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[HoosierNative]

For all the criticisms of Coach Allen's in-game coaching, his teams have won the last three overtime games (over Purdue in 2019, over Penn State in 2020, and over Western Kentucky in 2022) in which they participated. Furthermore, his scholarship commitment to special team specialists seems to be paying off as well--something often roundly criticized on this board.

While there are still some head-scratching moments (e.g., yesterday's decision to go for it on 4th down near midfield and early in the game), I thought the team's play (regarding turnovers and penalties) in the Illinois contest and his calls as a head coach were clean especially for a first game. He also seems to have improved significantly on the use of timeouts.

Wish he would occasionally temper his sideline demeanor and pre-game/post-game speeches, but this is his style.

There is a lot to like including the fight in this team and their coach!

 

[Hoosier Clarion]

Yup I'll take him the way he is because better recruits seem to choose IU on their favorites list way more than I recall in the past.

 

[vesuvius13]

People that criticize coach Allen ignore all the times other coaches have unusual choices during games. The biggest difference is winning games and if coach Allen already had IU up to competing for B1G titles we wouldn't hear so much about coach's calls.

 

[Big Red Crimson Buffalo]

I might consider…….. not watching any Colts football on Sundays.
You want to look at a crummy coach, Reich is right up there on the list. Somewhere along the line he bamboozled fans into thinking he was good. One of the worst managed organizations in the NFL.

 

[IUgradman]

Irsay is too jacked up on drugs and busy listening to rock music to have any idea what is going on. The problems all start with him. He hired Grigson and Pagano. He hired Ballard and Reich.

 

[82hoosier]

For all the criticisms of Coach Allen's in-game coaching, his teams have won the last three overtime games (over Purdue in 2019, over Penn State in 2020, and over Western Kentucky in 2022) in which they participated. Furthermore, his scholarship commitment to special team specialists seems to be paying off as well--something often roundly criticized on this board.

While there are still some head-scratching moments (e.g., yesterday's decision to go for it on 4th down near midfield and early in the game), I thought the team's play (regarding turnovers and penalties) in the Illinois contest and his calls as a head coach were clean especially for a first game. He also seems to have improved significantly on the use of timeouts.

Wish he would occasionally temper his sideline demeanor and pre-game/post-game speeches, but this is his style.

There is a lot to like including the fight in this team and their coach!

I agree with your observations. When one loses control of their emotions, like he occasionally does during the game and even when talking to Don Fischer post-game, it affects their judgment and thus decision-making. Consequently decisions are based on impulse rather than careful evaluation. At least he is no longer getting the unsportsman conduct penalties for sideline antics.

I thought coach Allen would have figured a lot more of this out by now.

Despite all of my bitching yesterday I continue to be impressed by this team's resilience. The competition on the field is tough enough without self-inflicted drama.

 

[frikkenfrakken]

I thought Allen did a great job managing the clock at the end of the Illinois game. He did a way better job than Bielema, who should have been using his timeouts while IU was on offense.

It wasn't quite as good last weekend. We left them time to try a game winning field goal.

Our mess of a series on offense in OT was dreadful, but Campbell bailed us out. That's on Bell. Allen bailed us out of it by recruiting a high level kicker here.

Allen isnt perfect, and I hated the decision and play call on the 4th down play. But, the best of the best don't coach in college, they coach in the pros, and even some of the pro coaches screw that stuff up. And among college coaches, it's hard to figure how we'd get and then keep someone who was clearly better than Allen. I'd rather roll with him than keep spinning the carousel like Illinois does, getting NFL retreads and SEC dudes that couldn't hack it.

 

[Crusty The Baker]

Also, I’ve noticed an absence of false starts, offsides, OL holding, etc.

 

[Big Red Crimson Buffalo]

I agree with your observations. When one loses control of their emotions, like he occasionally does during the game and even when talking to Don Fischer post-game, it affects their judgment and thus decision-making. Consequently decisions are based on impulse rather than careful evaluation. At least he is no longer getting the unsportsman conduct penalties for sideline antics.

I thought coach Allen would have figured a lot more of this out by now.

Despite all of my bitching yesterday I continue to be impressed by this team's resilience. The competition on the field is tough enough without self-inflicted drama.

