IUFB vs Northwestern - FRIDAY, 09.25.26 @ 8:00 on Fox-TV GAME THREAD

[RaceToTheTop]

4-0, 1-0.  20 straight.  Cig now 31-2.

[KingPG21]

Just got off work. Missed the game. Statistically we look like our run game and run defense is much better than what we saw week 1. Kind of weird statistical thing we outgained by 140, no turnovers by either, penalties were pretty even (at least purely number wise). 

 

So why did we only win by 6? Just not finishing drives? Untimely penalties? How bad was the Turbo injury? Should there be much concern that it doesn't look like we turned to our RB4 at all? Granted having Martin as our RB4 last year was a blessing.might not have that guy there this year. 

[IUCrazy2]

6 hours ago, Stuhoo said:

Something about Hoover that I’m not really loving. I feel like his reads on RPO aren’t as confident as Rourke or Mendoza’s. So he’s not pulling the ball out and throwing it when sometimes he should be.

Major major props to Chip Kelley. He made adjustments at halftime and got the best of Haines in the second half.

I just don't think he is reading things as well as they did.  There were also times last night where he kept the ball and I thought had he just handed it off he would have had a better play.

[Dave from Dayton]

3 hours ago, KingPG21 said:

Just got off work. Missed the game. Statistically we look like our run game and run defense is much better than what we saw week 1. Kind of weird statistical thing we outgained by 140, no turnovers by either, penalties were pretty even (at least purely number wise). 

 

So why did we only win by 6? Just not finishing drives? Untimely penalties? How bad was the Turbo injury? Should there be much concern that it doesn't look like we turned to our RB4 at all? Granted having Martin as our RB4 last year was a blessing.might not have that guy there this year. 

IU offense started slowly, again.  Early, IU drove to NW's 1-yard line and could not punch it in.  That set the tone for the remainder of the first half struggles.  It was a battle in the trenches for the majority of the game.  Hoover's passes were inaccurate and may be a problem.

Turbo was out after NW player rolled Turbo's ankle and hit him late and out of bounds.  No call.  Didn't look good.

Hoover did not hit Marsh on the left because of erratic throws and good defense of primary targets by NW.  

Once both teams began to tire in the 2nd half, IU started to run and NW QB Chiles got loose in our backfield with runs.  Chiles ability to jink around and run kept NW in the game.

Multiple, early mistakes by IU hurt.  Defense by IU won the game.  Beebe ran like his hair was on fire.  Neither team ran consistently in the first half.  Northwestern is good.

The box score does not show how frustrating the game really was.  IU was sloppy.  But Northwestern was worse.  IU does just enough to win at home.

  Welcome to the Big Ten.

 

[str8baller]

We’ll have one heckuva running backs room if we can get everyone healthy. Beebe was great in the second half. If teams keep playing safeties over top of Becker and Marsh, they’ll continue to get tons of carries. 

[Iufan71]

I thought several times Hoover could have just kept the ball and got a big gain instead of handing it off.

 

[OliviaPope40]

[AKHoosier]

Haven't looked at their schedule but I think this Northwestern team will win 7-8 games.  They do look solid, and have some good pieces.  Chip Kelly calling the plays, Chiles is a player.

I don't feel nearly as confident about us now though.  At Nebraska, at Washington, and at Michigan look a bit more daunting now.

[Brass Cannon]

That was the worst game of the cig era. Coaching seemed uninspired.  Play calling  was strange.  And defense just folded in the second half.   I’m pretty sure that’s the most points we have given up in the second half since OSU. 
 

Staying committed to the run paid off.  But the lack of discipline and the trouble in short yardage has to be fixed.  
 

Hoover did ok and Northwesterns D is legit but that needs to remain his worst game or else we are in trouble.  
 

Need Hardy and Richard back asap.  And it’s time for Harris to get on the field.  Dude has the talent to be an nfl player but just doesn’t have the best ability. 
 

First road game next week.  Is this 2024 Michigan or 2025 Iowa.  

[TadQueasy]

A win is a win.

