3yardsandacloud
Administrator Emeritus
2005 Indiana Hoosiers Game Preview
written by: BB73, Bucklion, daddyphatsacs, Hubbard,
Jaxbuck, LordJeffBuck, and 3yardsandacloud
written by: BB73, Bucklion, daddyphatsacs, Hubbard,
Jaxbuck, LordJeffBuck, and 3yardsandacloud
Well, this week the Buckeyes head over to Bloomington to take on Indiana. Let's pretend that we're on tOSU's coaching staff, and we're trying to give the team some reasons to not take the Hoosiers lightly.
Indiana has finished in the top-10 nationally once in the last 60 seasons. That was in 1967, the only time they've ever gone to the Rose Bowl, which they lost.
They beat us back-to-back in 1987 and 1988, and ended up in the top 20 of the Coaches' Poll both of those years. Of course, these are the only two times they've defeated the Buckeyes since 1951, which was Woody's first year as head coach.
Their last Bowl win was a shutout, and it occurred in the 1990's. This was a thrilling 24-0 Copper Bowl win over Baylor in 1991. They're also undefeated against South Carolina in Bowl games, while we're 0-2 against the Gamecocks.
They haven't been shutout in over 5 years. And they scored 63 points at Wisconsin in 2001.
They shut us out in Columbus shorthly after the last time the White Sox won the World Series. This was a scoreless tie in November, 1959.
Most of the crowd at the game will be wearing a shade close to Indiana's red, although this is expected to be a pretty even split between Scarlet and Crimson.
OK, if we're the coaches, we've been doing a lousy job so far. The team hasn't gotten fired up from any of those tidbits. We need to try a little harder to motivate the squad.
Indiana has a winning record all-time against the SEC, which is the only conference tOSU has a losing record against. Take out all the games against Kentucky and Vanderbilt, and they still have a winning record against the rest of the SEC teams.
We Buckeyes are only 1-5 in our last six Big-10 road games.
Terry Hoeppner makes a big difference as the coach. Miami University has dropped off since he left, and Indiana currently has the same 4-2 record as we do.
Blake Powers has thrown for a school-record 20 TD passes already this season, in just 6 games.
History in the head-to-head series doesn't mean anything. Northwestern didn't have a win against us since 1971, and we all know what happened last year. Remember the feeling you had at the end of that game, and how badly you want to avoid it.
There are no undefeated teams left in conference play. We control our own destiny; if we keep winning, we will garner at least a share of the Big-10 title.
Now let's head to Bloomington and pound some Hoosiers!
Indiana has finished in the top-10 nationally once in the last 60 seasons. That was in 1967, the only time they've ever gone to the Rose Bowl, which they lost.
They beat us back-to-back in 1987 and 1988, and ended up in the top 20 of the Coaches' Poll both of those years. Of course, these are the only two times they've defeated the Buckeyes since 1951, which was Woody's first year as head coach.
Their last Bowl win was a shutout, and it occurred in the 1990's. This was a thrilling 24-0 Copper Bowl win over Baylor in 1991. They're also undefeated against South Carolina in Bowl games, while we're 0-2 against the Gamecocks.
They haven't been shutout in over 5 years. And they scored 63 points at Wisconsin in 2001.
They shut us out in Columbus shorthly after the last time the White Sox won the World Series. This was a scoreless tie in November, 1959.
Most of the crowd at the game will be wearing a shade close to Indiana's red, although this is expected to be a pretty even split between Scarlet and Crimson.
OK, if we're the coaches, we've been doing a lousy job so far. The team hasn't gotten fired up from any of those tidbits. We need to try a little harder to motivate the squad.
Indiana has a winning record all-time against the SEC, which is the only conference tOSU has a losing record against. Take out all the games against Kentucky and Vanderbilt, and they still have a winning record against the rest of the SEC teams.
We Buckeyes are only 1-5 in our last six Big-10 road games.
Terry Hoeppner makes a big difference as the coach. Miami University has dropped off since he left, and Indiana currently has the same 4-2 record as we do.
Blake Powers has thrown for a school-record 20 TD passes already this season, in just 6 games.
History in the head-to-head series doesn't mean anything. Northwestern didn't have a win against us since 1971, and we all know what happened last year. Remember the feeling you had at the end of that game, and how badly you want to avoid it.
There are no undefeated teams left in conference play. We control our own destiny; if we keep winning, we will garner at least a share of the Big-10 title.
Now let's head to Bloomington and pound some Hoosiers!
Date and Time
Game time: Saturday, October 22nd, 2005
11:00 AM EDT Kick-off at Memorial Stadium (Bloomington, IN)
Televised by ESPN Plus (inside Big Ten Conference viewing territory) and ESPN/ESPN2 (outside Big Ten Conference viewing territory)
2005 Indiana Hoosiers Offensive Preview11:00 AM EDT Kick-off at Memorial Stadium (Bloomington, IN)
Televised by ESPN Plus (inside Big Ten Conference viewing territory) and ESPN/ESPN2 (outside Big Ten Conference viewing territory)
Returning starters: 4
Indiana is next on the schedule for the Buckeyes….great, a defensive bye week, right? WRONG. Gone are the decidedly un-halcyon days of the mid 1990’s, when a team could go up 14-3 on the Hoosiers and start emptying their offensive bench. Heck, Indiana had trouble scoring 31 points in a MONTH back then (example…October of 1997, when in 4 games, Indiana scored all of 6 points). Last year, the Hoosiers were again in the bottom areas in all major offensive categories, including rushing (77th in the nation), passing (83rd), total (99th) and scoring (76th). Other than that, they were a juggernaut, which led to the firing of the head coach and most of the staff.
