SB Nation - Bryan Payton

Keeping the Bucket where it belongs

BoilerTMill — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:13:12 -0000

62-10

That is all we keep hearing all week. Indiana is attempting to use it as a rallying cry. Crimson Quarry called it the worst loss in the history of Indiana's football program. Mike Carmin talks about how Indiana players remember it by putting it up in their lockers. I find it interesting that they remember a game they were not at, as Indiana certainly did not show up last year. There would have been more honor in a forfeit.

Really, that is what it boils down to. Indiana should be embarrassed by last year's "effort." They didn't even try to defend the Bucket, and we took it back by force. They now get another shot to play for only pride against us. I agree that this Hoosier team is much better than last year's edition, but 62-10 still looms from the last time we saw these teams play.

It is still our Bucket. Come and get it.

A common sight

2008 Record: 3-9, 1-7 Big Ten

2009 Record: 4-7, 1-6 Big Ten

Bowl Result: none

Blog Representation: Crimson Quarry

Series with Purdue: Purdue leads 69-36-6 (Purdue leads Old Oaken Bucket portion 55-26-3)

Last Purdue win: 11/22/2008 at Purdue 62-10

Last Indiana win: 11/17/2007 at Indiana 27-24

Indiana offense:

Indiana wanted to establish a downhill running game with its new pistol offense, but instead has developed a pretty good passing attack. Our pass defense has been hit or miss at times this year, the same as our run defense. Let's hope we don't see a repeat of our last visit to Bloomington where the Hoosiers had a terrible running game, but we let Marcus Thigpen run draw after draw like we had never seen the play before.

The offense centers around quarterback Ben Chappell. He has completed 635 of his passes for 2,675 yards and 15 touchdowns against 13 interceptions. He really should have 16 touchdowns after that horrible call in the Iowa game, but we won't get into that. Chappell has also rushed for two scores, but he has not been the runner that Joey Elliott has been with -23 yards rushing. Indiana's offense prides itself on taking care of the ball, but interceptions have been a problem of late with 6 in the last three games.

Chappell does a good job of spreading the ball around to some talented receivers. Tandon Doss is deserving of some all Big Ten recognition with 73 catches for 911 yards and five scores. Doss is only a sophomore, and he does have 92 yards rushing and another score. This is from the Wildcat formation I believe, which I still don't understand why it is so hard to stop when you're basically screaming the guy won't pass. Damarlo Belcher (57-706-4) is another quality receiver we will face. Tarrance Turner (42-413-1), Mitchell Evans (23-254-2), and Max Dedmond (17-132-1) will also likely get in on the action. Indiana is at its best when they can spread the field and get everyone involved.

The running game is not very strong, but has the potential for a big day if we let them. Darius Willis has rushed for just 465 yards and six scores, but he is a big play threat. He had 153 yards and two scores at Michigan and also cracked the century mark against Northwestern. He left the Wisconsin game with an injury, however, and did not play at Penn State last week. Demetrius McCray (290-1) is second on the team in rushing, but he has done little since a 134 yard day against Western Michigan in game 2. Indiana went primarily with Bryan Payton (148-1) last week against Penn State, but their running game should be severely lacking if Willis does not play.

Indiana's offensive line has been strong all year in pass protection, giving up just 13 sacks. Part of that is the design of the offense, which prefers quick passes much like Toledo used in the opener. Coach Terry Hoeppner made recruiting solid linemen a priority in his short time in Bloomington. It is paying off. Rodger Saffold and Pete Saxon are the senior anchors of the line at tackle and guard respectively. James Brewer is a big junior tackle at 6'8" 331lbs. Center Will matte may be the weak link. He is the smallest player on the line at 6'2" 285 lbs. He is also only a redshirt freshman. Expect Mike Neal and Kawann Short to try and take advantage of this up the middle. Saxon and sophomore guard Justin Pagan will be there to help out.

Indiana defense:

I am not worried about moving the ball on Indiana's defense. I am worried about keeping it against a defense that has produced 29 turnover in 11 games. Ball security has not been our strong suit all year. We cannot afford to hand over defensive touchdowns like we did against Oregon and Michigan State.

Linebacker Matt Mayberry leads that turnover parade with a team high 99 tackles, three interceptions, and a fumble recovery. He is a well-rounded linebacker with 3.5 sacks as well. The 5^th year senior will definitely want to have a huge impact in his final collegiate game, as he will very likely be playing on Sundays next year. Will Patterson and Tyler Replogle are second and third in tackles with 63 and 75, respectively. This is a veteran linebacking group that has done very well all year long.

