Early preseason poll has Indiana ranked 92

[Spartan4ever]

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!

As an outside observer I am very impressed with the defense that Tom Allen has installed at IU. Most teams become consistent winners by having a stout defense first, and that is what I see Allen trying to do.

Recruiting is getting stronger, and that can only lead to more success on the field.

 

[Hoosiers Rising]

Just announced that Dameon Willis will return.

 

[gmbenz]

Just announced that Dameon Willis will return.

I just saw this on twitter also. This adds an older and more experienced player to LB room. This could influence incoming '18 LBs and save someone from burning a redshirt.

Would anyone slot him as a starter?

 

[Indianaftw]

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!

I agree with what you are saying but you still have to sub and especially to build depth. Sometimes you have to throw guys in there. Even though the S&C coach changed in order to keep improving you have to build depth through experience. Hopefully CTA continues that.

On offense, it'll be interesting for sure at the beginning of the year. I have no idea who will start at QB OR what we will look like. When Wilson was the coach I never ever worried about it. I knew it would be a full of surprises and exciting.

The defense this year...I expect us to take a step forward even with the youth and inexperience. These are CTA's guys and by the looks of the highlights many violent, hard hitting players. I could see his kid having an impact just because he knows what his dad wants and has probably watched a ton of film with him. He should know how to line everyone up.

A ton of question marks all around.

 

[Crimson Crush]

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 . . . .

Not scoffing at Georgia State and I’m sure they do very well against their conference but my point is: you place them in the Big Ten East and suddenly the whole image of that program changes.
They would go from a bowl game to maybe 3 wins last year. The same Georgia Southern team we pounded last year beat Georgia State by 4 points.
My point is that IU plays Michigan, OSU, Penn state and MSU and we lose those games and the perception is that IU is a bunch of losers. Georgia State did play PSU and lost 56-0 last season. However, they go to a bowl and the image is “they are on the rise.”

That’s what lesser conferences can do for a program. My point was not to denigrate Georgia State but to point out the level of competition. There is no way to compare the list of opponents and say it’s on the same level. That is why I think it is absurd to rank a team that plays a P5 schedule behind schools from the Sun Belt.

 

[Crimson Crush]

I agree with what you are saying but you still have to sub and especially to build depth. Sometimes you have to throw guys in there. Even though the S&C coach changed in order to keep improving you have to build depth through experience. Hopefully CTA continues that.

On offense, it'll be interesting for sure at the beginning of the year. I have no idea who will start at QB OR what we will look like. When Wilson was the coach I never ever worried about it. I knew it would be a full of surprises and exciting.

The defense this year...I expect us to take a step forward even with the youth and inexperience. These are CTA's guys and by the looks of the highlights many violent, hard hitting players. I could see his kid having an impact just because he knows what his dad wants and has probably watched a ton of film with him. He should know how to line everyone up.

A ton of question marks all around.

3 of 6 seasons, the Wilson offenses were exciting to watch. One year was a disaster (2014). 2016 was a step back for him because he didn’t have personnel at key positions. 2011 was a lot of gambles but little success.
He opened things up, which was entertaining but against good defenses, we were completely muzzled more often than not.
As his tenure wore on, he took less chances. No onside kicks like we did early-on. Our defense was so bad for 5 of the 6 years, if he had anything close to 2016-2017 defense, he’s probably racking up 8+ wins in 2015 and bowling in 2013.

 

[82hoosier]

3 of 6 seasons, the Wilson offenses were exciting to watch. One year was a disaster (2014). 2016 was a step back for him because he didn’t have personnel at key positions. 2011 was a lot of gambles but little success.
He opened things up, which was entertaining but against good defenses, we were completely muzzled more often than not.
As his tenure wore on, he took less chances. No onside kicks like we did early-on. Our defense was so bad for 5 of the 6 years, if he had anything close to 2016-2017 defense, he’s probably racking up 8+ wins in 2015 and bowling in 2013.

It really is amazing how bad the Indiana defense was. I remember a game against Michigan where Indiana was averaging 9.7 yards per play, had zero turnovers and was losing late in the third quarter. That was the game an average Michigan receiver had about 350 yards in receptions and set a new school record.
If CTA had not arrived as the defensive coordinator there is no doubt in my mind that Wilson would’ve been fired regardless of our field issues He still would’ve had to take those crazy chances but with Richard Lagow as quarterback. Five interceptions games like against Northwestern would’ve been the norm.
CTA’s arrival made us all realize how little Coach Wilson knew about defense. So it’s natural, I suppose, for fans to be concerned about Coach Allen’s lack of experience on the offensive side of the ball. But now the Hoosiers have a real offensive coordinator who last year had to work with the depleted offensive line, a dreadfully slow quarterback and a subpar running game. I don’t know if it’s going to transfer into 6+ wins but I think we are going to be watching some good Hoosier football this fall.

