Friday, April 30, 2010
Lynch on Dakich Show
Here is the link to Coach Lynch on the Dan Dakich show earlier. He discusses the three Hoosiers who got drafted in the 2010 NFL Draft. Check it out.
Best Case Scenario
After analyzing the Hoosiers 2010 schedule I have come up with a best case scenario record of 8-4. Ideally, the offense will be pretty explosive assuming we stay healthy. Our receiving core will be very difficult to stop, running game much improved with Willis, and Chappell takes another step in the right direction and is close to the top in the Big Ten for passing yards and he cuts down on the INT's.
On defense, the defensive line does a good job stopping the run. Our tackles are solid and our ends find a way to get decent pressure on the QB. Andre Kates is a big help in the secondary and the safeties to a good but not great job at defending the pass. The linebacking core gets solid play from Replogle, Thomas, Sims and any other youngster who steps up.
9/2 Towson W
9/18 @ Western Kentucky W
9/25 Akron W
10/2 Michigan W ( A well fought game but the Hoosiers get their revenge)
10/9 @ Ohio State L
10/16 Arkansas State W
10/23 @ Illinois W (They lose to Juice to Benn combo and continue to struggle in the Big Ten)
10/30 Northwestern W (No more Kafka to run around, I would think they would get either this game or Illinois but maybe not both, however this is a best case scenario look)
11/6 Iowa L
11/13 @ Wisconsin L
11/20 Penn State L
11/27 @ Purdue W (Purdue loses their whole secondary and the Hoosier passing game is just too much)
Again this is a best case scenario I believe for next season. Realistically, I think we finish either 6-6 or 7-5. We should take care of our non conference schedule and I like possible wins over Michigan, Illinois, Northwestern, and Purdue.
On defense, the defensive line does a good job stopping the run. Our tackles are solid and our ends find a way to get decent pressure on the QB. Andre Kates is a big help in the secondary and the safeties to a good but not great job at defending the pass. The linebacking core gets solid play from Replogle, Thomas, Sims and any other youngster who steps up.
9/2 Towson W
9/18 @ Western Kentucky W
9/25 Akron W
10/2 Michigan W ( A well fought game but the Hoosiers get their revenge)
10/9 @ Ohio State L
10/16 Arkansas State W
10/23 @ Illinois W (They lose to Juice to Benn combo and continue to struggle in the Big Ten)
10/30 Northwestern W (No more Kafka to run around, I would think they would get either this game or Illinois but maybe not both, however this is a best case scenario look)
11/6 Iowa L
11/13 @ Wisconsin L
11/20 Penn State L
11/27 @ Purdue W (Purdue loses their whole secondary and the Hoosier passing game is just too much)
Again this is a best case scenario I believe for next season. Realistically, I think we finish either 6-6 or 7-5. We should take care of our non conference schedule and I like possible wins over Michigan, Illinois, Northwestern, and Purdue.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Third Annual Coach Hep Challenge Set for Saturday
Per iuhoosiers.com. Link
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The third annual Coach Hep Indiana Cancer Challenge will be held on Saturday, May 1, in honor of late Indiana University head football coach Terry Hoeppner. Coach Hep faced every obstacle, even brain cancer, with a positive attitude, inspiring thousands of football fans during his career.
Participants in the Challenge can enjoy a 2K family walk, a 5K run, and 25, 50 and 100K cycling events. Cornerback Tracy Porter of the Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints and Buffalo Bills receiver James Hardy will be honoring Coach Hep by participating in the event. Porter and Hardy played for Hoeppner until 2007 when he lost his battle with cancer.
Registration for adults 16 and older is $35, for children 15 and under is $15 and for children under five is free. To register online or make a donation visit coachhepcancerchallenge.org.
The highest individual donor will receive an overnight stay at French Lick Resort and Casino or a spa package with IU football season tickets. The highest donating team will receive IU football tickets and a tailgate with Hoeppner's wife, Jane, before the game.
Create a team of five or more and receive a $5 discount per team member. E-mail coachhepcancerchallenge@gmail.com to receive a discount code.
Student Discount. All students receive a $10 discount and if they create a team of five or more they will get $15 off.
New this year. Both runners and cyclists that are back in time for the 2K walk can participate.
Ice Cream Social. Enjoy an Ice Cream Social between 10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. after your walk, run or ride. Sponsored by Hartzell's Homemade Ice Cream.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The third annual Coach Hep Indiana Cancer Challenge will be held on Saturday, May 1, in honor of late Indiana University head football coach Terry Hoeppner. Coach Hep faced every obstacle, even brain cancer, with a positive attitude, inspiring thousands of football fans during his career.
Participants in the Challenge can enjoy a 2K family walk, a 5K run, and 25, 50 and 100K cycling events. Cornerback Tracy Porter of the Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints and Buffalo Bills receiver James Hardy will be honoring Coach Hep by participating in the event. Porter and Hardy played for Hoeppner until 2007 when he lost his battle with cancer.
Registration for adults 16 and older is $35, for children 15 and under is $15 and for children under five is free. To register online or make a donation visit coachhepcancerchallenge.org.
The highest individual donor will receive an overnight stay at French Lick Resort and Casino or a spa package with IU football season tickets. The highest donating team will receive IU football tickets and a tailgate with Hoeppner's wife, Jane, before the game.
Create a team of five or more and receive a $5 discount per team member. E-mail coachhepcancerchallenge@gmail.com to receive a discount code.
Student Discount. All students receive a $10 discount and if they create a team of five or more they will get $15 off.
New this year. Both runners and cyclists that are back in time for the 2K walk can participate.
