D-line mood tracker

[jlasson]

A group that's quietly struggled a lot yet isn't getting much attention, the D-line continues to be essentially worthless in the pass rush. The DL currently accounts for 1.5 of our 14 sacks. We've been ripping the secondary apart for their struggles on the back end, and I'm not excusing the gash plays, but nickel defenses are designed to get to the QB or get burned on the back end. When your forced to bring a blitz every play if you want any kind of pressure on the QB, your putting a lot of pressure on your secondary.

McCullough is literally the only one lining up at the LOS that's proven he can actually get off his blocks and to the QB. Ik some of this is by design, when we blitz, the D-line are supposed to take up blocks so the LBs or DBs can get to the QB. But we faced the three worst OL's(IMO) we're gonna see this season in UNL, WKU, and Idaho, with no production from our D-line. This group needs to improve it's production and fast, the good news is rn we're sitting at second in the B1G in sacks(we're already almost at our season total of 16 from last year). But my opinion is that those sacks aren't worth it if they hamstring our secondary, which has struggled mightily at limiting big plays. Curious to hear other people's thoughts on the D-line production thus far compared to last season at what needs to change going forward.

 

[Big Red Crimson Buffalo]

A group that's quietly struggled a lot yet isn't getting much attention, the D-line continues to be essentially worthless in the pass rush. The DL currently accounts for 1.5 of our 14 sacks. We've been ripping the secondary apart for their struggles on the back end, and I'm not excusing the gash plays, but nickel defenses are designed to get to the QB or get burned on the back end. When your forced to bring a blitz every play if you want any kind of pressure on the QB, your putting a lot of pressure on your secondary.

McCullough is literally the only one lining up at the LOS that's proven he can actually get to the QB. Ik some of this is by design, when we blitz, the D-line are supposed to take up blocks so the LBs or DBs can get to the QB. But we faced the three worst OL's(IMO) we're gonna see this season in UNL, WKU, and Idaho, with no production from our D-line. This group needs to improve it's production and fast, the good news is rn we're sitting at second in the B1G in sacks(we're already almost at our season total of 16 from last year). But my opinion is that those sacks aren't worth it if they hamstring our secondary, which has struggled mightily at limiting big plays. Curious to hear other people's thoughts on the D-line production thus far compared to last season at what needs to change going forward.

Quicker DL.
Watched the replay of the Auburn-LSU game. The speed of those defensive tackles on either team make our guys look like they are wearing cement cleats.
We have two guys from Ole Miss playing in there. There’s a reason they didn’t play much in the SEC.

 

[Crossblock]

i will say this. This is the first game this Year where I saw James Head on the field. I'm not sure how many snaps He played, but from what I saw, he seemed to be putting consistent pressure on the QB.

 

[jlasson]

i will say this. This is the first game this Year where I saw James Head on the field. I'm not sure how many snaps He played, but from what I saw, he seemed to be putting consistent pressure on the QB.

Lol you may not be able to remember either because it's very hard to remember individual plays, but was he consistently getting off blocks when he was getting to the QB, or he was freed up by a stunt/blitz? I remember he got to the QB a few times, but I didn't zero in on him enough to see how he was able to get free. I do remember the play where he delivered the hit that Thompson was briefly injured from, Ik that hit specifically was from a missed assignment rather than actually winning a one on one.

 

[SixthFlagComing]

A group that's quietly struggled a lot yet isn't getting much attention, the D-line continues to be essentially worthless in the pass rush. The DL currently accounts for 1.5 of our 14 sacks. We've been ripping the secondary apart for their struggles on the back end, and I'm not excusing the gash plays, but nickel defenses are designed to get to the QB or get burned on the back end. When your forced to bring a blitz every play if you want any kind of pressure on the QB, your putting a lot of pressure on your secondary.

McCullough is literally the only one lining up at the LOS that's proven he can actually get off his blocks and to the QB. Ik some of this is by design, when we blitz, the D-line are supposed to take up blocks so the LBs or DBs can get to the QB. But we faced the three worst OL's(IMO) we're gonna see this season in UNL, WKU, and Idaho, with no production from our D-line. This group needs to improve it's production and fast, the good news is rn we're sitting at second in the B1G in sacks(we're already almost at our season total of 16 from last year). But my opinion is that those sacks aren't worth it if they hamstring our secondary, which has struggled mightily at limiting big plays. Curious to hear other people's thoughts on the D-line production thus far compared to last season at what needs to change going forward.

