Evaluating the Hoosiers at midseason

By CHRIS GOFF
ISL Assistant Editor

At the midpoint of the season, let’s check in with the Hoosiers and issue some grades for the team’s performance.

Overview: The Hoosiers are tied for third in the Leaders Division at 1-1 in Big Ten play and have progressed with a 3-3 record overall. They have six intriguing games ahead, including difficult road trips to Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio State. The Hoosiers have alternated wins and losses and notched an important victory two weeks ago over Penn State, which was previously unbeaten against Indiana. With the bottom feeders of the Big Ten set to visit Bloomington, the Hoosiers stand a good chance of finishing their remaining schedule at .500. More importantly, 3-3 the rest of the way should lock up a bowl appearance.

Tim Bennett leads the nation in passes broken up. (Photo by Chris Goff.)
Tim Bennett leads the nation in passes broken up with 14. (Photo by Chris Goff.)

Surprises: People knew running back Tevin Coleman had potential, but he has emerged as a force at a time when the Hoosiers’ offense needed more of a presence on the ground. Converted safety Tim Bennett, considered a role player when the Hoosiers added him from Ellsworth Community College, has been an eye-opener at cornerback when it comes to run support and covering receivers. On defense, one freshman has emerged. Linebacker T.J. Simmons, a two-star recruit out of Lakeland High School in Florida, quickly earned a starting job in the middle. Sophomore Ralston Evans, a guard and defensive end in his prep years, has filled in capably for injured right tackle Peyton Eckert. Also, for quarterback Nate Sudfeld to be this good this soon is impressive.

Disappointments: Not much can strike Hoosiers fans as a disappointment, when they’ve seen it all in some way. The offensive line lost Eckert and Dan Feeney to season-ending injuries, along with serviceable backup David Kaminski. The Hoosiers still haven’t developed a reliable defense. Before the season they parted ways with starting cornerback Antonio Marshall, whose maturity level didn’t match his talent. The biggest issue lately has been stopping the run, with opponents able to move the ball too easily on the ground. That’s what caused a frustrating loss to Navy in the second game. Coach Kevin Wilson felt the Hoosiers were overconfident that day.

What’s ahead: As long as Sudfeld and receivers Cody Latimer, Kofi Hughes and Shane Wynn are clicking, Indiana will have the ability to score points and compete. The Hoosiers remain a passing team, even though they are running the ball more than they did in 2012. Wilson likes to stay aggressive and play to win. In six games, he has ordered just three field goal attempts, while going for it 12 times on fourth down. A young defense is still gaining experience and learning how to play without graduated mainstays Adam Replogle and Larry Black. The offense is formidable. The question is whether Indiana’s front seven can slow an elite rushing attack when they face Melvin Gordon and Carlos Hyde.

REPORT CARD

Passing Offense: A-minus

The Hoosiers are 13th in the Football Bowl Subdivision in passing yards per game (331.5), which puts them near the top and makes this the highest grade of the team’s major units. Sudfeld’s six interceptions are mostly negated by his strong total of 1,604 passing yards. Sudfeld has surpassed 300 yards passing in three games this season. Latimer (tied for second in the Big Ten with 35 receptions) and tight end Ted Bolser (five touchdowns, third on the team) have been the favorite targets, while receivers Wynn and Hughes have produced, too. The offensive line naturally has been reshaping itself since Eckert and Feeney went down, with mixed results in protection. That hasn’t stopped the attack from having big-play capabilities.

Rushing Offense: B-minus

The Hoosiers rank 64th in the FBS in rushing yards per game (172.8), and 49th in average yards per carry (4.67). Top runner Coleman (eight touchdowns) proved well-rounded and one of the highlights of the first half of the season was the ground attack pounding Bowling Green into submission in a Week 3 win with 241 yards over the final three quarters. There are still times when the running game is forgotten or inconsistent, such as the most recent game at Michigan State. The blocking has been up-and-down and the Hoosiers are allowing the fourth-most tackles for loss in the Big Ten.

Pass Defense: C

The Hoosiers rank 76th in the FBS, and seventh in the Big Ten, in passing yards allowed per game (239.5), which puts them in the middle of the pack and results in a middling grade. Corners Bennett and Michael Hunter have been solid overall, but coordinator Doug Mallory is not confident in his defensive line to generate pressure on a regular basis. Safeties Greg Heban and Mark Murphy have missed some critical tackles that turned short throws into longer gains. The Hoosiers rank 102nd in the FBS on third down, with opponents converting 44 percent of the time.

Run Defense: D-minus

Key defenders (left to right) John Lahinen, Ralph Green, Flo Hardin and Nick Mangieri must help Indiana improve against the rush.
Key defenders (left to right) John Lahinen, Ralph Green, Flo Hardin and Nick Mangieri must help Indiana improve against the rush. (Photo by Chris Goff.)

This unit has been absolutely gashed at times. Navy basically chose to abandon the pass because of such poor play by Indiana in this area. Many of the Hoosiers’ linemen have the versatility to line up across the defensive front, but that lack of consistent placement has led to the front four struggling to be in sync. Tackling across the board has been anything but sure. The youth of freshman middle linebacker Simmons has showed up at times. Opponents have sprung 41 runs of at least 10 yards. The run defense is a major issue.

Special Teams: C

Kicker Mitch Ewald is 3-for-3 on field goals and is 16th in the FBS with a touchback on 65.8 percent of his kickoffs. There have been a few memorable moments – Shane Wynn’s punt return for a touchdown in the opener and Ralph Green’s blocked field goal against Penn State – but special teams have been nothing more than solid. Noticeable struggles were sprinkled in. The Hoosiers rank 120th in the FBS in kickoff return average. Four times they have failed to execute an onside kick. Indiana is averaging 35.7 net yards on punts, which ranks 94th in the FBS. Damon Graham and Laray Smith each lost a fumble returning a kickoff.

Coaching: B

A win over Penn State was a breakthrough moment for this young team, and to be 3-3 at the midpoint of the year is still a strong reflection on Wilson. The loss to Navy was the only one that stands out as underachieving. That was the downer of the first half of the season, especially since Indiana had two extra days to prepare and spent portions of preseason practice trying to plan for the Midshipmen’s triple-option. Indiana looked lost against the triple-option, even after facing Navy last season. Wilson is bringing Sudfeld along as a top quarterback. It’s up to Mallory and the staff to find consistent answers on defense.

Follow Chris Goff on Twitter: chrisgoff_ISL.

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