I remember 2/3 of a lifetime ago Darryl Royal of Texas saying something about Texas doing what it did best because "You dance with the one that brung ya".
If you look at IU as a team and program. What are their needs? What do they do well? What can you do to mask weaknesses and maximize strengths if you're the coach? IU made headway defensively last yr. They improved versus the run from horrible to better.
But consider how bad the offense was at times w/o Nate. Coleman got yards, but passes were dropped, drives stopped, and too many times the ball was turned over to the opposition. Too many possessions eventually yield points.
IMAGINE HOW EFFECTIVE THEY COULD HAVE BEEN WITH JUST ONE MORE OFFENSIVE POSSESSION THAT WASN'T A 3 and OUT? Or TWO? THREE? Three possessions that don't end in a punt maybe yield 10 pts? That's perhaps 10 min the defense isn't on the field a game? 3 less possessions the defense doesn't have to play.
At this point, IU doesn't have Cody and Tevin. IU's passing game MAY emerge as a strength, but 2 days into August, it hasn't yet. It's the Big Ten and if you can't stop the run, you're dead. Joe Tiller notwithstanding, It's harder to pass the ball in late October because of wind and rain and November because of cold. So you have to be able to run the ball and stop the run or your season is done/finished. OSU, MSU, and Wisconsin primarily run the ball. They can pass it too. But they run the ball. Running the ball is their "bread and butter".
Running the ball keeps the defense resting. Running the ball keeps the clock moving and shortens the game. Running the ball keeps the other teams offense off the field.
IU's strength is a senior quarterback and as good an offensive line as IU has put on the field in my lifetime.
Note I didn't say John Hicks and OSU good. I said IU good. IU also has 4 tight ends who weigh over 250 lbs.
So how does IU utilize this to their strengths and minimize their weakness?
I would not be surprised to see some double tight end formations to get Corsaro and company on the field more. Some Tight end plus an H back. Maximize pass protection and short controlled chain moving ball control offense like the Patriots (I still hate them) use. More 3-5 yard passes and turn and run straight up the field for good yardage and keep the sticks moving offense. Note: When I'm watching that and my team is trying to stop it I'm SCREAMING AT THE TV "C'mon Giselle. Pass the freaking ball down the field like a man!!!" More passes "underneath" and to the backs and TE's. They make it easier to sustain drives with the run because it's manageable yardages. It will be interesting to see how Coach Johns evolves as a play caller in season two. Hopefully, the 3rd and three go routes to backup wideouts under Seth Littrell are gone forever.
A sledgehammer runner in Howard compliments this perfectly. Tevin Coleman was as breathtaking a runner as I've seen in yrs. A blink of an eye from a TD on every play. But had he come back for a senior season, a skill I hoped he'd learn is to get the first down more and not necessarily look to break it on every play. I think Howard and Redding and even Rodriguez can be that guy. To compliment that, perhaps some double tight end formations in short yardage and around the goal line.
Maybe? Maybe not.
After all there's a month to go and something to think about.
Go IU football
If you look at IU as a team and program. What are their needs? What do they do well? What can you do to mask weaknesses and maximize strengths if you're the coach? IU made headway defensively last yr. They improved versus the run from horrible to better.
But consider how bad the offense was at times w/o Nate. Coleman got yards, but passes were dropped, drives stopped, and too many times the ball was turned over to the opposition. Too many possessions eventually yield points.
IMAGINE HOW EFFECTIVE THEY COULD HAVE BEEN WITH JUST ONE MORE OFFENSIVE POSSESSION THAT WASN'T A 3 and OUT? Or TWO? THREE? Three possessions that don't end in a punt maybe yield 10 pts? That's perhaps 10 min the defense isn't on the field a game? 3 less possessions the defense doesn't have to play.
At this point, IU doesn't have Cody and Tevin. IU's passing game MAY emerge as a strength, but 2 days into August, it hasn't yet. It's the Big Ten and if you can't stop the run, you're dead. Joe Tiller notwithstanding, It's harder to pass the ball in late October because of wind and rain and November because of cold. So you have to be able to run the ball and stop the run or your season is done/finished. OSU, MSU, and Wisconsin primarily run the ball. They can pass it too. But they run the ball. Running the ball is their "bread and butter".
Running the ball keeps the defense resting. Running the ball keeps the clock moving and shortens the game. Running the ball keeps the other teams offense off the field.
IU's strength is a senior quarterback and as good an offensive line as IU has put on the field in my lifetime.
Note I didn't say John Hicks and OSU good. I said IU good. IU also has 4 tight ends who weigh over 250 lbs.
So how does IU utilize this to their strengths and minimize their weakness?
I would not be surprised to see some double tight end formations to get Corsaro and company on the field more. Some Tight end plus an H back. Maximize pass protection and short controlled chain moving ball control offense like the Patriots (I still hate them) use. More 3-5 yard passes and turn and run straight up the field for good yardage and keep the sticks moving offense. Note: When I'm watching that and my team is trying to stop it I'm SCREAMING AT THE TV "C'mon Giselle. Pass the freaking ball down the field like a man!!!" More passes "underneath" and to the backs and TE's. They make it easier to sustain drives with the run because it's manageable yardages. It will be interesting to see how Coach Johns evolves as a play caller in season two. Hopefully, the 3rd and three go routes to backup wideouts under Seth Littrell are gone forever.
A sledgehammer runner in Howard compliments this perfectly. Tevin Coleman was as breathtaking a runner as I've seen in yrs. A blink of an eye from a TD on every play. But had he come back for a senior season, a skill I hoped he'd learn is to get the first down more and not necessarily look to break it on every play. I think Howard and Redding and even Rodriguez can be that guy. To compliment that, perhaps some double tight end formations in short yardage and around the goal line.
Maybe? Maybe not.
After all there's a month to go and something to think about.
Go IU football
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