But, IU fans should fully understand and appreciate this, right? For 30 seasons, it had an unhinged maniac on its sidelines. He stuffed cops into dumpsters. Choked a kid or two and humiliated reporters left and right and he was adored. If you win, nobody gives a shit about your demeanor.

 

[Indianaftw]

I agree with your observations. When one loses control of their emotions, like he occasionally does during the game and even when talking to Don Fischer post-game, it affects their judgment and thus decision-making. Consequently decisions are based on impulse rather than careful evaluation. At least he is no longer getting the unsportsman conduct penalties for sideline antics.

I thought coach Allen would have figured a lot more of this out by now.

Despite all of my bitching yesterday I continue to be impressed by this team's resilience. The competition on the field is tough enough without self-inflicted drama.

Really? Are you kidding? Saban gets f*cking pizzed as hell on the sidelines. Venebles wears a leash and someone has to hold him back. Its part of the game, its what the players love about him. The decisions are evaluated before the game begins. Cmon man.

 

[Big Red Crimson Buffalo]

I thought Allen did a great job managing the clock at the end of the Illinois game. He did a way better job than Bielema, who should have been using his timeouts while IU was on offense.

It wasn't quite as good last weekend. We left them time to try a game winning field goal.

Our mess of a series on offense in OT was dreadful, but Campbell bailed us out. That's on Bell. Allen bailed us out of it by recruiting a high level kicker here.

Allen isnt perfect, and I hated the decision and play call on the 4th down play. But, the best of the best don't coach in college, they coach in the pros, and even some of the pro coaches screw that stuff up. And among college coaches, it's hard to figure how we'd get and then keep someone who was clearly better than Allen. I'd rather roll with him than keep spinning the carousel like Illinois does, getting NFL retreads and SEC dudes that couldn't hack it.

Frank Reich says “hello.”
That guy shouldn’t be coaching any level of football.

 

[frikkenfrakken]

Frank Reich says “hello.”
That guy shouldn’t be coaching any level of football.

I don't watch the NFL, but doesn't he have a super bowl ring as an OC? Maybe he shouldnt be a head coach, but it seems like he's okay at some level.

 

[Bowlmania]

He also seems to have improved significantly on the use of timeouts.

That's a good observation and an important point.

You often hear about the game "slowing down" for players as they gain experience. I think that's true for coaches as well. As you pointed out, going for it in at midfield on 4th and 2 early in the game - - and thereby handing a potent offense a short field and a quick score - - was baffling, but there seems to be far fewer of those "wtf" moments of late. And with respect to the TOs, we no longer find ourselves with 1 remaining late in the game which seemed to be a not infrequent occurrence early in his HC career. He's getting better as a game day coach and manager.

 

[Bowlmania]

Our mess of a series on offense in OT was dreadful, but Campbell bailed us out.

I watched the replay today. That series was almost as painful to watch the day after, even though the outcome of the game was no longer in doubt. It was particularly disheartening coming right on the heels of the great stop/blocked FG. That shit (two plays with negative yardage in OT) just can't happen.

You can't be going backwards, literally, when all you need is a FG to win the game. Thank God for Campbell.

 

[Bowlmania]

One other thought and if this has already been mentioned here or in another thread, I apologize.

When you're kicking off in a tie game with 47 seconds left in regulation, your job is to kick it deep and kick it straight. The coaches need to make sure that's cleaned up so we don't again see a kick go out of bounds under similar circumstances. That had disaster potential. It gave WKU a shorter field and we were lucky their kicker missed a doable (44 yard), game-winning FG at the end of regulation.

 

[frikkenfrakken]

One other thought and if this has already been mentioned here or in another thread, I apologize.

When you're kicking off in a tie game with 47 seconds left in regulation, your job is to kick it deep and kick it straight. The coaches need to make sure that's cleaned up so we don't again see a kick go out of bounds under similar circumstances. That had disaster potential. It gave WKU a shorter field and we were lucky their kicker missed a doable (44 yard), game-winning FG at the end of regulation.

I watched their kicker in warmups. He isn't very good. I'm not sure he has a 45 harder in him. But you're right. I don't even care if the kick-off isn't deep. Squib it if you want, just not OB...


EDIT: Apparently Brayden Narveson is a better kicker than he looked on Saturday. Hit a 53 harder last year. Maybe he was nicked up last weekend.