Player Interviews

Interviews with defensive tackle Mick Mentzer and wide receiver Dre Muhammad complements of iuhoosiers.com. There is also a link to some practice video.

Hoosiers Receive 2nd Commitment for 2011 Class

I can't remember a time when the Hoosiers got commitment's this early. Last year Andre Kates was the 1st Hoosier commit of the class and he didn't verbal until May. Kirk Harris becomes the Hoosiers 2nd commitment. He is a 6'5 278 lb offensive lineman from Stillwell, Kansas. He has a 3.85 G.P.A. and led his team to a 10-2 record last season. Here is a link to scout.com for more information on the commitment. Link

More Recap

I found some good recap from the second half of practice that I missed from IUhoosiers.com. Here is the link. It looks like the Hoosiers put in some of the new 3-4 defense. The receivers had another good day and Jeff Thomas is turning into a physical force from the linebacker spot.

Spring Practice #5 Recap

You will have to cut me some slack on today's post. I was only able to attend the first half of practice due to my class schedule. Unfortunately the 2nd half of the practice is the most interesting as the drills get pretty competitive and the players get to fly around and tackle. So my apologises for today but I have a couple of notes that hopefully you find interesting.

First off, I spent the first 15 minutes or so paying attention to the kickers. Redshirt freshman Mitch Ewald was the 3rd highest rated kicker in the country coming out of high school, but suffered an injury that kept him out of fall camp last year. Nick Freeland won the battle for the starting spot and kicked the whole year. As of right now there doesn't seem to be much separation between the two kickers. Today is seemed as if Ewald's accuracy was a bit better than Freeland's, however Freeland showed off a stronger leg. I did watch Ewald put a 50 yarder through the uprights though so clearly he does have a strong leg.

Nothing out of the ordinary it seemed from the QB's and WR's. Adam Follett seemed to have a bit better day today throwing the deep ball. Demarlo Belcher was in shorts again but I haven't heard any word on his injury.

When watching the linebackers go through position drills, both Tyler Replogle and Jeff Thomas stood out to me. They seemed very quick and had good technique on all of the drills.

That's all I have for you today but will try and gather information from anyone who was able to stay the whole time.

Interview with Yatta Kiles

Here is a link to an interview with JUCO cornerback Yatta Kiles on his transition and adjustment to IU and IU football.

Depth Chart Changes?

The players have a week of practices under their belt since the rough draft depth chart was put together. When I first read it, I felt like there were a few spots where the staff had given someone with more experience preference going into spring until somebody beat them out. After a week I can already see a few changes happening.

Defensive line- Deonte Mack was listed as a starter at defensive end but it seems like Fred Jones and Darius Johnson have worked with the 1st group almost the whole week. Deonte has still practiced well but I think Fred Jones and Darius Johnson will end up being the starters.

Linebackers- Leon Beckum was listed as the starter at outside linebacker and although he is still practicing with the 1st team, I think it is only a matter of time before JUCO Jeff Thomas cracks the starting lineup. I understand that being a JUCO the spot will not be given to him right away and that he needs to come in and earn it, but after watching every practice he seems like one of the hardest hitters out of our linebacker group. It might take a little bit more time but I think when all said and done Jeff Thomas will get one of the outside linebacker spots.

Safety- Donnell Jones has moved from CB to strong safety and practicing with the starters. He will stay with the starters until Mitch Evans comes back. Chris Adkins is starting at free safety spot. If Donnell has a great spring that it wil be interesting to see how close the competition is between him and Mitch Evans when he is healthy enough to practice.

Corner- With Donnell moving to safety it may have opened up a spot at corner. I would assume that when Andre Kates is here in the summer he will take over one of the corner spots. There will be a lot of competition for the other spot. Richard Council and Adrian Burks have worked with the 1st unit this past week. Matt Ernest will definitely be in the mix as well. He has had what looks like a sore elbow and has been practicing in shorts. I think it is too early to predict who will come away with the starting spot but it should get interesting with all the competition.

Quarterback- Adam Follett came into the spring as the backup QB. As of late it looks like Ed Wright-Baker has spent more time with the 2nd unit. I think it will be a gradual process to see who ends up with the 2nd string. Otherwise the depth chart would change on a daily basis based on who had a good day and who didn't. When all said and done I think the top 3 QB's will be Ben Chappell, Ed Wright-Baker, and Dusty Kiel. It might not end up being exactly that way because both Wright-Baker and Kiel are redshirt freshman and you may want somebody who has more experience, but I think they are the best 3 QB's.

Hoosiers to Work Out for Falcons

According to twitter, it looks like Rodger Saffold, Will Patterson, and Matt Mayberry will be working out for the Atlanta Falcons. I can only find a link confirming Saffold's workout, and here it was Chris Steuber from scout.com had to say about him. Link

"Saffold is one of the faster rising prospects in this year’s draft, coming off a solid showing in all-star games and at the Combine. He has risen on many boards from a middle round pick to a potential late first round selection according to Steuber.At 6′4″ 316 he has the size and athleticism to play tackle, but also could move inside to guard. He had the second best broad jump (9 feet, 5 inches), third best 3-cone drill (7.42 seconds) among offensive linemen, and also had a solid showing in the vertical jump (29.5 inches) and short shuttle (4.67 seconds). He also ran a 5.22 40 and did 27 bench reps of 225 pounds."

Ray Fisher Works Out for Jets

I stated here before that Ray Fisher would be working out with the Indianapolis Colts later this month, but I just found out he has worked out with the New York Jets as well. Fisher ran in the low 4.3's at Indiana's Pro-Day which could help his case as a possible kick returner in the NFL. His kick return average last season led the nation and set a new record for the Big Ten.

Link

Mayberry's Patriots Workout Recap

Mayberry talks about his speed and being a student of the game as his biggest assets. The more workouts Mayberry has with NFL teams, the more is seems like he will get drafted. Most analysis I have read suggests he will be drafted in the late rounds and a couple suggest possibly a mis round selection instead of free agency. It should be interesting to see where Mayberry lands considering he didn't get an invite to the NFL combine even though he probably should have.

Link

Post Practice Interviews

IUHoosiers interviewed Demarlo Belcher and Lawrence Barnett and here is the link. Lawrence Barnett has impressed me a lot during the first week in practices. He should be somebody that you keep your eye on this off season.

Sping Practice #4 Recap

This mornings practice was the first in full pads. Gerry Dinardo and Howard Griffith were in attendance from the big ten network. They did a lot more hitting and tackling drills today which let some physical players stand out. On the injury front, Demarlo Belcher was limited most of the day. I am not sure as to the extent of the injury but he spent most of the practice riding the bike. Jarrell Drane also hurt his left knee while back peddling during a position drill. They wrapped it up but it doesn't look to serious.

Now onto the practice:

Today I will start out discussing the defense. During the tackling drills Jeff Thomas did a pretty good job. Just like on his highlight tapes, he is a good tackler and hits pretty hard. Surprisingly, I thought Yatta Kiles did a pretty good job on the tackling drills as well, delivering some decent hits. Even Peter St. Fort came up with a big hit during one of the competitive drills. Fred Jones did a good job getting to the QB and Adam Replogle and Deonte Mack both had some good tackles in the backfield. In the secondary, Adrian Burks had a few good plays in coverage and Finch had another good practice as well.