Ice Cream Social. Enjoy an Ice Cream Social between 10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. after your walk, run or ride. Sponsored by Hartzell's Homemade Ice Cream.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Indiana focused on finishing better in 2010
Per ESPN Big Ten Blog, Adam Rittenberg
Indiana went 1-7 in Big Ten play last season, a mark that seems all too familiar for the Cream and Crimson. But a closer look shows that it wasn't your standard 1-7, if there is such a thing. Indiana held fourth-quarter leads against Michigan, Iowa and Northwestern, only to see each slip away. It jumped out to a 10-0 lead at Penn State before allowing 24 unanswered points in a 31-20 loss. It twice closed to within three points of Wisconsin in the fourth quarter of a Nov. 7 game, only to fall 31-28. Hoosiers players and coaches know they were close in 2009. They don't need to be reminded of it. And if you choose to rehash the past, they'll likely drop an F-bomb or two. "As a whole team, the offseason theme was finish," said co-defensive coordinator/secondary coach Joe Palcic. "We have to learn to finish games."
Chappell led Indiana to plenty of leads last season, but the Hoosiers had a hard time finishing with wins.The message especially resonates with Palcic's defenders, who were on the field for all those lost leads last season. The Hoosiers led Michigan 33-29 with five minutes left before the Wolverines marched downfield and scored on a 26-yard touchdown strike. Indiana dominated Iowa for three quarters, picking off quarterback Ricky Stanzi five times, but Stanzi caught fire in the fourth quarter, tossing touchdown passes of 92 and 66 yards on consecutive plays against a shorthanded Hoosiers secondary. A week later, IU surged out to a 28-3 lead against Northwestern, but the Wildcats fought back and ultimately marched downfield for the game-winning field goal. "That’s three games right there that the defense could be more consistent and learn how to finish," Palcic said. "And not only not giving up the big play, but let's make a play to win it in those situations." Indiana's offense has the same mind-set after a season with some adequate yardage production, especially through the air, but not the points to go along with it.
The Hoosiers had the Big Ten's No. 3 passer in quarterback Ben Chappell and two of the league's top six receivers in Tandon Doss (2nd, 80.2 ypg) and Damarlo Belcher (6th, 64.2 ypg). They also had a running back in Darius Willis with breakaway ability. But Indiana still finished 10th in the league in red zone offense, scoring on just 34 of 44 chances and reaching the end zone on only 22 of those opportunities. Not surprisingly, the red zone was a major focal point for the unit this spring. "Just minor mistakes here and there," offensive coordinator Matt Canada explained. "We have to correct those issues and make plays when we’re given an opportunity. Just finish. Finish every drive. It’s a bottom-line business, and we have to score more points."
Canada also identifies third-down efficiency as an area that must be upgraded in 2010. Indiana tied for seventh in the league in third-down conversions last fall (39.1 percent), and the biggest problems, according to Canada, came on third-and-short situations. The Hoosiers hope Willis and others can produce a consistent rushing attack, which was a chief goal of the pistol formation but hasn't truly come to fruition. While the run game remains a question mark, Indiana has more than enough weapons to be better in the red zone. Belcher is a big target at 6-foot-5, and Doss (6-3), Terrance Turner (6-3) and Duwyce Wilson all boast good size. "We feel like there's plenty of weapons and plenty of things we can do in the red zone and anywhere out there, with all the kids we have at the skill positions, " Canada said. "It’s a matter of our guys understanding that it’s hard to score, it’s hard to move the football against anybody. And when you get it down there, you get an opportunity, you have to score touchdowns. "We're bringing a real awareness to our team that it's what we have to do."
Indiana went 1-7 in Big Ten play last season, a mark that seems all too familiar for the Cream and Crimson. But a closer look shows that it wasn't your standard 1-7, if there is such a thing. Indiana held fourth-quarter leads against Michigan, Iowa and Northwestern, only to see each slip away. It jumped out to a 10-0 lead at Penn State before allowing 24 unanswered points in a 31-20 loss. It twice closed to within three points of Wisconsin in the fourth quarter of a Nov. 7 game, only to fall 31-28. Hoosiers players and coaches know they were close in 2009. They don't need to be reminded of it. And if you choose to rehash the past, they'll likely drop an F-bomb or two. "As a whole team, the offseason theme was finish," said co-defensive coordinator/secondary coach Joe Palcic. "We have to learn to finish games."
Chappell led Indiana to plenty of leads last season, but the Hoosiers had a hard time finishing with wins.The message especially resonates with Palcic's defenders, who were on the field for all those lost leads last season. The Hoosiers led Michigan 33-29 with five minutes left before the Wolverines marched downfield and scored on a 26-yard touchdown strike. Indiana dominated Iowa for three quarters, picking off quarterback Ricky Stanzi five times, but Stanzi caught fire in the fourth quarter, tossing touchdown passes of 92 and 66 yards on consecutive plays against a shorthanded Hoosiers secondary. A week later, IU surged out to a 28-3 lead against Northwestern, but the Wildcats fought back and ultimately marched downfield for the game-winning field goal. "That’s three games right there that the defense could be more consistent and learn how to finish," Palcic said. "And not only not giving up the big play, but let's make a play to win it in those situations." Indiana's offense has the same mind-set after a season with some adequate yardage production, especially through the air, but not the points to go along with it.
The Hoosiers had the Big Ten's No. 3 passer in quarterback Ben Chappell and two of the league's top six receivers in Tandon Doss (2nd, 80.2 ypg) and Damarlo Belcher (6th, 64.2 ypg). They also had a running back in Darius Willis with breakaway ability. But Indiana still finished 10th in the league in red zone offense, scoring on just 34 of 44 chances and reaching the end zone on only 22 of those opportunities. Not surprisingly, the red zone was a major focal point for the unit this spring. "Just minor mistakes here and there," offensive coordinator Matt Canada explained. "We have to correct those issues and make plays when we’re given an opportunity. Just finish. Finish every drive. It’s a bottom-line business, and we have to score more points."