Yep. I agree. The DL has been pretty bad. That being said, "pretty bad" is still better than "awful" special teams and "puke-inducing terrible" OL play.

 

[vesuvius13]

Yep. I agree. The DL has been pretty bad. That being said, "pretty bad" is still better than "awful" special teams and "puke-inducing terrible" OL play.

The ST teams haven't allowed a return TD or even much return. We are returning KO for decent return. Our FG/PAT team has been perfect so far. But yes, one block punt is awful ST teams. We have much different ideas about "awful" it seems.

 

[IUCX9]

Sio is so slow and weak. Gets blown back and ends up being an extra blocker for the OL.

 

[IndyIUFan66]

The ST teams haven't allowed a return TD or even much return. We are returning KO for decent return. Our FG/PAT team has been perfect so far. But yes, one block punt is awful ST teams. We have much different ideas about "awful" it seems.

Revisionist much?

Versus Cinci: we were coming back, stopping offense, 4th & 17, Roughing the kicker, auto first down! On another Cinci punt caught punt inside 5 yd line. Vs Nebraska, had a decent return, called back by block in the back. And who can forget the blocked punt for a TD to really swing the momentum?

“Not having had a punt or KO returned for a TD” is good but I’d also hope that’s the case! And can anyone say we’ve had a great return game truly getting us in great field position? And how many of this illegal blocking calls have we had all season? Definitely more than one!

And for fans of going down memory lane, per the Cinci game at home last year where we could have beaten a top 4 team in country…Afer we tied game, next play: Cinci KO for a TD! Later in SAME game, Cinci punting 4th & 6, we line up over the center, 5 yd penalty, Cinci goes for it (4th & 1 now) gets it and goes to score.

Our OL coach has been terrible and everyone has seen it. But our special teams play from prior STC (who went with DeBoer to Fresno) and then now under the formerly promoted grad assistant Coach T - has been seemingly a close second in poor coaching and poor results.

There is a difference with specialists we have that Allen - correctly in my mind - recruits such as our amazing snapper, kicker Campbell and our punter Evans. They are all great. But our over all Special teams play and results? “Hiller-Esque.”

 

[toastedbread]

A group that's quietly struggled a lot yet isn't getting much attention, the D-line continues to be essentially worthless in the pass rush. The DL currently accounts for 1.5 of our 14 sacks. We've been ripping the secondary apart for their struggles on the back end, and I'm not excusing the gash plays, but nickel defenses are designed to get to the QB or get burned on the back end. When your forced to bring a blitz every play if you want any kind of pressure on the QB, your putting a lot of pressure on your secondary.

McCullough is literally the only one lining up at the LOS that's proven he can actually get off his blocks and to the QB. Ik some of this is by design, when we blitz, the D-line are supposed to take up blocks so the LBs or DBs can get to the QB. But we faced the three worst OL's(IMO) we're gonna see this season in UNL, WKU, and Idaho, with no production from our D-line. This group needs to improve it's production and fast, the good news is rn we're sitting at second in the B1G in sacks(we're already almost at our season total of 16 from last year). But my opinion is that those sacks aren't worth it if they hamstring our secondary, which has struggled mightily at limiting big plays. Curious to hear other people's thoughts on the D-line production thus far compared to last season at what needs to change going forward.

McCullough should be starting and not coming off the field unless he is on a stretcher. Get the best damn players on the field and leave them there. Who cares if they are 15 years old if they are on scholarship. Not exactly a juggernaut at the moment. What have you got to lose.

 

[jlasson]

McCullough should be starting and not coming off the field unless he is on a stretcher. Get the best damn players on the field and leave them there. Who cares if they are 15 years old if they are on scholarship. Not exactly a juggernaut at the moment. What have you got to lose.

He should absolutely be starter on the depth chart and should get more snaps than anyone else at bull, but I'm okay with rotating to keep the guys fresh, I do think that's an effective means of trying to bridge the talent gap, especially considering most players from our defensive front are not considerably better than their backups.

From a talent perspective no one other than Jones and McCullough have earned the right to play every down. But IMO there's good reason to rotate them too. Jones is in a very physically taxing position, so I understand we he has to come out on occasion, and for as good as McCullough is, he's still a true freshman, it's a lot to ask an 18 year old to play every single down against guys four years his senior, especially when we get to the B1G East schedule.

 

[Palmbeachhoosier]

Revisionist much?

