You've broken it down quite well. Even with Sudfeld, IU had trouble creating running lanes for Howard and Redding. The IU O line is a good but not great unit (pass protection is their strength), but they aren't a bruising unit that will create a road grader running game. Sudfeld enables far greater diversity in the offense than does Diamont who, while gutty, is pretty limited as a thrower.
Zander at QB with a healthy Jordan Howard is what the offense needs
- Thread starter IUNY
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I, for one, am not sold on Sudfeld. I think against better defenses he tends to panic. Maybe it's the injury but he absolutely is no threat as a runner when his WRs are blanketed. He throws a nice ball when he isn't under pressure but he's going to see a bunch more pressure now going through the last 8 games than the first 4. The DLs are going to be better across the board.
Not sure Zander is the answer either.
I think we are in the same position offensively as we were last year with a slightly better defense. We have to have both sides clicking to give us a shot this year, IMO.
The receivers and TEs last year were not nearly as good as they are this year. Once JH returns to play, the offense this year, with our without Nate, will be better than it was last year. I am just not sure how much better.
Let's face it, last year after NS went down our offense sucked, stagnant. I don't see it being a lot better than then this year without him. We're blowing smoke if we think ZD can just step in and keep pace. I like ZD, a sparkplug, but without JH and better WR play, his legs won't win us games. That will be taken away by a good D, and dispite the rhetoric here, PSU's D is very good and will be coached up for IU's game plan. Without the return of at least two missing starters, this will be a very tough game to compete in, let alone win. We have never won there...ever. To think a wounded IU squad is going to go in and just beat them is fan talk. We're 1-17 against them folks. For a reason. Not saying we can't win without our missing players but if we do, luck will have to fall heavily on our side. IU and "the breaks" have rarely been acquainted, but it can happen. I'm waiting to see who plays, on both teams, before getting giddy.
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And you're 1-1 against us in the last two years.
It's funny reading this board. See 50% saying Hoosiers will win and 50% saying it will be tough to compete. Why that's funny is because our premium board is the EXACT SAME. This will be a good game, folks. And by good, I mean close. We all know it'll be ugly haha
Vbg...I guess that's why they call us fans...we blow a lot of air around! Should be one slobber knocking, fart, fall down, stubble game...but somebody's gotta win!
Your nuts Zander's long run was because IU faked the sweep and the entire OSU defense jumped on the fake as if Nate was in the game. With time to prepare defenses will not fall for the fake and Zander will continue his 45% completion rate with more interceptions than TD's and IU will not win another game with the possible exceptions of Purdue and Rutgers. He's such a winner that IU won 1 games last year with him at QB and in that game he managed to lead an offense to 13 points against a Purdue defense that a high school team could put 21 on
You mean "you're" nuts. ... So the Ohio State defense couldn't tell the difference between a 6-6 quarterback and a 6-foot one?
What was Zander's completion percentage on Saturday ??? Of course they can but all week they prepared for the read option with the halfback getting the ball and their instinct was to go for the halfback. If teams prepare for Zander runs like Saturday will not happen
Your right there have been more from folks proclaiming Zander to be the greatest leader in the history of football and how he could be the key to future IU success I tend to disagree
I may have missed some posts but I have seen only one saying he should start over Sudfeld. You are being overly critical of Zander as if it is a personal mission to assassinate him. He came in last year in the worst possible situation. He was not ready and the receivers were not ready. Sudfeld struggled with them as well before the injury. You say OSU was not ready or prepared for him this year? He played the entire game against them last year. Players get better over the course of their college careers. Zander will get better and the receivers will get better. I really don't know what he has done to earn your scorn other than failing to do the impossible.
I like Zander but many on this board have given the impression that Zander is a top rate QB I just disagree and hope he is not ever the starter because I don't believe he has the physical skills. Here's hoping he proves me wrong
Have to agree. ZD does not look anything like a B10 QB...but, like the man said, looks and a buck will you a cup of coffee. ARE wasn't exactly an intimidating physical specimen... Vbg...but inside he was a monster! He also wasn't the world's best passer either but his total package equalled more than the sum of his parts. Whether ZD got a monster in his belly is yet to be seen. Maybe this week? But its got to be shown, not annointed imo.
DUH!! Just pointing out size isn't always an indicator of skill. That was a joke ..right? ARE was beyond special.
Thought you were making a comparison ebtween ARE and Zander your right there is no comparison
Bump. Ohio State didn't prepare for Zander. This is him today and last year. Our season rests on a healthy Sudfeld. End of Story.