Senior safety Austin Thomas leads the Hoosiers with four interceptions and is fourth on the team with 62 tackles. We must be aware of his presence over the middle, as he has 115 return yards on picks. He is joined in the secondary by safety Nick Polk, as well as corners Donnell Jones and Adrian Burks. Indiana has been hurt with some injuries in its secondary. The highly touted Jeremy Finch has been limited all year long. Projected starter Chris Adkins has missed five games. Wide receiver turned corner Ray Fisher has also been out recently.

There should be room to run on Indiana because the defensive line is great at getting to the quarterback, but struggles to stop the run. Indiana gives up 162 yards rushing per game, so Ralph Bolden should have room to run. Edns Jammie Kirlew and Greg Middleton are dangerous pass rushers that we must contain on the edge. Middleton has not played to his All-American form of 2007, but the dude was still an All-American at one time. Kirlew leads the team with 5.5 sacks. While Middleton and Kirlew are experienced seniors, Larry Black Jr. and Adam Replogle (Tyler's brother) are freshmen defensive tackles. We simply must attack them.

Indiana Special Teams:

If there is a great equalizer in this game it is our crappy special teams coverage against their excellent returners. Coverage killed us last week. It may not get better as Doss is a speedy returner with Fisher averages 37 yards per kick return with two scores. McCray is also very capable of returning kicks. Doss and Fisher are also very good at returning punts, while Indiana's coverage units are a little shoddy themselves. The Hoosiers have given up a punt return for a score.

Nick Freeland is a bit of a liability at kicker, making just 14 of 23 attempts on the season with a long of only 38. it will be a difference from last week, when Michigan State made two very big 52-yard field goals. Chris Hagerup is an excellent punter averaging almost 41 yards per kick.

Intangibles:

Again, 62-10.

Indiana can use that for as much motivation as they want, but Purdue has players that remember it too. Purdue has to be confident that its defense did what it wanted to, when it wanted to against Indiana last year. Three of the ten points only came about from a big Marcus Thigpen return. The rest was against the second string long after the game was decided. Offensively our weapons have changed, but aside from the turnover issues I think we are a better offensive team this year. We have more balance in the running game and the pass. We have to be confident that this Indiana team is not drastically different from the one we thrashed last season.

That said, the Hoosiers are much better than last year, and honestly are in the same position we are. They have only four wins, but they have to be thinking that at least three more got away. Both teams have only themselves to blame for this game not meaning more, with Indiana having a valid beef against Big Ten officials for losses at Iowa and Michigan.

Even though we have dominated the rivalry over the past decade the games in Bloomington have been much closer affairs. Both of Indiana's wins have come there, while the 1999 and 2003 games were close ones. Indiana has expanded its student section for this game, and they have been drawing better crowds this season. This won't be your typical apathetic crowd in Bloomington, but it won't be the raucous atmosphere of two years ago.

As I said yesterday, the winner of this game will likely be the 2010 "Big Ten team that will surprise" when the next season's predictions come out. For Purdue, a 4-4 Big Ten record after the disastrous start would be huge. We also want to prove that even though we are rebuilding, we are still decidedly better than Indiana. For Indiana, getting the Bucket would be a huge confidence boost for a program always in need of one. If they get it, something may be brewing in Bloomington for the future.

I will be heading down to Bloomington for this one. It will make my 10^th straight Bucket game attended. I am concerned that we will lose if "bad Purdue" shows up, but I am still buoyed by the confidence of 62-10. I hope are players are as well.

Keys to the Game for Purdue:

Play infinitely better against the run than the 2007 game
Avoid turnovers
Establish Ralph Bolden and Jaycen Taylor early
Remember that you are Purdue and you dominate this rivalry
Weather the early Indiana storm as they always start well
Dare Indiana to run the football

Hoosier Headlines for November 19, 2009: Bucket coverage and Puerto Rico.

John M (The Crimson Quarry) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:27:11 -0000

More photos » by Darron Cummings - AP

about 1 month ago: Indiana forward Christian Watford, top, puts up a shot against Howard guard Curtis White during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Bloomington, Ind., Friday, Nov. 13, 2009. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Browse more photos »

