Early preseason poll has Indiana ranked 92

[82hoosier]

This is somewhat ironic. Indiana has firmed up it’s coaching staff, it’s facilities and it’s recruiting. It’s strength and conditioning program appears to be good and improving. The quarterback position has more depth than I can remember at any point in the past. And the team is continuing to establish depth at every position.

So where is this 92 rating come from? I have no idea if this will be the breakout season that everybody has been hoping for but I’m awfully sure that the Hoosiers will be better than 92 in the country

 

[Crimson Crush]

This is somewhat ironic. Indiana has firmed up it’s coaching staff, it’s facilities and it’s recruiting. It’s strength and conditioning program appears to be good and improving. The quarterback position has more depth than I can remember at any point in the past. And the team is continuing to establish depth at every position.

So where is this 92 rating come from? I have no idea if this will be the breakout season that everybody has been hoping for but I’m awfully sure that the Hoosiers will be better than 92 in the country

Who’s preaseason poll is that?

That #92 ranking is worse than what we saw under most Lynch years.

I’ve read numerous publications this spring and most have us in a wide swath between 56 and 70. This is all just speculation anyway. I saw that Athalon’s has FAU just outside the top 25. There is no freaking way they would win in either the Big East or Big West. It’s just ludicrous. IU just need to prove it on the field.

Now queue one of resident antagonists to talk about how we should have pursued Lane Kiffin.

 

[Hoosiers Rising]

Outside of meteorologists these pre-season ranking people have the best jobs in the country.

 

[gulcherboy]

Who’s preaseason poll is that?

That #92 ranking is worse than what we saw under most Lynch years.

I’ve read numerous publications this spring and most have us in a wide swath between 56 and 70. This is all just speculation anyway. I saw that Athalon’s has FAU just outside the top 25. There is no freaking way they would win in either the Big East or Big West. It’s just ludicrous. IU just need to prove it on the field.

Now queue one of resident antagonists to talk about how we should have pursued Lane Kiffin.

Pursues Lane Kiffin -- for what? Associate Athletic Director in charge of paper clips and staples, perhaps?

 

[Bowlmania]

This is somewhat ironic. Indiana has firmed up it’s coaching staff, it’s facilities and it’s recruiting. It’s strength and conditioning program appears to be good and improving. The quarterback position has more depth than I can remember at any point in the past. And the team is continuing to establish depth at every position.

So where is this 92 rating come from? I have no idea if this will be the breakout season that everybody has been hoping for but I’m awfully sure that the Hoosiers will be better than 92 in the country

It'd be great if you could link the poll, but I have no problem with low rankings and low expectations - - from others. I'm fine with outsiders believing that we're not going to be any good. If other teams look past us, it increases our chances of kicking their ass. I'm still going with 7-5, and feel even better about the prediction with the addition of Dawkins, Linder and Samuels.

Three months 'til opening day. Bring it on!

 

[RBB89]

This is somewhat ironic. Indiana has firmed up it’s coaching staff, it’s facilities and it’s recruiting. It’s strength and conditioning program appears to be good and improving. The quarterback position has more depth than I can remember at any point in the past. And the team is continuing to establish depth at every position.

So where is this 92 rating come from? I have no idea if this will be the breakout season that everybody has been hoping for but I’m awfully sure that the Hoosiers will be better than 92 in the country

What poll? That’s just dumb.

 

[RBB89]

Also this is going to end up being a 3 page crapfest.

 

[82hoosier]

It is linked in today’s news feed on this website. It comes from the Orlando Sentinel.

 

[76-1]

Who’s preaseason poll is that?

That #92 ranking is worse than what we saw under most Lynch years.

I’ve read numerous publications this spring and most have us in a wide swath between 56 and 70. This is all just speculation anyway. I saw that Athalon’s has FAU just outside the top 25. There is no freaking way they would win in either the Big East or Big West. It’s just ludicrous. IU just need to prove it on the field.