Enter Terry Hoeppner, whose Miami teams had an explosive offense (and who, this year, are struggling without him) to take over the program, installing Bill Lynch as the new OC. They now run a multiple spread scheme with 4 WRs and a RB, very similar to what Hoeppner’s Miami teams ran. The results have been staggeringly better thus far. Indiana is a very respectable 38th nationally in total offense, with 429 yards per contest. In that total is a boost in how they run the ball (157.3 yards per game, 46th) and pass the ball (253.3 ypg, 31st). The team is also averaging 29 points per contest, up 5 from last year, and good for 45th nationally to this point. The coaching staff has done a very, very good job with a young offense, and the team is already generating excitement in Bloomington similar to what Miami has now in Oxford. This is a team on the rise, and the win over Illinois was but a first step in getting the Hoosiers to competing with the upper division of the conference. They aren’t there yet…but offensively, the improvements are noticeable and significant, and the Buckeyes will need a good week of practice to be successful.
Quarterbacks
QB #14 Blake Powers (6-4, 235, SO)
Perhaps the biggest indication that Indiana and the coaching staff need to be taken seriously is the development of QB Blake Powers. He’s a big kid with good size that likes to throw the ball all over the field, and has relished being in the Indiana spread offense. He has completed over 58% of his 230 attempts for 1520 yards and an astounding (for Indiana standards) 20 TD passes, to only 7 INTs. He’s also third on the team in rushing with 113 yards and a score. He’s passed for 300+ twice, including putting up 360 against a respected Iowa defense, and he’s thrown at LEAST 2 TD passes in every game, and at least 3 in every game except the Iowa contest, and he’s tossed 4 TD passes 3 times already. He’s also only been sacked a relatively moderate 13 times, given the 226 attempts, so he gets rid of the ball well and can even scramble for some much needed yardage. Powers makes the Indiana offense run, and it is running better than it has in years. This week he faces a huge test in the Buckeyes, but don’t be surprised to see him stand in and acquit himself well, and earn the respect of Hawk and the Buckeye D by the time the game is over.
The backup is listed as Graeme McFarland, a junior who hasn’t taken a snap since 2003. Since no one else has taken a snap this season, Indiana is in huge, huge trouble is something happens to Powers.
QB Rating: B+
Head-to-Head: Blake Powers versus Troy Smith
This is an intriguing one, because the Buckeyes are often playing from ahead, and the Hoosiers have played a couple of games from way behind. Smith is the more athletic QB, whereas Powers plays in the system that is more capable of piling up numbers. Still, Powers has been consistently good against all levels of competition, and putting up good numbers against Big Ten opponents is never easy to do. Based on consistency all season, Powers gets the edge.
Edge: Powers
Running Backs
RB #30 Chris Taylor (5-11, 220, SR)
Taylor is the team’s returning rusher, having gained 329 yards and scored 3 TDs last season. This year, he’s already piled up 460 yards and 2 TDs in 6 games. He’s got good size and power, and can run between the tackles, and is averaging a little over 5 yards per carry. His best games came against Kentucky, whom he torched for 176 yards, and the win over Illinois, whom he hit for 132 and a TD. His numbers were less than impressive in the conference losses, but the team was playing from behind, requiring more passing. Surprisingly, he has only 9 receptions so far, but 7 have come in the past 2 weeks, so the coaches may be looking to get him more involved that way.
Second on the depth chart is Yamar Washington, another senior. He is a smaller, quicker back, who has gained 304 yards and scored a TD so far. His ypc is only 3.5, however. He’s had double digit carries in all games except one, and has gone over the 20 carry mark twice, indicating that the team is committed to using him. It seems that, much like Michigan State, this is a back-by-committee system, with the situation dictating the back utilized. Kenny Burns, third on the chart, has one carry so far. Josiah Sears has also appeared in a few games.
RB Rating: C
Head-to-Head: Taylor versus Pittman
Taylor is clearly the second option to the passing attack, whereas Pittman is more a focus for the Buckeye offense. Taylor has been decent, but hasn’t had too many huge moments, whereas Pittman has been solid, and had some flashes of great play. Given Pittman’s performance against Iowa, and season in general, he has clearly been the more effective back, system or not.
Edge: Pittman
Wide Receivers
WR #1 Jahkeen Gilmore (6-0, 215, SR)
WR #82 James Hardy (6-7, 215, FR)
WR #2 Marcus Thigpen (5-9, 180, FR)
WR #19 Brandon Walker-Roby (5-11, 160, FR)
Anyone who got tired of seeing Penn State’s freshmen receivers should turn their head, because a similar youth movement is underway at Indiana. Three of the four starters are freshmen, and they are very talented and can make big plays, and one in particular has been a superstar. James Hardy so far has been an absolute nightmare to try and cover, given his huge frame and good speed. He’s already caught 46 passes for a mind-boggling 744 yards and 8 TDs in just 6 games. He’s caught for over 100 yards 5 times, and has scored in every game. He caught 12 passes for 203 yards and a TD last week in a loss to Iowa, and he scored twice against Wisconsin and twice against Illinois, so he’s pouring it on in the Big Ten season. Make no mistake, this guy is really good ... right now.
The rest of the passes have been more evenly distributed. Thigpen has caught 15 passes for 204 yards and 2 TDs to lead the rest of the starters. Gilmore, who lends experience to the position, has 11 catches for 177 yards and 2 TDs. Walker-Roby is listed as a starter this week, though he has only 3 catches for 25 yards (one TD) so far.
The backups have also got plenty of work in. Freshman James Bailey, another tall receiver (6-2) is second on the team with 21 catches for 231 yards and 3 TDs. Yamar Washington has caught 15 passes, which somehow have netted only 26 yards. Ryan Skelton also has a couple of catches.