IU players haven't forgotten last year's 62-10 loss (Journal and Courier)
"(Monday) I heard it maybe seven times," Indiana senior running back Bryan Payton said of last year's score. "I know some of the guys have it on their lockers or pasted in their apartment rooms. I know what those numbers mean."
Indiana sees jump in football attendance (ESPN)
IU facing test in Puerto Rico (The Courier-Journal)
"It's time for the reality check for the Indiana University men's basketball team. A year ago the Hoosiers won their first two regular-season games and headed to Maui for three games in paradise. A 38-point loss to Notre Dame, a 26-point setback to Saint Joseph's and a two-point nail-biting victory over Division II Chaminade provided IU with a snapshot of what the season would eventually bring."
Hoosiers head south_ ready for tougher foes (The Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, Ind.)
"If Howard and the University of South Carolina-Upstate served as introductory courses, then Indiana could be in line for some advanced classes at the O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-off."
Young Hoosiers should test Rebs (The Clarion-Ledger)
"Ole Miss breezed through its first two games of the season, winning by a combined 65 points over Arkansas-Little Rock and Alabama State at Tad Smith Coliseum. The easy victories were nice, but junior Eniel Polynice knows that today's game against Indiana in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off marks the first true test of the season. 'This is going to be a huge statement game for us,' Polynice said. 'We're trying to put Ole Miss back on the map, show people we're for real and that we're not playing around.'"

Watford has room to grow at IU (Evansville Courier & Press)
"He's not even scratching the surface," Crean said of the 6-foot-9 forward from Birmingham, Ala., who had 14 points and 11 rebounds in an 83-60 win over Howard, then 17 points and 10 rebounds in a 69-61 win over South Carolina-Upstate. "He is so talented, but he's not even close to consistent yet. (That's why) we're not here to pat him on the back, we're here to drive him.

Puerto Rico Tip Off: Ole Miss vs. Indiana (Red Cup Rebellion)
"The Rebels as a team are averaging 91 points per game, but both games were against vastly inferior opponents and in the crumbling but cozy confines of the Tad Smith Coliseum. Over the past two seasons, Ole Miss is 6-6 in neutral site games, including a 3-0 record in the San Juan Shootout in 2007 where the Rebels beat out LaSalle, Depaul and Clemson."

Roth injured, will sit in Puerto Rico (Hoosier Hype | Indiana Daily Student)

It's raining in Paradise (Hoosiers Insider | The Indianapolis Star)

Know Thy Opponent: Ole Miss Rebels (Inside the Hall)

The Rivalry Is Watching You: Wisconsin DE O'Brien Schofield v. Indiana

grahamfiller10 — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:42:33 -0000

I am watching Wisconsin's All American defensive end O'Brien Schofield this week. How would Indiana protect Ben Chappell from this TFL demon? Would Schofield be tested by the tricky playcalling of Bill Lynch? How much NFL talent does this hybrid DE/OLB possess?

First Quarter

Wisconsin doesn't alter their defensive scheme the entire game, showing little fear of the Indiana attack. Schofield plays in the three point position the entire game, coming off the right side of the Wisconsin 4-3. The Badgers run a stunt maybe twice the whole game, showing tremendous confidence in their cornerbacks playing one on one, even if this confidence wasn't totally in line.

Schofield (OS) will be taking on #76, big James Brewer, most of the day. Early on, the Hoosiers run away from OS, but get stuffed by JJ Watt and the solid Wisconsin LB corp. The Badgers force a punt, only to watch the punt returner muff the catch. Indiana throws a couple quick passes and it's 7-0.

Wisconsin evens the score at 7 and OS lays out the kick returner. What is the star defensive end doing on the kickoff team? The Badgers get another stop and we see Indiana double teaming OS on every single play. On one play, the Hoosiers hit OS high with an OL and low with a cut block. Looks illegal and painful. Indiana punt and Wisconsin drives down for a field goal, 10-7.

Second Quarter

Indiana hasn't generated a single thing offensively yet. The base of their problems lies in Wisconsin's ability to jam the Pistol run game. It looks like basic man blocking and the running back is coming from 7 yards off the ball; Wisconsin is winning most of those one on one battles. IU runs at OS for the first time - Schofield holds up Brewer and helps stuff the play. Wisconsin takes over after a Ben Chappell INT and runs over IU for a TD. 17-7, Badgers.

OS is beating Brewer on angles in the run game, firing himself low into double teams and around #76. OS gets his first tackle, well maybe a half tackle, but Chris Borland cleans up nicely. Indiana punts and Wisky scores AGAIN. 24-7 and I'm worried this could be about it.

Whoops, spoke too soon. Chappell makes two deep throws, good for about 80 yards combined, and the Hoosiers make it 24-14 with a few minutes to go in the second quarter. OS is being doubled one every play and then Brewer even gets a pancake block, pushing OS down and laying on him. Send that tape to the NFL scouts James!