Canada also identifies third-down efficiency as an area that must be upgraded in 2010. Indiana tied for seventh in the league in third-down conversions last fall (39.1 percent), and the biggest problems, according to Canada, came on third-and-short situations. The Hoosiers hope Willis and others can produce a consistent rushing attack, which was a chief goal of the pistol formation but hasn't truly come to fruition. While the run game remains a question mark, Indiana has more than enough weapons to be better in the red zone. Belcher is a big target at 6-foot-5, and Doss (6-3), Terrance Turner (6-3) and Duwyce Wilson all boast good size. "We feel like there's plenty of weapons and plenty of things we can do in the red zone and anywhere out there, with all the kids we have at the skill positions, " Canada said. "It’s a matter of our guys understanding that it’s hard to score, it’s hard to move the football against anybody. And when you get it down there, you get an opportunity, you have to score touchdowns. "We're bringing a real awareness to our team that it's what we have to do."
Average 2nd Round Salaries
We all know that the top picks in the NFL Draft make an insane amount of guaranteed money. But how much will the former Hoosier left tackle Rodger Saffold make? Well I looked up some salaries on yahoo sports and found that...In 2008, the average guaranteed salary for a first-round pick in the NFL was $11,924,000. For second-round picks, that number drops to $1,932,000, while third-round picks averaged $668,000 guaranteed. The steep drop illustrates the significant financial importance a higher draft slot has for a prospect.
Since Saffold was the 1st pick in the 2nd round I am going to guess that it will be slightly higher than the average of $1.92 million. Regardless of what it is it looks like Saffold will be a happy man when he signs his contract. The reason why I bring it up is because many times former players who get into the NFL end up donating a lot of money back to their Alma maters. The 2nd pick in the draft Suh already announced he would be donating over $2 mil back to Nebraska once he signs his contract. Former Hoosier Trent Green donated $250,000 to the Hoosier football program a while back which led to a new locker room. I'm not saying Saffold is going to be giving money back to the IU but it can't hurt the Hoosiers chances if more players keep making it into the NFL.
Since Saffold was the 1st pick in the 2nd round I am going to guess that it will be slightly higher than the average of $1.92 million. Regardless of what it is it looks like Saffold will be a happy man when he signs his contract. The reason why I bring it up is because many times former players who get into the NFL end up donating a lot of money back to their Alma maters. The 2nd pick in the draft Suh already announced he would be donating over $2 mil back to Nebraska once he signs his contract. Former Hoosier Trent Green donated $250,000 to the Hoosier football program a while back which led to a new locker room. I'm not saying Saffold is going to be giving money back to the IU but it can't hurt the Hoosiers chances if more players keep making it into the NFL.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
NFL Draft and Star Rankings
I found an interesting post on some message boards regarding the star ratings from scout and rivals and the players in the NFL draft. Just under 50% of the draft was 3 star and lower prospects coming out of high school. Here is the list.
Sam Bradford: Oklahoma - 3 stars (5.7) - notable offers: Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Texas Tech
Ndamukong Suh: Nebraska - 4 stars (6.0) - notable offers: Nebraska, Miami, Cal
Gerald McCoy: Oklahoma - 5 stars (6.1) - notable offers: Oklahoma, LSU, USC
Trent Williams: Oklahoma - 3 stars (5.7) - notable offers: Oklahoma, LSU, Okie Lite, Texas A&M
Eric Berry: Tennessee - 5 stars (6.1) - notable offers: Tennessee, USC, Ohio State, Georgia
Russell Okung: Oklahoma State - 3 stars (5.6) - notable offers: Okie Lite, LSU, Nebraska, Texas A&M
Joe Haden: Florida - 4 stars (6.0) - notable offers: Ohio State, Georgia, gates
Rolando McClain: Alabama - 4 stars (6.0) - notable offers: Alabama, Miami, Auburn
CJ Spiller: Clemson - 5 stars (6.10) - notable offers: Clemson FSU, gates
Tyson Alualu: Cal - 3 stars (5.7) - Notable offers: Cal, Oregon, Arizona
Anthony Davis: Rutgers - 4 stars (6.0) - notable offers: Rutgers, Miami, Notre Dame, Ohio State
Ryan Mathews: Fresno State - 3 stars (5.5) - notable offers: Fresno State, Colorado, Arizona State
Brandon Graham: Michigan - 5 stars (6.1) - notable offers: Michigan, Penn State
Earl Thomas: Texas - 4 stars (5.9) - notable offers: Texas, Texas A&M
Jason Pierre-Paul: USF - 2 stars (5.0) - high school ranking - notable offers: USF, UCF
Derrick Morgan: Georgia Tech - 4 stars (6.0) - notable offers: Georgia Tech, Miami, OSU, Penn State
Mike Iupati: Idaho - NR as OL - 2 star DT (5.3) - notable offers: Idaho, Arizona
Maurkice Pouncey: Florida - 4 stars (5.8) - notable offers: FSU, Clemson, Miami, gates
Sean Weatherspoon: Missouri - 2 stars (5.2) - notable offers: Missouri, TCU, Tulans
Kareem Jackson: Alabama - 4 stars (5.8) - notable offers: Alabama, Ohio, UConn
Jermaine Gresham: Oklahoma - 4 stars (6.0) - notable offers: Oklahoma, LSU, USC, Tennessee
Demaryius Thomas: Georgia Tech - 3 stars (5.6) - notable offers, Georgia Tech, Georgia, South Carolina
Bryan Bulaga: Iowa - 4 stars (6.0) - notable offers: Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, Wisconsin