 

[Indianaftw]

3 of 6 seasons, the Wilson offenses were exciting to watch. One year was a disaster (2014). 2016 was a step back for him because he didn’t have personnel at key positions. 2011 was a lot of gambles but little success.
He opened things up, which was entertaining but against good defenses, we were completely muzzled more often than not.
As his tenure wore on, he took less chances. No onside kicks like we did early-on. Our defense was so bad for 5 of the 6 years, if he had anything close to 2016-2017 defense, he’s probably racking up 8+ wins in 2015 and bowling in 2013.

What I was trying to express was usually I didn't worry about what Wilson was trying to do. The guy was MADLY entertaining to the point of running Nate at QB and Diamonte at RB. I'm lmao thinking about it and it was freakin fun to watch. Also, Wilsons offenses took shots downfield our yards per catch were always pretty high when he was coaching.

This year with Dawkins and Ramsey back there I have no clue what we are going to look like, if we will have an identity, or whats going to happen. Its like a big question mark on offense. Will we be able to express our will running the football? I have no clue. What will our passing game look like? Underneath stuff all the time or will we stretch the field? IDK

 

[Hausta01]

Not scoffing at Georgia State and I’m sure they do very well against their conference but my point is: you place them in the Big Ten East and suddenly the whole image of that program changes.
They would go from a bowl game to maybe 3 wins last year. The same Georgia Southern team we pounded last year beat Georgia State by 4 points.
My point is that IU plays Michigan, OSU, Penn state and MSU and we lose those games and the perception is that IU is a bunch of losers. Georgia State did play PSU and lost 56-0 last season. However, they go to a bowl and the image is “they are on the rise.”

That’s what lesser conferences can do for a program. My point was not to denigrate Georgia State but to point out the level of competition. There is no way to compare the list of opponents and say it’s on the same level. That is why I think it is absurd to rank a team that plays a P5 schedule behind schools from the Sun Belt.

I don't really understand what you're saying here. So IU should be ranked ahead of a team like Memphis, just because it plays a tougher schedule? Results don't matter? I'm sure a lot of G5 schools could go 2-7 in the B1G, according to S&P+ that number is about 20.

A tougher schedule should give the benefit of the doubt sure. But are you really going to say IU is better than Troy simply because Troy is in the Sun Belt instead of the B1G?

 

[Hoosiers Rising]

I don't really understand what you're saying here. So IU should be ranked ahead of a team like Memphis, just because it plays a tougher schedule? Results don't matter? I'm sure a lot of G5 schools could go 2-7 in the B1G, according to S&P+ that number is about 20.

A tougher schedule should give the benefit of the doubt sure. But are you really going to say IU is better than Troy simply because Troy is in the Sun Belt instead of the B1G?

There will be exceptions but playing one or two P5 schools as opposed to 10 or 11 makes a huge difference. There is really no good answer but just going by record is ridiculous.

 

[Crimson Crush]

What I was trying to express was usually I didn't worry about what Wilson was trying to do. The guy was MADLY entertaining to the point of running Nate at QB and Diamonte at RB. I'm lmao thinking about it and it was freakin fun to watch. Also, Wilsons offenses took shots downfield our yards per catch were always pretty high when he was coaching.

This year with Dawkins and Ramsey back there I have no clue what we are going to look like, if we will have an identity, or whats going to happen. Its like a big question mark on offense. Will we be able to express our will running the football? I have no clue. What will our passing game look like? Underneath stuff all the time or will we stretch the field? IDK

There’s a counterpoint to the “wildly entertaining” mind of Wilson. I liked it too...but his philosophy cost us a game against Rutgers at home in 2015. Yes, his defense was bad but he should have mitigated this with ball control in the 3rd and 4th quarter. Terrible, terrible offensive plan up 25 points with 20 minutes left. Wilson probably had all the clocks in his home removed because he never met one in his life he liked. He also loved going for a Guinness Book of World Records on having the “fastest 3-and-outs” in the world. Having Suffeld launch bombs into triple coverage was not my idea of entertaining. It may have been one of the worst-coached games ever by an IU coach, next to Dinardo’s 4 straight dive plays with 1st and goal at the 2 yard line (PSU). I don’t know. To each his own. Wjat one considers “entertaining,” others consider anguish.

 

[Crimson Crush]

I don't really understand what you're saying here. So IU should be ranked ahead of a team like Memphis, just because it plays a tougher schedule? Results don't matter? I'm sure a lot of G5 schools could go 2-7 in the B1G, according to S&P+ that number is about 20.

