Interesting tidbits from the 2 Deep for Saturday...

[LeConte]

OL - not a lot of surprises, but it looks like Littlejohn and Linder are still battling it out.

WR - Whop is listed behind Timian, and D. Hale behind Westbrook. Biggest surprise to me is Ty Fryfogle listed a the 3rd starter. My guess is all of these guys will play a lot with different packages, etc.

RB - Gest, Majette, Brookins

TE - Hendershot starting. Glad to see he's progressed given his athletic ability.

DL - Nice mix of players with good experience in that group. Their play could make up for losing so much in the LB

DB - Lots of young talent in the 2 deep. Cam Jones backing up 'Lino. Fitzgerald and Monster also in 2 deep. Jaylin Williams and Reese at one of the CB spots - although sounds like Reese is moving to the QB room

Special Teams - appears Logan Justus won the PK duties over the true frosh.

 

[turney333]

OL - not a lot of surprises, but it looks like Littlejohn and Linder are still battling it out.

WR - Whop is listed behind Timian, and D. Hale behind Westbrook. Biggest surprise to me is Ty Fryfogle listed a the 3rd starter. My guess is all of these guys will play a lot with different packages, etc.

RB - Gest, Majette, Brookins

TE - Hendershot starting. Glad to see he's progressed given his athletic ability.

DL - Nice mix of players with good experience in that group. Their play could make up for losing so much in the LB

DB - Lots of young talent in the 2 deep. Cam Jones backing up 'Lino. Fitzgerald and Monster also in 2 deep. Jaylin Williams and Reese at one of the CB spots - although sounds like Reese is moving to the QB room

Special Teams - appears Logan Justus won the PK duties over the true frosh.

My guess that Hale will play more and potentially start as the season goes along. It sounds that even though he is cleared for full contact, the staff has been cautious with him during camp and have limited reps and even days of practice.

 

[Pelkowski]

We kinda know what we have with those RBs. I am concerned.

 

[IUHDog]

Not sure we really know what IU has with those running backs. What we know of them was a year ago, pre-s & c improvements, and last year's OL

Will save any evaluations for Saturday after the game.

Expect surprising improvement from Gest.

 

[oldcougar77]

Not sure we really know what IU has with those running backs. What we know of them was a year ago, pre-s & c improvements, and last year's OL

Will save any evaluations for Saturday after the game.

Expect surprising improvement from Gest.

For my money, the effectiveness of our running backs is really about the OL. Divine Redding was a pretty pedestrian talent but had two huge seasons behind an OL that included two guys now playing on Sundays and a stable of other experienced players. I think Redding would have struggled last year just as our current guys did under an OL that was challenged (to say the least). RB may be the most overrated position in college football.

 

[MacDee1975]

For my money, the effectiveness of our running backs is really about the OL. Divine Redding was a pretty pedestrian talent but had two huge seasons behind an OL that included two guys now playing on Sundays and a stable of other experienced players. I think Redding would have struggled last year just as our current guys did under an OL that was challenged (to say the least). RB may be the most overrated position in college football.

I don't know about that, as he's currently on an NFL roster. I do agree with the remainder of your post though: it all starts with the OL.

 

[Bowlmania]

For my money, the effectiveness of our running backs is really about the OL. Divine Redding was a pretty pedestrian talent but had two huge seasons behind an OL that included two guys now playing on Sundays and a stable of other experienced players. I think Redding would have struggled last year just as our current guys did under an OL that was challenged (to say the least). RB may be the most overrated position in college football.

I hear you, but I don't fully agree. IU was blessed in recent seasons (last year being a notable exception) with both strong OLs and very talented backs. Granted, a RB isn't going anywhere with a poor OL, but the truly outstanding backs are able to separate themselves from the rest of the pack with the ability to find the hole, explode going through it, taking hits and staying on their feet, turning on the jets in space, etc. Coleman, Howard and even Redding (now with the Bucs) were special talents. I'm not looking for Saquon Barkley or Ezekiel Elliott, but hopefully we've got someone on the roster who will shine this season as a difference-maker at RB.

 

[82hoosier]

I don't know about that, as he's currently on an NFL roster. I do agree with the remainder of your post though: it all starts with the OL.

The reality is he is suiting up because they have an extra uniform available for the game.
https://www.buccaneers.com/news/bucs-sign-three-to-start-last-preseason-week

 

[Indianaftw]

Not sure we really know what IU has with those running backs. What we know of them was a year ago, pre-s & c improvements, and last year's OL

Will save any evaluations for Saturday after the game.

Expect surprising improvement from Gest.

Agree on Gest...If this OL can spring him he will be dangerous. Too many times when he got the ball in the past he would hit that line with nowhere to go. If he did break through there just wasn't much there. He leaves hard and fast so if he gets to the second level...

 

[JohnsyRick]

Agree on Gest...If this OL can spring him he will be dangerous. Too many times when he got the ball in the past he would hit that line with nowhere to go. If he did break through there just wasn't much there. He leaves hard and fast so if he gets to the second level...

Part of that is Gest learning to be patient, he has always just run hard to the spot where he thought the hole should be. Hopefully Hart (who was very good at it) has helped him be better at waiting to find the crease and then busting through it. With our blocking scheme that type of approach will serve him better.

 

[IndyIUFan66]

Per RB's, I want to see if Ronnie Walker is ready yet. I also wonder about Craig Nelson from Miami as a sleeper. And Majette started so strong as a FR and has never broken out due to injuries. Maybe as a senior feeling good on his last hurrah, he'll go out strong as he came in. Plus Stevie Scott may be the bruiser to milk in late games to wear down defenses and burn clock if needed.

My new question will be effectiveness of FG kicking game? I thought for sure the scholly kid would have won that spot outright (maybe even easily) but hopefully competition brought out the best in everyone!

 

[Indianaftw]

Part of that is Gest learning to be patient, he has always just run hard to the spot where he thought the hole should be. Hopefully Hart (who was very good at it) has helped him be better at waiting to find the crease and then busting through it. With our blocking scheme that type of approach will serve him better.

Totally agree on patience. I always thought the same but we just did not have the OL last year for anything. If we start using those cutback runs again Gest could shoot like a cannon.

 

[HermanB]

Didn’t Gest average over 4 ypc? I’ll take it!

 

[MacDee1975]

The reality is he is suiting up because they have an extra uniform available for the game.
https://www.buccaneers.com/news/bucs-sign-three-to-start-last-preseason-week

Perhaps, but it's still unfair to label him as a pedestrian talent. Pedestrian talents do no sniff NFL rosters.

 

[82hoosier]

Perhaps, but it's still unfair to label him as a pedestrian talent. Pedestrian talents do no sniff NFL rosters.

I agree with you on that. He gained more than 1000 yards two consecutive seasons. And he was a tough runner. He got up to full speed and he just would put his head down and go forward. But he had neither breakaway size nor speed. And you better have one or the other if not both to compete at the next level.

 

[iueyedoc99]

I hear you, but I don't fully agree. IU was blessed in recent seasons (last year being a notable exception) with both strong OLs and very talented backs. Granted, a RB isn't going anywhere with a poor OL, but the truly outstanding backs are able to separate themselves from the rest of the pack with the ability to find the hole, explode going through it, taking hits and staying on their feet, turning on the jets in space, etc. Coleman, Howard and even Redding (now with the Bucs) were special talents. I'm not looking for Saquon Barkley or Ezekiel Elliott, but hopefully we've got someone on the roster who will shine this season as a difference-maker at RB.

Stevie Scott