on the team.
Big Ten Position Group Ranking: 5
Offensive Line: The final spring practice first team line was as follows (from left to right): senior Andrew McDonald, junior Marc Damisch, junior Will Matte, redshirt freshman Cody Evers, senior Justin Pagan.
The only surprise is Evers. The redshirt freshman supplants Colin Rodkey, who backed up tackle James Brewer last season. Rodkey began spring at the top of the depth chart, and is currently nowhere to be found on said chart. As I have heard nothing of any injuries, I can only assume Wilson hasn't been pleased with his performance. However, that is pure speculation.
Other than Evers, every current first string lineman has starting experience, with Matte and Pagan boasting three years of starting experience (though Pagan's experience is at guard and not tackle).
The question is will all of that experience translate into a dominant line?
Kevin Wilson's line will need to be better and more dominant than Bill Lynch's line, as required by the nature of the respective offenses.
However, the Sooners also let up 22 sacks, which is 11 more than Indiana let up last season. The reason is the Oklahoma offense was big play oriented, and big plays require more time in the pocket for the quarterback. More time in the pocket typically equates to more sacks allowed, even in a prolific offense.
Will IU's line be able to provide that time for an inexperienced quarterback?
Would Willis have helped IU's rushing game last season? Absolutely. Would he have made it a feared rushing game? Probably not.
In closing, the line will be the position group that will struggle the most with the offensive scheme change, because much more will be expected of them.
The success of the 2011 Hoosier offense hangs on the young quarterback's shoulders. But, as Kevin Wilson has suggested, the success of the quarterback rests in large part on the offensive line.
Expect improvement from last year's group. Don't expect a major turnaround.
Former Indiana Football Player's Double Major: AFL and Undergraduate Degree
Apr 4, 2011
It’s 8 p.m. on Friday, March 18, and Leslie Majors stands in the crowded New Orleans Arena.
The rookie defensive back for the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League is taking part in his first AFL game against the New Orleans VooDoo.
As he takes in the energy and atmosphere of the New Orleans crowd, Majors is in the process of fulfilling two goals. First, he is returning to the world of professional football, but perhaps most important, Majors is in the process of completing an internship necessary for him to obtain his undergraduate degree.
At Indiana University, Majors was one of only two true freshmen to play in 2004 and even started the final four games of Big 10 play. His game progressed each and every year, culminating in his senior season where he started 11 games opposite current New Orleans Saints cornerback Tracy Porter.
In his senior season, Majors registered 62 tackles with two interceptions and six pass break-ups. His Indiana football career ended with a stellar performance in the Insight Bowl against Oklahoma State. In Indiana’s first bowl game since 1993, Majors had five tackles, a pass breakup and a forced fumble.
He worked hard during the offseason hoping to impress scouts at his Pro Day. After going undrafted in the 2008 NFL draft, Majors received interest from a few teams about joining their camps as a free agent, but one team stood out: the Chicago Bears.
As a born and raised Chicagoan who attended Thornwood High School in South Holland, Ill., Majors was ecstatic to receive a call from the Bears—the team he grew up watching.
Majors left Indiana and started out on his professional football journey, leaving school six classes and one internship short of his degree. With the Bears, Majors was consummating a goal for which he had worked his entire life.
“It started out like a dream,” he said. “I was playing for my home team. I got to meet a bunch of the players that I grew up watching. I was on cloud nine.”
As happens in the precarious NFL, many dreams end. Unfortunately, Majors was released just before the start of the 2008 regular season after spending the entire preseason on the active roster.
Majors kept his head up and continued to train, waiting for his next opportunity. He participated in the Detroit Lions rookie mini-camp in 2009, but didn’t stick. Realizing a career in football might be fading away, Majors took prudent action: He re-enrolled in school in 2010.
“I always had in my mind that I would go back to school,” he said. “But, I hoped it would work around my football career.”
Last fall, Majors completed four classes while continuing to train in case another opportunity in football arose.
And one did.
Majors received an offer to play for the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League. Not only did the offer allow Majors to get back into professional football, but he also was able to arrange with the team an opportunity to work in their front office as an intern.