Versus Cinci: we were coming back, stopping offense, 4th & 17, Roughing the kicker, auto first down! On another Cinci punt caught punt inside 5 yd line. Vs Nebraska, had a decent return, called back by block in the back. And who can forget the blocked punt for a TD to really swing the momentum?

“Not having had a punt or KO returned for a TD” is good but I’d also hope that’s the case! And can anyone say we’ve had a great return game truly getting us in great field position? And how many of this illegal blocking calls have we had all season? Definitely more than one!

And for fans of going down memory lane, per the Cinci game at home last year where we could have beaten a top 4 team in country…Afer we tied game, next play: Cinci KO for a TD! Later in SAME game, Cinci punting 4th & 6, we line up over the center, 5 yd penalty, Cinci goes for it (4th & 1 now) gets it and goes to score.

Our OL coach has been terrible and everyone has seen it. But our special teams play from prior STC (who went with DeBoer to Fresno) and then now under the formerly promoted grad assistant Coach T - has been seemingly a close second in poor coaching and poor results.

There is a difference with specialists we have that Allen - correctly in my mind - recruits such as our amazing snapper, kicker Campbell and our punter Evans. They are all great. But our over all Special teams play and results? “Hiller-Esque.”

I have to agree with V on this the long return was negated because of an illegal block. The blocked punt is bad and inexcusable. As is a touchdown on a return but I thought we were talking about this year? Fielding a punt inside the 5 yardline again is the new norm. i like you don't agree with it, but it is being done everywhere.

 

[vesuvius13]

Revisionist much?

Versus Cinci: we were coming back, stopping offense, 4th & 17, Roughing the kicker, auto first down! On another Cinci punt caught punt inside 5 yd line. Vs Nebraska, had a decent return, called back by block in the back. And who can forget the blocked punt for a TD to really swing the momentum?

“Not having had a punt or KO returned for a TD” is good but I’d also hope that’s the case! And can anyone say we’ve had a great return game truly getting us in great field position? And how many of this illegal blocking calls have we had all season? Definitely more than one!

And for fans of going down memory lane, per the Cinci game at home last year where we could have beaten a top 4 team in country…Afer we tied game, next play: Cinci KO for a TD! Later in SAME game, Cinci punting 4th & 6, we line up over the center, 5 yd penalty, Cinci goes for it (4th & 1 now) gets it and goes to score.

Our OL coach has been terrible and everyone has seen it. But our special teams play from prior STC (who went with DeBoer to Fresno) and then now under the formerly promoted grad assistant Coach T - has been seemingly a close second in poor coaching and poor results.

There is a difference with specialists we have that Allen - correctly in my mind - recruits such as our amazing snapper, kicker Campbell and our punter Evans. They are all great. But our over all Special teams play and results? “Hiller-Esque.”

You miss my point, I am just saying ST has been terrible this season, I do agree they could be much better. With coach Allen's approach to ST I was hoping he would take the same approach to the ST's coach - hire one specifically for their ST's record of excellence.

 

[bwcoach]

Sio is so slow and weak. Gets blown back and ends up being an extra blocker for the OL.

When he was recruited and signed they really built him up to be a good one. After standing beside him I have to wonder who thought he would be a good DL. He’s listed at 6’3” 315 but he is definitely not that tall and 315 is probably a stretch.

 

[jlasson]

When he was recruited and signed they really built him up to be a good one. After standing beside him I have to wonder who thought he would be a good DL. He’s listed at 6’3” 315 but he is definitely not that tall and 315 is probably a stretch.

Agreed, he was quick to reach his ceiling, but his ceiling really isn't very high. Hasn't been a very effective run plugger and is not built to rush the passer yet he's been a starter three seasons in a row. You're simply not going to be a great defense when a guy of his talent level is a three year starter.

Nothing against the kid, I'm sure he's a hard worker, but there's a reason he has never received any accolades from outside the IU program(all conference/ defensive player of the week), despite getting as many snaps as anyone on that defensive front since at least 2020.

 

[IndyIUFan66]

You miss my point, I am just saying ST has been terrible this season, I do agree they could be much better. With coach Allen's approach to ST I was hoping he would take the same approach to the ST's coach - hire one specifically for their ST's record of excellence.

Maybe we are agreeing! I 100% agree have a dedicated STC and expect more from that Coach. Coach T has a lot of energy, but don’t think he has delivered the goods. Tom Allen needs proven assistant coaches all around him.