Like many others here, I'm "just a guy with a computer". But occasionally I get one right. Like many others here, I get a lot wrong too. But back in the summer I wrote that I viewed it likely that IU was going to use a lot of multiple TE sets. Someone who will remain nameless said I was preaching "Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler and 3 yards and a cloud of dust." I said it was simply playing to a strength of the team.
Oh Well.
So what's up for next yr and what do we do to take IU to the next level? If I knew that, I'd be down there doing it. But I digress.
IU has to replace two tight ends and has at least one coming off his second major injury to his knee. They have a pair of bookend defenders to replace in Mangieri and Shaw. They have a big question mark at Center. Oh, did I mention Quarterback and maybe a RB.
Let's start at the end first.
RB.. Jordan Howard has been wonderful. He's much better than I'd have hoped. Last spring I compared him to Carlos Hyde and Jerome Bettis (on film). I think he's better than Hyde for what IU needs him to do. He's got terrific patience and vision and simply shreds tackles in tight. But, in the last yr he's suffered a wrist injury that kept himont of much of the spring AND, ankle and knee injuries. With the way he runs, no wonder. Does he return or look at the NFL? Facts are the NFL is de-emphasizing RB's unless they are elite. They may view Jordan as needing another season to prove he's not injury "prone." If he returns with good talent in the line, he could be in for award winning season.
Devine Redding is better than I've often given him credit for. He's got vision, quickness, and is a valuable guy to have. Walk-ons Brookins, Wilson and Rodriguez have had moments. While I was lauding Damaska 2 springs ago, the best guy on the field in the spring game was Wilson. Wilson is a tough hombre. He's a no-nonsense runner who's low to the ground, has great body lean and is quicker than he looks. He reminds me of Kuhn from Green Bay. He can catch and also take a "foot to the face." NOTE: If Coach Knight was here coaching football, and had a coaches TV show. Morgan Burke would have a chance to explain the "foot in the face." as much as Fred Schaus did Roosevelt Barnes punching Isiah Thomas and Keith Edmondson cheap shots on Randy Wittman. Over and over and over again.. Maybe someone has a mule and a Purdue hat somewhere. But that was another time. Gee, wouldn't it be nice to have IU basketball what it was back then? I like Devine, Rodriguez, Brookins, and Wilson. But if Howard were to head to the NFL IU will need a great runner. I suspect Jordan will be back. But in till then... Mike Magette was missed in my first crack at this. Has some lower body power. He's quick, athletic.. Needs to pick his feet up in traffic. I'm not convinced he's not a slot or corner helping out at RB in a pinch.
TE. Under-rated Anthony Corsaro and improving Michael Cooper are graduating. Danny Friend is a terrific end line blocker who's been out with injury more than he's played. Jordan Fuchs has skills but has also been hurt. That leaves former HS QB Austin Dorris and Sean Damaska. Damaska is a walk-on who I really liked in the spring two seasons ago. He's tall, moves well, and can catch the ball down field. I predict he CAN be the next walk-on success story at IU. IU needs at least two TE's in this class. One preferably a JC kid. They need to be ready to play at a high level.
Bandit and DE. HUGE HOLES. Camion Patrick cannot be IU's best receiver, best runner not named Howard, and play Bandit and Weak side end all at the sam time. IU needs a stud to take Mangieri's spot.
Candidates (like the Republican field) abound. Can any of them play? Can they play well enough to improve the defense? THAT'S the multi million dollar need and question. Candidates: current freshman Jacob Robinson was considered a good get and has played some. He's reportedly a tough kid. Can he rush the passer like IU needs? Patrick Dougherty has played. Is he the answer? I once compared Mangieri to former Colt Chad Bratzke. I think that still applies. I think Nick is an under-rated pro prospect. At minimum I think he could be another Bjorn Verner of the Colts. Accept a paycheck and not do much. But I digress. Zach Shaw has had really good moments at Bandit. Who steps in? Greg Gooch has a great name and is popular on this forum. I'm more interested in how he looks in the film room to the Coaches. Nile Sykes came with a rep. Brandon Wilson has a lot of potential and has intriguing size. I really like their HS commitments Cater and Henderson. But do you win 7-8 games with freshmen DE's? NO. Here's bold prediction #2.