Working with the Predators’ front office is allowing Majors to satisfy the internship requirement for his recreational sport management major. After the AFL season ends, Majors will only be two classes away from his degree.
With the Predators’ front office, Majors makes phone calls to potential season ticket holders and helps assist the front office in its day-to-day operations.
“This has been a blessing in disguise for me,” he said. “I am getting to play football again, but also getting closer to obtaining my degree.”
The AFL is a league notorious for high scores, something that never fazed Majors being a defensive player. However, he did have to get used to the different rules in the AFL, which includes one receiver being able to run forward in motion before the snap.
“My first impression was that the AFL was a totally different game,” Majors said. “At first, I thought the angles were going to be different, the routes were going to be different and all. But in the end, it’s just football. I am adjusting pretty well and relying on my athleticism.”
So far, Majors is enjoying his experience. Although he didn’t know any of his teammates before the season started, he said the team is gelling well and that the competition has been strong.
Majors plans on finishing his final two courses as soon as he can, but isn’t sure yet as to what he wants to do with his degree.
“I haven’t chosen exactly what I want to get into in the future,” he said. “We will see how this football season goes and then go from there.”
Nevertheless, Majors knows that having his degree will open up his options immensely.
IU's Ben Chappell Head of the Class for National Pro-Style QB of the Week
Oct 8, 2010
Ben Chappell of Indiana University out-dueled Taylor Potts of Texas Tech, and Jerrod Johnson of Texas A&M to win the Gold Medal Award for the Week 5 KSI Index Rating National Pro-Style QB of the Week.
In an odd twist, all three of the top performing QBs were losers last week as Chappell lost a close Big Ten tilt with Michigan (42-35), Johnson lost a close Big 12 tilt with Oklahoma State (38-35) and Potts was blown out 52-38 in a rather ugly loss to Iowa State.
Chappell was 45-of-64 for 480-yards with three touchdowns and one interception to finish first among the Gold Level participants. Chappell, who was locked in a pitch, catch and chase duel with Denard Robinson of Michigan, shined in a losing effort. His 145 QB rating on the day was 20 points under his 165 QB rating for the year.
On the year, Chappell is completing 71 (116-of-162) percent of his passes and has already amassed 1,370 yards passing on the year. His most eye-popping stat is his touchdown-to-interception ratio, which is 12-to-1!
The 6’2″, 240-pound senior from Bloomington is rapidly improving his NFL stock for the upcoming draft this spring.
Taylor Potts (Texas Tech) was 42-of-62 for 377 yards with five touchdowns and one interception on the day. Potts had a QB rating of 142, which is five points over his season rating of 137. Potts is completing 64 percent of his passes on the year (119-of-184) with 1,187 yards passing. His touchdown-to-interception ratio is 4-to-1 at 12 touchdowns with three interceptions on the year.
Tech is a disappointing 2-2 on the season and looks to bounce back in another key Big 12 games versus Baylor.
Baylor QB Robert Griffin III also had a big day in a 55-7 victory over Kansas, so Tech’s job doesn’t get any easier this week against the Bears! Griffin was a finalist in the Spread-QB National QB of the Week competition, but I won’t let the cat out of the bag just yet in terms of where he finished.
Finally, Jerrod Johnson of Texas A&M had a bittersweet performance against Oklahoma State on a Thursday night, nationally televised game on ESPN.
Unfortunately, Johnson, who threw five touchdown passes on the day, also turned the ball over four times, masking a phenomenal 40-of-62 performance for 409 yards. His 134 QB rating on the day was nearly equal to his 137 average on the year.
The 6’5″, 245-pound Senior from Humble (TX) is completing 61 percent of his passes on the year (104-for-171) with a rather inauspicious touchdown-to-interception ratio of 1.5-to-one! This will need to change in hurry this week with an old familiar rival from the former Southwest Conference (Arkansas) riding into Dallas for a key intra-conference game in the Cotton Bowl.
