I do not have numbers or stats to reflect what I'm feeling in my heart about the defense. So there's nothing I can pull upon other than gut instinct. So if you're a numbers guy, I don't have anything for you at this point in the season. Only time and games played will show if this truly plays out.
My initial premise is that you HAVE TO STOP THE RUN IN THE BIG TEN to have any level of success.
But I believe the defense is very much improved from a year ago in two key areas. Run defense and turnovers generated.
Historically IU's run defense has been shredded like chicken at Roscoe's Tacos in Greenwood. Even IU's better teams struggled to defend quality teams run games. MSU and others have gone through IU's better defenses like $&!+ through a goose. SIU ran the ball effectively against IU in game one. BUT.. With two key distinctions.
1. SIU did it primarily with QB runs off the zone read against IU's reserves. It should be noted that Latham, Green, Scales did not play. Latham and Green have played the majority of snaps in the interior and have held their ground. They haven't been knocked off the line of scrimmage and clear to Monroe Reservoir as so many of their predecessors have historically. Against SIU, guys who don't normally play a lot, got out of position, got fooled, got beat by a nimble, clever guy.
2. Those teams didn't line up and run the tailback like IU will see from MSU, Mich, PSU, Rutgers, Maryland, Iowa and Purdue. OSU's QB's and running game present their own issues with the QB running option. But when IU is trying to get to a bowl game and legitimize the program. Some of the teams listed above will certainly run some QB action. But their primary run focus is powerful offensive line play and a running back as a feature. The passing game plays off the run. They play a style IU was designed to play against and into what I think is IU's strength.
A season ago IU showed some progress against the run. At the expense of pass defense. IU's corners looked like a relay race chasing the ball down the field.
But saturday western couldn't really run it and threw and threw and threw. I'd have to go back and check stats for FIU, but I don't remember their running game being off the charts.
With the starters back out there the IU defense has been improved against the run. The safeties have generated int's and decent run support. As young guys they've gotten fooled a bit in their recognition and being in position. It's given up long plays. The freshmen corners have generally kept good outside leverage in support, but have missed tackles.
Fant has generally done well IMO but IU is trying to find an answer in the boundary corner. Probably hoping someone emerges, IU has rotated 3 freshmen (including a converted RB) and a redshirt soph who hadn't played much in that role. It's been tough. Somewhere just out of the mix (supposedly b/c of injury) is IU's #1 defensive recruit... Tyler Green. If Green (or anyone) can emerge and adequately fill that spot, the defense can get some traction down the stretch. With Dutra's return, IU will have a bit more continuity in the secondary. Controlling the run on early downs makes teams have to throw, throw different types of passes, and makes them vulnerable to the interception. Which IU has done in those situations. Passes you WANT to throw are usually higher percentage one's and not as risky. Passes you HAVE to throw aren't.
I do not know squat about Wake Forest. I don't know what offense they run. I read their QB got hurt and they are playing a younger guy. Perhaps he's more mobile. If so, IU is going to see a LOT of the same type of offense they did against SIU.
As usual, the "IU faithful" have already determined Wake is no good and thump their chests about IU murdering them by an outlandish score. And if the score is close, or if this young team struggles in it's first road game, or if IU PUNTS, those typing fingers will be smoking the keys... rat tat tat tat....
What I DO know is this: (and it ain't much)
IU is a better team than they've been for awhile. Outside of QB, and starting OL and DL, they are not experienced at a lot of key spots and the experience they have is often young.
They have to show up and play well to win. But I think they are playing better at at least one phase of their defense than they have in awhile too. The growth has been long coming and fun to watch. For some of us.
Go IU football.
My initial premise is that you HAVE TO STOP THE RUN IN THE BIG TEN to have any level of success.
But I believe the defense is very much improved from a year ago in two key areas. Run defense and turnovers generated.
Historically IU's run defense has been shredded like chicken at Roscoe's Tacos in Greenwood. Even IU's better teams struggled to defend quality teams run games. MSU and others have gone through IU's better defenses like $&!+ through a goose. SIU ran the ball effectively against IU in game one. BUT.. With two key distinctions.
1. SIU did it primarily with QB runs off the zone read against IU's reserves. It should be noted that Latham, Green, Scales did not play. Latham and Green have played the majority of snaps in the interior and have held their ground. They haven't been knocked off the line of scrimmage and clear to Monroe Reservoir as so many of their predecessors have historically. Against SIU, guys who don't normally play a lot, got out of position, got fooled, got beat by a nimble, clever guy.
2. Those teams didn't line up and run the tailback like IU will see from MSU, Mich, PSU, Rutgers, Maryland, Iowa and Purdue. OSU's QB's and running game present their own issues with the QB running option. But when IU is trying to get to a bowl game and legitimize the program. Some of the teams listed above will certainly run some QB action. But their primary run focus is powerful offensive line play and a running back as a feature. The passing game plays off the run. They play a style IU was designed to play against and into what I think is IU's strength.
A season ago IU showed some progress against the run. At the expense of pass defense. IU's corners looked like a relay race chasing the ball down the field.
But saturday western couldn't really run it and threw and threw and threw. I'd have to go back and check stats for FIU, but I don't remember their running game being off the charts.
With the starters back out there the IU defense has been improved against the run. The safeties have generated int's and decent run support. As young guys they've gotten fooled a bit in their recognition and being in position. It's given up long plays. The freshmen corners have generally kept good outside leverage in support, but have missed tackles.
Fant has generally done well IMO but IU is trying to find an answer in the boundary corner. Probably hoping someone emerges, IU has rotated 3 freshmen (including a converted RB) and a redshirt soph who hadn't played much in that role. It's been tough. Somewhere just out of the mix (supposedly b/c of injury) is IU's #1 defensive recruit... Tyler Green. If Green (or anyone) can emerge and adequately fill that spot, the defense can get some traction down the stretch. With Dutra's return, IU will have a bit more continuity in the secondary. Controlling the run on early downs makes teams have to throw, throw different types of passes, and makes them vulnerable to the interception. Which IU has done in those situations. Passes you WANT to throw are usually higher percentage one's and not as risky. Passes you HAVE to throw aren't.
I do not know squat about Wake Forest. I don't know what offense they run. I read their QB got hurt and they are playing a younger guy. Perhaps he's more mobile. If so, IU is going to see a LOT of the same type of offense they did against SIU.
As usual, the "IU faithful" have already determined Wake is no good and thump their chests about IU murdering them by an outlandish score. And if the score is close, or if this young team struggles in it's first road game, or if IU PUNTS, those typing fingers will be smoking the keys... rat tat tat tat....
What I DO know is this: (and it ain't much)
IU is a better team than they've been for awhile. Outside of QB, and starting OL and DL, they are not experienced at a lot of key spots and the experience they have is often young.
They have to show up and play well to win. But I think they are playing better at at least one phase of their defense than they have in awhile too. The growth has been long coming and fun to watch. For some of us.
Go IU football.