Either Gooch, Sykes, or Wilson (or all 3) get a trial in the spring at Mangieri's spot. Wilson is almost big enough now and Gooch doesn't need that much more weight to pull it off. In recruiting, Colin Miller would be a nice addition at Bandit. Maybe Miller could play the Will Linebacker too. That would be a nice problem to have. In recruiting, the Hoosiers are reportedly looking at JC Joe Henderson. I don't know much about him. I don't know if he can play. I think IU needs to replace Mangieri and Shaw at a HIGH LEVEL to continue momentum.
Quarterback. Every team in the NFL wants one. Every team in college wants one. I miss Nate Sudfeld already. Nate has been everything I thought he'd be. Someone spent much of last yr and the beginning of this yr complaining Sudfeld "couldn't read defenses." I countered that he receivers weren't very good a year ago and when you didn't know where your guy was going (and he didn't either) or they didn't run their patterns right, INT's happen. Sudfeld had been fabulous for IU. Great player and better young man.
IMAGINE FOR A MOMENT what kind of stats he could have had if Patrick plays OR Jones and Cobbs caught ONE THIRD of the passes they dropped? Not only does Nate have incredible stats, but IU wins more games. Who plays QB for IU next yr?
Candidates: IU seems to have as many candidates to play QB than China has soldiers.
The obvious Candidate is Brandon Peters. Brandon is really good and could have more impact to IU football than Cody Zeller did for the mess in Assembly Hall. But...
Richard Lagow looks great on film. TALL, seems to have a good arm. More importantly has unusual quickness and flexibility for a guy his body type.
Existing guys: Zander Diamont. What can you say about Zander that hasn't already been said?
Zander is incredibly undersized. Almost Flutie like in build. Moves well. Tough as nails. A leader in the huddle (if IU huddled). Moxie. With Diamont the Hoosiers can run the full mobile QB package in the read option. But Diamont is so small you'd think he'd need a note from mom to play. One worries about his long term health at Qb. Secondly, his passing is not always a strength.
Austin King: Nobody knows squat about Austin King. Is he the next Dave Schnell? Or is he Graham McFarland or Teddy Schell?
Donovan Hale... Tall, athletic. Mobile. Terrific arm. Is he polished as a QB? Tools are there but after that.. Questions abound.
Peyton Ramsey (committed). Has a nice skill set on film. After that... who knows???
IU needs a big finish to recruiting to build on this season. The coaches are working hard. I wrote in the fall that this will be a fun team to watch and that it will be interesting to see how this plays out. I still feel that was. Go IU football.
Oh Well.
So what's up for next yr and what do we do to take IU to the next level? If I knew that, I'd be down there doing it. But I digress.
IU has to replace two tight ends and has at least one coming off his second major injury to his knee. They have a pair of bookend defenders to replace in Mangieri and Shaw. They have a big question mark at Center. Oh, did I mention Quarterback and maybe a RB.
Let's start at the end first.
RB.. Jordan Howard has been wonderful. He's much better than I'd have hoped. Last spring I compared him to Carlos Hyde and Jerome Bettis (on film). I think he's better than Hyde for what IU needs him to do. He's got terrific patience and vision and simply shreds tackles in tight. But, in the last yr he's suffered a wrist injury that kept himont of much of the spring AND, ankle and knee injuries. With the way he runs, no wonder. Does he return or look at the NFL? Facts are the NFL is de-emphasizing RB's unless they are elite. They may view Jordan as needing another season to prove he's not injury "prone." If he returns with good talent in the line, he could be in for award winning season.
Devine Redding is better than I've often given him credit for. He's got vision, quickness, and is a valuable guy to have. Walk-ons Brookins, Wilson and Rodriguez have had moments. While I was lauding Damaska 2 springs ago, the best guy on the field in the spring game was Wilson. Wilson is a tough hombre. He's a no-nonsense runner who's low to the ground, has great body lean and is quicker than he looks. He reminds me of Kuhn from Green Bay. He can catch and also take a "foot to the face." NOTE: If Coach Knight was here coaching football, and had a coaches TV show. Morgan Burke would have a chance to explain the "foot in the face." as much as Fred Schaus did Roosevelt Barnes punching Isiah Thomas and Keith Edmondson cheap shots on Randy Wittman. Over and over and over again.. Maybe someone has a mule and a Purdue hat somewhere. But that was another time. Gee, wouldn't it be nice to have IU basketball what it was back then? I like Devine, Rodriguez, Brookins, and Wilson. But if Howard were to head to the NFL IU will need a great runner. I suspect Jordan will be back. But in till then... Mike Magette was missed in my first crack at this. Has some lower body power. He's quick, athletic.. Needs to pick his feet up in traffic. I'm not convinced he's not a slot or corner helping out at RB in a pinch.
