Just can’t please some people

[CC Mac]

Won a conference game for the first time in two years against a team that had a game in hand and people are saying stuff IU is not very good.
Went 2-10 last year and have practically a completely new coaching staff and some of y’all were expecting a blow out win?
Let’s take a deep breath and give it a few games before yelling the sky is falling (again)
Even 6-6 which is possible is a 4 game improvement over last year.
With a couple breaks I could see 7 wins which I’d take in a heartbeat.

 

[IUNCAAChamps2012]

Won a conference game for the first time in two years against a team that had a game in hand and people are saying stuff IU is not very good.
Went 2-10 last year and have practically a completely new coaching staff and some of y’all were expecting a blow out win?
Let’s take a deep breath and give it a few games before yelling the sky is falling (again)
Even 6-6 which is possible is a 4 game improvement over last year.
With a couple breaks I could see 7 wins which I’d take in a heartbeat.

Correction: with continued improved play, 7 wins is doable. With a couple breaks…#9WINDIANA

 

[vesuvius13]

Some posters have to live their lives in misery it seems. They can't seem to find joy even for a couple of days when IUFB wins a B1G game. I can't understand living that way and saying IUFB has been bad for decades is why doesn't cut it.

 

[TMFT]

Correction: with continued improved play, 7 wins is doable. With a couple breaks…#9WINDIANA

Particularly in the transfer portal era, I think preseason expectations, particularly ones keyed off of prior year results, are foolish. Let’s see how IU looks post Cinci. The sample size will be enough at that point to have a better feel for how they’ll be this year. I’m not convinced that PSU, PU, Rutgers, Cinci, Idaho, W Ky, Neb, and MSU aren’t winnable games. I didn’t watch any of the Michigan game and even though OSU was underwhelming, they were able to wear out ND and they’re fast as hell on D, so I’m not particularly confident at the Shoe.

 

[Sope Creek]

Some posters have to live their lives in misery it seems. They can't seem to find joy even for a couple of days when IUFB wins a B1G game. I can't understand living that way and saying IUFB has been bad for decades is why doesn't cut it.

Maybe being careful not to get too high is the real reason folks say IUFB has been bad for decades.

I'm looking for a reason not to have that attitude, BTW. I don't know how to act when IU wins a big game, B1G or not.

 

[oldcougar77]

Won a conference game for the first time in two years against a team that had a game in hand and people are saying stuff IU is not very good.
Went 2-10 last year and have practically a completely new coaching staff and some of y’all were expecting a blow out win?
Let’s take a deep breath and give it a few games before yelling the sky is falling (again)
Even 6-6 which is possible is a 4 game improvement over last year.
With a couple breaks I could see 7 wins which I’d take in a heartbeat.

Agreed. First games are always sloppy and mistake-prone. I was really concerned about having to open with a conference opponent that had already played a game. I was really pleased with every aspect of IU's play with the exception of the run game. The D looked like a Tom Allen defense again. I thought Bazelek was very good considering our total inability to run the ball. For a first game with a new team, I liked his decision-making and was pleased that most of his mistakes were overthrows (which can be dangerous over the middle but are usually better than underthrows). Brown and Williams for Illinois are dynamic players who are going to get yards against everybody. We bottled up Brown when it mattered most and didn't give up big plays to either. No major breakdowns on D and flawless play on special teams.

The biggest issue remains the O-line. If we can't figure a way to run effectively, we are going to struggle to beat anybody who is really good. I hope Bell goes back and reviews some of DeBoer's playbook for some inspiration on how to use the short, quick passing game to serve as a running game. It is also a little concerning that we do not appear to have a dynamic RB. We really need that with a bad O-line. I was very encouraged that Matthews appears to be 100% and has big-play ability. Still waiting to have the question answered as to why Darren Hiller is still coaching at IU.

 

[gator mcCluskey]

Maybe being careful not to get too high is the real reason folks say IUFB has been bad for decades.

I'm looking for a reason not to have that attitude, BTW. I don't know how to act when IU wins a big game, B1G or not.

This. I drank the Kool-Aid after 2020 and I am NOT going to put myself through that again.

 

[CC Mac]

This. I drank the Kool-Aid after 2020 and I am NOT going to put myself through that again.

I agree,that’s why I said 6-7 wins and not 9.