Wait a minute James, maybe hold off on sending that tape. After stopping another OS spin move, Schofield goes to his bread and butter: power and speed off the edge. OS blows by Brewer and gets a big sack to end the last Hoosier drive before the half. He baited James and used his 4.6 speed and agility to get to the QB. Beautiful. Halftime.

Third Quarter

Some clever playcalling by IU to begin the half. Screens to the middle of the field, quick slants...IU is moving the ball, chipping and doubling OS at every chance. Lynch has also made an adjustment at the half, the mark of a good coach I might add. Seeing the off tackle Pistol running wasn't working, he switches to simple dives with Bryan Payton, who gets 7 yards a pop as the Badger DT's are blown off the LOS. The second pass play IU runs, OS beats Brewer like Belushi destroying a guitar, but barely misses a sack.

Quick aside here - Schofield gets major plus points here for his on-field IQ. When he recognizes that a power rush won't work, because of a rollout or double, he instantly shuffles back into the middle of the field to look for dump offs or QB scrambles. Very mature move for a pass rusher.

Indiana is driving deep into Wisky territory until Schofield's second impact play ends the drive. He uses a combo of speed and power to push past Brewer's outside shoulder and hits Chappell as he throws - the ball flutters into the arms of a waiting Borland. The camera zooms in on Schofield's fashionable fohawk on the sideline.

Lynch learns his lesson and spends the next possession doubling Schofield. This fails on the first running attempt and OS blows up a run. IU tries a reverse (damn Bill Lynch, he'll try anything) and Schofield holds his ground, showing that tremendous sideline to sideline speed and almost catching the speedy IU receiver. For the first time we see a negative in Schofield's repertoire of pass rush moves - the spin move is completely ineffective and slow, much different than the vicious whirling spinner of Greg Jones. Every time Brewer sees OS put on the spin cycle, he simply pushes the body of OS and neutralizes it. In the meantime, IU punts and it's still 24-14.

Fourth Quarter

Wisconsin spent the rest of the game giving up deep passes to IU and trying to blow leads. To the conclusion!

Conclusion, Stats, Impressions, Etc...

Game Stats: 1 Sack, 3 QB pressures (one which directly led to a pick), 1 tackle...Pancake blocked once...

Season Stats: 44 tackles, 18.5 TFL's, 7.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles

Accolades: Bednarik Award Semifinalist

Wisconsin Rush Defense in the Big Ten: Allowed no 100 yard rushers...Allowed no team to rush for 100 yards...70 ypg rushing allowed...

Impression and NFL Draft Discussion: OS is a true pass rusher, as the TFL's and high number of sacks suggest, but is quick enough to play outside linebacker. His speed off the edge, combined with excellent agility, make him a scary figure to block one on one. Agility allows him to dip below the hands of offensive lineman. Loves exhibiting 4.6 speed and really pumps his arms and legs to get leverage. Wasn't asked to do much pass coverage against IU, but the one time he dropped into a zone, got physical with a receiver instantly. Truly a defensive leader, as some pre-game inspirational yelling suggests, and obviously loves screwing up offensive gameplans with his individual skill. Projected in the third round of the NFL Draft and I'm sure some team can make room for a 6'2'' 250 lb ball of energy with a great attitude. Does have a bit of the Jared Allen "always moving, always fighting" on-field personality, but is much smoother.

Hoosier Headlines for November 10, 2009: St. Joseph's coverage and more.

John M (The Crimson Quarry) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:23:13 -0000

Indiana overpowers St. Joseph's (The News-Sentinel - Fort Wayne IN)
"So what did Indiana’s 2-0 exhibition run showcase? For one thing, junior guard Jeremiah Rivers will set the Hoosiers’ tone. For another, guard Maurice Creek can challenge forward Christian Watford for top team freshman honors. Finally, speed rules."
Creek active for IU (South Bend Tribune)
"Maurice Creek would be the first to tell you that his exhibition opener last week against Grace College left a lot to be desired. With that in mind, he was determined to play a more active role Monday night against St. Joseph’s. He didn’t disappoint. Creek led Indiana in scoring with 16 points and pulled down seven rebounds to help lead the Hoosiers to a 96-67 victory over St. Joseph’s before an announced crowd of 15,289 in IU’s exhibition finale at Assembly Hall."
IU finishes preseason easily (The Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, Ind.)
IU cruises in final exhibition game 95-67 (Indiana Daily Student)
Creek scores 16 points in IU's exhibition win (The Courier-Journal)
Crean's take on setting the pace (The Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, Ind.)
"Indiana had 20 fast-break points in the 95-67 win against Saint Joseph's College. Four players reached double figures, led by Maurice Creek's 16."