In the Silver Medal Bracket, Cameron Newton of Auburn, who leads all FBS college football quarterbacks with a 191 QB rating (pass efficiency rating) did not disappoint. He pulled off a 224 rating last week in a victory against over-matched Louisiana-Monroe, completing his first pass of the game for a 94-yard touchdown, which was tops for the day in college football.
Newton was 14-of-19 for 245 yards with three touchdowns and one interception on the day. Newton leads Dan Persa of Northwestern (184 QB rating) and sensational Denard Robinson of Michigan (180 QB rating) in the national index.
Newton edged Adam Froman of Louisville, who had a strong showing going 20-of-33 on the day with 308 yards passing. Froman also threw three touchdown passes on the day with one interception, his long TD of the day going for 57 yards.
The 6’5″, 250-pound Junior from College Park (Georgia) is 57-of-87 on the year for 928 yards passing, and a 3-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio (12 TDs/four INTs). Newton runs a much more balanced offensive attack playing in the rough-and-tumble SEC, where QBs are often running for their life.
Like Robinson of Michigan, Newton is also a threat with his feet, rushing for 474 yards in leading the Tigers to a 5-0 start. With in-state rival Alabama residing within the same state, Auburn remains a dark horse for the national championship, but don’t sleep on the fact that the Tide must play five opponents in the SEC who are coming off bye weeks before playing Alabama.
Froman, a 6’4″, 220-pound Senior from Santa Rosa (California) is 71-of 123 on the year (58 percent completion percentage) for 942 yards passing. He is struggling in the touchdown-to-interception department with a 1.25-to-1 ratio.
Finally, in the Bronze Medal Department, matching Non-AQ schools who compete against other Non-AQ schools, Chandler Hirnish of Northern Illinois has won the award for the first time this season.
Hirnish of Northern Illinois tied Nathan Enderle of Idaho (who shared last week's Bronze Medal Award with Pete Thomas of Colorado State) with a solid 16-of-20 performance for 281 yards passing in a 34-point victory over the Akron Zips. He had the highest completion percentage on the day at 80 percent.
Chandler, who is a 6’2″, 220-pound Junior from Buffington (Indiana) is 60-of-87 (a solid 69 percent) for 716 yards passing with a 6-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
The Huskies have been a solid competitor versus Illinois (a 28-to-22 defeat in Week 3) and Minnesota (a 34-33 victory in Week 4), two AQ schools within the Big Ten Conference.
Enderle is once again a co-award winner after his 30-of-45 performance with 380 yards passing in a 20-point win over Western Michigan. Enderle had three touchdown passes on the day and a 138 QB rating, which is nearly equal to his solid 139 QB rating on the year.
The Vandals are 3-2 on the young season in spite of Enderle's rather poor TD-to-INT Ratio of 1.44-to-1. The Senior from North Platte (Nebraska) has thrown for over 1,400 yards in 2010 and has 62 touchdown passes and 8,181 yards passing in his career.
Ohio State Football: Five Things to Watch for, Hoosiers Edition
Oct 8, 2010
Check out our Know the Opposition feature for full information on Indiana. Below we have five things to look for against the Hoosiers, as the Buckeyes get their first look at basketball on grass this season...
1. Watch for How the Buckeye Defense Handles the Pistol Offense
As the experts will tell you, it's really not an offense, it's a formation. Still, it is the backbone of the air show the Hoosiers have put on thus far in 2010. The beauty of this formation is that is gives the Hoosier offense the ability to run downhill while also allowing Chappell to get the ball out quickly in a shotgun set. Not only that, but they will use the pistol to put a twist on play-action plays and confuse defenses. Below is a look at their pistol formation as broken down by the Big Ten Network (h/t Smart Football).
So watch to see how the Buckeye defense handles all the different looks IU throws at them. The running game wouldn't be the problem as the Hoosiers use it just to keep defenses honest. On top of that, running back Darius Willis is questionable going into the game. The issue is how the Buckeyes account for Ben Chappell and the intermediate passing game. Along the Olentangy does a great job breaking down Indiana's version of the pistol, and as they highlight, Chappell is great at finding the holes in defenses.