Dez Bryant: Oklahoma State - 4 stars (6.0) - notable offers: Okie Lite, Oklahoma, Arkansas
Tim Tebow: Florida - 5 stars (6.1) - notable offers: gates, Alabama
Dan Williams: Tennessee - 3 stars (5.6) - notable offers: Tennessee, Arkansas, Auburn
Devin McCourty: Rutgers - 2 stars (5.2) - notable offers: Rutgers
Jared Odrick: Penn State - 4 stars (6.0) - notable offers: Penn State, Georgia, Virginia Tech, gates
Kyle Wilson: Boise State - 2 stars (5.0) - notable offers: Boise State, Rutgers, Delaware
Jahvid Best: Cal - 4 stars (6.0) - notable offers: Cal, Notre Dame, USC
Jerry Hughes: TCU - 2 stars (5.3) - notable offers: TCU, Iowa State
Patrick Robinson: Florida State - 4 stars (5.8) - notable offers, FSU, gates, Tennessee
Sam Bradford: Oklahoma - 3 stars (5.7) - notable offers: Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Texas Tech
Ndamukong Suh: Nebraska - 4 stars (6.0) - notable offers: Nebraska, Miami, Cal
Gerald McCoy: Oklahoma - 5 stars (6.1) - notable offers: Oklahoma, LSU, USC
Trent Williams: Oklahoma - 3 stars (5.7) - notable offers: Oklahoma, LSU, Okie Lite, Texas A&M
Eric Berry: Tennessee - 5 stars (6.1) - notable offers: Tennessee, USC, Ohio State, Georgia
Russell Okung: Oklahoma State - 3 stars (5.6) - notable offers: Okie Lite, LSU, Nebraska, Texas A&M
Joe Haden: Florida - 4 stars (6.0) - notable offers: Ohio State, Georgia, gates
Rolando McClain: Alabama - 4 stars (6.0) - notable offers: Alabama, Miami, Auburn
CJ Spiller: Clemson - 5 stars (6.10) - notable offers: Clemson FSU, gates
Tyson Alualu: Cal - 3 stars (5.7) - Notable offers: Cal, Oregon, Arizona
Anthony Davis: Rutgers - 4 stars (6.0) - notable offers: Rutgers, Miami, Notre Dame, Ohio State
Ryan Mathews: Fresno State - 3 stars (5.5) - notable offers: Fresno State, Colorado, Arizona State
Brandon Graham: Michigan - 5 stars (6.1) - notable offers: Michigan, Penn State
Earl Thomas: Texas - 4 stars (5.9) - notable offers: Texas, Texas A&M
Jason Pierre-Paul: USF - 2 stars (5.0) - high school ranking - notable offers: USF, UCF
Derrick Morgan: Georgia Tech - 4 stars (6.0) - notable offers: Georgia Tech, Miami, OSU, Penn State
Mike Iupati: Idaho - NR as OL - 2 star DT (5.3) - notable offers: Idaho, Arizona
Maurkice Pouncey: Florida - 4 stars (5.8) - notable offers: FSU, Clemson, Miami, gates
Sean Weatherspoon: Missouri - 2 stars (5.2) - notable offers: Missouri, TCU, Tulans
Kareem Jackson: Alabama - 4 stars (5.8) - notable offers: Alabama, Ohio, UConn
Jermaine Gresham: Oklahoma - 4 stars (6.0) - notable offers: Oklahoma, LSU, USC, Tennessee
Demaryius Thomas: Georgia Tech - 3 stars (5.6) - notable offers, Georgia Tech, Georgia, South Carolina
Bryan Bulaga: Iowa - 4 stars (6.0) - notable offers: Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, Wisconsin
Dez Bryant: Oklahoma State - 4 stars (6.0) - notable offers: Okie Lite, Oklahoma, Arkansas
Tim Tebow: Florida - 5 stars (6.1) - notable offers: gates, Alabama
Dan Williams: Tennessee - 3 stars (5.6) - notable offers: Tennessee, Arkansas, Auburn
Devin McCourty: Rutgers - 2 stars (5.2) - notable offers: Rutgers
Jared Odrick: Penn State - 4 stars (6.0) - notable offers: Penn State, Georgia, Virginia Tech, gates
Kyle Wilson: Boise State - 2 stars (5.0) - notable offers: Boise State, Rutgers, Delaware
Jahvid Best: Cal - 4 stars (6.0) - notable offers: Cal, Notre Dame, USC
Jerry Hughes: TCU - 2 stars (5.3) - notable offers: TCU, Iowa State
Patrick Robinson: Florida State - 4 stars (5.8) - notable offers, FSU, gates, Tennessee
Former Hoosier Picked up by AFL Team
Former Hoosier Collin Taylor was picked up earlier this month by the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz. The team is currently 1-2 and plays there next game against the Dallas Vigilantes. Some other notables on the Yard Dawgz roster are Xavier Lee from FSU, Mondre Dickerson from Tennessee and Kelly Butler from Purdue.
Hoosiers Hot on Recruiting Front
For those of you that don't know the Hoosier currently have 8 verbal commitments for the 2011 football class. The first verbal came back in March with LB Mike Replogle. Last year our first verbal commit didn't occur until May 8th. Usually, the Hoosier staff likes to get rising high school seniors on campus during the summer to evaluate them and hopefully get them committed. This year the Hoosier staff has been much more aggressive much earlier. What impresses me the most if the fact that the Hoosier staff is getting some very high quality talent. The fact that we have grabbed some great recruits is a credit to the staff considering the last two season's haven't been what everyone expected. The facilities must be paying some big dividends now that IU has the largest weight room in the country.
Usually when players commit this early they don't have as many scholarship offers as they would if they let the whole recruiting process play out. However, almost all of the players who have verballed to the Hoosiers have many offers and most of them had offers or interest from major BCS schools. Even the ones who didn't have major offers yet probably would have gotten some when they attended various camps and schools this summer. Give the Hoosier staff some credit, they have tabbed some big recruits so far this spring and in turn has been a domino effect for others to recruit. If you check rivals.com frequently don't be alarmed if you don't see these Hoosier players with stars yet because they won't start evaluating everyone until the summer.