Now queue one of resident antagonists to talk about how we should have pursued Lane Kiffin.

Althons has been a joke for while...

 

[Sope Creek]

This is somewhat ironic. Indiana has firmed up it’s coaching staff, it’s facilities and it’s recruiting. It’s strength and conditioning program appears to be good and improving. The quarterback position has more depth than I can remember at any point in the past. And the team is continuing to establish depth at every position.

So where is this 92 rating come from? I have no idea if this will be the breakout season that everybody has been hoping for but I’m awfully sure that the Hoosiers will be better than 92 in the country

Only thing on my mind right now is FIU and Butch Davis. If anybody knows much about DeBord it's Davis . . . and vice versa.

It's plenty to think about . . . polls will sort themselves out with performance . . . .

 

[Spartan4ever]

Only thing on my mind right now is FIU and Butch Davis. If anybody knows much about DeBord it's Davis . . . and vice versa.

It's plenty to think about . . . polls will sort themselves out with performance . . . .

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/spor...ege-football-rankings-indiana-0527-story.html

 

[76-1]

Screw him. Best solution to that kind of horse...t is to prove him wrong on the field.
Let our record do the talking...

 

[Chriselli]

Three thoughts...
First, I generally find the Orlando Sentinel's preview to be a valiant and honest effort.

Second, we had better quartebacks with Tre, Suds, and Coffman.

Third, as frustrated as I might be, there is no way we are going to be that bad, IMO.

 

[82hoosier]

I was thinking about that stable of quarterbacks when Wilson first got here. While they all had successful careers, when they were together at Indiana they were all inexperienced. Wilson was constantly pulling quarterbacks out of the game.
I think Indiana’s current three quarterbacks have more experience and more upside than that group.
I agree that the Orlando Sentinel writer did some homework. I just can’t figure out how we came up with a rating of 92

 

[Hoosiers Rising]

I was thinking about that stable of quarterbacks when Wilson first got here. While they all had successful careers, when they were together at Indiana they were all inexperienced. Wilson was constantly pulling quarterbacks out of the game.
I think Indiana’s current three quarterbacks have more experience and more upside than that group.
I agree that the Orlando Sentinel writer did some homework. I just can’t figure out how we came up with a rating of 92

The thing with CFB is that no one digs deep enough to even include SOS. There are not enough non conference games, especially between the better teams of each conference to draw much data. It's all about W/L and perception.

 

[rcaulfie]

Let's look at this realistically. I know we are all fans and always have high expectations, but we finished #77 last year (link), with a pretty experienced team - especially on D. 8 starters on that side of the ball will be gone in 2018 and 4 on the offensive side (when looking at our Purdue starting lineup). Yes, we all think here that we can replace them all and improve....but outside of Hoosier Nation, it makes sense that they think we won't. #92 might be a little bit much of a fall, but it's hardly outrageous.

 

[Indianaftw]

Let's look at this realistically. I know we are all fans and always have high expectations, but we finished #77 last year (link), with a pretty experienced team - especially on D. 8 starters on that side of the ball will be gone in 2018 and 4 on the offensive side (when looking at our Purdue starting lineup). Yes, we all think here that we can replace them all and improve....but outside of Hoosier Nation, it makes sense that they think we won't. #92 might be a little bit much of a fall, but it's hardly outrageous.

Agree the write up is just brutally honest. Why should we be ranked any higher before the season starts? CTA has ALOT to prove! Someone paste that writeup on his office door please.

 

[IndyIUFan66]

I'm not sure I'd call "trips to Maryland and Minnesota" a "Brutal road schedule" - though yes to OSU & Michigan.

This is all speculative from one writer at Orlando Sentinel. There are a lot of positives (S/C, great recruiting class, key players coming back from injury, and coaching continuity) and most importantly, a MUCH better schedule than last year, with no crazy back to backs against murderers row and bye week in week 8.

