so this is my first time posting. i will introduce myself. I went to A&M, graduated in '99. I married my wife who is an IU grad of '05. My wife is not a huge sports fan, but I took it upon myself to root for IU in football and basketball. So when they show them here in Dallas, i try to watch them as much as I can.
I have to say IU like recent A&M teams especially the 2000s, are the definition of insanity. You watch the same team expecting different results. I can not tell you how many times since 2012 when I started following them how close they are to upsetting teams, and then losing in the IU fashion. I can count at least three times this year alone. Luckily for A&M, I think they have finally made a choice in hiring a coach that will head us in the right direction.
My observations, and this is not to start an argument, but the coaching lost that game last night. I have observed IU all year, and know that the talent is just not there, but IU does play hard, and have been very competitive. Though, last night up into the fourth quarter it did appear the players had given up. When they created turnovers you could see the momentum change, and you could see the IU players believe they could win, and started playing hard.
Several decisions by the coaching staff lost this game. One, you are down 22 points, and you score a td. You never go for two points off the bat. Why, because if you don't make it, you will be chasing the points for the rest of the game. Second mistake, IU just made it 31-23, and they intercept the first pass in Minn. drive. IU has the ball with ten minutes to go down 8 points. IU runs the ball and it is 2 and 9. The they proceed to throw a low percentage pass on second down, when Minn. was literally giving you the middle of the field. Either run the ball or take a high percentage pass for maybe 5-7 yards, The key is you have 3rd and short, and if needed you have the option to go for it on fourth, and you save the option to take the points with fg. Nope, instead lets throw a low percentage pass on 2nd down, now it is 3rd and 9, and forces IU to throw down the field for some unknown reason, resulting in a interception. Erasing what could have been td or at least a fg, getting closer to Minn.
As you know IU scores again, and gets the two point conversion, and then stops Minn. Awesome, game is tied, with three minutes to go. And the coaching staff calls three running plays, which is fine if you are trying to run the game clock down. But you run the ball, and change to an up tempo offense, taking off about one minute of game clock. When it was third and 2, everyone could obviously tell they were going to run, and so did Minn. My question is, if you are going to run on 3rd and 2, why not slow the play down chewing up some clock. Also, if you are going to run, its 3rd and 2, why run in shot gun. You need six feet to get a first down, but lets hand it off to the running back who is five yards behind first down. Also, where are the tight ends, and full backs? The resulting play, allows the safety to blitz, and there is no one to cover him, because the line is outnumbered resulting in a stop, and it took off about a minute off the clock.
My other observation. It appears the offense is a spread. not my ideal choice of offense, because you only have five lineman, with no tight end or fullback. But if you are going to run the spread, why are the OL so close together. The QB is working in a pocket that is about five yards wide, when it crashes like it did on the very last drive, the qb has no room to maneuver. You either need to spread the OL or add a TE in order to make the angles wider for the DE. It forces their DEs maneuver wider in order to get to the QB, this allows more time for the WR to run their routes, and give the qb an extra second to read the routes and see who is open.
I dont know if Allen is the right coach, but do believe you need to give him at least a few more years. It appears the recruiting is getting better. But his decision making in some games drives me insane. He literally will make the offense one dimensional. He rarely mixes up the play calling on drives. Its either all passing on a drive, or all runs. I really do miss Kevin Wilsons offense, at least there was a tight end used, and two dimensional.
As far as defense, I think the schemes are ok, but the players are just too slow and small to compete at a high level for the majority of the game. They do play hard, but the talent is just not there. the offense really needs to try an hold on to the ball as long as they can, run methodical drives by mixing it up with the run and pass, that way the defense does not tire out by the end of the game.
Anyway, I will continue to watch IU football. I never would have thought I would say that being from Texas. i have really enjoyed gaining a second team, and rooting for you all. Hopefully, the coaching staff will learn from this, and will make the proper changes.
I have to say IU like recent A&M teams especially the 2000s, are the definition of insanity. You watch the same team expecting different results. I can not tell you how many times since 2012 when I started following them how close they are to upsetting teams, and then losing in the IU fashion. I can count at least three times this year alone. Luckily for A&M, I think they have finally made a choice in hiring a coach that will head us in the right direction.
My observations, and this is not to start an argument, but the coaching lost that game last night. I have observed IU all year, and know that the talent is just not there, but IU does play hard, and have been very competitive. Though, last night up into the fourth quarter it did appear the players had given up. When they created turnovers you could see the momentum change, and you could see the IU players believe they could win, and started playing hard.
Several decisions by the coaching staff lost this game. One, you are down 22 points, and you score a td. You never go for two points off the bat. Why, because if you don't make it, you will be chasing the points for the rest of the game. Second mistake, IU just made it 31-23, and they intercept the first pass in Minn. drive. IU has the ball with ten minutes to go down 8 points. IU runs the ball and it is 2 and 9. The they proceed to throw a low percentage pass on second down, when Minn. was literally giving you the middle of the field. Either run the ball or take a high percentage pass for maybe 5-7 yards, The key is you have 3rd and short, and if needed you have the option to go for it on fourth, and you save the option to take the points with fg. Nope, instead lets throw a low percentage pass on 2nd down, now it is 3rd and 9, and forces IU to throw down the field for some unknown reason, resulting in a interception. Erasing what could have been td or at least a fg, getting closer to Minn.
As you know IU scores again, and gets the two point conversion, and then stops Minn. Awesome, game is tied, with three minutes to go. And the coaching staff calls three running plays, which is fine if you are trying to run the game clock down. But you run the ball, and change to an up tempo offense, taking off about one minute of game clock. When it was third and 2, everyone could obviously tell they were going to run, and so did Minn. My question is, if you are going to run on 3rd and 2, why not slow the play down chewing up some clock. Also, if you are going to run, its 3rd and 2, why run in shot gun. You need six feet to get a first down, but lets hand it off to the running back who is five yards behind first down. Also, where are the tight ends, and full backs? The resulting play, allows the safety to blitz, and there is no one to cover him, because the line is outnumbered resulting in a stop, and it took off about a minute off the clock.
My other observation. It appears the offense is a spread. not my ideal choice of offense, because you only have five lineman, with no tight end or fullback. But if you are going to run the spread, why are the OL so close together. The QB is working in a pocket that is about five yards wide, when it crashes like it did on the very last drive, the qb has no room to maneuver. You either need to spread the OL or add a TE in order to make the angles wider for the DE. It forces their DEs maneuver wider in order to get to the QB, this allows more time for the WR to run their routes, and give the qb an extra second to read the routes and see who is open.
I dont know if Allen is the right coach, but do believe you need to give him at least a few more years. It appears the recruiting is getting better. But his decision making in some games drives me insane. He literally will make the offense one dimensional. He rarely mixes up the play calling on drives. Its either all passing on a drive, or all runs. I really do miss Kevin Wilsons offense, at least there was a tight end used, and two dimensional.
As far as defense, I think the schemes are ok, but the players are just too slow and small to compete at a high level for the majority of the game. They do play hard, but the talent is just not there. the offense really needs to try an hold on to the ball as long as they can, run methodical drives by mixing it up with the run and pass, that way the defense does not tire out by the end of the game.
Anyway, I will continue to watch IU football. I never would have thought I would say that being from Texas. i have really enjoyed gaining a second team, and rooting for you all. Hopefully, the coaching staff will learn from this, and will make the proper changes.