On the offensive side of the ball Ed Wright-Baker got to take reps with the 2nd team on a few occasions. At the beginning he struggled with his accuracy but picked it up a lot towards the end of practice. He also showed his ability to escape the pocket and make some good throws on the run. Dusty Kiel also had a good day throwing the ball. He tends to stare down receivers sometimes but still threads the needle. Chappell was his usual self making many good throws and hooking up with a variety of receivers. Darius Willis was his usual self and Nick Turner showed his speed while busting open a few runs.

The receiving core is going to be extremely good. It doesn't seem like anybody can keep up with Tandon Doss and the younger players are having great practices as well. Duwyce Wilson is making a ton of catches along with Jamonne Chester. Both of them seem to catch almost everything thrown their way. Even Charles Love had a few good catches from the tight end spot. Dre Muhammad seems to look very comfortable in the slot position and made some good plays with his speed.

Even though Justin Pagan hasn't been able to practice he is constantly one of the most vocal and encouraging players out there. Many of the drills were extremely competitive today and you can't help but notice Pagan's enthusiasm from the sidelines. The Hoosiers will be off for a few days and pick up again on Tuesday.

Another Position Switch?

For the 2nd practice in a row Donnell Jones has been playing safety instead of corner. When looking at how much depth we now have at corner back this looks to be a permanent switch. I like the move for many reasons. I think Donnell might be a more natural fit at safety anyway. We don't have a lot of experience coming back at safety. Evans has not played safety in a few years, Adkins has some experience at safety, Finch has played very little. I will keep an eye on how Donnell is playing at safety throughout the spring.

Spring Practice Recap Day 2

The weather today pushed the second spring practice into the Mellencamp Pavillion. Here is a rundown of some of my observations.

Offense:

QB: Chappell looked very good during the whole practice. He showed off accurate passing with a strong arm as well. He did a good job of not staring down receivers which hurt him a bit last season. He did a good job of hitting the 2nd and 3rd options when the primary receiver wasn't open. His best play of the day came when he completed a long TD pass down the right sideline to Duwyce Wilson. I know people say Ed Wright-Baker will provide some good competition for the starting spot but after today it was clear Chappell is by far the best QB on the team.

Ed Wright-Baker- he looked very good in the drop back passing drills without a defense. He threw pretty accurate today but occasionally made a few mistakes. During 11 on 11 drills he overthrew some receivers on deep routes which led to interceptions. Regardless of the mistakes he is going to be a very good QB for the hoosiers in the future. He is an accurate passer showed some decent arm strength.

Dusty Kiel- like Ed, he also made a few mistakes which is expected. Dusty showed great arm strength and had good touch on many passes. When he throws and incomplete pass it is usually thrown a bit high. It looks like it has something to do with his release of the ball. He showed good poise in the pocket and I think Chappell, Wright-Baker, and Kiel will be the top 3 QB's going into the fall. Follett and Schell struggled a bit throughout the practice with their throws in my opinion.

RB: Darius was his usual self having a good practice. Nick Turner completely out ran the defense on a few occasions. It is a bit tough to judge everyone when they are only wearing shorts but Turner looks like he will definitely surprise a lot of people next season.

WR: Duwyce made some great catches on a variety of routes today. He is definitely making a statement to get a good chunk of playing time. Both Tyler Adetona and Jamonne Chester have made great strides this off season. They both look like they will be able to contribute next fall if their number is called. I give credit to wide receiver's coach Billy Lynch. He does a good job coaching up the players during the practices.

Defense:

Everyone is always wondering about Jerimy Finch. I tried to keep an extra eye on him during practice to help everyone get a better feel of where he is at. During special teams drills he shined every time. We all know he is a good special teams player. When he was in as safety, he showed some good coverage skills and you can tell he has made significant improvement from last year. He makes the occasional mistake but none that really stand out too much. He had a good interception on Ed Wright-Baker towards the end of 11 on 11's. I think if he keeps improving this spring and during the off season he could have a decent chance at cracking the starting lineup.

JUCO linebacker Jeff Thomas looked good during drills and closed out the practice with a diving interception off of a tipped Dusty Kiel pass. Redshirt freshman Lawrence Barnett played good in coverage and also had a nice interception.

Overall our defense has done a good job during practice of having the whole defense getting to the ball carrier. It looked like the coach's made it an emphasis to get the whole secondary running at the ball every play.

Here are some links to some player videos after the practice.

Ben Chappell: Link

Larry Black Jr: Link

Another Mayberry Interview

This one is just a good read to learn more about Mayberry. Questions and answers are short and concise.

Link

Belcher's Off Season Work

I read a good article this morning from the Journal Gazette that I wanted to share. Here is the link. The article talks about Belcher's goal of putting on weight this off season. Even though the IU football spring media guide lists Belcher at 209 lbs he says he has entered the spring practices weighing in around 215 lbs.

Spring Practice Day 1 Recap

Thanks to my 5:30 class on Tuesday's I had to leave the first spring practice slightly early. I will give you a few general observations from the first half of practice and give some links to the hoosier scoops and iuhoosiers.com analysis that covers the other half.

Offense:

-During a variety of throwing drills Ben Chappell looked very crisp and accurate on his throws. His throwing motion seems to be pretty concise. Adam Follett came in with the 2nd unit for now but that might change during the spring. Dual threat QB Ed Wright-Baker looked very athletic during drills and showed off his mobility.
-As expected Tandon Doss was the best receiver out there but what really impressed me was him showing off some leadership skills as well. He was the guy who stepped up and was more of a vocal leader to the receiving group. It looked like Dre Muhammad was the first one called upon after Doss and Belcher for the offensive sets with 3 receivers. Right after him came in Duwyce Wilson, Tyler Adetona, and Jamonne Chester. The receivers dropped a couple of passes in a row early on and then were nearly flawless for the rest of the drills that I was there.
-Darius Willis looked his usual self and Nick Turner showed some great bursts of speed during drills.
-Chris Hagerup had some big punts while showing off a very strong leg.

Defense:

- Converted linebacker Darius Johnson looked very quick coming off of the line on a variety of defensive line drills. I didn't get to watch much of the defense but the defensive line in general seemed pretty quick during drills.
-As expected, Tyler Replogle was in my opinion the best performing linebacker during drills. He showed off his quickness during many bag drills and looked to be a leader as well for the defense.
-Jerimy Finch and Donnell Jones showed some good hands working on the ball machine. Occasionally Finch would drop one from what looked like a lack of concentration.

Overall I was pretty pleased with what I saw. It is pretty hard to judge the first practice since they were only in shorts. Here is a link to the hoosier scoops take on the first practice. The hoosiers didn't seem very rusty which was a good sign. In fact the ball machine was probably the most rusty thing on the field as it kept flinging faulty balls into the air.

Here is another link with more play by play highlights from practice. Their is also a video with interviews of Darius Willis and Tyler Replogle after practice.