Improvement obvious as Hoosiers cruise (Evansville Courier & Press)Buying into the upside (Indiana Daily Student)

Thoughts on Second Exhibition Game with St. Joseph's (Hoosiers Insider | The Indianapolis Star)
"But what Indiana basketball did show Monday night is that this is a completely different team than it was a year ago. There's some talent on this team and different players stepped up that didn't play nearly as well in the first game. The one feeling I had in this game was that you could see it in Tom Crean's demeanor that when things weren't going well and he needed to make substitutions he could look down his bench and he had options to go to."

Hoosiers cruise past St. Joe’s in final tune-up, 95-67 (Inside the Hall)

Hoosiers outrun St. Joseph’s (The Hoosier Scoop)

Buying into the upside (Indiana Daily Student)

IU senior tailback ready for any chance to play (The News-Sentinel - Fort Wayne IN)
"Don't tell Bryan Payton he's a backup, an afterthought, a bit player in a football season of near misses. Indiana's fifth-year senior tailback faces the end of his college career finding reward in whatever opportunities come his way. Ask him to spend most of the games on the sidelines and he deals with it. Ask him about his future and he sees no limits. Ask him to handle special- team duties and he commits body and soul to it."

Indiana Hoosiers have found ways to "gift wrap" victories (The Sports Blog - PennLive.com)
"However - and this is a big however - Indiana simply hasn't learned the difference between competing hard and winning games. The bar hasn't been raised to the point where the Hoosiers believe they can win tight games. Moral victories are apparently still good enough."

Penn State Hot List for Indiana (PennLive.com)
"The Indiana defense has yet to grasp the concept of pass coverage. Despite the presence of two terrific rush ends in Jammie Kirlew (13.5 tackles for loss) and Greg Middleton (7.5), the Hoosiers are ranked last in the Big Ten in pass defense, allowing an average of 250 yards per contest. They also have surrendered 16 touchdown passes. Derek Moye, you listenin?"

Who wants to be millionaire coach? (Detroit Free Press)
Info on all Big Ten coaches, although for the bottom half, only salary has been disclosed in this article.

College basketball preview: Year of the blueblood (Mike DeCourcy - Sporting News)
"With Roy Williams, Bill Self, John Calipari, Ben Howland, Mike Krzyzewski and Tom Crean in charge of the blueblood programs, this will be the first time since 1995-96 — and only the second time in history — all six will begin the season under coaches with Final Four experience."

Eli Holman finds happiness at Detroit Mercy (Inside Bay Area)

Wisconsin 31, Indiana 28: the statistics.

John M (The Crimson Quarry) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:48:05 -0000

More photos » by Tom Strattman - AP

about 1 month ago: Wisconsin linebacker Chris Borland (44) celebrates with teammates Culmer St. Jean (15), Devin Smith (10) and Dan Moore (45) after intercepting a pass during the second half of a college football game against Indiana in Bloomington, Ind., on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009. Wisconsin won 31-28. (AP Photo/Tom Strattman)

Browse more photos »

Here are the stats. I don't think there were any major surprises when the Wisconsin offense was on the field. The Badgers ran the ball nearly at will, gaining 294 yards on the ground and averaging 5.7 yards per carry. Add on 194 passing yards, and the Badgers accumulated 488 yards on offense. The success of the less-than-overwhelming Badger passing game was a bigger disappointment. Wisconsin averaged nearly 10 yards per pass attempt. I was pleasantly surprised by the production of the IU offense. The running game was a disappointment, and Darius Willis re-injured his bad ankle, but IU, like Wisconsin, averaged nearly 10 yards per pass play and Ben Chappell threw for 323 yards and three touchdowns. As I said yesterday, his two interceptions were costly and avoidable, but IU was able to move the ball with some success against one of the conference's best defenses.

Of course, as I said yesterday, if it hadn't been for John Clay's mild concussion, the IU offense may never have seen the ball at all. Clay ran for 134 yards and a touchdown on only 15 carries. In Clay's absence, freshman Montee Ball gained 115 yards on 27 carries and scored two touchdowns. Nick Toon, son of former Wisconsin great Al Toon, caught 5 balls for 123 yards, and his late fourth quarter catch on third down prevented the Hoosiers from taking a final shot at victory.

How did the Hoosier individuals fare?

Bryan Payton, who has played little since the emergence of Willis, gained 48 yards on 8 carries.
Tandon Doss had a day that is becoming routine for him: 6 catches, 92 yards, 2 touchdowns.
Terrence Turner caught 6 passes for 68 yards and a touchdown.
The Hoosiers had no luck against the Wisconsin offensive line: IU did not record a sack and had only one tackle for loss.