Kirlew, Fisher, Saffold on 1070 The Fan
All three of them talk to Dakich about there experience of being drafted in the NFL, what the teams told them they were looking for etc...
Link
Link
Fisher not a Priority rather a Luxury
Per The News-Sentinel: By Reggie Hayes, Link
Indianapolis Colts president Bill Polian said picking a kick returner in the NFL Draft was not a priority, but a possible luxury.The Colts' last pick of the three-day draft brought that luxury.Polian and coach Jim Caldwell took Indiana University cornerback and return man Ray Fisher, and Polian sounded optimistic that the late-round home-state selection (246th overall) would have a shot.“We felt he was a dual-purpose guy, and a guy that could very likely make our team and contribute in a lot of ways as a ‘gunner' on special teams and things of that nature, in addition to the return game,” Polian said.
Fisher vowed to make a strong run at bolstering the Colts' return game, which hasn't been particularly special in recent seasons.“I know I can bring a lot of excitement to Indianapolis,” Fisher said. “I'm not saying they don't have great players, but they haven't had that big, impact kick returner, and I think I can bring that to the team.”Fisher, a 5-foot-9, 185-pound native of Cleveland, played three years at wide receiver for the Hoosiers before switching to cornerback. He started six games as a senior before suffering a season-ending knee injury. He averaged 37.4 yards per kickoff return and had two kickoff-return touchdowns.
“Even though he's on the small side, he's a good cover corner,” Polian said. “He's a good gunner on covering punts. He can block kicks and he's a dual returner. He can fill a lot of roles.“When you're looking for a player who is not necessarily going to be a starter, you want one who can fill a lot of roles,” Polian said. “Ray can do that.”
Indianapolis Colts president Bill Polian said picking a kick returner in the NFL Draft was not a priority, but a possible luxury.The Colts' last pick of the three-day draft brought that luxury.Polian and coach Jim Caldwell took Indiana University cornerback and return man Ray Fisher, and Polian sounded optimistic that the late-round home-state selection (246th overall) would have a shot.“We felt he was a dual-purpose guy, and a guy that could very likely make our team and contribute in a lot of ways as a ‘gunner' on special teams and things of that nature, in addition to the return game,” Polian said.
Fisher vowed to make a strong run at bolstering the Colts' return game, which hasn't been particularly special in recent seasons.“I know I can bring a lot of excitement to Indianapolis,” Fisher said. “I'm not saying they don't have great players, but they haven't had that big, impact kick returner, and I think I can bring that to the team.”Fisher, a 5-foot-9, 185-pound native of Cleveland, played three years at wide receiver for the Hoosiers before switching to cornerback. He started six games as a senior before suffering a season-ending knee injury. He averaged 37.4 yards per kickoff return and had two kickoff-return touchdowns.
“Even though he's on the small side, he's a good cover corner,” Polian said. “He's a good gunner on covering punts. He can block kicks and he's a dual returner. He can fill a lot of roles.“When you're looking for a player who is not necessarily going to be a starter, you want one who can fill a lot of roles,” Polian said. “Ray can do that.”
Monday, April 26, 2010
Big Ten Holds Own in Draft
The SEC led with 49 players selected, followed by the Big Ten with 34, ACC with 31, Big Twelve with 30 and Pac Ten with 29.
Big Ten breakdown is: Iowa (6), Penn State (6), Ohio State (4), Indiana (3), Illinois (3), Michigan (3), Northwestern (3), Minnesota (2), Wisconsin (2), Michigan State (1), Purdue (1).
Saffold was the 4th Big Ten player taken in the draft following Brandon Graham (#13 to Eagles), Bryan Bulaga (#23 to Packers), Jared Odrick (#28 to Dolphins).
To check out the rest of them here is the link.
Big Ten breakdown is: Iowa (6), Penn State (6), Ohio State (4), Indiana (3), Illinois (3), Michigan (3), Northwestern (3), Minnesota (2), Wisconsin (2), Michigan State (1), Purdue (1).
Saffold was the 4th Big Ten player taken in the draft following Brandon Graham (#13 to Eagles), Bryan Bulaga (#23 to Packers), Jared Odrick (#28 to Dolphins).
To check out the rest of them here is the link.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
3 Hoosiers Drafted in 2010 NFL Draft
Rodger Saffold, Jammie Kirlew and Ray Fisher were all selected in the 2010 NFL draft. I was very surprised that Matt Mayberry didn't get selected. He had been contacted by 24 teams the past couple of days. I think that because this year's draft was so deep a couple of Hoosiers did not get selected that probably would have in other years. I am pretty confident that Matt Mayberry, Greg Middleton and probably Nick Polk will be pretty active in free agency and make there way onto an NFL roster. Whether or not they make camp will be up to them. I will keep you up to date on the latest news as these Hoosiers continue their quest to make it into the NFL.
UPDATE****
It looks like Matt Mayberry has been signed by the Chicago Bears via free agency.
Safety Nick Polk and linebacker Will Patterson have agreed to free agent contracts with the Houston Texans.
Troy Wagner has signed a contract with the Cleveland Browns according to his agent.
The only IU player with an agent whose plans are unknown at this time are those of defensive end Greg Middleton. His agent did not immediately (and by immediately, I literally mean in the last minute) return a call seeking comment. This according to the Hoosier Scoop.
UPDATE****
It looks like Matt Mayberry has been signed by the Chicago Bears via free agency.
Safety Nick Polk and linebacker Will Patterson have agreed to free agent contracts with the Houston Texans.
Troy Wagner has signed a contract with the Cleveland Browns according to his agent.