 

[Jackskip23]

Won a conference game for the first time in two years against a team that had a game in hand and people are saying stuff IU is not very good.
Went 2-10 last year and have practically a completely new coaching staff and some of y’all were expecting a blow out win?
Let’s take a deep breath and give it a few games before yelling the sky is falling (again)
Even 6-6 which is possible is a 4 game improvement over last year.
With a couple breaks I could see 7 wins which I’d take in a heartbeat.

6-6 with this team would be miraculous. But winning four or five games would be a great sign of progress, and something fans should recognize as growth.

 

[TomEric4756]

Agreed. First games are always sloppy and mistake-prone. I was really concerned about having to open with a conference opponent that had already played a game. I was really pleased with every aspect of IU's play with the exception of the run game. The D looked like a Tom Allen defense again. I thought Bazelek was very good considering our total inability to run the ball. For a first game with a new team, I liked his decision-making and was pleased that most of his mistakes were overthrows (which can be dangerous over the middle but are usually better than underthrows). Brown and Williams for Illinois are dynamic players who are going to get yards against everybody. We bottled up Brown when it mattered most and didn't give up big plays to either. No major breakdowns on D and flawless play on special teams.

The biggest issue remains the O-line. If we can't figure a way to run effectively, we are going to struggle to beat anybody who is really good. I hope Bell goes back and reviews some of DeBoer's playbook for some inspiration on how to use the short, quick passing game to serve as a running game. It is also a little concerning that we do not appear to have a dynamic RB. We really need that with a bad O-line. I was very encouraged that Matthews appears to be 100% and has big-play ability. Still waiting to have the question answered as to why Darren Hiller is still coaching at IU.

I was struck by 1 penalty for 5 yards. Exceptional for a first game. It shows everyone understands they can’t beat themselves with penalties. Heads are focused on execution. They will keep getting better.

 

[Sope Creek]

6-6 with this team would be miraculous. But winning four or five games would be a great sign of progress, and something fans should recognize as growth.

So long as IU is building a foundation for better years, I could live with 4-5-6 wins this year. Having 4-5-6 wins being an exceptional year only to revert to a 2-10 mean is where I have a hard time.

I've been an IU fan a long time.

 

[Jackskip23]

So long as IU is building a foundation for better years, I could live with 4-5-6 wins this year. Having 4-5-6 wins being an exceptional year only to revert to a 2-10 mean is where I have a hard time.

I've been an IU fan a long time.

Yep, I’ve been an IU fan for a long time, too, and I agree with your assessment. Four, five or even six wins would be a great result given our talent level and team composition.. Going backward so badly in Year Five of Allen’s tenure was troubling, but it wasn’t exactly a shock to those of us who’ve been watching the program for a long time. Hopefully, they can reset it this year.

 

[turney333]

Agreed. First games are always sloppy and mistake-prone. I was really concerned about having to open with a conference opponent that had already played a game. I was really pleased with every aspect of IU's play with the exception of the run game. The D looked like a Tom Allen defense again. I thought Bazelek was very good considering our total inability to run the ball. For a first game with a new team, I liked his decision-making and was pleased that most of his mistakes were overthrows (which can be dangerous over the middle but are usually better than underthrows). Brown and Williams for Illinois are dynamic players who are going to get yards against everybody. We bottled up Brown when it mattered most and didn't give up big plays to either. No major breakdowns on D and flawless play on special teams.

The biggest issue remains the O-line. If we can't figure a way to run effectively, we are going to struggle to beat anybody who is really good. I hope Bell goes back and reviews some of DeBoer's playbook for some inspiration on how to use the short, quick passing game to serve as a running game. It is also a little concerning that we do not appear to have a dynamic RB. We really need that with a bad O-line. I was very encouraged that Matthews appears to be 100% and has big-play ability. Still waiting to have the question answered as to why Darren Hiller is still coaching at IU.

Regarding the quick/short passing, we did see some of that, and it was more successful than any quick passing we attempted last year. I think IU had more successful screen passes against Illinois than IU had all of last year (probably a bit hyperbole, but not by much)

 

[Baller23Boogie]

Just get to 6.

Anything over that is icing on the cake and more to build on for the coaches to build and sell the next crop of recruits to.

 

[Univee2]

So long as IU is building a foundation for better years, I could live with 4-5-6 wins this year. Having 4-5-6 wins being an exceptional year only to revert to a 2-10 mean is where I have a hard time.

I've been an IU fan a long time.

Outside of, and after, Idaho and WKU, which games do you think IU will win, to the extent that you would lay down good money on a semi-large bet? Maryland? Nebraska? Rutgers? Two of those three are on the road.

