Here's my issue: like schoolyard bullies, IU tends to "open up" it's offense against opponents it regards as weaker (Rutgers in conf last week, the non-conf teams, etc.) but go WAY to conservative - esp with a slight lead - against stronger opponents (e.g. tO$U, PennSt, etc.).
I LOVED how IU hardly even had two consecutive runs last week. Had special teams not allowed two TDs, the D (in particular #14) not allowed a couple easy TDs on mental mistakes, Nate's loss of confidence with that first pick not happened, etc., clearly IU would have won, and maybe won BIG.
However, I fear this week that IU will go back into it's shell offensively against a defense (& team) it regards with some fear.... which is too bad, cause I think they can have good success - even against a strong team like MSU - if it just TRIES some of the things that worked against Rutgers & the others., but corrects the special teams mistakes, etc....
I'll predict that they actually WIN if they don't retreat into two hand-offs up the middle & then a sideline pass every offensive series as they did once leading Oh St. 10-0 or THREE straight handoffs & punt, as they did when tied with Penn St 7-7 with about 8 minutes to go in the first half....
Have courage, CKW...!!! What have you got to lose, in a game everyone expects you to lose, anyway...?!?
I LOVED how IU hardly even had two consecutive runs last week. Had special teams not allowed two TDs, the D (in particular #14) not allowed a couple easy TDs on mental mistakes, Nate's loss of confidence with that first pick not happened, etc., clearly IU would have won, and maybe won BIG.
However, I fear this week that IU will go back into it's shell offensively against a defense (& team) it regards with some fear.... which is too bad, cause I think they can have good success - even against a strong team like MSU - if it just TRIES some of the things that worked against Rutgers & the others., but corrects the special teams mistakes, etc....
I'll predict that they actually WIN if they don't retreat into two hand-offs up the middle & then a sideline pass every offensive series as they did once leading Oh St. 10-0 or THREE straight handoffs & punt, as they did when tied with Penn St 7-7 with about 8 minutes to go in the first half....
Have courage, CKW...!!! What have you got to lose, in a game everyone expects you to lose, anyway...?!?