The only IU player with an agent whose plans are unknown at this time are those of defensive end Greg Middleton. His agent did not immediately (and by immediately, I literally mean in the last minute) return a call seeking comment. This according to the Hoosier Scoop.
Colts Select Ray Fisher
The Colts have selected Ray Fisher with one of there 7th round picks. Check back later for all the analysis. Congratulations Ray!
Kirlew Selected by Denver
The Denver Broncos have just selected Jammie Kirlew in the 7th round. Check back later for all the analysis and interviews of the pick.
Nebraska Offers Hoosier Commit
Nebraska has offered Hoosier commit Max Pirman. Here is the link. Remember, even though he verbally committed to the Hoosier program, high school players can't officially sign until February. Although it looks like Max is sticking with his commitment with the Hoosiers for now, it looks like the Hoosier coaching staff will have to do a good job keeping our verbal commits committed throughout the season. Some recruiting battles are likely to heat up for some of our Hoosier commits.
Saffold Transcript
Here is the transcript that the Rams media had with Saffold after he was picked. Link
Saffold Conference Call Transcript
Posted >Fri, April 23, 2010 07:52 by Nick Wagoner
- Second-round pick Rodger Saffold spoke to the assembled St. Louis media on Friday night, discussing his role on the Rams and how he fits in, among other topics.
(On being surprised the Rams selected him)
“Yeah, it really was a blessing. I knew that they came to work me out during my pro day, but you never know until your name is actually called.”
(On how much he knows about the Rams)
“Not a lot. I definitely had an idol over there with Orlando Pace. Tom Nutten, the guard that played with Orlando Pace during the Super Bowl when they defeated the Tennessee Titans, actually trained me for the guard position down when I was working out in Florida for the combine.”
(On his versatility)
“I’ve had a big mix. I think now that people have seen me go against other people, and seeing how my range might not be as big as other people’s, I can still handle the left tackle position. They also know I’m with the loyalty of the team, so if they want to have me at guard that’s totally fine.
(On whether he’s ever played guard)
“No I’ve never played any guard.”
(On what position he’s most comfortable at)
“More comfortable at left tackle, but I really get excited when I have to do challenges, so playing guard would be true excitement for me.”
(On how he felt last night after the first round)
“It was a long night. Your heart is racing the entire time, and I’m just glad St. Louis called first today, because I don’t know how much longer I could have (waited).”
(On his draft day activities)
“Right now here in Ohio, my home town, Bedford, just sitting with some family and just watching the game and the draft.”
(On who is at his draft party)
“Right now we’ve got about 20 people. The Big Ten Network has also been following me the last couple of days.”
(On whether he’s celebrating at his mother’s apartment)
“No, it’s at a club house next to my mother’s apartment.”
(On when he heard from Rams General Manager Billy Devaney)
“I think it was two minutes, 13 seconds before they had do make a decision. I definitely pay attention to detail, especially when it comes to something as important as this.”
(On his ability to play right tackle)
“Right tackle would be just as fine. Switching up from left to right tackle is just like potato and po-tah-toe. Going ahead and anchoring down that right side is just as much of an important job as that left tackle has. I definitely want to perform on the field.”
(On what he knows about Sam Bradford)
“I saw that he was a big time quarterback out of Oklahoma. You also have Trent Williams over there, a couple really good guys. I talked with Trent and he thought that he was a really good quarterback, which was nice to hear. Just the thought of probably blocking for him, that’s a huge job in itself.”
(On blocking for Steven Jackson)
“Oh man, I’m telling you, I probably thought of that first. I was really excited about that. Power football and getting things going. I’m truly excited.”
(On playing any other sports in high school)
“Yes, I played basketball and I threw discuss and shot put in track.”
(On his progression in college)
“Well, my biggest thing was when I was a two star recruit, I basically went in with a chip on my shoulder. I tried to play as best as I possibly could, continue to make little goals so I could start getting the rotation. I was second team and my coach wanted to make sure that he redshirted us. We lost our first game and I told myself that I didn’t want to sit on the sideline and watch my team lose a game. So the next week I had the greatest practice I ever had and then he finally gave me a chance to let me play in a game my freshman year. From then on I just pride myself to always make sure I’m doing the best I can to protect my quarterback. That’s just history from there.”
(On draft party last night)
“Yes, I actually had a lot more people over here last night. My father said that he just wanted me to have a real good experience and basically he just made sure that everyone got a chance to see me.”
(On where his friends and family went)
“A lot of them flew in, some people have jobs and they couldn’t get off of work on today. So a lot of them either had to go back home or had to just listen today.”
(On how he benefited from the East/ West game)
“I was doing very well in the one-on-one drills as well as during the football game. I was in the last stretch to score a touchdown and win the game. So that was definitely huge. That was like my bowl game. I played for IU so didn’t get to go to a bowl game last year. That’s what I made it. I made the East/ West game my bowl game.”
(On his skills)
“I definitely think I will bring a lot of good technique and power to the game. I’m very boisterous and passionate about the game. I also put my head on the swivel and I’m able to adjust.
Saffold Conference Call Transcript
Posted >Fri, April 23, 2010 07:52 by Nick Wagoner
- Second-round pick Rodger Saffold spoke to the assembled St. Louis media on Friday night, discussing his role on the Rams and how he fits in, among other topics.
(On being surprised the Rams selected him)
“Yeah, it really was a blessing. I knew that they came to work me out during my pro day, but you never know until your name is actually called.”
(On how much he knows about the Rams)
“Not a lot. I definitely had an idol over there with Orlando Pace. Tom Nutten, the guard that played with Orlando Pace during the Super Bowl when they defeated the Tennessee Titans, actually trained me for the guard position down when I was working out in Florida for the combine.”
(On his versatility)
“I’ve had a big mix. I think now that people have seen me go against other people, and seeing how my range might not be as big as other people’s, I can still handle the left tackle position. They also know I’m with the loyalty of the team, so if they want to have me at guard that’s totally fine.