This is why they lace them up but I'm bullish on 7-5 (and wouldn't be shocked if they surpass if stars align). But for now, ANY/ALL of this speculation in late May is pure "who cares" material.

 

[Bowlmania]

Agree the write up is just brutally honest. Why should we be ranked any higher before the season starts? CTA has ALOT to prove! Someone paste that writeup on his office door please.

I'd describe the write-up as incomplete and superficial (e.g. Westbrook and Hale not included in the "top returnees" group, no mention of Ball, Fitzgerald, Sykes, Hale and other key guys).

At the end of the day, it's one guy's opinion - - - an opinion that probably shouldn't carry much (or even any) more weight than that of anyone else.

 

[Fro]

92 seems like an outlier by at least 20 spots compared to what advanced stats and all the other mags, etc say.

 

[fpeaugh]

I was surprised Vegas has our over/under at 5 wins. I would’ve thought it would be at least 5.5 or 6 with this schedule. Seems like an easy bet on the over but I’ve thought that before. Why I don’t bet sports.

 

[IUgradman]

Athlon is even more brutal.

 

[Hoosiers Rising]

Let's look at this realistically. I know we are all fans and always have high expectations, but we finished #77 last year (link), with a pretty experienced team - especially on D. 8 starters on that side of the ball will be gone in 2018 and 4 on the offensive side (when looking at our Purdue starting lineup). Yes, we all think here that we can replace them all and improve....but outside of Hoosier Nation, it makes sense that they think we won't. #92 might be a little bit much of a fall, but it's hardly outrageous.

What did the 91 team's ahead of us lose? Yes, we are focused on IU, so we know what we lost. 90 percent of teams are going to lose a lot of production from year to year.

 

[IUHDog]

If IU finished at 77 last year and lost Scales, Covington, and Fant, I can see where a writer would think a drop off is coming on the defensive side of the ball. Who replaces Covington and Scales?

 

[Dick nixon]

In all seriousness what’s the scoop on the kicker for ‘18. Oakes last year was damn near perfect.

 

[Hoosiers Rising]

In all seriousness what’s the scoop on the kicker for ‘18. Oakes last year was damn near perfect.

There is a thread on here from a couple of months ago that has a video you need to watch. The name of it escapes me but you should know it when you see it.

https://indiana.forums.rivals.com/threads/our-kicker.166714/#post-2391177

 

[Indianaftw]

I'd describe the write-up as incomplete and superficial (e.g. Westbrook and Hale not included in the "top returnees" group, no mention of Ball, Fitzgerald, Sykes, Hale and other key guys).

At the end of the day, it's one guy's opinion - - - an opinion that probably shouldn't carry much (or even any) more weight than that of anyone else.

The guy is not gonna get in depth on every school. We underperformed last year. Look at the returning production rankings from last year https://www.sbnation.com/college-fo...eturning-starters-experience-oregon-tcu-texas we should have done better compared to this year https://www.sbnation.com/college-fo...8-ncaa-football-returning-starters-experience.

I have to say though and wonder what some of you think...When Wilson was coach he subbed ALOT. It seemed as though everyone got playing time which produced some depth. Allen didn't sub near as much it seemed which led to guys that were worn down late in games.. Thoughts?

 

[Bowlmania]

The guy is not gonna get in depth on every school. We underperformed last year. Look at the returning production rankings from last year https://www.sbnation.com/college-fo...eturning-starters-experience-oregon-tcu-texas we should have done better compared to this year https://www.sbnation.com/college-fo...8-ncaa-football-returning-starters-experience.

I have to say though and wonder what some of you think...When Wilson was coach he subbed ALOT. It seemed as though everyone got playing time which produced some depth. Allen didn't sub near as much it seemed which led to guys that were worn down late in games.. Thoughts?

You can talk about returning production all you want, but it doesn't mean a whole lot when a team is decimated by injuries like we were. Yes, injuries are part of the game and every team has them. But you'd be hard-pressed to identify another team that was depleted by injuries to the extent that IU was in 2017. Allen himself said it was unprecedented in his coaching experience. And, yeah, the rash of injuries obviously led to depth issues, fatigue, etc.

