IUFB 2023 Season Thread

[Lebowski]

Schedule
https://iuhoosiers.com/sports/football/schedule

 

First game against conference foe OSU in the books. I'm thinking 4-6 wins after losing 23-3. 

This week
vs Indiana State 
Friday, September 8th 

I'd be surprised if this isn't a blowout with the possibility of shutout. 

[Artie86]

I always love reading and finding positive comments from the opposing teams. There hasn't been much at all over the past few years, I found this one on thehoosier.com. Let's hope it comes true.

This is a quote from an Ohio St. lineman.....

Fryar said all of Ohio State’s offense line issues are correctable. “It’s more of a communication issue than anything… Indiana is going to a bowl game this year easily. They are gonna be a good team, a really good team, actually, with that defense.
 

[Stuhoo]

Snarkiness aside (and I've been guilty of that), here are my thoughts:

1. While Ohio State does not have a star QB this year and may not be a dominant offense, they are a top 15 team, and our defense, even having spent too much time on the field on a very hot day, is more likely than not legit. Why?
   • We are very old. Lots of new players, but not many green players.
   • Our d-line is worlds better than at any time in the past few years - Blidi and Jackson are not just big, they are mobile too.
   • OSU's offensive line is a strength of their team, and they did NOT impose their will on our front seven.
   • Even if you take away the lack of playmaking by McCord on OSU; those All-American WRs were not running free much at all. No 'five yards open' guys, and no replays of receivers that McCord didn't see who were ten yards open.
   • CTA is a defensive-minded coach - he knows what he's doing in that aspect above others, and he's got more than usual to work with.
2. Our offensive line was not bad either!
   • We had a 'kill clock and keep it close' game plan, and even so, I did not see our O-line getting pushed back. 
   • We kept our QBs pretty clean - way more so than at any point in the past two years
3. We may (not 'do') have some playmakers
   • Sorsby intrigued me. Strong arm, quick release, fluid throwing motion, good size, can tuck and run. He was without a doubt inaccurate and made questionable decisions, but the kid hasn't played in about three years after being hurt for much of the end of his high school career, and OSU's defense is as good as any he'll see. There is real potential for improvement.
   • Skill positions? Camper looked healthy, Lucas touched the ball a ton and looked far stronger than last year, and Henderson, who was pretty good last year, hardly saw the field because Christian Turner is just plain better. 

For me, the Louisville game will be the absolute key. Louisville isn't great, but they are a decent big-boy P5 team. Win that one and I think we can be a six win, bowl eligible team. Lose it by 10-20 points? Disregard all positive thoughts (lol).

[Loaded Chicken Sandwich]

2 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

Snarkiness aside (and I've been guilty of that), here are my thoughts:

1. While Ohio State does not have a star QB this year and may not be a dominant offense, they are a top 15 team, and our defense, even having spent too much time on the field on a very hot day, is more likely than not legit. Why?
   • We are very old. Lots of new players, but not many green players.
   • Our d-line is worlds better than at any time in the past few years - Blidi and Jackson are not just big, they are mobile too.
   • OSU's offensive line is a strength of their team, and they did NOT impose their will on our front seven.
   • Even if you take away the lack of playmaking by McCord on OSU; those All-American WRs were not running free much at all. No five yard open guys, and no replays of receivers that McCord didn't see who were ten yards open.
   • CTA is a defensive-minded coach - he knows what he's doing in that aspect above others, and he's got more than usual to work with.
2. Our offensive line was, not bad either!
   • We had a 'kill clock and keep it close' game plan, and even so, I did not see our O-line getting pushed back. 
   • We kept our QBs pretty clean - way more so than at any point in the past two years
3. We may (not 'do') have some playmakers
   • Sorsby intrigued me. Strong arm, quick release, fluid throwing motion, good size, can tuck and run. He was without a doubt inaccurate and made questionable decisions, but the kid hasn't played in about three years after being hurt for much of the end of his high school career, and OSU's defense is as good as any he'll see. There is real potential for improvement.
   • Skill positions? Camper looked healthy, Lucas touched the ball a ton and looked far stronger than last year, and Henderson, who was pretty good last year, hardly saw the field because Christian Turner is just plain better. 

For me, the Louisville game will be the absolute key. Louisville isn't great, but they are a decent big-boy P5 team. Win that one and I think we can be a six win, bowl eligible team. Lose it by 10-20 points? Disregard all positive thoughts (lol).

My problem for Lucas is the wanting to use him as a running back, instead as a Tyreek Hill. Running Lucas up the middle isn't a good idea. There was zero attempt to get him out into space against OSU.

[Stuhoo]

4 minutes ago, Loaded Chicken Sandwich said:

My problem for Lucas is the wanting to use him as a running back, instead as a Tyreek Hill. Running Lucas up the middle isn't a good idea. There was zero attempt to get him out into space against OSU.

The play calling can be better. We were incredibly conservative to protect Sorsby and Jackson from mistakes against a top ten defense .

[Loaded Chicken Sandwich]

21 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

The play calling can be better. We were incredibly conservative to protect Sorsby and Jackson from mistakes against a top ten defense .

Too conservative. Lucas is our biggest weapon. Gotta get him in space in the middle of the field so he can use his speed. If they are worried so much about the QBs, get quicker routes that don't take a ton of time. Same deal under Sheridan, whose routes took ten years to develop.