(On whether he’s ever played guard)
“No I’ve never played any guard.”
(On what position he’s most comfortable at)
“More comfortable at left tackle, but I really get excited when I have to do challenges, so playing guard would be true excitement for me.”
(On how he felt last night after the first round)
“It was a long night. Your heart is racing the entire time, and I’m just glad St. Louis called first today, because I don’t know how much longer I could have (waited).”
(On his draft day activities)
“Right now here in Ohio, my home town, Bedford, just sitting with some family and just watching the game and the draft.”
(On who is at his draft party)
“Right now we’ve got about 20 people. The Big Ten Network has also been following me the last couple of days.”
(On whether he’s celebrating at his mother’s apartment)
“No, it’s at a club house next to my mother’s apartment.”
(On when he heard from Rams General Manager Billy Devaney)
“I think it was two minutes, 13 seconds before they had do make a decision. I definitely pay attention to detail, especially when it comes to something as important as this.”
(On his ability to play right tackle)
“Right tackle would be just as fine. Switching up from left to right tackle is just like potato and po-tah-toe. Going ahead and anchoring down that right side is just as much of an important job as that left tackle has. I definitely want to perform on the field.”
(On what he knows about Sam Bradford)
“I saw that he was a big time quarterback out of Oklahoma. You also have Trent Williams over there, a couple really good guys. I talked with Trent and he thought that he was a really good quarterback, which was nice to hear. Just the thought of probably blocking for him, that’s a huge job in itself.”
(On blocking for Steven Jackson)
“Oh man, I’m telling you, I probably thought of that first. I was really excited about that. Power football and getting things going. I’m truly excited.”
(On playing any other sports in high school)
“Yes, I played basketball and I threw discuss and shot put in track.”
(On his progression in college)
“Well, my biggest thing was when I was a two star recruit, I basically went in with a chip on my shoulder. I tried to play as best as I possibly could, continue to make little goals so I could start getting the rotation. I was second team and my coach wanted to make sure that he redshirted us. We lost our first game and I told myself that I didn’t want to sit on the sideline and watch my team lose a game. So the next week I had the greatest practice I ever had and then he finally gave me a chance to let me play in a game my freshman year. From then on I just pride myself to always make sure I’m doing the best I can to protect my quarterback. That’s just history from there.”
(On draft party last night)
“Yes, I actually had a lot more people over here last night. My father said that he just wanted me to have a real good experience and basically he just made sure that everyone got a chance to see me.”
(On where his friends and family went)
“A lot of them flew in, some people have jobs and they couldn’t get off of work on today. So a lot of them either had to go back home or had to just listen today.”
(On how he benefited from the East/ West game)
“I was doing very well in the one-on-one drills as well as during the football game. I was in the last stretch to score a touchdown and win the game. So that was definitely huge. That was like my bowl game. I played for IU so didn’t get to go to a bowl game last year. That’s what I made it. I made the East/ West game my bowl game.”
(On his skills)
“I definitely think I will bring a lot of good technique and power to the game. I’m very boisterous and passionate about the game. I also put my head on the swivel and I’m able to adjust.
Bradford's Mom Happy with Saffold Pick
Yes you heard it right, one of the happiest people when the Rams selected Saffold was Sam Bradford's mother. Here is the link to the article.
No one at Rams Park was happier with the team's second-round draft choice Friday than Martha Bradford.That's because her son, Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford, was the Rams' first-round pick Thursday, No. 1 overall. As Mrs. Bradford figured it, by taking Indiana tackle Rodger Saffold at the top of Round 2, the Rams had just hired 6 feet, 5 inches and 316 pounds of protection for her boy.Sam Bradford had addressed local reporters earlier Friday. He, his mother and his father, Kent, were still in the building when the Rams grabbed Saffold at No. 33 overall.
"I went in to Sam — he was in there visiting with (offensive coordinator) Pat (Shurmur) — and I said, 'I expected you to run down the hallway and thank us,'" coach Steve Spagnuolo said. "And he goes, 'I'm real excited about it, Coach. But my mother's more excited about it.'"
The excitement meter also was registering high numbers in Bedford, Ohio, where nearly two dozen of Saffold's family members had gathered. Saffold said that after not being tapped in the first round, he was hoping for a quick resolution Friday."Oh, man, it was a long night," Saffold said. "Your heart's racing the entire time. I'm just glad that St. Louis called first today, because I don't know how much longer I could've taken it."That call, Saffold said, came "2 minutes and 13 seconds before they had to make a decision. I definitely pay attention to detail, especially when it comes to something as important as this.
"The Rams drafted Jason Smith, a tackle from Baylor, with the No. 2 overall choice last year. So, Bradford will begin his Rams career with at least a couple of young bodyguards available to him."It wasn't structured that way," Spagnuolo said, "but it fell nice."Because he wasn't widely recruited out of Bedford High, Saffold conceded that he arrived at Indiana "with a chip on my shoulder." He was to redshirt as a freshman, but that plan lasted just one game."We lost our first game, and I told myself I didn't want to sit on the sideline and watch my team lose," Saffold said. "That next week, I had the greatest practice I ever had and they finally gave me the chance to play in a game. "And from then on, I've just taken pride in always making make sure that I'm doing the best I can to protect my quarterback."Saffold wound up starting 41 of 42 games for the Hoosiers, all at left tackle. He earned second-team All-Big Ten Conference honors as a senior.