 

[iueyedoc99]

The guy is not gonna get in depth on every school. We underperformed last year. Look at the returning production rankings from last year https://www.sbnation.com/college-fo...eturning-starters-experience-oregon-tcu-texas we should have done better compared to this year https://www.sbnation.com/college-fo...8-ncaa-football-returning-starters-experience.

I have to say though and wonder what some of you think...When Wilson was coach he subbed ALOT. It seemed as though everyone got playing time which produced some depth. Allen didn't sub near as much it seemed which led to guys that were worn down late in games.. Thoughts?

One reason Wilson got a rep for subbing was there were some higher profile players who would be injured, but he didn’t want it in the media. So he would limit the snaps without really explaining why. Also, the offense went so fast it forced a lot of subs on both sides of the ball purely from a stamina perspective - a KW three and out could be over and done with in minutes. Or they could score a TD in seconds and have the D back out.

 

[Crimson Crush]

The main thing this writer does, and I’ve read his other rankings before (he does a team a day leading up to the opening games starting at #130), is that he leans heavily toward 2017 returning starters and and completely ignores strength of schedule. He will rate AAC teams (not ACC) teams ahead of Big Ten teams like IU. By the way, he has Rutgers as #90 but Virginia below us and they went to a bowl. Arkansas as well as Illinois, while both struggling, are ranked behind teams from weaker conferences. The writer should consider the conference schedules. And Syracuse is down at #109 and beat Clemson last year while a team like Georgia State is 5 spots ahead of them? These schools don’t play remotely the same type of conference schedule. You have one team playing Florida State, Clemson, Notre Dame, Louisville and another playing Texas State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern and Louisiana Monroe?

It’s up to IU to prove the ranking wrong and I think the key is in the DL and OL.

 

[Indianaftw]

One reason Wilson got a rep for subbing was there were some higher profile players who would be injured, but he didn’t want it in the media. So he would limit the snaps without really explaining why. Also, the offense went so fast it forced a lot of subs on both sides of the ball purely from a stamina perspective - a KW three and out could be over and done with in minutes. Or they could score a TD in seconds and have the D back out.

I just seem to remember guys that almost had no business being in the game were in for just a few plays.

I'm sitting at a bar and chatting with the bartender who's buddy played for CKW. He never expected to play but got in for some plays in certain games. He was pumped just have the opportunity he told me. BUT I always noticed CKW subbing ALOT which I thought was pretty cool. He wasn't afraid to throw someone in there and play them.

 

[JohnsyRick]

I'm not sure I'd call "trips to Maryland and Minnesota" a "Brutal road schedule" - though yes to OSU & Michigan.

This is all speculative from one writer at Orlando Sentinel. There are a lot of positives (S/C, great recruiting class, key players coming back from injury, and coaching continuity) and most importantly, a MUCH better schedule than last year, with no crazy back to backs against murderers row and bye week in week 8.

This is why they lace them up but I'm bullish on 7-5 (and wouldn't be shocked if they surpass if stars align). But for now, ANY/ALL of this speculation in late May is pure "who cares" material.

Kind of hard to take a writer/ story seriously when he can’t even get the schedule correct. Maryland is not a road trip, it is a home game, they list 3 straight road games in the schedule. That, in my view, doesn’t reflect a very thorough job , a reasonably researched job would at minimum get the schedule correct.

 

[82hoosier]

If IU finished at 77 last year and lost Scales, Covington, and Fant, I can see where a writer would think a drop off is coming on the defensive side of the ball. Who replaces Covington and Scales?

Before Covington was a linebacker he was a quarterback. Moving a quarterback to linebacker didn’t provide a lot of comfort. But that turned out pretty well.

 

[Chriselli]

Before Covington was a linebacker he was a quarterback. Moving a quarterback to linebacker didn’t provide a lot of comfort. But that turned out pretty well.