As I said yesterday, this reduces IU's margin of error to zero. The Hoosiers must win at Penn State for the first time ever and must beat Purdue to become conditionally bowl eligible. The first task seems nearly impossible and the second task seems less likely every week. Even if IU were to complete this very unlikely task, 6-6 may not be good enough for a Big Ten-affiliated bowl. The Big Ten has seven affiliated bowls. Currently, Iowa, Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, and Northwestern have six wins. Minnesota plays South Dakota next week and therefore is almost certain to win at least six. If (under this quite far-fetched hypothetical in which IU finished 2-0) Michigan State beat Purdue, that would make eight bowl-eligible teams, and Illinois and Michigan still could hang on (Michigan would have to upset either Wisconsin or OSU and Illinois would have to beat Northwestern and Cincinnati). Of course, I would rather see IU on the open market than forced to play the MAC champion in Detroit, but it's almost certainly academic.

Well, the basketball season tips off on Friday (with an exhibition game against St. Joseph's this Monday), but there is football left to be played, and the Penn State discussion will begin this week.

Indiana 23, Western Michigan 19: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

John M (The Crimson Quarry) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 16:00:33 -0000

Here are the stats. What do we see?

The good:

The final score, of course. While a 4 point home win over a MAC school isn't the stuff of legend, the oddsmakers had the game nearly even and practically all media and blog predictions favored the Broncos. All wins matter: just ask Michigan State.
IU outgained Western Michigan 372 to 288 and averaged 6.0 yards per play to Western's 4.0. This speaks particularly well of the defense, which was reasonably effective against one of the nation's most productive offenses of last year.
The rushing game was much, much better. IU ran the ball 33 times for 187 yards and averaged 5.7 yards per carry. Again, no one will confuse Western Michigan's front seven with Ohio State's, but IU ran the ball often and effectively. Even taking Demetrius McCray's 59-yard TD run out of the equation, IU averaged 4 yards per carry.
IU sacked Tim Hiller twice and pressured him more often than that. Jammie Kirlew got into the action with 1.5 sacks. Once again, Greg Middleton made little impact in the stat line other than his crucial forced fumble, but he clearly had an impact on the WMU passing game.
Tandon Doss continued to cement his status as the #1 receiver with 8 catches for 85 yards.
Speaking of McCray, he ran the ball 17 times for 137 yards for an average of nearly 8 yards per carry. Bryan Payton added 5-29 (5.8 ypc) and Mitchell Evans, working out of a Wildcat-like formation as quarterback, was 6-35 (also 5.8 ypc).
Redshirt freshman Nick Freeland continues to kick well. He made three of four field goals, and his only miss was a block. In other words, he hasn't shanked one yet (knock on wood).

The bad:

Once again, after a strong start, IU failed to put the game away despite ample opportunity to do so. IU had two scoring drives in the second half (plus a blocked field goal from the 5 yard line) compared to three in the first half, so IU moved the ball reasonably well in the second half, but managing at least one touchdown on those second half possessions would have given the Hoosiers some breathing room.
IU allowed 161 kick return yards to Brandon West, good enough for 26 yards per return.

The ugly:

13 penalties for 106 yards. On the key drive of the game, the fourth quarter drive that Middleton ended with his forced fumble at the five yard line, IU had four penalties, including three personal fouls. They were oddly clustered as well. IU had consecutive false starts in the first quarter by Tandon Doss and Pete Saxon. In a very odd sequence in the third quarter, tight end Troy Wagner, despite being "covered up" by another player on the line, left his three point stance on two consecutive plays, and each was a false start.

Indiana 19, Eastern Kentucky 13: Hoosiers struggle in second half but win opener.

John M (The Crimson Quarry) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 10:01:21 -0000

Wins have been in short supply for Indiana over the last 15 years, so any win is welcome, but the opening night performance against Eastern Kentucky will not inspire any Hoosier fans to book hotel rooms in Pasadena, or in Detroit, for that matter. At times in the first half, IU seemed poised to put the game away, but the offense bogged down and produced no points in the second half. EKU had the chance to win with a hail Mary into the end zone on the final play, but it hit the turf and IU avoided its second I-AA loss in four years. Here is the box score.