Spring practice update

I was able to attend the first hour or so of the spring practice today. I won't be able to attend the whole practice on Tuesday's and Thursday's because of class. I will post up what I saw and some things that went on later tonight. Also, I will be turning in my first article to Fox Sports this Friday and will put it up when it gets published.

Spring Practice

Spring practice starts today. The players will have meetings starting at 3 pm and then the first practice will kick off at 4 pm. I will be in attendance for almost all of the practices but because of class I will have to miss the last half hour or so of the Tuesday and Thursday scheduled practices. The hoosiers will hold practices Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. The weekly practices all start at 4 pm while the weekend practice times will vary.

Lynch Press Conference

Here is the link to the transcript of the press conference.

Here are some of the more interesting parts.

On the defense:

"We're going to make a few little changes in what we do defensively. We're going to be a little bit more multiple. I know talking to you guys at the end of the season last year, those were some of the questions you had about what are we going to do defensively. We're going to be more multiple. I'll get you more into that as we go through the spring, but being able to play both a four-down linemen scheme with a three-down linemen scheme, it fits what we have. We have good interior guys and then we have different kinds of ends. We were kind of spoiled for three years with two big, physical guys that could play with their hand down in (Greg) Middleton and (Jammie) Kirlew. Now, we've got a group of those guys in Fred Jones, Eric Thomas and Deonte Mack, but then we have some more athletic guys that are combination linebacker/defensive end where we'll have the ability to play with three down and more linebackers in the game. Darius Johnson is the first guy, he came in as a linebacker and a good special teams player. He was really coming on last year when he had an injury. He fits that mold. Javon Cornley certainly fits that mold, who we redshirted a year ago. Kevin Bush is a pleasant surprise. He was a scout team guy for us last year, we really liked what we saw out of him and have watched him here in the offseason. He'll be that other, what we call a drop end, competing with Darius and Javon. There will be some different looks to what we do defensively, and I think it fits the personnel we have right now, and I also think it will make us more multiple. You'll see more as we go through the spring, and we'll learn a little bit more, too. It is one of those things we're going to fool with, although we want to have a good idea of what we want to do with it in the fall. We'll probably go a little bit more into it in the spring and we'll skinny it down a little bit."

On the Wildcat quarterback situation:

"It will be Edward Wright-Baker or Dusty Kiel. They're both very athletic and are big, strong guys. They're both bigger than Mitchell (Evans). When you look at the people who run the Wildcat around the country, a lot of times that guy that runs it is a bigger guy that can be more of a short-yardage guy. If you think about what (Tim) Tebow did all those years, a lot of that and even in the NFL, a lot of those guys are running backs. I think that these guys will be much more of a threat throwing the ball, but those guys are the guys that will be doing it."

Switching it up on defense

Coach Lynch has stated at his presser that the hoosiers will play both a 4-3 defense and a 3-4 defense at times next season. Although the 4-3 defense will still be the dominant defense Lynch said because the 3-4 defense may fit our personnel they will try and become more multiple. Hoosier Scoop has a very good run down on what he said.

Link

Recruiting heats up for Bloomington RB

The Cincinnati Bearcats have offered Bloomington North running back D'Angelo Roberts. This is what he had to say according to the herald times blog.

"I don’t know too much about the program, but I am going to go down there for a visit,” Roberts said. “… I know they just came from a BCS bowl game, so that’s definitely something to look forward to.”
Link

Lynch Presser

I know I have posted or written about almost everything Lynch has said at his presser but if you care to read more here is a link of some things gearing up for spring ball.

Competition on Defense

Spring football starts this week which means the competition will begin for starting spots on the field next fall. When looking where the competition should heat up the most, look no further than the defense. After losing 7 starters from last season, players will be competing all over the place for starting spots. Every position will essentially be up for grabs except, in my opinion, the defensive tackle spots and Tyler Replogle at linebacker. I will be writing about all the position battles this spring. As of today here is who I think will win out for various spot.

At the defensive end position I think Fred Jones will lock up one of the spots. He is battled through some injuries the last few seasons and has patiently waited his turn behind Jammie Kirlew and Greg Middleton. He got in a few games towards the end up last season and showed some promise. He is one of the bigger defensive ends on the roster. The other spot will be a battle between Darius Johnson, Eric Thomas, Terrance Thomas (although he won't be practicing this spring), Deonte Mack and red shirt freshman Javon Cornley. Darius Johnson might be a slight favorite at this point. Look for Lynch to move around some defensive tackles between other positions on the d-line like Nick Sliger and Mick Mentzer.

At linebacker I think JUCO Jeff Thomas will win one of the spots next to Repogle. He is a bigger linebacker, roughly 250 pounds, who will likely drop down and play around the low 240 pound range. His tape shows that he is a pretty big hitter and a physical player. The other spot will likely be an open competition between red shirt freshman Damon Sims, Dimitrius Carr-Watson, red shirt sophomore Chad Sherer and a variety of others.

At safety I think Mitch Evans will lock up one of the spots although he won't be practicing this spring. Chris Adkins also brings experience to the position as well. Jerimy Finch will have a shot to compete as well. Many incoming freshman will be able to compete to see playing time as well.

At corner I think Andre Kates will be a sure thing at one of the spots. He won't be here until the summer but was voted the JUCO player of the year by a sporting magazine. Many other players with experience will be competing such as Donnell Jones, Adrian Burks, Richard Council, JUCO Yatta Kiles and some incoming freshman along with red shirt freshman Lawrence Barnett.

Position battles will be heating up all over the defensive side of the ball and I will keep you updated.

Who will step up?

The emergence of Darius Willis last year gave hoosier fans a lot to look forward to in the future. I think it was when Darius busted out that long TD run against Michigan at the big house, when the game was on the line, that I knew he had arrived. I think it is safe to say that Willis will be the starting back next season. However, he has shown in the past that sometimes he has to miss some time due to injuries. Not only is it very important that Willis stay healthy next year but it is also important that we can have a viable back up running back just in case. Even if Willis doesn't get hurt it would be nice to have a change of pace back that can produce when Willis needs a breather. So who can fill that role?

My pick to click is going to be red shirt freshman Nick Turner. This kid flew under the radar during the high school recruiting phase mostly because he didn't play football his junior season. He returned to football for his senior year and was the Marion County Player of the Year. This red shirt season has allowed him to get acclimated to the offense and get stronger in the weight room. What I like most about this kid is his speed. All he needs is a small opening to take off to the next level. I am very anxious to see how he does in spring practice because I think he would be a great change of pace back for Willis.

The most experienced running back will be Trea Burgess. He is much bigger and is an ideal 3rd down back. He can be used in short yardage situations and when we get close to the goal line. I think he also plays a vital role in the offense but I think if Turner continues to develop that Turner would be a better fit to get more carries.

Spring practice is right around the corner and the competition for the back up running back spot should be something you keep an eye on.

Will Duwyce Wilson crack the starting lineup?

Duwyce Wilson was our highest rated recruit in the 2009 class. The wide receiver had other scholarship offers from Cincinnati, Iowa, and Wisconsin. He is a big and tall receiver with good speed and tremendous hands. Many think he is just as explosive as Tandon Doss. Duwyce also runs a 4.44 40 yard dash, posted a 34 inch vertical and has an extremely high ceiling.