All in all, and yes, you are reading this right, Indiana has 7 freshmen in their wide receiver depth chart, and they all seem very capable of stepping in and contributing now. No wonder things are looking up in Bloomington.
WR Rating: B+
Head-to-Head: Gilmore/Hardy/Thigpen/Walker-Roby versus Holmes/Ginn/Gonzalez
So far Hardy has proven he can play with anyone. The Buckeye receivers had a nice bounce-back week against the Spartans, making some big plays and catalyzing the come-from-behind win to save the season and build some momentum. The rest of the Hoosiers are talented, but most are very young, and so the experience and depth carries the Buckeyes in this matchup.
Edge: Holmes/Ginn/Gonzalez
Tight Ends
None
The Hoosiers do have 3 TEs, junior Matt O’Neal, junior Chris Rudanovic and sophomore Nick Sexton, who get involved in goal line and big packages. O’Neal has 7 catches with 2 TDs, and Sexton has 2 catches for 2 yards ... and 2 TDs, so the Buckeye LBs would do well to keep an eye on them if this situation arises. Otherwise, they are not used much, if at all.
TE Rating: N/A
Head-to-Head: N/A
Edge: N/A
Offensive Line
LT #76 Isaac Sowells (6-3, 330, SR)
LG #75 Adam Hines (6-2, 315, SR)
C #74 Chris Mangiero (6-1, 310, JR)
RG #73 Brandon Hatcher (6-2, 305, SR)
RT #60 Justin Frye (6-5, 310, JR)
Unlike the receivers, this unit is a veteran group with plenty of experience to go with their size and talent. Sowells is probably the best NFL prospect, and is a battering ram at the LT spot. Hines and Hatcher are very large guards who can pull and wreak havoc in the run game, and are also very capable pass blockers. Mangiero is also a very highly respected player. All in all, this is a very big line that can put their size and experience up against anyone’s. Their pass blocking has been stellar (witness the few sacks), but, surprisingly, the run blocking has been less than exceptional at times. Still, they are good at what they need to be to run the spread effectively, and they have made good strides from last season.
A lot of younger players are the backups, including freshman Kyle Thomas at the LT spot, and sophomores John Sandberg, Ben Wyss, and Brandon Joyce across the middle of the line. Backup RT Scott Anderson has been around a bit longer, and offers more size (6-6, 308) and experience.
OL Rating: B
Head-to-Head: Indiana versus Ohio State
Both of these lines have been stellar at times, subpar at others. Winning on the road in the Big Ten is never easy, and the lines can struggle like all the other positions in this regard. Still, both lines have improved as the season has progressed. Sowells and Mangold are the best players of the groups, but as units, both have a multitude of big, physical, experienced players that can block either the pass or the run effectively. As such, these lines are about the same, and do what they need to do most of the time.
Edge: Push
Offensive Analysis
This certainly isn’t as ballyhooed a group as the Buckeyes faced last week, but the spread is still dangerous, and Indiana runs it pretty effectively most of the time. Generating a big pass rush with just the front four will be difficult, so the Buckeyes must scheme some careful blitzes to put pressure on Powers. The Hoosiers will by trying to establish enough of a run game to keep the Buckeyes honest, so it will be important for the LBs to shut that down and also to be able to man the middle of the field on passing plays. Overall, this Hoosier unit is on the rise, and getting better as the season wears on, but there is nothing aside from Hardy that really appears it will give an elite defense like the Buckeyes a whole lot of problems. Still, this could be a good game, and the offense can stay competitive if they can run a bit and don’t turn the ball over.
Overall Offensive Rating: B
Indiana is next on the schedule for the Buckeyes….great, a defensive bye week, right? WRONG. Gone are the decidedly un-halcyon days of the mid 1990’s, when a team could go up 14-3 on the Hoosiers and start emptying their offensive bench. Heck, Indiana had trouble scoring 31 points in a MONTH back then (example…October of 1997, when in 4 games, Indiana scored all of 6 points). Last year, the Hoosiers were again in the bottom areas in all major offensive categories, including rushing (77th in the nation), passing (83rd), total (99th) and scoring (76th). Other than that, they were a juggernaut, which led to the firing of the head coach and most of the staff.
Enter Terry Hoeppner, whose Miami teams had an explosive offense (and who, this year, are struggling without him) to take over the program, installing Bill Lynch as the new OC. They now run a multiple spread scheme with 4 WRs and a RB, very similar to what Hoeppner’s Miami teams ran. The results have been staggeringly better thus far. Indiana is a very respectable 38th nationally in total offense, with 429 yards per contest. In that total is a boost in how they run the ball (157.3 yards per game, 46th) and pass the ball (253.3 ypg, 31st). The team is also averaging 29 points per contest, up 5 from last year, and good for 45th nationally to this point. The coaching staff has done a very, very good job with a young offense, and the team is already generating excitement in Bloomington similar to what Miami has now in Oxford. This is a team on the rise, and the win over Illinois was but a first step in getting the Hoosiers to competing with the upper division of the conference. They aren’t there yet…but offensively, the improvements are noticeable and significant, and the Buckeyes will need a good week of practice to be successful.
Quarterbacks
QB #14 Blake Powers (6-4, 235, SO)
Perhaps the biggest indication that Indiana and the coaching staff need to be taken seriously is the development of QB Blake Powers. He’s a big kid with good size that likes to throw the ball all over the field, and has relished being in the Indiana spread offense. He has completed over 58% of his 230 attempts for 1520 yards and an astounding (for Indiana standards) 20 TD passes, to only 7 INTs. He’s also third on the team in rushing with 113 yards and a score. He’s passed for 300+ twice, including putting up 360 against a respected Iowa defense, and he’s thrown at LEAST 2 TD passes in every game, and at least 3 in every game except the Iowa contest, and he’s tossed 4 TD passes 3 times already. He’s also only been sacked a relatively moderate 13 times, given the 226 attempts, so he gets rid of the ball well and can even scramble for some much needed yardage. Powers makes the Indiana offense run, and it is running better than it has in years. This week he faces a huge test in the Buckeyes, but don’t be surprised to see him stand in and acquit himself well, and earn the respect of Hawk and the Buckeye D by the time the game is over.