The most obvious disappointment was the running game. The adoption of the pistol formation was supposed to allow IU to create a downhill running game, but that aspect of the offense really struggled. IU gained only 73 yards on the ground and averaged only 2.4 yards per rush. Whether it was the line, the backs, or both, IU failed to generate any momentum against an undersized EKU defense. The passing game provided more optimism. Although he made a couple of poor decisions that led to interceptions, overall Chappell was very good, completing 27 of 36 passes for 326 yards and a touchdown. The defense was fairly successful in the first half, other than a big play, a 61 yard TD pass by EKU. Ultimately, however, EKU averaged more yards per play, 6.6, than did the Hoosiers (6.0). Other performances of note:

Tandon Doss caught 8 passes for 125 yards, but only one in the second half.
Damarlo Belcher caught 6 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown.
The rushing performances were very disappointing: Demetrius McCray was respectable with 49 yards on 13 carries, but Darius Willis, Bryan Payton, and Trea Burgess combined for only 22 yards on 15 carries. Willis fumbled on his first carry and had only two more opportunities.
Nick Freeland made a 38 yard field goal, which isn't bad for a guy who wasn't supposed to play this season.
The Hoosier defense did a reasonably good job of getting to EKU's quarterbacks: the Hoosiers recorded four sacks, but none by Greg Middleton or Jammie Kirlew. In limited action Ray Fisher made five tackles and forced the game saving fumble in the fourth quarter.

I'm going to try not to overreact to this game. It was an opener against a program with a history of success. The last time IU struggled against a I-AA program was in 2006, when the Hoosiers lost to Southern Illinois, but that team recovered with wins over #13 Iowa and a 46-21 beatdown of Michigan State. The scoreboard resets before each game. Still, the Hoosiers had a more dramatic talent advantage last night than they will have over any other team on the schedule. Despite that advantage, at many times EKU simply pushed IU around. After an offseason dedicated to creating a strong running game, the Hoosiers could not effectively move the ball against the least imposing team on the schedule. Again, one game at a time and all that. But last night's effort will not win a single game on the remaining schedule.

Previewin': Indiana

Beauford — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:00:11 -0000

via www.indiana.edu

Maize n' Brew mercilessly drifts through another preview. This week is going to be a bit preview heavy as we lead into the season. Ladies and Gentlemen, the Indiana Hoosiers.

Previously: Illinois, Northwestern, Penn State, Iowa, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Minnesota

Explanation and indemnifications found: here

As I rush to get these things posted before the season actually starts - woo procrastinating! - this Hoosiers preview may be a bit perfunctory. I suggest the very well run SBN Hoosier blog The Crimson Quarry for a more in depth look.

Indiana football has always been a Big Ten beating boy that sometimes puts it together enough to make a bowl game. When this happens, it's usually the result of having a tremendous athlete that was somehow overlooked by larger programs. Earlier this decade, that player was Antwan Randle-el. Then came James Hardy. This year, that player figured to be Kellen Lewis, who played QB/WR last year, and was moved to WR in a newly installed Pistol Offense. Then he got dismissed from the team for general ass-hattery, and with Lewis went any meager expectations for this team.

More Previewin' dead ahead

2009 Schedule

9/03	Eastern Kentucky	8:00 PM
9/12	Western Michigan	12:00 PM
9/19	@ Akron	3:30 PM
9/26	@ Michigan	12:00 PM
10/03	No. 6 Ohio State	7:00 PM
10/10	@ Virginia	TBA
10/17	Illinois	7:00 PM
10/24	@ Northwestern	12:00 PM
10/31	@ No. 22 Iowa	TBA
11/07	Wisconsin	TBA
11/14	@ No. 9 Penn State	TBA
11/21	Purdue	TBA

One thing the media will harp on that is off base

I hate to say it, but the dismissal of Kellen Lewis is pretty much what the media is going to harp on, and it's a pretty big deal. However, there is a new offense installed at IU this year, and it could actually level the playing field a bit. Coach Bill Lynch (former DePauw coach - woo) has installed the Pistol offense in an attempt to become a more dominant rushing team. Quarterback Ben Chappell is a competent game manager, and there is a lot of depth behind him at running back with seniors Bryan Payton and Demetrius McCray. Freshman(RS) Darius Willis will also push for playing time. It's clear that Lynch believes that this team's strength is going to be its running attack, and hopefully a dominant ground game will limit any potential problems at QB.

One thing the media will completely ignore that is integral to this team's success:

Lost in the shuffle of a new offense and Lewis' dismissal is a defense that returns 9 starters spread across each unit. The line returns 3, the LB's return 2, and the secondary returns all 4. The experience on defense might keep the Hoosiers in the game a little longer than their opponents would like.

via media.scout.com

Most important contributors on each side of the ball:

Offensively it's going to be the running game, and the combination of Payton, McCray and Willis. Payton is a power type, McCray is the elusive type, and Willis looks to be fairly balanced. The mix should keep opposing defenses on their heels, along with an offensive scheme that they will likely only see out of Indiana. Willis might have the most potential of the bunch, according to Bill Lynch.