So why didn't he get to play as a freshman? One of the biggest reasons was the talent and depth we already had at the wide receiver position. Between Tandon Doss, Demarlo Belcher, Terrence Turner and 3-4 other receivers it was difficult to catapult into the starting lineup. He got the benefit of red shirting last year which will pay some big dividends for IU in the future. We do however return all of our receivers from last year, so how will this year be any different? Duwyce is going to have many opportunities during the spring to show what he can do. Terrance Turner will be out during the spring as he is recovering from neck surgery. Mitchell Evans also got surgery and has been switched to the safety position. Matt Ernest also will be making a position switch to corner back. This spring will be very important for Duwyce if he wants to be a regular contributor on the field next fall. I will be keeping a close eye on how he performs during spring practice and keep everyone updated.

Who is looking at Saffold?

If you read my blog often you know that Saffold has increased his draft stock tremendously over the past month or so. Many analysts believe Saffold will be a 2nd round choice but could fall late into the 1st round depending on different situations. Since the offensive tackle position is so crucial, many times a team will reach for a player at that position just to fill the need. I wrote a bit earlier that linebacker Matt Mayberry will be working out for the Chicago Bears and the New England Patriots. Now according to Chris Steuber from scout.com Rodger Saffold has worked out for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Seattle Seahawks. Saffold also has planned workouts with the Atlanta Falcons and the Philadelphia Eagles within the next two weeks or so. Scout.com currently has Saffold as the 6th best offensive tackle prospect in the NFL draft.

Patriots Q&A with Mayberry

Link

Here are some tidbits.

by Chris Warner, Patriots Daily Staff

I wanted to start out by talking a little bit about what it’s like to be a Hoosier and play football. Do you feel like you have to explain that a little bit to people, or do you think the program has gotten to the point where it really speaks for itself?

Well, you know, when people think of Indiana Hoosiers, they automatically think of basketball… (It’s been shown) that Indiana’s a basketball school and a basketball state. But the things the football program’s doing over there right now, especially with the new renovation, the football stadium, and just really coming along with the coaching staff, things are really starting to get in a groove. So I definitely think, down the road, football will definitely make a splash of its own.

What drew you to Indiana?

It was early playing time, but really just Coach (Terry) Hoeppner and Coach (Bill) Lynch. I was really close to both of them, Coach Hoeppner and Coach Lynch, both great coaches, and really (they) and a beautiful campus just drew me in to Indiana.

Speaking of that, tell us a little bit about your pro day training and whether or not you’re satisfied with the results.

I spent most of my time down at Ignition, in Mason, (Ohio) by Cincinnati. You know, they’re really known – they had a couple guys last year, Connor Barwin and Mike Mitchell. They really produce out there, and they’re just getting their program started, too, on the rise. It was a great experience out there with Ted Borgerding, who’s the head trainer over there, and Clif Marshall, who opened a new one down in Florida this year. But, you know, it was great. As far as my pro day results, I think they kind of speak for themselves as (far as) being one of the fastest linebackers in the country. You know, I always feel I can do better, just being a competitor myself, but overall, it went pretty good.

What do you think are some areas you might want to work on for next year?

I always think, as a linebacker, you can always study and always try to work on every part of your game. I really think this past year, working with my linebacker coach at Indiana, Mike Yeager, I really eliminated false steps. I think my junior and sophomore years I was having some false steps, and no matter how fast you are, you never want to take a false step because football’s a game of inches. So I really think, you know, just keep on working on footwork and studying film, and really just all areas of my game could get better.

At your pro day, did you get a chance to talk to any NFL scouts?

Oh, yeah. I mean, I talked to a bunch of them leading up to it and at the pro day. I’ve been in contact with a good amount of different teams. Right now, I’m just trying to wait and set up visits and private workouts and stuff of that nature.

Matt Mayberry Workouts

I posted up recently that the Chicago Bears have invited Matt Mayberry to workout with them. It looks like Mayberry will also be working out for the New England Patriots. I will keep you posted with what happens from them and other workouts that get scheduled.

Update on Bloomington North RB

I wrote a piece a while back about Bloomington North's running back D'angelo Roberts. His highlight film was very impressive and his junior year stats definitely raised many eyebrows. The hoosiers were the first to offer him a scholarship but recently he paid a visit to the University of Florida.

Before his visit it seemed as if IU was very high on his list and could very much be the school he ends up at. According to the Hoosier Scoop, Roberts has established a good relationship with the IU coaching staff, especially running backs coach Dennis Springer. He said he has noticed the strength of recent recruiting classes, but also feels like he could play early at Indiana. The Hoosiers also play an offense similar to what he wants — a run-focused offense that will give him the ball.It’s also close to him. Roberts said he feels a responsibility to be around for his three-year-old sister and one-year-old brother.Indiana’s competition for Roberts (who is 5-foot-10, 181 pounds and recently ran an auto-timed 4.36 40-yard dash) is fierce, though.

Not to say that after his visit to Florida, IU is still not high up on his list but Florida may have made up a lot of ground. According to the Herald Times: The big news is that Florida has told him it wants to run more of a pro-style offense during the post-Tim Tebow era. Since that is what Roberts is looking for, he said Florida has gone from a nice thing to definitely in the running.“I definitely like it down here,” Roberts said. “Whatever happens happens with whatever school I go to. But Florida is definitely in my interest.”Roberts, who said the coaching staff’s speed put a “smile on my face,” said Florida wants him back in Gainesville for a camp. If he performs well at that camp, a scholarship offer could be coming.

Obviously it seems many other schools will be getting involved with the Bloomington North running back. Lynch has stated that he wants to get the best from the state of Indiana and this could be a good start. D'Angelo is right in our back yard and getting him would be a good step forward in getting some of the best talent within the state.

Will the Hoosiers Break Through?

Hopefully this season is the one where the hoosiers finally knock down the wall and get back to a bowl game. Last year the hoosiers made a lot of improvements but just couldn't finish in the 4th quarter of games. What has Lynch done about that problem? He made it a point of emphasis this off season and made the word "FINISH" be placed on the back of all the players work out shirts. Each drill this off season was made extremely competitive. The hoosiers were split into teams during winter workouts and points were awarded for winning each drills, attending classes among others, and losers were punished. This in hopes will make the players improve their ability to finish games down the stretch.

Since the bowl season, Coach Lynch has been able to upgrade the overall talent in recruiting and through red shirting he has been able to develop more of the younger players before they are thrown onto the field. Last year they were competitive in so many more games than the previous year, but if they were able to finish we could have been 8-4 instead of 4-8 and been extremely optimistic for the next season. With the culmination of an easy non-conference schedule, more depth, and more competitiveness this off season, the hoosiers have a good shot at breaking through and getting over the hump to get back to a bowl game.

Spring practice is almost here and you can look forward to a very competitive camp. Many defensive positions will be up for grabs and hopefully the competition will bring about the best in the players.

Rittenberg Interview with Lynch Part II

Link

Look for me at FoxSports.com

FoxSports.com has asked me to write about Indiana football for them. My articles/posts will start out on spring football and expand as we get into the season. I was told they will be setting up a blogger section on the website and will have a blogger from roughly each major school.

