O-line - The good, the bad and the ugly

[newIUfan]

The Bad- The rushing game. 26 carries, 32 yards for 1.2 yards a carry. Longest run was a qb scramble for 12 yards. Longest run by a back was 7 yards.

The Good- Pass protection. 54 called pass plays. 28 completions, 52 passes, one scramble, and only one sack. 330 yards and a 54% completion average.

The Ugly- Bedford's knee injury. I hope he is ok.

Analysis- I thought the pass protection was very good. Connor had a clean pocket most of the night, when they moved the pocket or he rolled out he had time to throw. He definitely did not have to run for his life. His passing stats would have looked much better if there were not so many dropped balls and if he and his receivers were on the same page more often (there were a number of unpressured throws no where near a receiver). He also over threw a lot of open receivers, especially early in the game. I think Ill defensive game plan was shut down the run and let the new quarterback with a new receiving corps try to beat you. It almost worked. I think this is one of the reasons the run game produced so little. It always appeared that Ill had 11 to stop the run. There safeties and corners were big in the run stop effort. The result was IU's receivers were open much of the night. Time will tell. It is clear the Hoosiers have a passing attack and some dynamic receivers. This may be a year where IU will pass early and often to set up the running game.

 

[td75]

Who was Bedford's replacement? I hope Bedford gets back before UC.

 

[IndyIUFan66]

Who was Bedford's replacement? I hope Bedford gets back before UC.

Hanna, D2 transfer from a Texas college. He played well and has good size and is a senior. Like Florida players, I think Texas players are a different breed than elsewhere and he will bring pride to his role and this opportunity for a chance to play in major D1 competition.

 

[812jmac]

The Bad- The rushing game. 26 carries, 32 yards for 1.2 yards a carry. Longest run was a qb scramble for 12 yards. Longest run by a back was 7 yards.

The Good- Pass protection. 54 called pass plays. 28 completions, 52 passes, one scramble, and only one sack. 330 yards and a 54% completion average.

The Ugly- Bedford's knee injury. I hope he is ok.

Analysis- I thought the pass protection was very good. Connor had a clean pocket most of the night, when they moved the pocket or he rolled out he had time to throw. He definitely did not have to run for his life. His passing stats would have looked much better if there were not so many dropped balls and if he and his receivers were on the same page more often (there were a number of unpressured throws no where near a receiver). He also over threw a lot of open receivers, especially early in the game. I think Ill defensive game plan was shut down the run and let the new quarterback with a new receiving corps try to beat you. It almost worked. I think this is one of the reasons the run game produced so little. It always appeared that Ill had 11 to stop the run. There safeties and corners were big in the run stop effort. The result was IU's receivers were open much of the night. Time will tell. It is clear the Hoosiers have a passing attack and some dynamic receivers. This may be a year where IU will pass early and often to set up the running game.

I agree with how it seemed like UI had all 11 in the box every time we tried to run. I know we all have our questions about the OL, but it did seem UI was loading up on the run to see if a new, untested QB and WR corps could beat them. Almost worked. Glad it didn’t.

 

[YOTHN]

It feels like we either need a couple more things to happen for the passing game to take the offense up to a consistent winning level.

1. Get RBs involved more in short routes to supplement the lack of running.

2. Get Barner more involved. He's a big target and can help keep LBs from honing in on wr/rb short routes.

 

[Jssanto]

The Bad- The rushing game. 26 carries, 32 yards for 1.2 yards a carry. Longest run was a qb scramble for 12 yards. Longest run by a back was 7 yards.

The Good- Pass protection. 54 called pass plays. 28 completions, 52 passes, one scramble, and only one sack. 330 yards and a 54% completion average.

The Ugly- Bedford's knee injury. I hope he is ok.

Analysis- I thought the pass protection was very good. Connor had a clean pocket most of the night, when they moved the pocket or he rolled out he had time to throw. He definitely did not have to run for his life. His passing stats would have looked much better if there were not so many dropped balls and if he and his receivers were on the same page more often (there were a number of unpressured throws no where near a receiver). He also over threw a lot of open receivers, especially early in the game. I think Ill defensive game plan was shut down the run and let the new quarterback with a new receiving corps try to beat you. It almost worked. I think this is one of the reasons the run game produced so little. It always appeared that Ill had 11 to stop the run. There safeties and corners were big in the run stop effort. The result was IU's receivers were open much of the night. Time will tell. It is clear the Hoosiers have a passing attack and some dynamic receivers. This may be a year where IU will pass early and often to set up the running game.

That could foretell a nice future for us if u r right and Illinois concentrated on stopping the run. With a game or two experience our pass game may improve -fewer drops, fewer off target passes, etc.
I have been in a good mood all day.

 

[TMFT]

Who was Bedford's replacement? I hope Bedford gets back before UC.

I have zero inside information but I watched the game on my DVR this morning. In my amateur opinion is knee is effed. Non-contact. Not hyper extended. Not anything but a collapse of it while pass blocking.

Even if it’s not terribly serious, that’s the kind of thing in game one that can nag a player all season.

 

[vesuvius13]

Illinois defense was one of the better ones in the B1G last season 6th in the B1G right behind Iowa's defense. I am willing to see if IU's OL improves the next two weeks, I have my doubts based on coach Hiller's record, before deciding if they will harm the team if no change is made.

 

[82hoosier]

Wyoming ran the ball against the Illini 31 times for 182 yards. The Cowboys averaged over six yards per carry. The Hoosiers had six carries for a negative 5 yards in the first half but exploded for 37 yards in the second half finishing with an average of 1.2 yards per carry.

A reasonable argument can be made that the Hoosiers running game has only gotten worse.

