I had to record the game and watch it piecemeal late last night. Some things struck me right away.
Note: I'm vowing to just ignore some outright stupidity and keep myself on an even emotional keel this week.
1. Strange how people who do not post at all during the week seem to "come out of the woodwork" or "emerge from the slime" to announce their presence. It's rather amusing. As Carly Simon once wrote: "Suffering was the only thing, made me feel I was alive." That and making others miserable too. Because in the end. It's a football game.
2. I've been critical of the offensive line at times in the past year. Yes they've had a 2,000 yard rusher and All American tailback. No they haven't given up tons of sacks. But part of my evaluation is CAN YOU RUN THE BALL IN SHORT YARDAGE? And they have. It's early and they haven't played the Seahawks. But this line is pretty darn good. And not just for an IU offensive line. Camiel looks really good in Run blocking and while he might be susceptible to the "Bull Rush" because he's so tall. He's a gamer.
3. Wow I really loved FIU's corners. Particularly #7. Obviously upper classmen. I liked the speed and quickness of their defensive front. I think IU wore them down at times late but they were really pretty good too.
4. This offense is really about trying to figure out what they have. Frankly I've been worried about Mitchell Paige at the slot. Yes Danny Amendola and Woodhead and the Texas Techie who played for the Pats and Broncos are short white guys with quickness. But I'm not sure Mitchell is going to make the DC's at OSU / MSU / and conference foes lose sleep. But he did some nice things. Props to him. Otherwise. I get the idea Coach Johns is feeling things out a bit. Jones is fast and has good hands. Cobb is lanky. The TE's have done some nice things. But I don't think we as fans have seen anything like the total play book. So the offense will come together as the coaches find out as we do. After all this story, like the season, is unfolding.
5. Latham and Green add a lot to the defensive front. I commented the other day that Mangieri reminded me of former Colt Chad Bratzke. Yes an over-statement. But I like him at the end. Green, Latham and Mangieri are pretty decent.
6. I'm anxious to have Dutra back out there. But the kids are talented. Yes they'll make internet curmudgeons type awful things at times. But they make plays. IU hasn't had play makers on defense in.... In.. In... a long time. And Marcus Oliver makes plays.
IU is baby stepping. More improvement is needed next week. Nate isn't Colin Kaepernick in terms of running the ball. But he sure isn't Chris Dittoe either.
Lets go IU football.
Note: I'm vowing to just ignore some outright stupidity and keep myself on an even emotional keel this week.
1. Strange how people who do not post at all during the week seem to "come out of the woodwork" or "emerge from the slime" to announce their presence. It's rather amusing. As Carly Simon once wrote: "Suffering was the only thing, made me feel I was alive." That and making others miserable too. Because in the end. It's a football game.
2. I've been critical of the offensive line at times in the past year. Yes they've had a 2,000 yard rusher and All American tailback. No they haven't given up tons of sacks. But part of my evaluation is CAN YOU RUN THE BALL IN SHORT YARDAGE? And they have. It's early and they haven't played the Seahawks. But this line is pretty darn good. And not just for an IU offensive line. Camiel looks really good in Run blocking and while he might be susceptible to the "Bull Rush" because he's so tall. He's a gamer.
3. Wow I really loved FIU's corners. Particularly #7. Obviously upper classmen. I liked the speed and quickness of their defensive front. I think IU wore them down at times late but they were really pretty good too.
4. This offense is really about trying to figure out what they have. Frankly I've been worried about Mitchell Paige at the slot. Yes Danny Amendola and Woodhead and the Texas Techie who played for the Pats and Broncos are short white guys with quickness. But I'm not sure Mitchell is going to make the DC's at OSU / MSU / and conference foes lose sleep. But he did some nice things. Props to him. Otherwise. I get the idea Coach Johns is feeling things out a bit. Jones is fast and has good hands. Cobb is lanky. The TE's have done some nice things. But I don't think we as fans have seen anything like the total play book. So the offense will come together as the coaches find out as we do. After all this story, like the season, is unfolding.
5. Latham and Green add a lot to the defensive front. I commented the other day that Mangieri reminded me of former Colt Chad Bratzke. Yes an over-statement. But I like him at the end. Green, Latham and Mangieri are pretty decent.
6. I'm anxious to have Dutra back out there. But the kids are talented. Yes they'll make internet curmudgeons type awful things at times. But they make plays. IU hasn't had play makers on defense in.... In.. In... a long time. And Marcus Oliver makes plays.
IU is baby stepping. More improvement is needed next week. Nate isn't Colin Kaepernick in terms of running the ball. But he sure isn't Chris Dittoe either.
Lets go IU football.