Mayberry to Visit Bears

Matt Mayberry is set to visit with the Chicago Bears March 22-23. Although he did not get invited to the combine, Mayberry had a great pro day and many scouts believe he could be a late round pick in the NFL draft.

Rittenberg Interview with Coach Lynch

Link

Here are some tidbits.

You were so close in so many games last year. Is there any way to build off that as you hit the field again?

Bill Lynch: I certainly think so. I've seen it throughout the winter program. We're building off what we did in the fall, and I've certainly seen good leadership, good gains in the weight room. We've got a great attitude going into the spring. Obviously, we've got two different kinds of teams. We've got great experience on offense. Certainly our skill position guys are back and healthier than they were a year ago. Offensive line, we lost a couple guys, but we've got some good young guys that have been waiting their turn. Defense is a bunch of young guys that are really anxious to go, some kids who have redshirted and we feel are very talented, guys that haven't played but who we think are going to be really good football players for us. So it will be fun to watch them get out and go. It's going to be a fun spring that way. I like what we're doing from an X's and O's standpoint. We just have to get better at it right now.

You mentioned the anxiousness of young players on defense to get out there. Who are some of the guys you're looking forward to seeing this spring?

BL: I'll start at defensive end, because [Jammie] Kirlew and [Greg] Middleton played so much. Darius Johnson and Javon Cornley. We've got a guy named Kevin Bush, an older guy, really, but he's had a great fall and winter. He was a walk-on who was in the military and came back to school. And then Fred Jones, Eric Thomas are guys who have been in our program that are good football players. They've been waiting their turn to really go in and compete. At linebacker, it's more of a young group, but Damon Sims and D.J. Carr-Watson and Griffen Dahlstrom and Chad Sherer are all kids that are looking forward to showing what they can do because [Matt] Mayberry and [Will] Patterson and [Justin] Carrington and some of those guys that played so much [are gone]. We've got a JC kid in Jeff Thomas from Northern California; we like what we've seen from him in the winter, so I'm anxious to see him on the field. He's an inside [linebacker]. And then in the secondary, it's wide open. [Austin] Thomas and [Nick] Polk played so much, and then [Ray] Fisher played last year. There are some guys there that have had good winters because they know it's going to be very competitive, and this is their opportunity.

Matt Mayberry - Xtreme Speed on Comcast Sports

Last video of the day on Maybery I promise. You have to love the last quote of the video.

Matt Mayberry Interview - NFL Draft Prospect - Indiana University Linebacker

Hear more about Mayberry, what his strengths are, why he should be drafted, and who he idolized growing up.

Matt Mayberry - Indiana University Linebacker - 2010 NFL Draft Highlights

Recruiting for 2011

Now that IU has already received their first verbal commitment , it got me thinking about what we should be looking for in the 2011 recruiting class.

1. Look for more commits from the state of Indiana. Coach Lynch has made it a point of emphasis to get the top talent from the state. The last few years we have signed some but I think this year we will get more. Coach Lynch and staff have already offered scholarships to a bunch of rising seniors in the state and the addition of Coach Mo will probably help as he is well known throughout the high school football ranks in Indiana.

2. The staff will most likely look to fill some spots along the offensive line. We have James Brewer, Cody Faulkner and Jordan Marquette graduating after next season. This leaves Will Matte as the only center unless somebody gets moved.

3. Defensive tackle could also be a point of emphasis. Last year's class had 3 players signed that are listed as defensive ends. Obviously there is a chance that they can bulk up and move inside. However, this year both Deonte Mack and Jarrod Smith are seniors which leaves 4 current sophomores as the only defensive tackles.

4. The corner back spot will likely be heavily recruited. We have 2 seniors (Burks and Council) and 4 juniors (Ernest, Jones, Kates, Kiles). That leaves Peter St. Fort, Lawrence Barnett and Cameron Cole the only corners still on the roster. We signed a lot of safeties in this years class but I see most of them sticking to the safety position and not moving to corner. This would be a good time to restock the corner spot.

5. I am curious to see how well Coach Lynch does selling the program. I say that because our recruiting class saw a big jump in talent level the year after we made it to the Insight Bowl. From there we have been able to sell the program to potential recruits as a program on the rise while selling the upgrade in facilities. The last two seasons have been somewhat disappointing yet we have still been able to bring in some higher quality players. Will we be able to continue that trend with last years record? What about the fact that Lynch only has a few more years on his contract? My prediction is that Coach Lynch will be able to bring in a class similar to this years and the hoosiers will find more success on the football field this year which in turn will show once again that we are a program on the rise.

What Scouts say about Saffold

Link
Most of the NFL scouts agree that Saffold's stock has risen tremendously from the East-West Shrine game and the NFL combine. Most of them have labeled him their sleeper pick. Here are what a few NFL scouts are saying about Saffold.

From MTD:

"Rodger Saffold has picked up a lot of game experience since starting as a true freshman for Indiana. All of Saffold’s starts have come at left tackle which is a very important position in the NFL. Saffold played in the Big Ten which isn’t short on play-making pass rushers. Saffold has good enough size and athletic ability to remain at left tackle in the NFL. I think that Saffold’s game experience against top competition will lead to a successful NFL career. Saffold could come off the board in round 2 but even at that position could be a steal."

From CDS:

"Possess truly intriguing athletic tools. Saffold has an impressive frame, has above-average athletic ability off the edge, but lacks the power and balance to quickly redirect and stay with athletic pass rushers in space and though Saffold has played LOT, but he doesn’t usually display the strength or lateral quickness to slide, mirror or swiftly re-direct and keep the left side of the pocket clean in pass protection. So perhaps his future home is as a ROT or he might be suited to kick inside and play guard in a zone-blocking scheme.
If he can play OG as well as RT and LT in a pinch he should be in the NFL for several years."

Hardy Receives Ed Block Courage Award

It was a tough year for James Hardy. Being injured made him spend most of his season rehabbing and trying to get healthy for next season. Although he didn't get to make a contribution on the field he was still recognized for all of his effort during the season. The Buffalo Bills awarded him the Ed Block Courage Award. Link

"It was an honor, most definitely," Hardy told Buffalobills.com. "It made me feel pretty good."
The award, which is presented to a Bills player that exemplifies a commitment to the principles of sportsmanship and courage, also recognizes dedication, professionalism and community service. For the third-year wide receiver the award carries special meaning because the Ed Block Courage Foundation serves to promote the prevention of child abuse by raising awareness and assisting agencies that provide care and treatment of abused children.

"Being through a lot of the hardships I had as a child, going to see children and talk to children that makes me release all that I have in me from my childhood," said Hardy. "That's why I'll always volunteer for that. I love doing it. It takes me back to a time when I was that age. They call us players an inspiration, but I get inspired when I see those kids to not give up and not quit.