TE. Under-rated Anthony Corsaro and improving Michael Cooper are graduating. Danny Friend is a terrific end line blocker who's been out with injury more than he's played. Jordan Fuchs has skills but has also been hurt. That leaves former HS QB Austin Dorris and Sean Damaska. Damaska is a walk-on who I really liked in the spring two seasons ago. He's tall, moves well, and can catch the ball down field. I predict he CAN be the next walk-on success story at IU. IU needs at least two TE's in this class. One preferably a JC kid. They need to be ready to play at a high level.
Bandit and DE. HUGE HOLES. Camion Patrick cannot be IU's best receiver, best runner not named Howard, and play Bandit and Weak side end all at the sam time. IU needs a stud to take Mangieri's spot.
Candidates (like the Republican field) abound. Can any of them play? Can they play well enough to improve the defense? THAT'S the multi million dollar need and question. Candidates: current freshman Jacob Robinson was considered a good get and has played some. He's reportedly a tough kid. Can he rush the passer like IU needs? Patrick Dougherty has played. Is he the answer? I once compared Mangieri to former Colt Chad Bratzke. I think that still applies. I think Nick is an under-rated pro prospect. At minimum I think he could be another Bjorn Verner of the Colts. Accept a paycheck and not do much. But I digress. Zach Shaw has had really good moments at Bandit. Who steps in? Greg Gooch has a great name and is popular on this forum. I'm more interested in how he looks in the film room to the Coaches. Nile Sykes came with a rep. Brandon Wilson has a lot of potential and has intriguing size. I really like their HS commitments Cater and Henderson. But do you win 7-8 games with freshmen DE's? NO. Here's bold prediction #2.
Either Gooch, Sykes, or Wilson (or all 3) get a trial in the spring at Mangieri's spot. Wilson is almost big enough now and Gooch doesn't need that much more weight to pull it off. In recruiting, Colin Miller would be a nice addition at Bandit. Maybe Miller could play the Will Linebacker too. That would be a nice problem to have. In recruiting, the Hoosiers are reportedly looking at JC Joe Henderson. I don't know much about him. I don't know if he can play. I think IU needs to replace Mangieri and Shaw at a HIGH LEVEL to continue momentum.
Quarterback. Every team in the NFL wants one. Every team in college wants one. I miss Nate Sudfeld already. Nate has been everything I thought he'd be. Someone spent much of last yr and the beginning of this yr complaining Sudfeld "couldn't read defenses." I countered that he receivers weren't very good a year ago and when you didn't know where your guy was going (and he didn't either) or they didn't run their patterns right, INT's happen. Sudfeld had been fabulous for IU. Great player and better young man.
IMAGINE FOR A MOMENT what kind of stats he could have had if Patrick plays OR Jones and Cobbs caught ONE THIRD of the passes they dropped? Not only does Nate have incredible stats, but IU wins more games. Who plays QB for IU next yr?
Candidates: IU seems to have as many candidates to play QB than China has soldiers.
The obvious Candidate is Brandon Peters. Brandon is really good and could have more impact to IU football than Cody Zeller did for the mess in Assembly Hall. But...
Richard Lagow looks great on film. TALL, seems to have a good arm. More importantly has unusual quickness and flexibility for a guy his body type.
Existing guys: Zander Diamont. What can you say about Zander that hasn't already been said?
Zander is incredibly undersized. Almost Flutie like in build. Moves well. Tough as nails. A leader in the huddle (if IU huddled). Moxie. With Diamont the Hoosiers can run the full mobile QB package in the read option. But Diamont is so small you'd think he'd need a note from mom to play. One worries about his long term health at Qb. Secondly, his passing is not always a strength.
Austin King: Nobody knows squat about Austin King. Is he the next Dave Schnell? Or is he Graham McFarland or Teddy Schell?
Donovan Hale... Tall, athletic. Mobile. Terrific arm. Is he polished as a QB? Tools are there but after that.. Questions abound.
Peyton Ramsey (committed). Has a nice skill set on film. After that... who knows???
IU needs a big finish to recruiting to build on this season. The coaches are working hard. I wrote in the fall that this will be a fun team to watch and that it will be interesting to see how this plays out. I still feel that was. Go IU football.
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