Agreed that Covington was a home run, but let me ask you this...Before the group of Oliver, Scales, and Covington, who and when was the last All-Big Ten caliber linebacker at Indiana? We have struggled more at that position than any other.

 

[Bowlmania]

Agreed that Covington was a home run, but let me ask you this...Before the group of Oliver, Scales, and Covington, who and when was the last All-Big Ten caliber linebacker at Indiana? We have struggled more at that position than any other.

Kyle Killion, 2004.

 

[goody1986]

This is somewhat ironic. Indiana has firmed up it’s coaching staff, it’s facilities and it’s recruiting. It’s strength and conditioning program appears to be good and improving. The quarterback position has more depth than I can remember at any point in the past. And the team is continuing to establish depth at every position.

So where is this 92 rating come from? I have no idea if this will be the breakout season that everybody has been hoping for but I’m awfully sure that the Hoosiers will be better than 92 in the country

I think we will be as well. Certainly hope so. But, I'm not sure our Hoosiers are entitled to any good will until the team actually wins something. We've not done that in a very, very long time.

 

[Sope Creek]

The main thing this writer does, and I’ve read his other rankings before (he does a team a day leading up to the opening games starting at #130), is that he leans heavily toward 2017 returning starters and and completely ignores strength of schedule. He will rate AAC teams (not ACC) teams ahead of Big Ten teams like IU. By the way, he has Rutgers as #90 but Virginia below us and they went to a bowl. Arkansas as well as Illinois, while both struggling, are ranked behind teams from weaker conferences. The writer should consider the conference schedules. And Syracuse is down at #109 and beat Clemson last year while a team like Georgia State is 5 spots ahead of them? These schools don’t play remotely the same type of conference schedule. You have one team playing Florida State, Clemson, Notre Dame, Louisville and another playing Texas State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern and Louisiana Monroe?

It’s up to IU to prove the ranking wrong and I think the key is in the DL and OL.

Georgia State is a program on the rise, with a solid recruiting territory, a new stadium (the old 1996 Olympic Stadium that became the Braves' Turner Field has been converted into a football stadium) and a winning bowl record in 2017 - having beaten WKU. Scoff all you want . . . .

 

[IndyIUFan66]

I like the FR coming in at LB this fall, though I'm not saying they'll start, but betting 1 or 2 will get some legit playing time. People tend to step up and the "culture" does matter, they've seen real "pros" out of Covington & Scales who were both seniors and Oliver before them.

But I think the athletic talent coming behind them are actually bigger/faster then them with possibly more upside. Throw in the new S/C staff and that becomes even more possible.

Look at the stat speed coach put out recently: last season had 2 guys hit 21 mph in game speed. In spring game, they had 12. Means people are and will be playing faster as a group!

As everyone says, seems like the two lines will be the key. Of the two lines, I'm LESS worried about the D-line as a lot of guys who have played (and are now bigger/older) coming back on interior and ends.

What remains to be seen is the performance of the OLine, which I'm still waiting to see how they do this season. I'd like to believe Hiller is a good OL coach, but I was underwhelmed in his first year. But I'm a fair person, I think the talent was young and depth was thin. Hoping with everyone back, more time with S/C, they will have a more productive season. And if they do, then believe the dominoes will start falling our way again!

 

[Sope Creek]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/spor...ege-football-rankings-indiana-0527-story.html

Don't you have a log in your own eye to tend to before you start telling me about the speck in mine?

I get a lot of practice dealing with you MSU types . . . I'll be in Traverse next month seeing the in-laws . . . .

 

[Spartan4ever]

Don't you have a log in your own eye to tend to before you start telling me about the speck in mine?

I get a lot of practice dealing with you MSU types . . . I'll be in Traverse next month seeing the in-laws . . . .

Someone asked for the link and I posted it. There was no viciousness or derogatory comments made, just the link. Project much?