"I wasn't in an abusive situation that some of them may have been in, but there was verbal abuse and not feeling loved like I'm sure some of them feel. I know exactly what they're going through."
Hardy just last week read to a group of young students as part of a celebration of author Dr. Seuss' birthday in the Buffalo area.
"I know what that feels like not having people reading to you and not teaching the do's and don'ts for when you're an adult," said Hardy. "I basically had to figure all of that out on my own. So if I'm making the slightest difference for any of those kids that gives me stability and a warmth inside."
What adds further significance to the award for Hardy are the names that have preceded him on the Bills honor roll of Ed Block Courage award recipients, which hangs in Buffalo's training room.
"When I was in the training room last year and I was working out I would see the Ed Block Courage Award plaque and at the time I didn't know who Ed Block was and no one ever told me about it," Hardy recalled.

Hoosiers Get First Commit for 2011 Class

Generally the commits for the 2011 class don't start rolling in until the summer. Last year Andre Kates was the first commit and that wasn't until May 9th. This year Mike Replogle has made his decision early. The last name might sound familiar because he is the brother of Tyler and Adam replogle currently on the hoosier roster. He plays linebacker for Centerville HS (OH) and I will post up any other information that comes up about him.

Possible NFL Position Changes

While listening to many combine interviews with our hoosiers the possibility of them changing positions came up a handful of times. Let's start with Jammie Kirlew. Many scouts asked him if he got drafted into a 3-4 defense if he would switch to outside linebacker. When talking with Greg Middleton the issue of bulking up a bit and moving inside to defensive tackle was also a possibility. Other people said that if left tackle doesn't work out for Saffold then the possibility of moving inside to guard might be an option.

If any of the hoosiers are going to change positions in the NFL the most likely option I feel would be Middleton. He expressed the fact during the combine that he will do whatever any NFL team wants him to do. He is around the 270 lb range and I think the move is more feasible than other hoosiers.
I think the Kirlew switch to outside linebacker probably is less likely to happen. He doesn't have much experience not having his hand in the ground. He would probably have to get a little quicker and possibly slim down. I like him at the DE position anyway. He has good technique and multiple moves to get to the quarterback.
I could see Saffold moving inside to guard but I'm sure he will be drafted to start out at left tackle. The left tackle position is so important in protecting the quarterback and many teams in this years draft are looking for tackles. Saffold brings 4 years of experience and he clearly showed at the combine he was one of the most athletic lineman. The biggest reason why I still think tackle is better for him is that his pass protecting skills are much more developed than his run blocking skills.

Moral of the story, don't be surprised if throughout training camp you read about some hoosiers trying out other spots. By being flexible and open to other positions it can only help them in the draft.

Former AD finds new job

Former Athletic Director Rick Greenspan has found a new job with Rice University. Link

"We talked to dozens of people who know Rick well — members of the NCAA, conference commissioners, coaches, trustees — and not a single person who is familiar with his experiences at Indiana and West Point had anything but the utmost confidence in Rick’s honesty and integrity," Forman said. "The committee felt that Rick will be very effective in leading Rice athletics in a way we can be proud of and enthusiastic about."
There’s no disputing Greenspan is a proven fund-raiser. When he arrived in Bloomington, Indiana’s athletic department was facing a multimillion-dollar budget deficit. Under Greenspan’s four-year watch, however, major renovations were completed at Memorial Stadium and Assembly Hall, the respective homes of the Hoosiers’ football and basketball teams. And Greenspan’s six years at West Point were spent upgrading virtually all of the Cadets’ athletic facilities.

Updated Mock Drafts

Now that the combine and most pro-day's are done, this is the time that the mock drafts floating around online become a little bit more accurate. Now you will see some of the disparities disappear and although nobody will come to a consensus, you won't see someone predicting Player A to be selected in the 1st round while another mock draft has them in the 3rd. If you look at the professional mock drafts players should be drafted in the same ball park across the board. Here is one of my favorite places to look at mock drafts. Link

Here is a mock draft from CBSSports.com that has Saffold falling into the first round.


25. Baltimore Ravens
Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State: The Ravens finally found a No. 1 wide receiver -- trading for Anquan Boldin -- but lost valuable depth along their defensive line with Justin Bannan already and are likely to lose Dwan Edwards, as well. Jared Odrick has the size, strength and good technique to fit in and contribute immediately.
26. Arizona Cardinals
Rodger Saffold, OT, Indiana: With questions about Mike Gandy's future with the club and concerns as to how right tackle Levi Brown could make the transition to the left side, the Cardinals would be wise to take advantage of this year's talent at tackle and add the underrated Saffold. The former Hoosier impressed at the East-West Shrine Game and at the Combine and could sneak into the first round if there is an early run at the position.
27. Dallas Cowboys
Charles Brown, OT, Southern California: The Cowboys haven't spent a first-round pick on the offensive line since 1989. With valued backups Montrae Holland and Cory Procter potentially entering free agency after this season, the time to look ahead is now. Flozell Adams has been a bit of a turnstile at left tackle for the Cowboys. Brown has the agility and long arms to contribute immediately and ultimately take over for Adams.

Will Patterson Pro-Day Results

From walterfootball.com. Here is what his pro-day numbers were:

Height: 6-1.
Weight: 235.
Pro Day 40 Time: 4.63.
Benchx225: 32.
Vertical: 34.5.
Projected Round (2010): 7-FA

His 32 reps in the bench is a very good number compared to the other linebackers at the combine. Only 2 linebackers at the whole combine benched more than 32 and that was Donald Butler (Washington) and Sean Weatherspoon (Missouri) with 35 and 34 respectively.

IU Pro-Day Results

Link
These come from the draft insider blog.

More than two dozen teams were in Bloomington for the Hoosiers pro-day and by all accounts there was a lot of talent on the field.

Ray Fisher, a player we feel is the most underrated NFL prospect in the Big Ten, looked terrific this morning in workouts. The former receiver who moved to cornerback for the 2009 season worked out at both positions today, besides catching punts, and was solid. Unofficially people have told us his forty time clocked in the low 4.3-second area. Fisher weighed 171 pounds, posted 38-inches on the vertical jump and 10′ 2” on the broad.

Linebacker Matt Mayberry also turned a few heads. Mayberry ran in the low 4.5 second area, though some watches had him as fast as 4.48 seconds, after weighing in at 235-pounds. He completed 24 reps on the bench and posted a broad jump of 9′ 11”.

Jammie Kirlew improved slightly on his forty time from the combine running in the high 4.8 second area. He also posted a 34-inch vertical jump and 9′2” broad jump after weighing in at 261 pounds.

Left tackle Rodger Saffold just participated in position drills after his terrific combine numbers. Saffold is drawing a lot of interest lately. The Cincinnati Bengals, St. Louis Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs have all been monitoring the Hoosier left tackle who could break into the second round when all is said and done.