3-9 looks like the most likely outcome. 4-8 would be really good. 5-7 would be outstanding. 6-6, with this OL and the complete lack of an effective running game, would be National COY territory for Allen.

 

[Sope Creek]

Outside of, and after, Idaho and WKU, which games do you think IU will win, to the extent that you would lay down good money on a semi-large bet? Maryland? Nebraska? Rutgers? Two of those three are on the road.

3-9 looks like the most likely outcome. 4-8 would be really good. 5-7 would be outstanding. 6-6, with this OL and the complete lack of an effective running game, would be National COY territory for Allen.

Bet? Me?

That's crazy . . . I'd guess Nebraska is doable . . . maybe Maryland . . . Schiano, I dunno . . . maybe PSU and PU this year. Cincy would be a maybe . . . but not bettable.

Notre Dame, definitely.

 

[Univee2]

Bet? Me?

That's crazy . . . I'd guess Nebraska is doable . . . maybe Maryland . . . Schiano, I dunno . . . maybe PSU and PU this year. Cincy would be a maybe . . . but not bettable.

Notre Dame, definitely.

As much as I would love to see IU crush UC, and thus shut up some Steelers-lite fans in these parts, that’s a long, long shot.

The gnashing of teeth and sticking of hot pokers in eyes around here by Nuteye fans around here as the Nuts didn’t win by at least 49-0 has been humorous. At least the Irish didn’t travel and stink it up like Oregon did against The Dawgs (as I’ve learned to pronounce it, with the “a” drawn out way loooooooong.)

 

[Victorbmyboy]

Outside of, and after, Idaho and WKU, which games do you think IU will win, to the extent that you would lay down good money on a semi-large bet? Maryland? Nebraska? Rutgers? Two of those three are on the road.

3-9 looks like the most likely outcome. 4-8 would be really good. 5-7 would be outstanding. 6-6, with this OL and the complete lack of an effective running game, would be National COY territory for Allen.

I think 3-4 wins is on point because Of the schedule. In years past I think 5-6 was doable with this type team. Not this year. Might get a lucky win or two but that schedule is brutal.

 

[BayernFan]

Well…. IU isn’t good obviously. And this is a discussion board.

 

[Sope Creek]

As much as I would love to see IU crush UC, and thus shut up some Steelers-lite fans in these parts, that’s a long, long shot.

The gnashing of teeth and sticking of hot pokers in eyes around here by Nuteye fans around here as the Nuts didn’t win by at least 49-0 has been humorous. At least the Irish didn’t travel and stink it up like Oregon did against The Dawgs (as I’ve learned to pronounce it, with the “a” drawn out way loooooooong.)

It's pronounced "dawgs", all in one single, quick syllable, which can sound slow and drawn out to an outsider (Notre Dame fans particularly), and spelled like you have it.

You can say that Oregon stunk it up, but the Dawgs might've had something to do with that. As Kirby said, "He (Lanning) knows we have better players." https://thespun.com/more/top-storie...sage-about-oregon-football-players-fans-react

I ain't gonna say it's gonna happen, but don't sleep on a repeat . . . I wouldn't bet against the Dawgs this year, even against BAMA.

 

[Sope Creek]

Well…. IU isn’t good obviously. And this is a discussion board.

I dunno . . . "very good", no. "Great", no. "Good", too early to tell, really.

It's been one game . . . and the general rule of thumb is that teams improve most between game 1 and game 2. We won't know until Cincy . . . but may have an idea after WKU.

 

[iubud]

Won a conference game for the first time in two years against a team that had a game in hand and people are saying stuff IU is not very good.
Went 2-10 last year and have practically a completely new coaching staff and some of y’all were expecting a blow out win?
Let’s take a deep breath and give it a few games before yelling the sky is falling (again)
Even 6-6 which is possible is a 4 game improvement over last year.
With a couple breaks I could see 7 wins which I’d take in a heartbeat.

It is funny how my attitude changed in the 4th quarter. The crowd was flat and there was no energy. UI was threatening to score the entire second half and it was inevitable the 1 point lead was going to grow too large. We were going to lose a game that we could have won. Last year all over again! We might not win a B1G game again.

Then Blazelak drove the team down the field and we found a way to win a game late. In an instant we had a team that could score when they needed to and could be 3-0 going to Cincinnati. I went from dreading that we had tickets for that game to wondering what would happen if we started 4-0.

 

[Univee2]

It's pronounced "dawgs", all in one single, quick syllable, which can sound slow and drawn out to an outsider (Notre Dame fans particularly), and spelled like you have it.