The backup is listed as Graeme McFarland, a junior who hasn’t taken a snap since 2003. Since no one else has taken a snap this season, Indiana is in huge, huge trouble is something happens to Powers.
QB Rating: B+
Head-to-Head: Blake Powers versus Troy Smith
This is an intriguing one, because the Buckeyes are often playing from ahead, and the Hoosiers have played a couple of games from way behind. Smith is the more athletic QB, whereas Powers plays in the system that is more capable of piling up numbers. Still, Powers has been consistently good against all levels of competition, and putting up good numbers against Big Ten opponents is never easy to do. Based on consistency all season, Powers gets the edge.
Edge: Powers
Running Backs
RB #30 Chris Taylor (5-11, 220, SR)
Taylor is the team’s returning rusher, having gained 329 yards and scored 3 TDs last season. This year, he’s already piled up 460 yards and 2 TDs in 6 games. He’s got good size and power, and can run between the tackles, and is averaging a little over 5 yards per carry. His best games came against Kentucky, whom he torched for 176 yards, and the win over Illinois, whom he hit for 132 and a TD. His numbers were less than impressive in the conference losses, but the team was playing from behind, requiring more passing. Surprisingly, he has only 9 receptions so far, but 7 have come in the past 2 weeks, so the coaches may be looking to get him more involved that way.
Second on the depth chart is Yamar Washington, another senior. He is a smaller, quicker back, who has gained 304 yards and scored a TD so far. His ypc is only 3.5, however. He’s had double digit carries in all games except one, and has gone over the 20 carry mark twice, indicating that the team is committed to using him. It seems that, much like Michigan State, this is a back-by-committee system, with the situation dictating the back utilized. Kenny Burns, third on the chart, has one carry so far. Josiah Sears has also appeared in a few games.
RB Rating: C
Head-to-Head: Taylor versus Pittman
Taylor is clearly the second option to the passing attack, whereas Pittman is more a focus for the Buckeye offense. Taylor has been decent, but hasn’t had too many huge moments, whereas Pittman has been solid, and had some flashes of great play. Given Pittman’s performance against Iowa, and season in general, he has clearly been the more effective back, system or not.
Edge: Pittman
Wide Receivers
WR #1 Jahkeen Gilmore (6-0, 215, SR)
WR #82 James Hardy (6-7, 215, FR)
WR #2 Marcus Thigpen (5-9, 180, FR)
WR #19 Brandon Walker-Roby (5-11, 160, FR)
Anyone who got tired of seeing Penn State’s freshmen receivers should turn their head, because a similar youth movement is underway at Indiana. Three of the four starters are freshmen, and they are very talented and can make big plays, and one in particular has been a superstar. James Hardy so far has been an absolute nightmare to try and cover, given his huge frame and good speed. He’s already caught 46 passes for a mind-boggling 744 yards and 8 TDs in just 6 games. He’s caught for over 100 yards 5 times, and has scored in every game. He caught 12 passes for 203 yards and a TD last week in a loss to Iowa, and he scored twice against Wisconsin and twice against Illinois, so he’s pouring it on in the Big Ten season. Make no mistake, this guy is really good ... right now.
The rest of the passes have been more evenly distributed. Thigpen has caught 15 passes for 204 yards and 2 TDs to lead the rest of the starters. Gilmore, who lends experience to the position, has 11 catches for 177 yards and 2 TDs. Walker-Roby is listed as a starter this week, though he has only 3 catches for 25 yards (one TD) so far.
The backups have also got plenty of work in. Freshman James Bailey, another tall receiver (6-2) is second on the team with 21 catches for 231 yards and 3 TDs. Yamar Washington has caught 15 passes, which somehow have netted only 26 yards. Ryan Skelton also has a couple of catches.
All in all, and yes, you are reading this right, Indiana has 7 freshmen in their wide receiver depth chart, and they all seem very capable of stepping in and contributing now. No wonder things are looking up in Bloomington.
WR Rating: B+
Head-to-Head: Gilmore/Hardy/Thigpen/Walker-Roby versus Holmes/Ginn/Gonzalez
So far Hardy has proven he can play with anyone. The Buckeye receivers had a nice bounce-back week against the Spartans, making some big plays and catalyzing the come-from-behind win to save the season and build some momentum. The rest of the Hoosiers are talented, but most are very young, and so the experience and depth carries the Buckeyes in this matchup.
Edge: Holmes/Ginn/Gonzalez
Tight Ends
None
The Hoosiers do have 3 TEs, junior Matt O’Neal, junior Chris Rudanovic and sophomore Nick Sexton, who get involved in goal line and big packages. O’Neal has 7 catches with 2 TDs, and Sexton has 2 catches for 2 yards ... and 2 TDs, so the Buckeye LBs would do well to keep an eye on them if this situation arises. Otherwise, they are not used much, if at all.
TE Rating: N/A
Head-to-Head: N/A
Edge: N/A
Offensive Line
LT #76 Isaac Sowells (6-3, 330, SR)
LG #75 Adam Hines (6-2, 315, SR)
C #74 Chris Mangiero (6-1, 310, JR)
RG #73 Brandon Hatcher (6-2, 305, SR)
RT #60 Justin Frye (6-5, 310, JR)
Unlike the receivers, this unit is a veteran group with plenty of experience to go with their size and talent. Sowells is probably the best NFL prospect, and is a battering ram at the LT spot. Hines and Hatcher are very large guards who can pull and wreak havoc in the run game, and are also very capable pass blockers. Mangiero is also a very highly respected player. All in all, this is a very big line that can put their size and experience up against anyone’s. Their pass blocking has been stellar (witness the few sacks), but, surprisingly, the run blocking has been less than exceptional at times. Still, they are good at what they need to be to run the spread effectively, and they have made good strides from last season.