More Expansion Talk

When reading about the Big Ten expansion possibilities it seems like new teams get added and subtracted from the list daily. At the beginning, people were hoping for a big name like Notre Dame or possibly Texas. Those rumors got shot down pretty quickly. Then more realistic names surfaced such as Rutgers, Missouri, Pittsburgh etc... Today the Athletic Director from Notre Dame made some interesting comments. I don't think they are still very likely to join the conference. The Big Ten reached out to them years ago and was shot down. However, the Notre Dame AD's comments don't exactly rule them out. Link

NEW YORK -- Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick says the possible expansion of the Big Ten could create changes in major college football that force the Fighting Irish to give up their football independence.
The Big Ten and Pac-10 have both said they are exploring the possibility of adding schools.
Swarbrick says that looming realignment changes could be "relatively small ... or they could be seismic."
While Notre Dame prefers to remain independent in football, Swarbrick says, he and university president Rev. John Jenkins will evaluate whatever changes occur and assess how they effect the Fighting Irish.
Swarbrick told reporters Tuesday morning: "You can each come up with a scenario that would force our hand."

Former Hoosier signs with Steelers

Former hoosier Antwan Randle El has signed a 3 year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Antwan had a previous stint with them and seemed to be a good fit within there system.
Link

IU Pro-Day

Tomorrow IU will be hosting its pro-day allowing nfl scouts to watch many hoosiers work out in a variety of drills and lifts. The event will likely be closed to the media but I will try and get you any results that I can. Usually iuhoosiers.com posts up videos from the event and I will try and get that to you if it's available. This is a great opportunity for many hoosiers to improve their draft stock.

North of the Border

I realize this happened last October/November but I just came across it recently. Former hoosier RB Marcus Thigpen has signed a 1 year deal with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. After graduation Marcus bounced around between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Denver Broncos. The Roughriders will begin their 2010 season June 13th.

Hoosiers in the Draft

Remember how great it was 2 years ago watching Tracy Porter and James Hardy get drafted right after another in the 2nd round. Getting hoosiers into the draft makes IU football look stronger, helps with recruiting, and an occasional check gets written back to the IU athletic department when some players cash in on their big checks. It was tough last year watching the whole NFL draft without a hoosier being drafted. This draft could be one of the more exciting for the hoosiers. 4 hoosiers were invited to the combine and one or two others could also be considered in the NFL draft. Here is an update on where our hoosiers stand in regards to the draft. A strong performance at Tuesday's pro-day could improve there draft stocks.

Rodger Saffold- the left tackle improved his draft stock more than any hoosier at the combine. NFL.com voted Saffold the best value lineman out of any lineman at the combine. He showed off great athleticism and turned many scout's heads. As of right now Saffold is most likely a 2nd round pick. However, if many tackles are taken early on, Saffold has the potential to squeak into the late first round.

Jammie Kirlew- the defensive end had a good combine but not great. He will have to improve his 40 yard dash time at IU's pro-day next week. He has run a 4.7 before but at the combine ran a 4.94. He has good technique and more than one move to get to the quarterback. Right now I think he will probably be taken in the 4th or 5th round. Some teams even talked about him moving to OLB in a 3-4 system although I think he would be better in a 4-3.

Greg Middleton- Greg showed off his athleticism at the combine by finishing near the top in the vertical leap. Some teams have talked about him possibly putting on weight and moving inside to the defensive tackle position. Many scout's have talked about Greg having a lot of potential because he led the nation in sacks his sophomore season. Greg could end up being a late round sleeper and I project he will probably be taken in the 6th round.

Nick Polk- the safety was very fluid during drills at the combine. He didn't post a great 40 time he can improve it a bit at the pro-day. He did a good job rotating his hips and showing off his athleticism during position drills. Right now I think he will be a later 6th or 7th round pick.

Matt Mayberry- He was not invited to the combine but if you read my previous post I think he should have been. This pro-day will be extremely important for Matt if he would like to get drafted in next month's draft. He will have to run a very good 40 yard dash time and put up a good number in the bench. It will be interesting to see how his pro-day turns out and if he has a good one could fall into the 6th or 7th round.

If any of the hoosiers do not get drafted their is a good chance they will make it on an NFL roster via free agency. You should also keep an eye on Ray Fisher's 40 yard dash time at the pro-day because if he turns some heads could get picked up as a kick returner by an NFL team. He has a workout with the Colts later this month.

Do you think these draft predictions are accurate? Feel free to let me know what you think.

3 Red Shirt Freshman to watch this Spring

Spring practice is almost here and with the weather warming up today it is about time to look forward to the pads being put on. The last few years we've been able to build up more depth on our roster and there will be a lot of competition this spring for starting spots. Here are 3 freshman who red shirted this past season who I think you should keep an eye on who should hopefully make an impact on the field next season.

1. Duwyce Wilson- The 6'3 receiver has good size, hands and speed for a receiver. He was the highest rated recruit in last years class but because we had a lot of depth at receiver it made sense to red shirt him. We return all of our receivers next season (except for Mitch Evans moving to safety) so it will still be difficult for him to get on the field easily, but he is just to talented to not see playing time this season. It will be some tough competition but I think Duwyce will emerge behind Tandon Doss and Demarlo Belcher as one of the top receivers next season.

2. Ed Wright-Baker- Ed is a 6'2 205 lb athletic quarterback. Because Mitch Evans is moving to safety, this will be a perfect opportunity for Ed to see some time in the "wildcat" formation. He is very athletic and can beat you with his legs but also has a strong arm. Ed and Dusty Kiel will likely be competing for the starting QB job after Chappell graduates, but this could be a good opportunity for him to get some experience and add another threat into the offense with both his running and throwing ability. If Ed does a good job it will also take some pressure off of Chappell next season.

3. Mitch Ewald- Mitch was the 3rd highest rated kicker coming out of high school. In fall camp he unfortunately had an injury to his obliques. This allowed Nick Freeland to win the starting kicking job. By the time he was healthy again it was too late in the season to burn his red shirt. Mitch has a powerful leg and will have a shot to get the starting job this spring. When all said and done, I believe Mitch will be the starting kicker and will provide some stability to the kicking game.

Other notables I would like to include are corner back Lawrence Barnett, safety Nick Zachery, and linebackers Dimitrius Carr-Watson and Damon Sims. The linebacker, safety, and corner positions will all be up for competition this spring to see who gets the starting job.
Tyler Replogle and JUCO transfer Jeff Thomas will probably lock up two of the linebacker starting spots. The other spot will likely be a competition between Damon Sims, Dimitrius Carr-Watson and Chad Sherer.
The safety spot will be an open competition between Mitch Evans, Jerimy Finch, Chris Adkins, Nick Zachery and many of the freshman coming in.
Andre Kates will likely lock up one of the corner spots and Yatta Kiles, Donnell Jones, Richard Council, Adrian Burks, Lawrence Barnett and others will likely compete for the other corner spot. The corner spot has a lot of depth going into the spring but I believe Lawrence Barnett is a guy that you should keep your eye on down the road for the hoosiers.

Combine Interview with Jammie Kirlew

Combine Interview with Greg Middleton

Where was Mayberry's Combine Invite?