[Stuhoo]

11 minutes ago, Loaded Chicken Sandwich said:

Too conservative. Lucas is our biggest weapon. Gotta get him in space in the middle of the field so he can use his speed. If they are worried so much about the QBs, get quicker routes that don't take a ton of time. Same deal under Sheridan, whose routes took ten years to develop.

Oof. Quicker routes mean quicker reads and more potential for a mis-communication that leads to a disaster. A quick slant or swing pass that's mis-thrown is a pick six. A mis-thrown long ball is effectively a 35 yard punt. A slow read with nothing available is a QB that runs, either into a sack or to the sideline to throw it away. Not great, but not a game-killing moment. I'm guessing that the QBs had it drilled into them to take a sack or tuck and run if a primary read wasn't available. 

Agree that we need to be less conservative going forward - I just think that against OSU the game plan was to stay within a touchdown by staying super-conservative, not risking one of QBs handing points to OSU, and relying on our defense. The 10-3 halftime score reinforced that the game plan was working so we stayed with it, but we didn't catch a break or two to stay that close by game's finish. 

[Loaded Chicken Sandwich]

1 minute ago, Stuhoo said:

Oof. Quicker routes mean quicker reads and more potential for a mis-communication that leads to a disaster. A quick slant or swing pass that's mis-thrown is a pick six. A mis-thrown long ball is effectively a 35 yard punt. A slow read with nothing available is a QB that runs, either into a sack or to the sideline to throw it away. Not great, but not a game-killing moment. I'm guessing that the QBs had it drilled into them to take a sack or tuck and run if a primary read wasn't available. 

Agree that we need to be less conservative going forward - I just think that against OSU the game plan was to stay within a touchdown by staying super-conservative, not risking one of QBs handing points to OSU, and relying on our defense. The 10-3 halftime score reinforced that the game plan was working so we stayed with it, but we didn't catch a break or two to stay that close by game's finish. 

If we had a competent offensive line, longer developing routes could work. They can't or Sorsby/Jackson will just be running for their lives every play. The OLine is still really bad. They have to be quick routes just to not get the QB killed. For as bad as the passing game looked, the running game looked even worse overall.

[Hovadipo]

QBs were clean all day, had time in the few instances they were asked to drop back, and had holes in the option game. There were a TON of missed reads both in the passing game and option game. Easy to see even in the Youtube highlights package. This offensive line is worlds better than it has been and was pretty far down the list of issues on Saturday.

[Lebowski]

3 hours ago, Artie86 said:

I always love reading and finding positive comments from the opposing teams. There hasn't been much at all over the past few years, I found this one on thehoosier.com. Let's hope it comes true.

This is a quote from an Ohio St. lineman.....

Fryar said all of Ohio State’s offense line issues are correctable. “It’s more of a communication issue than anything… Indiana is going to a bowl game this year easily. They are gonna be a good team, a really good team, actually, with that defense.
 

This is really encouraging. My worry is that OSU isn't as good as they think they are. But still encouraging nonetheless. 

Opening against a team like OSU, where they've got new personal (QB, etc. etc.), doesn't really help get a confident gauge in my opinion. We've got a gauge that we didn't get blown out like in years past but is that because they don't have a Fields/Stroud on the field. Let's hope OSU is as good as they've been the past few years. That means, IUFB is actually a really good football team. We'll get a better feel this Friday with this team.

[DChoosier]

When discussing our defensive effort some posts have kind of diminished the results by correctly pointing out that we did not face a typical OSU offense as they do not have their usual “first round/first team BT” QB.  

That being said, on short yardage plays it was still OSU’s 4/5* OL and RB’s vs the IU defense  and our D made a number of stops. For decades OSU having a 3rd and 2 vs IU almost assuredly meant us getting blown off the line and an 8+ yard gain.  That was a component of the game that was really fun to see.

 

[LIHoosier]

Akron game will be under the cover of night; 7:30pm BTN

 

[Naturalhoosier]

19 hours ago, LIHoosier said:

Akron game will be under the cover of night; 7:30pm BTN

 

Can’t wait to see those empty bleachers shining under the lights.  

[Lebowski]

So full disclosure, I missed a good part of the ISU game due to Friday Night Lights. I did manage to see bits and pieces of it. And the D  technically put up a shutout. Which is what I thought might happen. This D is good folks. We'll have a fighting chance during league play. Very encouraging stuff. 

[Loaded Chicken Sandwich]

Don't worry y'all... just out here helping the mop lady with some trash talk lol.

 

[Demo]

We take what we can get.

[Lebowski]

Now we're talking if we can manage to put together a full game like we played in the 2nd half of the Louisville game. Six wins will be in reach if that happens. 

[Lebowski]

Andre Carter is playing one heck of a season so far. I'd surprised if he's not playing Sundays. So far, the transfer portal has been good to us in that aspect. 

[TTT]

Who ends up with best 2023 record???

IU vs Colorado

My prediction:  Identical records in the 5 to 6 win range.

[Lebowski]

Just now, TTT said:

Who ends up with best 2023 record???

IU vs Colorado

My prediction:  Identical records in the 5 to 6 win range.

Man, I'll be very happy in the 5 to 6 win range for IU!