A tougher schedule should give the benefit of the doubt sure. But are you really going to say IU is better than Troy simply because Troy is in the Sun Belt instead of the B1G?

Hypothetical for you:

Say IU plays in the Sun Belt for 2018.
Predict the final season record.

Nothing long winded. Just final record and who they lose to. I look forward to your answers.

 

[RBB89]

There’s a counterpoint to the “wildly entertaining” mind of Wilson. I liked it too...but his philosophy cost us a game against Rutgers at home in 2015. Yes, his defense was bad but he should have mitigated this with ball control in the 3rd and 4th quarter. Terrible, terrible offensive plan up 25 points with 20 minutes left. Wilson probably had all the clocks in his home removed because he never met one in his life he liked. He also loved going for a Guinness Book of World Records on having the “fastest 3-and-outs” in the world. Having Suffeld launch bombs into triple coverage was not my idea of entertaining. It may have been one of the worst-coached games ever by an IU coach, next to Dinardo’s 4 straight dive plays with 1st and goal at the 2 yard line (PSU). I don’t know. To each his own. Wjat one considers “entertaining,” others consider anguish.

The number of people here who continue to ignore the fact that we scored more points last year than the year before is simply mind boggling. And played at a faster pace.

(This does not negate the fact that the offense needs to get a whole lot better this year.)

 

[Crimson Crush]

The number of people here who continue to ignore the fact that we scored more points last year than the year before is simply mind boggling. And played at a faster pace.

(This does not negate the fact that the offense needs to get a whole lot better this year.)

I really don’t understand our posters here who wet their pants over throwing a “deep ball” while fretting over our ability to “impose our will” in running. I mean...Wisconsin runs a power running game. They run over people. They mix in the intermediate passes. I have a feeling this would upset our fan base. Never mind the wins.

 

[Hausta01]

Hypothetical for you:

Say IU plays in the Sun Belt for 2018.
Predict the final season record.

Nothing long winded. Just final record and who they lose to. I look forward to your answers.

Not the same argument but ok. I would guess IU goes 8-4 or 9-3, 6-2 or 7-1 conference record losing to Troy or App St and maybe Ark St depending on where the games are played. (assuming changes to non con schedule to mirror other Sun Belt teams).

Bottom of the B1G is better than most Sun Belt teams, but doesn't automatically mean a 2-7 B1G record is better than all of the Sun Belt.

 

[Crimson Crush]

Not the same argument but ok. I would guess IU goes 8-4 or 9-3, 6-2 or 7-1 conference record losing to Troy or App St and maybe Ark St depending on where the games are played. (assuming changes to non con schedule to mirror other Sun Belt teams).

Bottom of the B1G is better than most Sun Belt teams, but doesn't automatically mean a 2-7 B1G record is better than all of the Sun Belt.

Okay. Fair enough.

How about Purdue, Rutgers and Maryland?
Same scenario.

 

[Hausta01]

Okay. Fair enough.

How about Purdue, Rutgers and Maryland?
Same scenario.

I would figure similar records for IU and Purdue. Drop to 7 or 8 wins for Maryland then 6 or 7 for Rutgers.

Summary: bottom of the B1G is probably bowling in the Sun Belt (exceptions for Hazell-level Purdue and current Illinois), but wouldnt be good enough to win the conference. So I do at least partly agree with your argument, just not all the way.

 

[Crimson Crush]

I would figure similar records for IU and Purdue. Drop to 7 or 8 wins for Maryland then 6 or 7 for Rutgers.

Summary: bottom of the B1G is probably bowling in the Sun Belt (exceptions for Hazell-level Purdue and current Illinois), but wouldnt be good enough to win the conference. So I do at least partly agree with your argument, just not all the way.

Okay...so the conclusion is that these Big Ten teams would perennially finish behind Troy, Appalachian State and Arkansas State and have overall losing records against those schools head-to-head?

 

[Spartan4ever]

College Football News 2018 analysis of IU.

https://collegefootballnews.com/2018/05/indiana-hoosiers-college-football-preview-2018

 

[Hausta01]

Okay...so the conclusion is that these Big Ten teams would perennially finish behind Troy, Appalachian State and Arkansas State and have overall losing records against those schools head-to-head?

Not necessarily those schools, just the top few teams in the Sun Belt. So in 2017 it would be those 3 schools.

 

[Crimson Crush]

Not necessarily those schools, just the top few teams in the Sun Belt. So in 2017 it would be those 3 schools.

I will agree to disagree. I think IU, Purdue and Maryland have better personnel and depth than Troy, App State or Arkansas State. Those matchups would not be trouncings by any means but the Big Ten examples here would win 95% of the time with the occasional loss being a really down year.