Ever since the NFL Combine announced which players were be given invitations, I was shocked to see that Matt Mayberry did not receive one. Mayberry had a pretty good senior year racking up tons of tackles, has good speed, and is all around a hard worker who has good measurables. I understand that the players invited to the combine were invited on more than just statistics. However, to get a decent gauge of how Mayberry matched up with other linebackers at the combine, I compiled every linebacker's stats and compared them to Mayberry's this past season. Here is what I found:

Mayberry had more tackles than 78% of the linebackers invited to the combine

Mayberry had more sacks than 94% of the linebackers invited to the combine

Mayberry had more INT's than 94% of the linebackers invited to the combine

Mayberry had more forced fumbles than 72% of the linebackers invited to the combine

Mayberry didn't record any recovered fumbles last season but neither did 58% of the linebackers invited to the combine

Mayberry had more tackles for loss than 72% of the linebackers invited to the combine

After looking through my excel file I was shocked to see how much better Mayberry's numbers were compared to other linebackers invited to the combine. Hopefully Mayberry has a great Pro-day next week and can garner some attention from NFL scouts. Based on stats alone, he definitely should be considered in the upcoming NFL draft. What do you guys think? Should he have been invited to the combine? Should he get drafted in the upcoming draft?

Update on Ray Fisher

According to Ray Fisher's twitter account he will be having a personal workout with the Indianapolis Colts later this month. If he runs a fast 40 yard dash time at IU's pro-day March 9 he could gain some more attention as a potential kick returner or special teams player in the NFL.

Saffold Stock on the Rise

According to NFL Draft Scout:

Indiana's Rodger Saffold raised his stock last week in Indianapolis with his position drills work, a second-place finish in the broad jump with a 9-foot 5-inch leap, and a third-place finish in the three-cone with a 7.42-second time. An NFL source told Scout.com that the Cleveland Browns, Seattle Seahawks, New York Giants, New York Jets, Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles are just a few of the many teams that interviewed Saffold at the Combine.The 6-foot-4, 316-pound offensive tackle already impressed pro talent evaluators with his toughness and durability after rolling up 41 consecutive starts--especially since he played through the 2008 season with
a brace due to a back injury. "I don't know if anybody has ever had lower back pain, but when you have a fracture back there--I mean, I couldn't put on my own socks," he said. "It was hard putting on my own shoes. Just being able to rehab and do what I needed to do to get back on the field for my team was good enough for me."

Polk Analysis

Overall I think he did a pretty good job. I was hoping for a slightly better 40 yard dash time but the safeties generally don't have to run quite as fast as the corners do. In the other drills I think he showed that he is a very smooth player and didn't drop any balls like some other players did and he showed some athleticism going up and grabbing one. He did a good job changing direction and overall the combine probably slightly improved his draft stock. He isn't a burner and is probably one of the bigger safeties size wise but he is a fluid player who should be a good addition to an NFL team.

Polk Catching Drill

Polk is on the left.

Polk Position Drill #8

Polk Position Drill #7

Polk Position Drill #6

Polk Position Drill #5

Polk Position Drill #4

Polk Position Drill #3

Latest on Big Ten Expansion

An article was written in today's Chicago Tribune about the big ten expansion. The characteristics that the big ten is looking for in a potential school are revenue, geography, academics, and recruiting. The consensus is that Rutgers seems like the best possible fit, followed by Missouri then Pittsburgh.

Why Rutgers? It doesn't hurt that the New Brunswick, N.J., campus is less than 40 miles from midtown Manhattan. Or that the state of New Jersey alone would be the nation's fourth-largest television market -- after New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.

Four other factors can't hurt Rutgers' cause:• Newark Liberty International Airport is 23 miles from New Brunswick, making Rutgers more accessible than many Big Ten campuses.• Rutgers calls itself "The Birthplace of College Football." It beat Princeton in what must have been a thrilling contest in 1869. Final score: 6-4.• Delany hails from the Garden State -- South Orange, N.J.• By leaving the Big East, Rutgers could quadruple its annual TV share to more than $20 million. Meaning that unlike with Texas and Notre Dame, an R.S.V.P would be a mere formality.

Polk Position Drill 2

Polk Position Drill

Nick Polk 4.56 2nd 40 Yard Dash

Nick Polk 4.6 40 Yard Dash

More on Mo

A good article written in today's Indy Star about the recent hire of Mo Moriarity as offensive line coach. Link

Here are some of the highlights:

Moriarity, 54, was an assistant at IU under coach Gerry DiNardo from 2002-04.
"It's bittersweet," he said after informing his incoming team and the Carmel administration. "It's never easy leaving. This is one of the best high school football jobs in the Midwest, but the opportunity to coach at Indiana was something I couldn't pass up."

Moriarity has a long-standing friendship with IU coach Bill Lynch and said he considered getting back into the college game when he was approached by another friend in the college ranks. Though that situation didn't work out, Moriarity said the idea of coaching at that level again appealed to him.
His deep roots in Indiana high school football -- he coached at Bloomington South for 15 years before going to IU the first time -- figure to be an advantage in recruiting.
"I like recruiting," Moriarity said. "It's a little change-up from the season and I enjoy spending time watching players and talking to high school coaches about kids. A lot of the relationships I've made over the years, I'm going to be able to keep."

Thoughts on OL Coach and Combine

First I would like to discuss the new OL coach Mo Moriarity. Coach Mo worked at IU under Dinardo in the early 2000's. From what I have read about him he seems to bring some important characteristics to the IU team. 1. A great motivator 2. years of experience 3. great teacher of the game. He has had deep roots in the state of Indiana and should help him on the recruiting front grabbing the best players from the state to IU. Here is some information about him from a camp that he runs. Link

Coach Moriarity has led the Carmel Greyhounds to the 5A state championship game the last 3 years and won it all in 2007. He is one of two coaches who have won 5A state championships in two different high schools. He previous coached at Bloomington South High School where he won state championships in 1993 and 1998. He has a record of 228 wins and 54 losses in his 24 years as head coach. Coach Moriarity has coached eight undefeated teams and eleven conference champions. He was head coach of the South All-Stars in 1994 and served as president of the Indiana Football Coaches Association in 1998. At Indian he served as the tackle's and TE's coach from 2002-2004. He has coached three Mr. Footballs, Bo Barzilauskas (lineman-93), Rex Grossman (QB-98), and Morgan Newton (QB-08).

Now onto the combine. I have previously stated that I think Saffold definitely improved his draft stock yesterday. Today it was Jammie Kirlew and Greg Middleton's time to shine. Personally, I think they did well but I don't think it drastically changed their draft stock in either direction. I think they did pretty much as expected. Kirlew showed good quickness in some of the agility drills and Middleton looked like he was in good shape. Tomorrow will be Nick Polk's time to shine and I will have all the videos and analysis as usual.

Mo Moriarity named Offensive Line Coach

per iuhoosiers.com

Middleton Speed Drill

Middleton 2nd broad jump 9'8

Kirlew 2nd Broad Jump 8'11

Middleton Broad Jump 9'7

Kirlew Broad Jump 9'3

Kirlew Agility Drill

Middleton showing off his quickness

Kirlew showing off quickness

Middleton Bag Drill

Kirlew Bag Drill

Middleton Position Drill

Kirlew Position Drills

Greg Middleton 2nd 40 Yard Dash

A little slower than his first time.

Kirlew 2nd 40 Yard Dash

He posted the same time as his first. 4.94

Greg Middleton 40 yard dash

His 1st run time was 4.93 unofficial.

Jammie Kirlew 40 yard dash

His 1st run time was 4.94 unofficial.