Analysis: Was that the same defense we saw against Southern Illinois?

[IndyHutch 1,718]

If Indiana's defense can clean up a few things, most importantly not giving up the big play, and the Hoosiers can play with the intensity they showed on Saturday this team could win a lot of games.

I couldn’t help but think as I was watching Indiana play No. 1 Ohio State on Saturday what the Southern Illinois people were thinking when they heard today’s final score.

 

Or when they saw that the Hoosiers were beating Ohio State 10-6 at halftime.

 

They had to figure it was a misprint. Or that ESPN had somehow messed things up when they scrolled that score across the bottom of the screen.

 

I can just see the Saluki fans shaking their heads and saying, “Isn’t that the same team that less than a month ago we put 659 yards of offense against?”

 

They had to wonder if Indiana was suiting up a completely different defense than it had just a few weeks back. They had to wonder how the defense they scored 47 points against could possibly go toe to toe with the No. 1 ranked team in the country.

 

Maybe, they wished they could play the Buckeyes, too.

 

But the reality is that Indiana played some of its best defense in years Saturday afternoon in the 34-27 loss to the Buckeyes.

 

The way that Indiana came out and fought and set the tone for the game was pretty impressive. If the Hoosiers can do that against all competition and not just when they’re hyped up to play the best team in the land, this is a bowl team.

 

Indiana made a lot of plays Saturday. That interception that Tegray Scales had was absolutely huge deep in IU territory. Or the forced fumble that Marcus Oliver created when he wrapped up the Ohio State receiver from behind. Or the play that Rashard Fant made on the fumble recovery on the Ohio State sideline.

 

IU created three more turnovers Saturday. In recent years, Indiana’s defense did not create turnovers. And that made it too easy for teams to drive up and down the field against IU because the Hoosiers were simply not opportunistic.

 

But this team leads the Big Ten in that category.

 

Now, the thing that drives Indiana football fans crazy is how quickly opposing teams can score and how big plays seem to always be the norm when you’re facing Indiana. And there are no two ways around that one. Ezekiel Elliott had touchdown runs of 55, 65 and 75 yards. You simply have to eliminate those big plays in order to have a shot in a game like this. I’m not questioning that.

 

But here is something else I know. Ohio State managed 517 yards of offense on 61 plays. If you break that down, the Buckeyes had 195 yards of offense on three plays and 322 yards on the other 58 plays.

 

And here’s something else I know. In talking with IU players in the postgame, this is becoming a confident bunch of players. This is a team that now expects to play the way it did for much of the Ohio State game every week.

 

This team expects to go on the road and beat Penn State. It expects to come home and throttle Rutgers for Homecoming. It expects to play every game at a high level.

 

That has not always been the case with Indiana defenses. It hasn’t been the case for many of the years

 

I’ve covered the team. I’m not certain it was the case when the Hoosiers looked awful in the opener against Southern Illinois.

 

But I do those this: If Nate Sudfeld and Jordan Howard can get healthy (and I think both will play next week), this could be one of the best Indiana teams I’ve covered in 18 years.

 

And I think that’s saying something.

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[JaybobHoosier 11,821]

Great job Hutch! We definitely need Suds and Howard healthy, and really hope the defense continues to play at a higher level. Very exciting time for Hoosier football.

[mdn82 25,456]

The defense we were able to witness was one that swarmed to the ball. They didn't sit back and wait for the offense to come to them. If we can continue to have that mentality we will be a very adequate defense. With the offense we have that is huge.

[Crimson and Cream 5,705]

First half we stacked the box and dared Ohio St. to throw, and Jones looked weak. Everything was working. I had to work for the 2nd half, so I'm not sure if we backed off or of Elliot just found some holes. Still very impressed with this team, and who knows what would have happened if Sud/Howard didn't get injured.

[LIHoosier 24,997]

First half we stacked the box and dared Ohio St. to throw, and Jones looked weak. Everything was working. I had to work for the 2nd half, so I'm not sure if we backed off or of Elliot just found some holes. Still very impressed with this team, and who knows what would have happened if Sud/Howard didn't get injured.

The issue with the Elliott runs is that the safeties were so close to the line that once Elliott got through the first hole, it was clear sailing. 2 of the 3 runs if I remember right were short yardage situations (3rd & 1, 4th & 1) where everyone was within 5 yards from the snap.

[akhosrof 1,168]

@gerrydinardo: Sunday Ruminations #Hoosiers In 2012 after losing by 3 to OSU IU lost to Navy the next week @PSU will tell us more about IU than yesterday

This tweet sums it up.

[TheStillman 991]

@gerrydinardo: Sunday Ruminations #Hoosiers In 2012 after losing by 3 to OSU IU lost to Navy the next week @PSU will tell us more about IU than yesterday

This tweet sums it up.

 

Absolutely, if this program has turned a corner we will be 6-1.  Have to make a real statement next week.

[HoosierReb01 7,511]

Absolutely, if this program has turned a corner we will be 6-1.  Have to make a real statement next week.

Love the enthusiasm, but I hate counting a win we haven't played yet, just as much as I hate counting the losses we have played yet. Nor do I think "turning the corner" hinges on any one game.

[Naturalhoosier 15,353]

Love the enthusiasm, but I hate counting a win we haven't played yet, just as much as I hate counting the losses we have played yet. Nor do I think "turning the corner" hinges on any one game.

 

Agreed for the most part.  There is one game that you can pinpoint as the turning point, but it's a body of work thereafter that confirms that point.

[HoosierReb01 7,511]

Agreed for the most part.  There is one game that you can pinpoint as the turning point, but it's a body of work thereafter that confirms that point.

Yeah, my uses of the word "hinges" would bring my point into question.  :picknose:

[HoosierAloha 29,887]

First half we stacked the box and dared Ohio St. to throw, and Jones looked weak. Everything was working. I had to work for the 2nd half, so I'm not sure if we backed off or of Elliot just found some holes. Still very impressed with this team, and who knows what would have happened if Sud/Howard didn't get injured.

 

 

The issue with the Elliott runs is that the safeties were so close to the line that once Elliott got through the first hole, it was clear sailing. 2 of the 3 runs if I remember right were short yardage situations (3rd & 1, 4th & 1) where everyone was within 5 yards from the snap.

 

I agree it had a lot to do with loading the box.  I also believe that there was a bit of fatigue and mental lapses.  I remember specifically on one of the long runs a LB overpursued and missed a chance for a tackle or at least slowing EE down. 

[Miller'sTheMan 1,652]

We have to stop Barkley for PSU, if we can limit him I think we win. The passing attack doesn't scare me at all for PSU. 

[TheStillman 991]

Love the enthusiasm, but I hate counting a win we haven't played yet, just as much as I hate counting the losses we have played yet. Nor do I think "turning the corner" hinges on any one game.

 

Agreed it needs to hinge on more than 1 game and I am not counting a win.  My point is simply that playing well against OSU at home is all well and good but it is about what comes next.  You have two games ahead that I think the team should win and should go into with the mentality that its a win.  It is easy to bring the intensity one week against the #1 team in the country at home.  Bring that same intensity every week for the rest of the season and the program has turned a corner.  

 

If we are 6-1 heading to East Lansing I think the program has positioned itself from the bottom tier to the middle tier at least for this year.  

[jmhbone 18]

Good analysis Terry!

I feel as others have stated, we attempted to jam OSU by loading the box and three runs got away from us. I was  concerned before the season began about our depth, and you said IU is definitely deeper this year than in the past. I do believe you had a little insight into this. But, we do need to stay healthy to keep the best team out there.