A lot of younger players are the backups, including freshman Kyle Thomas at the LT spot, and sophomores John Sandberg, Ben Wyss, and Brandon Joyce across the middle of the line. Backup RT Scott Anderson has been around a bit longer, and offers more size (6-6, 308) and experience.
OL Rating: B
Head-to-Head: Indiana versus Ohio State
Both of these lines have been stellar at times, subpar at others. Winning on the road in the Big Ten is never easy, and the lines can struggle like all the other positions in this regard. Still, both lines have improved as the season has progressed. Sowells and Mangold are the best players of the groups, but as units, both have a multitude of big, physical, experienced players that can block either the pass or the run effectively. As such, these lines are about the same, and do what they need to do most of the time.
Edge: Push
Offensive Analysis
This certainly isn’t as ballyhooed a group as the Buckeyes faced last week, but the spread is still dangerous, and Indiana runs it pretty effectively most of the time. Generating a big pass rush with just the front four will be difficult, so the Buckeyes must scheme some careful blitzes to put pressure on Powers. The Hoosiers will by trying to establish enough of a run game to keep the Buckeyes honest, so it will be important for the LBs to shut that down and also to be able to man the middle of the field on passing plays. Overall, this Hoosier unit is on the rise, and getting better as the season wears on, but there is nothing aside from Hardy that really appears it will give an elite defense like the Buckeyes a whole lot of problems. Still, this could be a good game, and the offense can stay competitive if they can run a bit and don’t turn the ball over.
Overall Offensive Rating: B
2005 Indiana Hoosiers Defensive Preview
Returning Starters: 7
Ohio State will take the show on the road this week, and will face a surprisingly effective Indiana defense in Hoosier stadium. Keep in mind that the best team that Indiana has faced to this point is Wisconsin, who hung up 41 points on them. Nonetheless, even if Indiana hasn’t faced any substantial competition to this point in the season, a little confidence goes a long way when you have struggled for a while. Statistically, Indiana is giving up 25 points per contest, which is 5th best in the Big Ten. They are ranked 4th in the conference in total defense surrendering 357 yards per contest. They have been very effective against the pass giving up 196 yards per contest, which is good for 2nd in the league. The Achilles heal of the defense to this point has been Indiana’s ability to stop the run, they are ranked 9th in the conference giving up 171 yards per contest.
Defensive Line
DE #94 Victor Adeyanju (6-4 275 SR)
DT #55 Russ Richardson (6-0 265 SR)
DT #93 Charles Emerson (6-5 270 SO)
DE #99 Ben Ishola (6-3 255 SR)
Indiana features a veteran defensive line that features 3 out of 4 seniors along the front. This unit has not been very effective in stopping the run to this point in the season, and only has contributed to 9 sacks on the season. Leading the way for the Hoosiers will be senior Ben Ishola. Ishola, a native of Berlin Germany, is off to a decent start this season. At the halfway point he has a total of 15 tackles, including 4 for a loss, and 2 QB sacks. The other defensive end will be led by Victor Adeyanju. On the season Adeyanju has a total of 11 tackles, including 4.5 for a loss, and 2 sacks. Adeyanju has 39 career starts for the Hoosiers, so you know that he knows his way around the football.
Indiana will be led on the inside by senior tackle Russ Richardson. On the season Richardson has a total of 10 tackles, including 1 for a loss. Richardson has also broken up 2 passes this season. His counterpart will be sophomore Charles Emerson. On the season Emerson has a total of 9 tackles, including 2 for a loss. Emerson has also recovered a fumble this season.
Analysis
Lets be honest here, this unit isn’t very good. Statistically the Indiana defense hasn’t been too bad this season, no thanks to this defensive line. These guys are giving up way to much on the ground, something that I think directly reflects the amount of push you get along the front 4. They are a veteran unit, but not a very talented one. Pittman should get his chances this week, expect him to eclipse 130 yards against the Hoosiers this weekend.
DL Rating: C-
Head to Head: Ohio State (Richardson, Green, Pitcock, Kudla) vs Indiana (Adeyanju, Richardson, Emerson, Ishola)
Not much of a comparison here. All 4 along the OSU front are better than any of Indiana’s guys. Richardson had 3 sacks last week against Michigan St, which is better than the totals of any of Indiana’s lineman over the span of the whole season. Keep in mind this OSU unit contributed to a school record 12 sacks against Michigan St. No question, OSU is much better along the front.
Edge: Ohio State
Linebackers
OLB #13 Josh Moore (5-11 240 SR)
MLB #34 John Pannozzo (5-11 235 SR)
OLB #43 Kyle Killion (6-0 255 SR)
Indiana features a group of linebackers who are responsible for the brunt of the tackles to this point in the season for the Hoosiers. Leading the way for Indiana will middle backer John Pannozzo. Pannozzo is probably having the best season of any player on the Indiana defense to this point. The Brooklyn, NY native converted over to MLB in the spring of this year from fullback, and has really hit the ground running in his senior campaign. He leads the Hoosiers in tackles with 36, tackles for loss (6), sacks (3), and forced fumbles (2). He has also recovered a fumble this season, and broken up a pass defensively. Indiana will need a big game out of Pannozzo if they want to make some noise this weekend against the Buckeyes.