But that game brings in some major concerns for this season.  

Gotta trust in Cig to right the ship and get things moving ahead. 

[Home Jersey]

Northwestern is underrated. Concerned about our injuries. The rest can be solved / improved as the year goes on. Get right game against Rutgers next week. 

[Brass Cannon]

2 minutes ago, Home Jersey said:

Northwestern is underrated. Concerned about our injuries. The rest can be solved / improved as the year goes on. Get right game against Rutgers next week. 

Saw on Twitter high ankle sprain for Turbo and concussion for Hardy.  
 

Hardy likely back after Rutgers if not for.  Looking like we will get Turbo and Martin back around the same time.  We are going to need a back to step up.  

[Hardwood83]

1 minute ago, Brass Cannon said:

Saw on Twitter high ankle sprain for Turbo and concussion for Hardy.  
 

Hardy likely back after Rutgers if not for.  Looking like we will get Turbo and Martin back around the same time.  We are going to need a back to step up.  

Ugh, high ankle sprain makes sense based on how his foot was extended back. Those take some time. 

I'm more worried about IU's pass defense & offense against Rutgers and going forward. Giving up ~250yds passing in the second half ...not inspiring. On the other side IU should have abused NW with the passing game. They were down to the what, their 3rd string DB's? Becker and Marsh shoulda been running wild. As others have stated- not a great coaching game last night among other things. 

[Lebowski]

4-0. On to Rutgers. 

[moyemayhem]

9 hours ago, TheWatShot said:

Short yardage continues to be a problem for Cignetti teams. Not sure why. Just our weak spot, I guess. 

Repeatedly running out of shot gun when you need a yard or less just makes it too easy for the defense to stuff the run.  When the back gets the ball their momentum will effectively limit them to half the field, and the defense knows that. The back also can’t build up as much push when they hit the line. On a couple high leverage short yardage plays at the end of the game we played under center, opening up the field and leading to more success.

[Hovadipo]

Once NW got away with Hoover not connecting with Becker on some early go balls, they backed off and put safeties over the top of he and Marsh all night. Hence 1) all of the easy completions underneath and 2) the early down running game getting going. NW went back to trying to play Becker straight up a few times and immediately paid for it on back shoulders.

There’s also something to be said for how play-calling was impacted by Turbo going down so early. He had 68 on 9 carries in a quarter and change. With only one RB, Shanahan had his work cut out for him for almost 3 quarters. That totally changed the game script. 

[AZ Hoosier]

6 minutes ago, Lebowski said:

4-0. On to Rutgers. 

Yep. The game was frustrating from a fan's perspective. Lots to work on and injuries suck. But a win is a win and 4-0 is 4-0. Cig was a bit curmudgeonly in the presser.

That said, 31-2 and a 20-game win streak is nothing to sneeze at. Find a way.

[Lebowski]

2 minutes ago, AZ Hoosier said:

Yep. The game was frustrating from a fan's perspective. Lots to work on and injuries suck. But a win is a win and 4-0 is 4-0. Cig was a bit curmudgeonly in the presser.

That said, 31-2 and a 20-game win streak is nothing to sneeze at. Find a way.

Cig and the HC of Northwestern have a history. Cig got beat by him in the FCS championship. So that might have explained why we didn't kick a FG in the 1st drive. Kick that FG and the game isn't as close as it was. 

[Brass Cannon]

Just now, Lebowski said:

Cig and the HC of Northwestern have a history. Cig got beat by him in the FCS championship. So that might have explained why we didn't kick a FG in the 1st drive. Kick that FG and the game isn't as close as it was. 

I think advanced analytics support going for it there.  But the execution left a lot to be desired 

[AZ Hoosier]

1 minute ago, Lebowski said:

Cig and the HC of Northwestern have a history. Cig got beat by him in the FCS championship. So that might have explained why we didn't kick a FG in the 1st drive. Kick that FG and the game isn't as close as it was. 

I thought I heard the announcers say that Cig tried to hire Braun for his staff at one point, too. Braun is a good coach.