You can say that Oregon stunk it up, but the Dawgs might've had something to do with that. As Kirby said, "He (Lanning) knows we have better players." https://thespun.com/more/top-storie...sage-about-oregon-football-players-fans-react

I ain't gonna say it's gonna happen, but don't sleep on a repeat . . . I wouldn't bet against the Dawgs this year, even against BAMA.

Maybe y’all say it differently in uppity-uppity north ATL. I’ll go knock on Kirby’s door and ask him how he says it.

I would not bet against a repeat. Have to see the Saban hordes first.

 

[Big Red Crimson Buffalo]

It is funny how my attitude changed in the 4th quarter. The crowd was flat and there was no energy. UI was threatening to score the entire second half and it was inevitable the 1 point lead was going to grow too large. We were going to lose a game that we could have won. Last year all over again! We might not win a B1G game again.

Then Blazelak drove the team down the field and we found a way to win a game late. In an instant we had a team that could score when they needed to and could be 3-0 going to Cincinnati. I went from dreading that we had tickets for that game to wondering what would happen if we started 4-0.

And, as a bonus, you didn’t end up connecting a hose into your tailpipe and run it inside the car window. Live to fight another day.!

 

[Sope Creek]

I’ll go knock on Kirby’s door and ask him how he says it.

I won't come with . . . .

 

[YOTHN]

Some posters have to live their lives in misery it seems. They can't seem to find joy even for a couple of days when IUFB wins a B1G game. I can't understand living that way and saying IUFB has been bad for decades is why doesn't cut it.

Its truly just a coping mechanism used by those who can't handle disappointment. By starting disappointed, any outcome better than that is easily digestible. If its a disappointing season, they've already prepared themselves as a way to soften the emotional blow. Those that are always optimistic can emotionally handle either outcome and can live stress free in the moment. That's not a knock on either position....just the truth.

 

[Jssanto]

Won a conference game for the first time in two years against a team that had a game in hand and people are saying stuff IU is not very good.
Went 2-10 last year and have practically a completely new coaching staff and some of y’all were expecting a blow out win?
Let’s take a deep breath and give it a few games before yelling the sky is falling (again)
Even 6-6 which is possible is a 4 game improvement over last year.
With a couple breaks I could see 7 wins which I’d take in a heartbeat.

In my current 1 -0 giddiness, I believe 6-8 wins possible. Will need breaks (injury free, a few calls and bounces going our way, somehow keep getting turnovers) to get 8 but absolutely possible.

 

[RegionHoosiers]

If IU can't win 6 with its best ever recruiting class and a lot of wins on the portal, I'm not sure they ever will again with this coach. 3 or 4 wins will dry up recruiting.

A division realignment might change things.

I think getting this win was huge. Playing the first game with so many new players and new coaches, against a Big Ten team that already played a game - that was a big challenge. Clean things up the next 2 games and then see what we have in week 4.

Hard to ignore the ongoing OL issues (not that improvement was expected with same coach and mostly same players) but outside of that there was a lot of improvement compared to last year.

 

[Hoosier Clarion]

Looking at +'s. The Illinois rushing attack was stout to compete against because of their OL and their talented RB's. In fact I'd consider them nationally prominent. The D didn't let them get out of hand and control the game. I also believe the IU pass defense will muster strong adversity against good passing teams. So I look at it this way, ride the D with wild abandon while the IU offense develops and grows to compete, adapt and overcome. That process initiated right before our eyes Friday night. Bell tried several different angles, found a couple and will attempt more over the next 2 weeks. I see promise.

 

[iubud]

If IU can't win 6 with its best ever recruiting class and a lot of wins on the portal, I'm not sure they ever will again with this coach. 3 or 4 wins will dry up recruiting.

A division realignment might change things.

I think getting this win was huge. Playing the first game with so many new players and new coaches, against a Big Ten team that already played a game - that was a big challenge. Clean things up the next 2 games and then see what we have in week 4.

Hard to ignore the ongoing OL issues (not that improvement was expected with same coach and mostly same players) but outside of that there was a lot of improvement compared to last year.

Recruiting classes don't provide immediate results. Portal players can help short term. Remember they leave where they were for a reason. There are no guarantees they will be better than what you lose.

 

[Jssanto]

If IU can't win 6 with its best ever recruiting class and a lot of wins on the portal, I'm not sure they ever will again with this coach. 3 or 4 wins will dry up recruiting.

A division realignment might change things.