Leading the way at outside linebacker will be senior Kyle Killion. On the season Killion is 2nd on the team with 34 tackles, with 4 going for a loss. Killion has also forced a fumble for the Hoosiers this season. The final OLB spot will be occupied by yet another senior, Josh Moore. Moore has a total of 3 tackles, including 1 for a loss, along with 1 interception. Moore has been the least productive of all the Indiana LB’s this season, he has started 3 games to this point. Needless to say, 1 tackle per game isn’t a stat to be proud of if you are a linebacker.
Analysis
It takes a concentrated effort by your linebackers and defensive line to stop the run, and to sack the quarterback. So far this Indiana team has failed to do either very effectively, so it leads me to believe that this LB crew isn’t producing in the manner that is necessary to be successful. It doesn’t say a whole lot about your linebacking crew when the player who leads your team in tackles, sacks, and tackles for a loss, played fullback the year before.
LB Rating: C+
Head-to-Head: Ohio State (Hawk, Carpenter, Schlegel) vs Indiana (Moore, Pannozzo, Killion)
No question here. Bobby Carpenter had more sacks in last weeks’ game vs. Michigan St. (4) than the entire Indiana crew has all season. This discussion is over before I even mention the best LB on OSU’s team, AJ Hawk. Is it really even necessary anymore to compare anyone to this OSU crew?
Edge: Ohio State
Secondary
CB #28 Leslie Majors (5-9 170 SO)
FS #5 Troy Grosfield (5-11 195 JR)
SS #39 Will Meyers (5-11 205 JR)
CB #9 Tracy Porter (5-10 185 SO)
Indiana has been surprisingly decent so far this season in the secondary statistically. As was stated earlier, they are 2nd in the league against the pass, but there is more to the story (see overall secondary analysis below). They are led in the secondary by emerging sophomore Tracy Porter. On the season Porter is tied for 2nd in the Big Ten with 2 interceptions. In addition he has 19 tackles to go along with his team high 4 pass breakups. Porter was selected to the Pre Season all Big Ten team by Street and Smith’s this season. Following the 2004 season, Porter was selected to the All Big Ten freshman team by the Sporting News after his rookie campaign which saw him pick off a team high 3 passes before a season ending shoulder injury in game 7. Needless to say this kid brings some excellent talent to the field for the Hoosiers, and is one of the more physically gifted players on this Indiana roster. He is someone who the Buckeyes may want to keep the ball away from this week, because he knows how to make plays. The other corner for the Hoosiers will be manned down by sophomore Leslie Majors. On the season Majors has 22 tackles thus far, with 1 of them being for a loss. Majors is another young guy in this secondary who is looking to brighten the future for the Hoosiers defense. Unfortunately, he probably is not nearly as ready as his counterpart Tracy Porter. He is certainly the weak corner that OSU could expose this weekend, look for them to test him early and work on him all day long.
Getting the nod at strong safety is Will Meyers. Meyers is currently 3rd on the Hoosiers with 27 tackles, including 1.5 for a loss. In addition, Meyers has also picked off a pass this season. The free safety for Indiana will be junior Troy Grosfield. Grosfield has 26 tackles on the season, including 2.5 for a loss.
Analysis
When you look further into Indiana’s numbers in the secondary they lose a bit of their luster. Through the first 3 games in the Big Ten they have surrendered 256 yards per contest in the air against Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois. None of those teams will be mistaken for a Steve Spurrier coached program to say the least. So, this leads you to believe that their lofty status in the secondary is definitely due to some weak pre conference opponents. Their stat boosters came in the form of a lousy Kentucky team (140 yards passing), and a horrible 1 AA Nichols State team (51 yards passing). So, as we look further into the head scratching that we all first did when we discovered that Indiana was 2nd in the Big Ten in total pass defense, it’s pretty easy to see the bubble that is about to be burst as the Hoosiers track through the rest of the Big Ten season. These guys are an average secondary at best, and a squad that OSU dwarfs from an athletic standpoint. If Tressel let’s the boys open it up this week, this Indiana squad could really be exposed this weekend. Don’t let the rankings fool you with this bunch.
DB Rating: C+
Head-to-Head: Ohio State (Youboty, Everett, Salley, Whitner) vs Indiana (Majors, Grosfield, Meyers, Porter)
Statistically this matchup looks a lot closer than it really is. OSU has struggled at times against the long pass, but have been very dependable in the secondary to this point in the season. Indiana has benefited from playing some lesser opponents, so they haven’t been challenged much this season by good athletes defensively. Athletically, Porter is the only Indiana player who compares to this OSU starting cast. Indiana is moving in the right direction, and will probably return every starter in their secondary next season, but they are not nearly at OSU’s skill level overall.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Defensive Analysis
Indiana has not been terrible statistically to this point in the season. They have a 4-1 record, and a lot has to be said about a team that has struggled getting a few wins under their belts early. Sadly for the Hoosiers, I think this is the game that starts the freefall for this defensive squad. They are heading into the thick of the Big Ten schedule, and are staring at a span that sees OSU, Michigan St, Minnesota, Michigan, and Purdue looming on the horizon. If this defense wants to prove themselves, they’ll have to begin this week against a Buckeye squad that has been inconsistent all season. If Indiana can create some turnovers defensively, this one could be interesting for a while. If not, expect OSU to put up 450-500 yards of total offense against the Hoosiers. Regardless, you have to like the direction that this Indiana squad is heading, kudos to their coaching staff for getting things going in the right direction.