2. Watch to See How the Running Backs Perform
I have been pretty critical of the offensive line in recent weeks, but a simple look back at the game film has totally changed my perspective. After going back and checking out the Illinois game, I realized that the offensive line is not the issue, it's the running backs.
Now I've criticized the running backs, along with every other halfway intelligent fan out there, but the game film shows how bad this problem really is. Boom and Zoom are simply missing holes and not following their blockers. Boom has done a better job and at least runs the ball with purpose. Saine on the other hand just looks lost right now. He is running the ball timidly, dancing in the backfield, and more times than not, completely missing the hole.
So keep an eye on the running backs tomorrow and how well they follow their blockers, namely Zach Boren. Also watch to see how Tressel will divvy up the carries between Saine, Herron, and hopefully Hall/Berry. The boys from Bloomington are giving up more than 200 yards a game, and there is no excuse why the Buckeye rushing attack shouldn't get back on track.
3. Watch Christian Bryant
This one pretty much goes without saying, as all eyes in Ohio Stadium will be on No. 2 tomorrow. And no, I'm not just talking about Terrelle Pryor. The transition from Moeller to Bryant has been well documented this week, so I won't spend lots of time here, but this one had to make the list. Bryant steps in this week against arguably the best passing attack the Buckeyes will face all season, and he will be giving up lots of size when he is in coverage against IU's wide receivers. He was impressive in his starting debut last week; let's see how he does in outing No. 2.
4. Watch the Time of Possession for Both Teams
There has been a lot written about how Indiana will want to speed up the tempo and score lots of points, but that is not entirely accurate.
Last week Indiana had the ball for over 41 minutes, with three of their four touchdown drives lasting over five minutes. They won't be a big-play, quick scoring offense tomorrow, but instead will take their time marching down the field with intermediate passes.
The Buckeyes will do their best to milk the clock themselves by running the ball with authority and limit the amount of drives the Hoosiers get.
If Indiana stays in this game, look no further than the time of possession category. That will mean Ohio State has had lots of three-and-outs and/or turnovers, giving Indiana lots of opportunities to put drives together. Hopefully the defensive secondary will surprise us too, and leave us with little to worry about in this department.
5. Watch Terrelle Pryor and His Health
Tressel claims Pryor is 100 percent, but sorry, I'm not buying it. Tressel has a history of keeping these sort of things under wraps, including Pryor's injury last season. So I will be watching Pryor's mobility tomorrow, and even how Tressel calls the game for him. If he is really completely healthy, then we won't see offensive play-calling that holds him back.
If Pryor isn't running the ball, which is an important part of the Buckeyes rushing attack, then we know for sure that there is something more here than Tressel is letting on.
Indiana Hoosier's Memorial Stadium: New and Improved
Oct 7, 2010
Overall Score4/5
Over the past several years, Indiana University has renovated Memorial Stadium into a fine facility, with plenty of modern amenities to help build the football tradition, and enhance the experience of attending a Hoosiers pigskin game. The horseshoe-shaped stadium is family-friendly, student-friendly, but mostly football-friendly. So much so, you’ll almost forget that you’re in basketball country. Almost.
The Stadium has become known as “The Rock” ever since former head coach Terry Hoeppner had a limestone boulder from southern Indiana installed near the north end zone.
Food & Beverage 4/5
Walk the wide concourses and you’ll find Papa John’s personal pizzas, hot dogs, bratwursts, and footlong hot dogs at many of the Big Red Refreshment stands. Look to the outside of the concourse, near sections eight or 28, and you’ll find the Honeybaked Ham Company Café stand. Try one of their sandwiches, whether Smoked Ham, Turkey, or BBQ Pulled Pork ($5 each).
On the north end of the stadium you can find Philly Cheese Steak ($6) or Wings ($4). You’ll also find Baskin Robbins ice cream throughout in case it is early enough in the season to be a hot day.
Coca-Cola products are served and you can take home a souvenir cup, filled with 32 ounces of Coke, Diet Coke or Sprite for $4.