I think getting this win was huge. Playing the first game with so many new players and new coaches, against a Big Ten team that already played a game - that was a big challenge. Clean things up the next 2 games and then see what we have in week 4.

Hard to ignore the ongoing OL issues (not that improvement was expected with same coach and mostly same players) but outside of that there was a lot of improvement compared to last year.

Agree.
This win was huge, maybe more than huge. If we go one game at a time we could be 3-0 going into Cin at Cincinnati . If we can beat MD, Rutgers, NE, PU we have 7 wins. Going 3-2 in those 5 games still is 6 wins.
Still, time now is to look at Idaho film (and do something about OL/running game).

 

[Al Bino]

Agreed. First games are always sloppy and mistake-prone. I was really concerned about having to open with a conference opponent that had already played a game. I was really pleased with every aspect of IU's play with the exception of the run game. The D looked like a Tom Allen defense again. I thought Bazelek was very good considering our total inability to run the ball. For a first game with a new team, I liked his decision-making and was pleased that most of his mistakes were overthrows (which can be dangerous over the middle but are usually better than underthrows). Brown and Williams for Illinois are dynamic players who are going to get yards against everybody. We bottled up Brown when it mattered most and didn't give up big plays to either. No major breakdowns on D and flawless play on special teams.

The biggest issue remains the O-line. If we can't figure a way to run effectively, we are going to struggle to beat anybody who is really good. I hope Bell goes back and reviews some of DeBoer's playbook for some inspiration on how to use the short, quick passing game to serve as a running game. It is also a little concerning that we do not appear to have a dynamic RB. We really need that with a bad O-line. I was very encouraged that Matthews appears to be 100% and has big-play ability. Still waiting to have the question answered as to why Darren Hiller is still coaching at IU.

Definitely the OL as everyone has acknowledged but it also seemed that the DB's in particular, missed a lot of tackles. Do you think that was just first game rust?

 

[Bowlmania]

6-6 with this team would be miraculous. But winning four or five games would be a great sign of progress, and something fans should recognize as growth.

There would be nothing "miraculous" about a six-win season this year, particularly after what happened Friday night. We beat a good Illinois team, likely a bowl-bound team, that had the benefit of a game under their belts.

The Tom Allen defense has returned. It should give us an excellent chance in many of our remaining games.

 

[CC Mac]

Well…. IU isn’t good obviously. And this is a discussion board.

Not sure if that’s directed at me but if so,predicting 6 wins is not a declaration of greatness.

 

[Jssanto]

Definitely the OL as everyone has acknowledged but it also seemed that the DB's in particular, missed a lot of tackles. Do you think that was just first game rust?

I agree and mentioned in the live game thread that I thought we missed a lot of tackles.
Their Williams was really shifty, but we still made a lot of contact without wrapping up and bringing down.

 

[UncleMark]

Definitely the OL as everyone has acknowledged but it also seemed that the DB's in particular, missed a lot of tackles. Do you think that was just first game rust?

Those Illinois running backs are going to make a lot of players look like bad tacklers.

 

[vesuvius13]

Recruiting classes don't provide immediate results. Portal players can help short term. Remember they leave where they were for a reason. There are no guarantees they will be better than what you lose.

This 2022 class has already provided some help with several seeing the field Friday night. McCollough played quite a bit including early on, Evans was in early in the game at DL, with others getting some playing time. No, the class won't make a major impact, but a couple could see major time this year.

 

[TomEric4756]

Recruiting classes don't provide immediate results. Portal players can help short term. Remember they leave where they were for a reason. There are no guarantees they will be better than what you lose.

Wrote a thread for that already.
https://indiana.forums.rivals.com/t...4-portal-transfers-played.224541/post-3552688

We got a big portal haul this year, 14 played. The game wouldn’t have remained competitive without them. Imagine the havoc wrought by Chase Brown and Illini on tired DL and LBs. Portal players got about 40% of those snaps. (Illini score instead of getting stuffed on 3rd and 4th to goal). Portal players and freshman had 32 of the 97 tackles.

https://dbukjj6eu5tsf.cloudfront.ne...m/documents/2022/9/3/IU_Illinois_Gamebook.PDF

 

[Hoosier Clarion]

No 1 who was in attendance has remarked about the new MS lighting. Any thoughts?

 

[jb17]

Don’t know why everyone seems to forget about the unbelievable injuries last year,along with the #1 most difficult schedule in the country per Phil Steele - we had issues for sure,but were up against heavy odds - SO happy that we pulled out the W - just want to beat Idaho right now, and see improvement….