Overall Defensive Rating: C
Ohio State will take the show on the road this week, and will face a surprisingly effective Indiana defense in Hoosier stadium. Keep in mind that the best team that Indiana has faced to this point is Wisconsin, who hung up 41 points on them. Nonetheless, even if Indiana hasn’t faced any substantial competition to this point in the season, a little confidence goes a long way when you have struggled for a while. Statistically, Indiana is giving up 25 points per contest, which is 5th best in the Big Ten. They are ranked 4th in the conference in total defense surrendering 357 yards per contest. They have been very effective against the pass giving up 196 yards per contest, which is good for 2nd in the league. The Achilles heal of the defense to this point has been Indiana’s ability to stop the run, they are ranked 9th in the conference giving up 171 yards per contest.
Defensive Line
DE #94 Victor Adeyanju (6-4 275 SR)
DT #55 Russ Richardson (6-0 265 SR)
DT #93 Charles Emerson (6-5 270 SO)
DE #99 Ben Ishola (6-3 255 SR)
Indiana features a veteran defensive line that features 3 out of 4 seniors along the front. This unit has not been very effective in stopping the run to this point in the season, and only has contributed to 9 sacks on the season. Leading the way for the Hoosiers will be senior Ben Ishola. Ishola, a native of Berlin Germany, is off to a decent start this season. At the halfway point he has a total of 15 tackles, including 4 for a loss, and 2 QB sacks. The other defensive end will be led by Victor Adeyanju. On the season Adeyanju has a total of 11 tackles, including 4.5 for a loss, and 2 sacks. Adeyanju has 39 career starts for the Hoosiers, so you know that he knows his way around the football.
Indiana will be led on the inside by senior tackle Russ Richardson. On the season Richardson has a total of 10 tackles, including 1 for a loss. Richardson has also broken up 2 passes this season. His counterpart will be sophomore Charles Emerson. On the season Emerson has a total of 9 tackles, including 2 for a loss. Emerson has also recovered a fumble this season.
Analysis
Lets be honest here, this unit isn’t very good. Statistically the Indiana defense hasn’t been too bad this season, no thanks to this defensive line. These guys are giving up way to much on the ground, something that I think directly reflects the amount of push you get along the front 4. They are a veteran unit, but not a very talented one. Pittman should get his chances this week, expect him to eclipse 130 yards against the Hoosiers this weekend.
DL Rating: C-
Head to Head: Ohio State (Richardson, Green, Pitcock, Kudla) vs Indiana (Adeyanju, Richardson, Emerson, Ishola)
Not much of a comparison here. All 4 along the OSU front are better than any of Indiana’s guys. Richardson had 3 sacks last week against Michigan St, which is better than the totals of any of Indiana’s lineman over the span of the whole season. Keep in mind this OSU unit contributed to a school record 12 sacks against Michigan St. No question, OSU is much better along the front.
Edge: Ohio State
Linebackers
OLB #13 Josh Moore (5-11 240 SR)
MLB #34 John Pannozzo (5-11 235 SR)
OLB #43 Kyle Killion (6-0 255 SR)
Indiana features a group of linebackers who are responsible for the brunt of the tackles to this point in the season for the Hoosiers. Leading the way for Indiana will middle backer John Pannozzo. Pannozzo is probably having the best season of any player on the Indiana defense to this point. The Brooklyn, NY native converted over to MLB in the spring of this year from fullback, and has really hit the ground running in his senior campaign. He leads the Hoosiers in tackles with 36, tackles for loss (6), sacks (3), and forced fumbles (2). He has also recovered a fumble this season, and broken up a pass defensively. Indiana will need a big game out of Pannozzo if they want to make some noise this weekend against the Buckeyes.
Leading the way at outside linebacker will be senior Kyle Killion. On the season Killion is 2nd on the team with 34 tackles, with 4 going for a loss. Killion has also forced a fumble for the Hoosiers this season. The final OLB spot will be occupied by yet another senior, Josh Moore. Moore has a total of 3 tackles, including 1 for a loss, along with 1 interception. Moore has been the least productive of all the Indiana LB’s this season, he has started 3 games to this point. Needless to say, 1 tackle per game isn’t a stat to be proud of if you are a linebacker.
Analysis
It takes a concentrated effort by your linebackers and defensive line to stop the run, and to sack the quarterback. So far this Indiana team has failed to do either very effectively, so it leads me to believe that this LB crew isn’t producing in the manner that is necessary to be successful. It doesn’t say a whole lot about your linebacking crew when the player who leads your team in tackles, sacks, and tackles for a loss, played fullback the year before.
LB Rating: C+
Head-to-Head: Ohio State (Hawk, Carpenter, Schlegel) vs Indiana (Moore, Pannozzo, Killion)
No question here. Bobby Carpenter had more sacks in last weeks’ game vs. Michigan St. (4) than the entire Indiana crew has all season. This discussion is over before I even mention the best LB on OSU’s team, AJ Hawk. Is it really even necessary anymore to compare anyone to this OSU crew?
Edge: Ohio State
Secondary
CB #28 Leslie Majors (5-9 170 SO)
FS #5 Troy Grosfield (5-11 195 JR)
SS #39 Will Meyers (5-11 205 JR)
CB #9 Tracy Porter (5-10 185 SO)
Indiana has been surprisingly decent so far this season in the secondary statistically. As was stated earlier, they are 2nd in the league against the pass, but there is more to the story (see overall secondary analysis below). They are led in the secondary by emerging sophomore Tracy Porter. On the season Porter is tied for 2nd in the Big Ten with 2 interceptions. In addition he has 19 tackles to go along with his team high 4 pass breakups. Porter was selected to the Pre Season all Big Ten team by Street and Smith’s this season. Following the 2004 season, Porter was selected to the All Big Ten freshman team by the Sporting News after his rookie campaign which saw him pick off a team high 3 passes before a season ending shoulder injury in game 7. Needless to say this kid brings some excellent talent to the field for the Hoosiers, and is one of the more physically gifted players on this Indiana roster. He is someone who the Buckeyes may want to keep the ball away from this week, because he knows how to make plays. The other corner for the Hoosiers will be manned down by sophomore Leslie Majors. On the season Majors has 22 tackles thus far, with 1 of them being for a loss. Majors is another young guy in this secondary who is looking to brighten the future for the Hoosiers defense. Unfortunately, he probably is not nearly as ready as his counterpart Tracy Porter. He is certainly the weak corner that OSU could expose this weekend, look for them to test him early and work on him all day long.
