D-BONE

On 9/25/2023 at 3:32 PM, Common Sense said:

I actually feel like we have a path to six wins this season with some modest improvement.  The defense is a .500 level defense and opportunistic. 

Good quarterback and will only get better.  Skill guys have got to make plays.  Dropped passes happen.  But geez, we could have been up a couple touchdown at the half.  Play calling is stupid.  Unless you have a kick ass offensive line that can block second level,  triple option football is dead.  

4th and short, IU should kick the field goal and go up two scores.  

Allen has got to chill the hell out.  He needs to let his D-coordinator go crazy on the sidelines.  I think part of the bad decisions that are made are because he is all over the place.

 

 

I agree with talent being six-win-worthy with the significant exception that it's hard in the B1G with an impotent o-line whether or not the skill players are good, which they appear to be. Then, you've got the coaching (all areas) piece overlaid too.

Coaching staff needs to step up and make something happen. I mean 5 wins would still require 3 B1G wins, which while disappointing, would would at least show competitiveness. Another 0 to 2 win season doesn't cut it. If you take out the COVID season recored TA is  11-35 in B1G with 3 2- win seasons and a 0-win season as 4 out of the 5 years.

Yes, it's Indiana football, but  how long do you tolerate that rationale? Come on, TA, get something done this year and allay some of this criticism.

6 hours ago, 13th&Jackson said:

CTA righted the ship for the Minutemen:

UMass fired Bell last month and owed him $937,000 over two years. But according to language in his contract, that total would be negated if he took a job paying more than $468,500 and mitigated if he took a job paying less than that. Since his new salary is over $700,000, the Minutemen are no longer required to pay him.

Hoping we've got similar contact language if this continues to go south. 

On 9/25/2023 at 5:30 PM, KDB said:

Walt Bell today: “We're a run-first football team. There's gonna be an option element to it because we want play action."

We’re doomed.

Can't be serious??? I mean that's going to be some ineffective-ass play action unless the o-line turns into 80's era Washington hogs of the NFL all of a sudden. If anything we need to be pass to set up the run, not the other way around, as unappealing as that sounds.

Well, so reality wrecked the cover the spread party, let alone the run it up pipe dream. Is it just a blip, an outlier? Feels like in contention for the Fantasy Bowl. Gotta fix the coming out sluggish (especially offensively) and the ill-timed, back- breaking big play surrendered immediately. Hard to buck historical trends?

Between how far I've gotten on DVR so far, comments/reports from here and media, two things stand out to me (despite the no lack of things to criticize). O-line got smoked by a MAC D and Allen reporting in post-game presser that he sensed late in the week we weren't taking Akron seriously enough. I mean, if that's not ultimately on the coaching staff then nothing is. And our play looked like just that. 

Was at a social engagement so started watching late. Fell asleep right after the Moore pick 6. Sounds like I should be glad I saved my self the agony and frustration. How do you make a win that awful? 

28 minutes ago, OGIUAndy said:

I'd like to see them put up 40+ today, with running being the main offensive weapon. 

Yeah. Think we're around 17 point faves. Would love to win by 20 to 30.

47 minutes ago, OGIUAndy said:

I think this is a team (barring injuries) that will get better each game. They have a ton of new players. But I agree, they have to get the running game going early. 

Yes, I agree with being able to improve. That's why I am not especially concerned about D and pass game. With what they've shown already and, as you point out they're still gelling, I am reasonably optimistic. On the ground, we definitely have some talent in the RB room. Can the O-line just be decent against B1G comp opening some running lanes? They have looked okay in pass blocking thus far, but run blocking has been such a crucial weakness for a while. Just the threat of the run would work wonders. 

As some of us have stated, this group seems to have enough to challenge for bowl eligibility. Unfortunately, as is always the case, there's little room for error.

It feels to me like it's going to come down to whether or not we can squeeze even consistent mediocrity out of the run game. The air game has potential with TJ and the WR corps. But it's hard to imagine winning consistently with a terminally anemic ground game in the B1G.

That and avoiding major droughts in level of play, including too many big plays surrendered on D. Can't afford more starts like the Louisville game. But D does look like the massive chunk plays early can be curtailed or significantly reduced via awareness and execution. Hope so anyway.

17 point favorite last time I looked. Would love to win by considerably more. 

Is Williams connected to Mel Tucker in any way???????

I mean, we've gotta win. It's like 3/4 of the pre-season minus Louisville. The result seems pre-ordained. If you lose, 2nd half in Louisville becomes a mirage and might as well mail in the remainder of the season. With a W, then the rest of the B1G slate has some interest. 

An RPO here and there to keep the D honest. Otherwise, TJ is not worth making QB run a major piece of your offense. TJ extending broken plays from the pocket, feeling pressure and moving with eyes downfield and/or the occasional scramble for plus yards. That's the ticket.

13 hours ago, rico said:

Richardson needs to quit worrying about "showboating."

Yeah - did look like he went into celebration mode too early. Steichen needs to talk to him about A) being aware and protecting himself and B) finding right balance of confidence/cockiness/smarts. Young player, but he needs to learn quickly before he gets himself seriously injured (if he hasn't already).

14 hours ago, Artesian_86 said:

He did, initially, but I thought it looked worse when his head hit the ground. It hit so hard that it bounced up and hit again on the turf…. I sure hope he recovers quick with no issues

Richardson's got to become more aware and protect himself better when he runs. He may be 250 but this is the big league and they are looking to lay the wood when they get a shot. Looked to me like he let up once once he saw he would get in the end zone. Not sure he even saw the DB coming but he had quite a runway on Richardson. I mean the smaller guy just knocked him on his arse. 

12 hours ago, bronkonagurski said:

If the team we saw in the second half of the Louisville game can consistently show up for 60 minutes, I have some cautious optimism about our odds of getting to 6 wins. 

 

Agree. Take care of business this week and face the B1G gauntlet from 2-2. Michigan and Penn State can be chalked up as losses. If you pull a massive upset all the better. Essentially have to go 4 of the remaining 6. Can't afford to fall into a lethargic start habit though. That will derail chances quickly. Should be top takeaway for players and coaches from Louisville. 

There is still a weakness in run blocking, but it honestly looks like there’s enough talent and athleticism on this team to win 6. It won’t be easy- never is. I haven’t felt that consistently since the big year during COVID, but I did think there was a year or two since where the same can be said. And thought Allen underachieved in those instances. Hopin gongoing TJ experience will be enough to push us over the hump this time. Tough balance. Allen’s coaching should not be beyond questioning. Yet would anyone else recruit and work the portal as well at IU. Seems doubtful.

1 minute ago, KDB said:

There are positives, but this game was very important in our path to 6 wins. 18 inches from tying it and we don’t sneak it. Idk. Can’t spot them 21 points.

That’s the hard part. How do you get to 6? It’s painful dropping this one for that reason. Jackson gives some hope for optimism though. Wish the oline was better in run blocking. Haven’t seen that legitimately since Wilson era. Would make a massive difference.

Happy with making a game of it in 2nd half. Not happy since it was a winnable game though. Poor TO management and coaches need to learn to come out aggressively with scheme and play callin from the opening kick.

How many holds they going to miss on Cards?

We had our chances. Couldn’t get the last drive in for 7. Multiple chances to stop them on this drive. Not good TO management though.

Penalty our way?

Ugh.

Clock stops.

Not time to fall apart. Wish we had a couple more TOs.