Atmosphere 4/5
The student section extends from the north end zone to about the 40-yard line, and all the way up, 70 rows to the top. The game that I attended, against an overmatched Towson team, that student section was full and raucous. It’s a great sign for a school that is trying to become relevant in the world of Big Ten football.
The capacity is just short of 53,000 and there are still plenty of empty seats, something that needs to be rectified before this program can achieve its goals.
The addition of a beautiful 36'x91' HD video screen really enhances the game day experience, as does the new Knot Hole Park, a miniature field behind the south end zone where kids can run around and play a little football themselves.
It really is a beautiful stadium. I’m not a big fan of the metal bleachers that run throughout, but with all of the empty space, you can compensate by stretching out. Then again, if the program continues to improve, you won’t need to sit at all.
The marching band is also a highlight. Known as “The Marching Hundred,” the IU band has the luxury of having a great fight song, as well as a great school song to choose from in the arsenal.
Neighborhood 4/5
The immediate area surrounding Memorial Stadium is campus housing. A healthy walk from the stadium (about a mile) will get you to Scotty’s Brewhouse, on the corner of Walnut and Eighth. It’s part of a well-run chain of restaurants that specialize in beer and a very good menu. I think their ribs are solid, as are most of the offerings on the menu (including the wings). They have TVs in each booth, and I don’t think there’s a seat in the house where you can’t see some sports. It’s kid-friendly enough that you could bring the family before a game, and dude-friendly enough to belly up to the bar for some local beers and some grilled protein. They also offer a weekend brunch with a build-your-own Blood Mary bar, a great way to start a game day experience.
A little further away (another half-mile or so) and you’ll find The Irish Lion. It’s a great pub with a wonderful Irish feel. There’s a touch of fine dining with the casual warmth of a pub. Seafood, steaks, great soups, and traditional Irish fare are available. If you’re into taxidermy, you’ll love this place too. They have plenty of stuffed heads and animals scattered throughout. I tried the corned beef and cabbage ($7.50) which was spot on. Great service here as well.
Right next door is Crazy Horse, a place with more of a bar feel, but with surprisingly good food. I tried the Cuban sandwich with sliced roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, and pickles. It was satisfying, but I wish they would have used a higher quality, and less processed-tasting cheese.
The other thing to keep in mind while you’re in the neighborhood is Cook Hall. The recently dedicated tribute to the history of Indiana basketball is a beautiful building. If you happen to be tailgating nearby, it also has the most immaculate bathroom that you’ll find before the game, so keep that in mind. To continue your basketball tour, Assembly Hall is open to the public on game day, so you can check out the Indiana University Hall of Fame.
Fans 4/5
I was extremely impressed with the student section, and the fans around me also were clearly into the game. Building on the Rock theme, the Indiana student section is known as “The Quarry.” The Quarry Captain was introduced, and he ran through the tunnel, patting The Rock before taking his seat amongst his fellow students.
I heard several fans rating all of the recent changes to Memorial Stadium very favorably, and it seems clear that any longtime Indiana fan, who hasn’t been to a game in a while, should make the journey soon to see all of the renovations.
On my way to Bloomington, I heard a local radio station sports host describe the Indiana fans as “Stupid.” That certainly wasn’t my experience, as I overheard high-level conversation ranging from coverage packages to the activity of the opponent’s safety on play-action. If they can get another 20,000 butts in the seats, then they may just have something special here.
Access 5/5
There are plenty of parking lots, and tailgating was abundant before the game. I chose to park on a nearby street (14th street) so I could be halfway between the bars and restaurants and the stadium. If you don’t mind walking, you can save on parking costs.
The wide concourses make it very easy to get around, and there are more than enough bathrooms, without lines even during the busy halftime period. They are some of the cleanest bathrooms that I have experienced in a stadium.
Return on Investment 4/5
Individual tickets for students, children, and alumni who have been graduated for three years or fewer are only $5. Tickets for everyone else go for $40-$50 depending on the opponent. It is certainly a reasonable price, and the concession stands and parking make this a very good value.