Getting the nod at strong safety is Will Meyers. Meyers is currently 3rd on the Hoosiers with 27 tackles, including 1.5 for a loss. In addition, Meyers has also picked off a pass this season. The free safety for Indiana will be junior Troy Grosfield. Grosfield has 26 tackles on the season, including 2.5 for a loss.
Analysis
When you look further into Indiana’s numbers in the secondary they lose a bit of their luster. Through the first 3 games in the Big Ten they have surrendered 256 yards per contest in the air against Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois. None of those teams will be mistaken for a Steve Spurrier coached program to say the least. So, this leads you to believe that their lofty status in the secondary is definitely due to some weak pre conference opponents. Their stat boosters came in the form of a lousy Kentucky team (140 yards passing), and a horrible 1 AA Nichols State team (51 yards passing). So, as we look further into the head scratching that we all first did when we discovered that Indiana was 2nd in the Big Ten in total pass defense, it’s pretty easy to see the bubble that is about to be burst as the Hoosiers track through the rest of the Big Ten season. These guys are an average secondary at best, and a squad that OSU dwarfs from an athletic standpoint. If Tressel let’s the boys open it up this week, this Indiana squad could really be exposed this weekend. Don’t let the rankings fool you with this bunch.
DB Rating: C+
Head-to-Head: Ohio State (Youboty, Everett, Salley, Whitner) vs Indiana (Majors, Grosfield, Meyers, Porter)
Statistically this matchup looks a lot closer than it really is. OSU has struggled at times against the long pass, but have been very dependable in the secondary to this point in the season. Indiana has benefited from playing some lesser opponents, so they haven’t been challenged much this season by good athletes defensively. Athletically, Porter is the only Indiana player who compares to this OSU starting cast. Indiana is moving in the right direction, and will probably return every starter in their secondary next season, but they are not nearly at OSU’s skill level overall.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Defensive Analysis
Indiana has not been terrible statistically to this point in the season. They have a 4-1 record, and a lot has to be said about a team that has struggled getting a few wins under their belts early. Sadly for the Hoosiers, I think this is the game that starts the freefall for this defensive squad. They are heading into the thick of the Big Ten schedule, and are staring at a span that sees OSU, Michigan St, Minnesota, Michigan, and Purdue looming on the horizon. If this defense wants to prove themselves, they’ll have to begin this week against a Buckeye squad that has been inconsistent all season. If Indiana can create some turnovers defensively, this one could be interesting for a while. If not, expect OSU to put up 450-500 yards of total offense against the Hoosiers. Regardless, you have to like the direction that this Indiana squad is heading, kudos to their coaching staff for getting things going in the right direction.
Overall Defensive Rating: C
Predictions
Bucklion's prediction: 31-17, Ohio State
BB73's prediction: 34-17, Ohio State
daddyphatsac's prediction: 38-10, Ohio State
Jaxbuck's prediction: 31-14, Ohio State
LordJeffBuck's prediction: 45-17, Ohio State
3yardsandacloud's prediction: 38-14, Ohio State
Last Week's Results (OSU 35 - MSU 24)
Low score wins the year long battle of prediction supremacy! (Difference of actual score versus predicted score. 10 point penalty for picking the losing team.)
(82) Jaxbuck's prediction: 31-23, Ohio State (4 + 1 = 5 + 77 last week)
(86) LordJeffBuck's prediction: 31-21, Ohio State (4 + 3 = 7 + 79 last week)
(87) 3yardsandacloud's prediction: 35-17, Ohio State (0 + 7 = 7 + 80 last week)
(98) BB73's prediction: 24-17, Ohio State (11 + 7 = 18 + 80 last week)
(101) daddyphatsac's prediction: 34-17, Ohio State (1 + 7 = 8 + 93 last week)
(108) Hubbard's prediction: ??-??, Ohio State (No prediction = High score (18) + 10 pt penalty = 28 + 80 last week)
(125) Bucklion's prediction: 27-17, Ohio State (8 + 7 = 15 + 110 last week)
BB73's prediction: 34-17, Ohio State
daddyphatsac's prediction: 38-10, Ohio State
Jaxbuck's prediction: 31-14, Ohio State
LordJeffBuck's prediction: 45-17, Ohio State
3yardsandacloud's prediction: 38-14, Ohio State
Last Week's Results (OSU 35 - MSU 24)
Low score wins the year long battle of prediction supremacy! (Difference of actual score versus predicted score. 10 point penalty for picking the losing team.)
(82) Jaxbuck's prediction: 31-23, Ohio State (4 + 1 = 5 + 77 last week)
(86) LordJeffBuck's prediction: 31-21, Ohio State (4 + 3 = 7 + 79 last week)
(87) 3yardsandacloud's prediction: 35-17, Ohio State (0 + 7 = 7 + 80 last week)
(98) BB73's prediction: 24-17, Ohio State (11 + 7 = 18 + 80 last week)
(101) daddyphatsac's prediction: 34-17, Ohio State (1 + 7 = 8 + 93 last week)
(108) Hubbard's prediction: ??-??, Ohio State (No prediction = High score (18) + 10 pt penalty = 28 + 80 last week)
(125) Bucklion's prediction: 27-17, Ohio State (8 + 7 = 15 + 110 last week)