All eyes should be on the OL and the RBs
- Thread starter IUCX9
- Start date
They may bring those attributes, but none of us really know since we haven’t really seen them play. Assuming players you’ve never seen play will come in here and light things up immediately and turn the program into a winner is wishful, at the least. Lets see how they do in live games before we decide they’re suddenly playmakers all over the field.
...you mean like last years speculation on DJ Mathews and the subsequent 'wait and see'...I think it's fair to say some of the newcomers receiving positive speculation will result in some form of lightning in a bottle results...the real Q is how soon and how many...
DJ hardly got to show what he could do due to his knee injury, but his biggest play was a punt return against Idaho. Most portal guys leave for a reason, and there aren’t many plug and play guys who achieve at a high level. I’m hopeful but always a little skeptical of the estimated impact, especially when people haven’t seen them play.
Last edited:
DJ is good example...and how glad most of us are to have him back.
Only two things matter. Oline and Dline. Everything else is just noise and hype. Barry Sanders couldn't run behind last year's line. Run first, hurry up offense sounds like a disaster in the making unless Oline is significantly improved. Oline is key 1 and Dline 1A.
You miss the impact talented players around the OL can help the OL look much better and cause them to be better. I am waiting to see the play against Illinois to see if the OL looks better this season.
Sure. Against zone or cover 2.
But when they start playing press man and crowding the box, QB will need more than 1.2 seconds and the RBs won't have holes.
Last year, we started the season with Michael Penix, Stephen Carr, Peyton Hendershot, DJ Matthews, Ty Fryfogle and Miles Marshall as our front line skill guys. This year will likely feature Bazelak, Shaun Shivers, DJ Matthews, Cam Camper and Javon Swinton. To the point that we’re more talented this year at those skill positions, I think that’s a matter of debate.
Did you see the video on what Lucas did to tight man coverage, they just get beat quicker.
Have you seen J Lucas's videos we haven't seen a player like him in an IU uniform in decades, Shiver is faster and more powerful that Carr, even our coaches say Barner is better than Hendershot - he was very good except for 2019, none of the WRs you named have the speed or moves Camper or DMc have shown. Other than playing a B1G game, they have had no chance yet, the evidence that they are better than previous players is there. I would say QB doesn't match up to talent of Penix, he wasn't good last year coming off his ACL tear.
You and I both know those 1 on 1 scenarios are far from game like situations. They just line up and go.
1. The QB isn't diagnosing the defense or coverage, isn't worried about a blitz. The drill just has the guy beat a guy 1 on 1 and the QB throws it up for grabs.
2. Is that DB in the drill a B1G caliber athlete? We have no idea. Thousands and thousands of kids go to camps and few of them are actually good.
I can go on and on.
Are you talking about the combine-like video of JL in shorts? Yes, he looked fast in shorts. Barney may prove to be a good one, but the coaches didn’t say he was better than PH, whom he played behind for a reason. And he even though he was oft-injured, Carr was a much more complete back than SS has shown to date. Same goes for TyFry over Camper and DJ.
I love the hype but, until we actually see them play in games, it’s a bit premature.
If you can't find excitement in life, what is the point of living. I could focus on my very high pain levels and disability that cost me my career in teaching and coaching; I decide to get excited about players that show promise and hope IU moves up in the B1G instead.
Sorry for your health challenges. I was just trying to understand how you could have such high praise for players you’ve never seen play and rip some of us who aren’t yet convinced until we do see them on action. Hope you’re feeling better.
Because we saw Fry, Carr, MP and Sheridan fall on their individual faces last year. We saw in short order DJ is a playmaker. So yes the hype is more than warranted. Because no way it gets worse unless the whole team suffers Coroni for 4 weeks.
I was referring to the guys you haven’t seen play yet you guys speak as if you have. No worries.
But but but as we have been told by the "insider", Covid affects every team in the NCAA negatively except IU, so it might be another blessing.
I know who you were referencing. That's exactly why I stated they'll do no worse than last seasons bunch. The bar is not very high. Especially for QB. The contrast will be easy to spot. But hell you already knew that.
I hope you’re right though, as you said, the bar isn’t very high. If we can limit turnovers and get a few on D, we’ll have a chance to get a few wins. Oh, and stay healthy. Like most years, the depth chart doesn’t have much depth.