Extras 3/5
I award one extra point for the overall investment that the university has made to make Memorial Stadium a top-notch venue. I’m awarding a second bonus point for the full and rowdy student section. Finally, I really like the Knot Hole Park play area, and the policy that allows kids to keep footballs that they catch (or wrestle away from another kid).
Final Thoughts
I fully expected this to be a ho-hum football experience, and I was pleasantly surprised to see great momentum in the football program and amongst its fans. No matter what they do, this will always be a basketball school, but don’t let that impression stop you from attending another great Indiana event, a Hoosier football game.
The boys from Bloomington invade Ohio Stadium this Saturday bringing a high-flying passing attack in hopes of defeating Ohio State for the first time in more than two decades. While the games haven't always been entertaining, and you may not be too excited about this week's opponent, let me remind you that this border rivalry has produced its fair share of interesting characters and moments.
1. Bob Knight—The "General" was born in Massillon and raised in Orrville, making him a Buckeye by blood, if not by attitude. Of course he played for Fred Taylor at Ohio State, and was on the 1960 National Championship team led by Jerry Lucas. Knight has given props to Coach Taylor at various times through the years, and it is reported that he was also a big Woody fan, who patterned some of his coaching style after Hayes. For 30 years, Knight's Indiana teams clashed with Ohio State and it was always fun to see the Buckeye fans give it to Bobby. It was a love-hate relationship as many of the OSU faithful secretly hoped to lure Knight away from Bloomington. It hasn't been the same since he left the Big Ten in 2000.
2. Lawrence Funderburke—The enigmatic big man who grew up in Columbus and graduated from Werhle High School headed off to Indiana in the fall of 1989 as one of the most ballyhooed players in the nation. Initially Knight and the Hoosiers loved him, but Funderburke couldn't keep his mouth shut, and liked to banter back and forth with the tyrannical coach. The honeymoon didn't last long, and Lawrence decided he wanted to head back home to Columbus. At one point, when Knight didn't wish to release him, he threatened to sue, but eventually Lawrence transferred to Ohio State and enjoyed three productive seasons in scarlet and gray, helping lead the Buckeyes to the Big Ten championship in 1992. Each trip to Bloomington was quite eventful as the Hoosier fans made life miserable for Funderburke who seemed to revel in controversy, and often played his best games against Indiana.
3. 1987 and '88 football games—The IU faithful has not had much to cheer about in this rivalry, as Ohio State has completely dominated to the tune of 66-12-5 all time..But, for two years in the late 80's, the Hoosiers not only won, they had a major impact on the coaching careers of Earle Bruce and John Cooper.
Bill Mallory was at the helm for the Hoosiers in the late 80's, and he was a hard-nosed Big Ten coach who always featured a good running game. In 1987 he brought a one loss squad to Columbus, led by running back Anthony Thompson. The game was tied at 10 at intermission, but the second half belonged to Indiana who triumphed 31-10. Earle Bruce publicly called it "the darkest day in Ohio State history." His team never fully recovered, finishing 6-4-1, and Coach Bruce was fired.
One year later, new coach John Cooper led the Buckeyes to Bloomington with a shot at gaining revenge. When it was all over, IU had ridden Thompson to a stunning 41-7 victory. While I have witnessed much more painful Ohio State losses in my life, never have I been as greatly embarrassed as I was on that afternoon. Although Coop enjoyed a lengthy career in Columbus, that game was a big part of getting off on the wrong foot, a microcosm of a disastrous 4-6-1 season that did not endear him to longtime Ohio State fans. Who would have thought that Indiana football would have played such a big impact on the careers of two OSU coaches.
Thankfully there have been some better moments in the OSU-IU rivalry. Most recently, the Buckeyes captured a birth in the Rose Bowl in 1996, winning 27-17, in a hard fought contest on a cold day, as the Bucks pulled ahead for good in the fourth quarter on a fumble return for a touchdown by Matt Finkes. So one of Coop's happiest moments also took place in Bloomington!