Defensively, End Greg Middleton - a former All-American - needs to return to form. He's one of those guys that somehow go to Indiana despite the fact that he's probably good enough to start for any team in the Big Ten. If he starts getting the pressure he's capable of, then the experienced secondary might be able to get some game changing turnovers.

Area that scares you as Michigan Wolverines:

This is going to sound awful because both IU and UM won 3 games each last year, but there isn't a whole lot on this Indiana team to be terribly worried about. The Michigan defense can't allow the Pistol to get going on the ground and start chewing clock. If Indiana is allowed to go on 6-8 minute drives that end with TD's, they could win a 17-14 type game.

Area that makes you salivate as the Michigan Wolverines:

That being said, I don't think Indiana has the horses to do that to this Michigan defense. We're too big along the line and too athletic at linebacker.

Overall Record:

3-9

Final Big Ten Standing

10th

Bowl Destination

Not Applicable.

Hoosier Headlines for August 31, 2009.

John M (The Crimson Quarry) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 10:35:38 -0000

Hoosiers suspend 2 players for season opener (The Indianapolis Star)
Deonte Mack and Ian Reeves will miss the EKU game.
Indiana releases post-camp depth chart (ESPN)
Rittenberg discussed IU's depth chart, which is identical, as far as I can tell, to the one released in the Eastern Kentucky game notes package yesterday.
Hoosiers' foundation back to rock bottom (The Courier-Journal)
Not as pessimistic as the headline.
IU's top returning rusher No. 4 on depth chart (The Indianapolis Star)
As has been noted elsewhere, Demetrius McCray has been designated the starter, but all four backs (McCray, Darius Willis, Trea Burgess, and Bryan Payton) are expected to play.
Bozich: Payton says IU will ‘shock some people' (The Courier-Journal)
IU alum Rick Bozich discusses the Hoosiers.
"The Bill Lynch Show" set to make debut on Big Ten Network (Under the Rock)
Finally, IU is getting back into the weekly coach's show business.
Scouting notes from Saturday’s Elite Camp (Inside the Hall)

2009 Indiana football preview: running backs and offensive line.

John M (The Crimson Quarry) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:00:14 -0000

RUNNING BACKS

The Hoosiers lose their top two rushers from last season: Marcus Thigpen is in the NFL, and Kellen Lewis is at Valdosta State. Still, IU returns two seniors with substantial experience, a redshirt freshman who was IU's highest-profile RB recruit in years, and several others.

The upperclassmen. Bryan Payton, 5-9 senior. Payton has been a key backup in his last two years, running for 381 yards and 4.2 yards per carry in 2008 and 339 yards and 4.3 yards per carry in 2007. His best game was against Minnesota in 2007, when he ran for 90 yards and 3 of his 6 career touchdowns. Demetrius McCray, 6-0 senior. McCray seems like he has been around forever. He played as a freshman, was hurt for most of 2007, and returned last year. His freshman year, in which he ran for 320 yards and 2 TDs, remains his best. Trea Burgess, 6-1 junior. Burgess has played sparingly in his career, running for only 131 yards in his first two seasons.

The freshman: Darius Willis, 6-0 freshman. Willis, a star at Franklin Central and one of the best players in his class from Indiana, is a recruit of whom big things have been expected, and he only added to the expectations by playing well in the spring game. He has struggled with injuries in recent weeks, but Rivals lists him at the top of the depth chart, and IU fans and coaches seem to share the hope that he can contribute immediately.

OFFENSIVE LINE

The seven blocks of limestone have not been the dominant force that Terry Hoeppner imagined when he coined the phrase. Those seven OL recruits were Pete Saxon, Roger Saffold, James Brewer, Alex Perry, Cody Faulkner, Jarrod Smith, and Mike Stark. They have fared reasonably well, but not overwhelming so. Injuries ended Mike Stark's career, and Jarrod Smith now is on the defensive line. Three of the seven, guard Saxon and tackles Brewer and Safford, are projected to start. Faulkner and Perry have been injured this summer, and their roles are unclear at this time, and they do not appear on the Rivals projected two-deep at this point. Rivals projects Will Matte, a redshirt freshman, as the starting center, and Justin Pagan, who played as a freshman last year, as the other starting guard. We will know more when the official depth chart is released in the next few days.