 

[It Will Do]

These are disappointing statistics. It is just unimaginable we could get worse.

 

[3rdindianacav]

Wyoming ran the ball against the Illini 31 times for 182 yards. The Cowboys averaged over six yards per carry. The Hoosiers had six carries for a negative 5 yards in the first half but exploded for 37 yards in the second half finishing with an average of 1.2 yards per carry.

A reasonable argument can be made that the Hoosiers running game has only gotten worse.

Wyoming also had 30 total passing yards on 20 attempts. Seems as though UI has sold out to stopping either the pass or the run.
Not saying IU has a great ground game but perhaps it’s not as bad as it looked. Time will tell.

 

[Champs1976]

Wyoming ran the ball against the Illini 31 times for 182 yards. The Cowboys averaged over six yards per carry. The Hoosiers had six carries for a negative 5 yards in the first half but exploded for 37 yards in the second half finishing with an average of 1.2 yards per carry.

A reasonable argument can be made that the Hoosiers running game has only gotten worse.

Hire the Wyoming OL coach.

 

[Bowlmania]

Illinois defense was one of the better ones in the B1G last season 6th in the B1G right behind Iowa's defense. I am willing to see if IU's OL improves the next two weeks, I have my doubts based on coach Hiller's record, before deciding if they will harm the team if no change is made.

Agreed that the Illinois defense is good but, dang, we still should have been able to generate something on the ground.

Like you, I'm hopeful for improvement but we may not know whether we're really making strides until the Cincinnati game as the level of competition drops below that of Illinois for the next couple of Saturdays.

What no one wants to see is the lack of a run game four or five games into the season. IU alum and Coach Mal player Rod Carey, a successful head coach at Northern Illinois and, prior to that, a successful offensive line coach, is now on our staff. Allen needs to leverage him for all he's worth. If we remain predictably one dimensional, teams will be able to prepare accordingly. We'll also have more games like the last one, with a huge discrepancy in time of possession and a defense that is on the field too much. That's not a recipe for sustained success.

 

[Hoosier009]

The Bad- The rushing game. 26 carries, 32 yards for 1.2 yards a carry. Longest run was a qb scramble for 12 yards. Longest run by a back was 7 yards.

The Good- Pass protection. 54 called pass plays. 28 completions, 52 passes, one scramble, and only one sack. 330 yards and a 54% completion average.

The Ugly- Bedford's knee injury. I hope he is ok.

Analysis- I thought the pass protection was very good. Connor had a clean pocket most of the night, when they moved the pocket or he rolled out he had time to throw. He definitely did not have to run for his life. His passing stats would have looked much better if there were not so many dropped balls and if he and his receivers were on the same page more often (there were a number of unpressured throws no where near a receiver). He also over threw a lot of open receivers, especially early in the game. I think Ill defensive game plan was shut down the run and let the new quarterback with a new receiving corps try to beat you. It almost worked. I think this is one of the reasons the run game produced so little. It always appeared that Ill had 11 to stop the run. There safeties and corners were big in the run stop effort. The result was IU's receivers were open much of the night. Time will tell. It is clear the Hoosiers have a passing attack and some dynamic receivers. This may be a year where IU will pass early and often to set up the running game.

No doubt the run game was abysmal. No push from the line all night. Was hoping with most of the same group back we'd see a noticeable improvement. The bright spot that I have not seen mentioned is the last play on the drive. We needed two yards and we got it. Hopefully something to build on... Btw I also thought the Allen/Wilt DC combo outcoached the much talked about Illini English DC.

 

[UncleMark]

What no one wants to see is the lack of a run game four or five games into the season. IU alum and Coach Mal player Rod Carey, a successful head coach at Northern Illinois and, prior to that, a successful offensive line coach, is now on our staff. Allen needs to leverage him for all he's worth.

Seems to me that Carey very well may be the OL-coach-in-waiting. Hiller has to know he's got one shot to get his shit right and his replacement is on staff already. And no, I can't explain why they're doing it this way now instead of Carey already having the job. Perhaps Carey is looking at co-OC with OL responsibilities in the near future.

 

[turney333]

Wyoming also had 30 total passing yards on 20 attempts. Seems as though UI has sold out to stopping either the pass or the run.
Not saying IU has a great ground game but perhaps it’s not as bad as it looked. Time will tell.

Wyoming also had 111 yards on 9 carries on their first 3 drives (didn’t complete a pass during these possessions). They then had 71 yards on 22 carries the rest of the game/last 10 drives. Add in the passing, Wyoming only had total 101 yards after the first quarter.

so it’s seems like after the first quarter, Illinois dialed it in/made some adjustments and really shut Wyoming down.

 

[Big Red Crimson Buffalo]

I see some teams are really good with pulling guards. I have a soft spot for that scheme. Wish we had the OL to do it.

 

[TMFT]

I see some teams are really good with pulling guards. I have a soft spot for that scheme. Wish we had the OL to do it.

Wait till Vinny Fiacable gets a little older. The kid has outstanding feet based on his HS tape. A prototype, to me, of a pulling guard.

 

[Champs1976]

Wait till Vinny Fiacable gets a little older. The kid has outstanding feet based on his HS tape. A prototype, to me, of a pulling guard.

You're assuming that a player gets better with age and experience, that is most definitely not a given with Hiller "coaching" him. I hope he does get better, but like everyone on the OL or in the OL room, they need coaching. Are you convinced he's getting it?

 

[Jackskip23]

I see some teams are really good with pulling guards. I have a soft spot for that scheme. Wish we had the OL to do it.

It’s not a part of Bell’s offense, though, so we wouldn’t go that way if we could.