4. Current connections—There are a few Indiana-Ohio connections worth noting:
—The 2010 Ohio State roster features two players from Indiana: Dexter Larrimore, from Merrillville, and Rod Smith, from Ft. Wayne. IU has no less than 16 native born Buckeyes on their current roster. —Recent OSU cornerback Donald Washington hails from Indianapolis, and Buckeye verbal Joel Hale is from nearby Greenwood. Incidentally, for years Ohio State virtually ignored Indiana high school talent but in recent years has intensified their recruiting of the Hoosier state, which is increasingly producing better players. —Coach Thad Matta, while hailing from Illinois, played two years at Butler, in Indianapolis, and later returned as head coach of the Bulldogs. He has also recruited the Hooiser State extremely well, signing players such as Greg Oden, Mike Conely, and Deshaun Thomas. —Indiana Quarterback Tim Clifford, the Big Ten MVP in 1979, hails from Cincinnati. —Scott May, All-American forward at IU who starred on the undefeated 1976 National Championship team was born in Sandusky, and went to high school in Toledo.
Well, that's my best shot at spicing up this border rivalry which certainly needs a little extra pizzazz. Now if Indiana can do their part by actually bringing more than 200 fans to Columbus!
Michigan Monday: MSU Week Begins Now
Oct 4, 2010
Michigan State week is always a strange week for Wolverines fans. The reason being is many Michigan fans rank Michigan rivals as:
Ohio State,
ND,
MSU.
Michigan State ranks their rivals as:
Michigan
Michigan
Tried for Penn State (didn't really work)
Don't get me wrong, Michigan wants to win this game and yes, it's a rivalry game. In-state bragging rights mean something for the kids and there is an effect on recruiting. MSU has also taken advantage of Michigan's two down years and has had close wins over the Wolverines. Both teams are 5-0, ranked, and have wins over ND so it should be a good game.
Michigan State's head coach is still recovering from his heart attack and had a setback late last week that had him back in the hospital. Believe it or not MSU really hasn't been on the road this year. The farthest they have been away from East Lansing was a trip to Detroit to play Florida International.
Should be a fun week. Enjoy it here at the BHB.
RR will have his weekly presser today at 12:15
Dee Hart is planning to announce his decision this week. The initial reports say it will be completed on Friday. No press conference is schedule yet.
TomVH reports this weekend that Michigan is now recruiting Chris Gallon, Dee's teammate and cousin of current Wolverine Jeremy Gallon. Chris is a 6'5", 205-pound WR.
AP Poll: MSU at No. 17, Michigan at No. 18
USA: MSU at No. 16, Michigan at No. 17
Early line has Michigan -4.5
Look for a number of big-time recruits visiting Michigan this weekend and next. It seems the Iowa game might be the biggest recruiting weekend of the year.
Trip Report to IU
The stadium is much improved from the last time Michigan was there. Their video board is impressive. The IU fans seem to be pretty nice and it was good to see the Wolverines travel so well. Best example is last time Michigan was there they were ranked No. 2 in the nation and were undefeated with OSU the following week. This year, there were many more Michigan fans and they were loud and supportive. Great to see.
I have never seen a fanbase celebrate first downs like IU fans. It's actually pretty funny. Memo to IU basketball fans at the game: First downs are good, but the time to celebrate is for touchdowns. Like when you cheer for a made three-pointer!
Many folks said this was the first sell-out since 2007. The stadium was maybe 1,000 seats short of a sell-out. Now I understand why they sold a home game to FedEx field against Penn State.
The IU fanbase celebrated like they won the game when they scored to tie the game with 1:15 left. One guy turned to me and said: "This is the new Big House!" You only have to double your stadium and get people to show up. BTW, there is 1:15 left and we have Denard. I also had to advise the person next to me whether this game was "field-rush" worthy if they won. Glad we didn't have to find out.
The overall trip to IU is pretty affordable for an away game. Tickets were as low as $5 for kids and there were plenty available to fans not getting advance tickets. Parking was also $5 to park near the stadium. They really don't understand out how to flow the traffic after game day but it wasn't too bad.
4/5
