I love your optimism but going from 2-7 to 6-3 in Big Ten play is not realistic, particularly with two new coordinators and coming off a season where our defense often played poorly.
Sometimes people, particularly younger people, seem to think that history does not matter...when in fact it is the primary thing that matters. Overcoming your past is the hardest thing you will ever do as a person or a team.
I just have a feeling Ramsey is going to come in and be a complete player this year. If his receiving corps stays healthy, he's going to be a lot more effective with the RBs we have.
Don't forget IU won 9 games in 1967 after winning just 1 game in 1966. If I were betting on this season I would wager on 7 wins but if IU is good enough for 7 they could win several others and have a very special season. Past disappointments don't determine future performance. OSU has a new HC and new QB that was a transfer who couldn't win the starting job at Georgia, they lost 4 OL men, and their defense last year wasn't good so they have a new DC. PSU has a new QB after a 9 win season where IU took them to the limit. It will be tough to beat PSU at their stadium but talent wise IU matches up with them; could this be the year to knock them off. MSU is beatable and IU had played them tough for years. The team will have to prove to me they can win these games but I don't doubt they are capable.
Unfortunately if you look at the Big 10 conference the year IU went to the Rose Bowl you will see that the Big Ten really sucked. Six teams had a losing record. Wisconsin did not win a single game. Iowa won one game. Michigan and Michigan State both had a losing records.
Really well said, DANC...sure he most likely won't be all pro...but I think he will show what experience really adds up to in the B10...
Yes for IU to make that kind of jump this year they have to have many things break their way. Could this year be one of those years, I don't know but could see it happening that way. Once again, I am not saying it will happen just pointing out you never know how the season may work out.
It will happen. At some point. And that is why I look forward to the beginning of every season. Add the beginning of every game. I’m hoping to carry that optimism into the fourth quarter of every game this year. You never know.
I'm loving the fact that we've got this kind of depth at QB. I don't think people should get too hung up on who's going to be the starter in the first game. I see this as a fluid situation, and have every confidence that CTA and CKD will ultimately go with the guy who gives us the best chance to win in conference play.
I disagree, at least as far as your comment applies to QB. I don't think they know. To date, Penix has seen only limited game action, and Tuttle has yet to take a college snap. For this reason, I believe Ramsey will start versus Ball State but the others will get a close look, particularly if the offense struggles in those first few games. Ramsey needs to make the throws and stretch the field or it could be a fairly quick hook. There are two four-star guys waiting in the wings. But competition should make everyone better.
If the competition is close I hope Penix or Tuttle starts against BSU. We already know what Ramsey can do and he has shown he can come in a spark the offense if needed. Let one of the other two show what they can do as a starter with the game plan built around their abilities. We need to find out if Penix or Tuttle will give IU a better shot against OSU and coming in later in the game won't do that. It will be interesting to see how coach DeBoer approaches this issue.
Why do you guys keep raining on his parade. Come one, people.
I know Penix and Tuttle are more talented, but they are still Freshmen. Don't you think they would be better served by working them in as opposed to throwing them in too deep and too early?
The two freshmen IU has already have experience more than Indiana players due to spring practices in their states. Penix also has come into games last year and looked very ready to start.
Can't agree with this observation. Did not look ready either physically or mentally. He broke, didn't he? He needs to put on 20 lbs to survive a season in the B10. The only experience that matters is in B10 play...all else is prep only. He will have to grow in many ways to beat out Ramsey. Tuttle is the one to watch imo.
Ramsey is a completely mediocre qb. He just is. He cannot make throws that a team has to have the qb make to win big games against B1G East opponents. He’s got a terrible arm. Just awful. I love him as a leader, but if he’s the starter, I don’t see a way IU gets to a bowl.
People keep saying the run game opened up after Penix came in but I remember Stevie having success running the ball before Penix.
Yeah, IF Ramsey is the starter under 2 OCs, then I'm good with it. They are the experts and are getting paid to make decisions.
The run game was not bad at all, but what did happen was the safeties moved multiple yards back after seeing the arm strength that Penix had. IU had 6 holding penalties in the game which stifled drives and also a brutal fumble by Ronnie Walker. On both of Penix's scrambles, he looked dynamic.
I still believe the run game was already established while Ramsey was in the game. I don’t think misfiring in two deep balls affected the run game that much.
Not having safeties within 7 yards from the LOS does effect the running game. It also helps the OL because it limits the stunts the defense can do. It wasn't just the two misfiring of two deep balls but the fear of getting WR past their coverage which changed PSU defense. I trust DeBoer to choose the best QB and put him in the best position to make the offense the best it can be.
As I said, the run game was good early, but when Penix uncorked two 60 yard bombs, PSU's safeties backed up. It wasn't a BTN game so I can't find the full clips, but I was watching the game with a bunch of friends and we all made comments about it. Ramsey couldn't do anything with his legs the whole game, but Penix looked really good on his two scrambles (one he got injured on).
I do. I went to every single game that year as my mom is a NW alum and season ticket holder. That team was also absolutely stacked on defense. Schnur didn't have a huge arm, but he was a much, much better decision maker than what Ramsey has shown. Ramsey has thrown 18 INT's in his first 20 games...That's awful. If he's not going to protect the ball and can't make down field throws, I don't think he should be the starter. I'd rather go with Penix or Tuttle and get the guys with much better arm talent experience for the must win games at the end of the season.
Here's my prediction, for what it's worth (probably not much): Ramsey will be the starting QB for the Ball State game. By the time Week 5 rolls around (at Michigan State), Penix will have taken over.
I could see that. I would prefer Tuttle or Penix to start at home against OSU as their first start if Ramsey does take the reigns against BSU...
I don't think 18 INTs in 20 games is an excessive amount, considering he came in as the starter his redshirt freshman year. That first year was a real learning experience and would be for anyone.
I really think the two bye weeks and their balanced placement in the schedule will be a boost toward a crucial win/upset. And I too have thought that our DE's will get more sacks, especially with the coverage improvement I expect from our DBs. This then increasing the likelihood of more TOs. Plugging up the opponents run game will be a huge must for the above things to happen.
It is not a quarterback throwing two deep incompletions is the biggest factor in loosening up the secondary... the biggest factor would be wide receivers running by the secondary. Also I don’t believe anyone would play their safeties closer than 12 yards against anyone. Finally depth of secondary does not determine what stunts your fronts will run.