The Rams plan to audition Saffold at both tackle and guard."We like our linemen to be versatile," Spagnuolo said. "He has some flexibility as a guard and a tackle. Very athletic, big guy, nasty guy — got a little mean streak in him. ... You talk about guys pulling and the zone blocking that we do, we thought he looked good in those particular areas. "We said that we'd build this thing from the inside-out and that linemen were important. We just add him to that fold."Former guard Tom Nutten, a starter on the Rams' Super Bowl-championship team in 1999, tutored Saffold on the intricacies of guard play in the weeks leading up to the NFL scouting combine in February."I'm more comfortable at left tackle, but I really get excited when I have to do challenges," Saffold said. "So playing guard would be true excitement for me."He's open to moving to the other side of the line at tackle, too."Right tackle would be just fine," Saffold said. "Switching up from left tackle to right tackle, it's just like po-tay-toe, po-tah-toe. Anchoring down that right side is just as important a job as left tackle is."
Rams general manager Billy Devaney explained that the Rams had a first-round grade on Saffold, which gave them leverage when fielding calls from other teams seeking to trade for the 33rd spot."We thought the best thing for us was just hold our water and take the best player that was on the board at that time," Devaney said.Whatever position he winds up playing on the line, Saffold stressed that he looks forward to helping to keep Bradford, the team's new "franchise quarterback," on his feet."Just the thought of blocking for him, that's a huge honor in itself," Saffold said.Martha Bradford certainly would agree.
No one at Rams Park was happier with the team's second-round draft choice Friday than Martha Bradford.That's because her son, Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford, was the Rams' first-round pick Thursday, No. 1 overall. As Mrs. Bradford figured it, by taking Indiana tackle Rodger Saffold at the top of Round 2, the Rams had just hired 6 feet, 5 inches and 316 pounds of protection for her boy.Sam Bradford had addressed local reporters earlier Friday. He, his mother and his father, Kent, were still in the building when the Rams grabbed Saffold at No. 33 overall.
"I went in to Sam — he was in there visiting with (offensive coordinator) Pat (Shurmur) — and I said, 'I expected you to run down the hallway and thank us,'" coach Steve Spagnuolo said. "And he goes, 'I'm real excited about it, Coach. But my mother's more excited about it.'"
The excitement meter also was registering high numbers in Bedford, Ohio, where nearly two dozen of Saffold's family members had gathered. Saffold said that after not being tapped in the first round, he was hoping for a quick resolution Friday."Oh, man, it was a long night," Saffold said. "Your heart's racing the entire time. I'm just glad that St. Louis called first today, because I don't know how much longer I could've taken it."That call, Saffold said, came "2 minutes and 13 seconds before they had to make a decision. I definitely pay attention to detail, especially when it comes to something as important as this.
"The Rams drafted Jason Smith, a tackle from Baylor, with the No. 2 overall choice last year. So, Bradford will begin his Rams career with at least a couple of young bodyguards available to him."It wasn't structured that way," Spagnuolo said, "but it fell nice."Because he wasn't widely recruited out of Bedford High, Saffold conceded that he arrived at Indiana "with a chip on my shoulder." He was to redshirt as a freshman, but that plan lasted just one game."We lost our first game, and I told myself I didn't want to sit on the sideline and watch my team lose," Saffold said. "That next week, I had the greatest practice I ever had and they finally gave me the chance to play in a game. "And from then on, I've just taken pride in always making make sure that I'm doing the best I can to protect my quarterback."Saffold wound up starting 41 of 42 games for the Hoosiers, all at left tackle. He earned second-team All-Big Ten Conference honors as a senior.
The Rams plan to audition Saffold at both tackle and guard."We like our linemen to be versatile," Spagnuolo said. "He has some flexibility as a guard and a tackle. Very athletic, big guy, nasty guy — got a little mean streak in him. ... You talk about guys pulling and the zone blocking that we do, we thought he looked good in those particular areas. "We said that we'd build this thing from the inside-out and that linemen were important. We just add him to that fold."Former guard Tom Nutten, a starter on the Rams' Super Bowl-championship team in 1999, tutored Saffold on the intricacies of guard play in the weeks leading up to the NFL scouting combine in February."I'm more comfortable at left tackle, but I really get excited when I have to do challenges," Saffold said. "So playing guard would be true excitement for me."He's open to moving to the other side of the line at tackle, too."Right tackle would be just fine," Saffold said. "Switching up from left tackle to right tackle, it's just like po-tay-toe, po-tah-toe. Anchoring down that right side is just as important a job as left tackle is."
Rams general manager Billy Devaney explained that the Rams had a first-round grade on Saffold, which gave them leverage when fielding calls from other teams seeking to trade for the 33rd spot."We thought the best thing for us was just hold our water and take the best player that was on the board at that time," Devaney said.Whatever position he winds up playing on the line, Saffold stressed that he looks forward to helping to keep Bradford, the team's new "franchise quarterback," on his feet."Just the thought of blocking for him, that's a huge honor in itself," Saffold said.Martha Bradford certainly would agree.
Saffold Kicks Off Day 2
Here is the link to the selection of Rodger Saffold by the St. Louis Rams at #33 and the analysis afterwards. I was very happy to see Saffold go 33rd overall and think he will be a good fit for the Rams. He will likely switch to right tackle and have a chance to start from day 1. We wish you the best of luck Rodger with your NFL career. Make the Hoosier nation proud!
Friday, April 23, 2010
Saffold Goes 33rd Overall
The St. Louis Rams chose Rodger Saffold with the 1st pick in the second round. Check back later for all the analysis of the pick. Congratulations Rodger!
Mayberry on 1070 The Fan
Mayberry was on 1070 The Fan yesterday talking about the upcoming draft. He said he has been contacted by 24 teams in the past two days and feels pretty confident about the upcoming draft. Listen to everything else he has to say gearing up for the draft. Link
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Hoosier Fans must wait another day
A lot of excitement had been generated lately with the thought of Rodger Saffold being selected in the 1st round of the NFL Draft. The last Hoosier selected in the NFL Draft was in 1994. Tune in tomorrow to see where Saffold lands and what the experts have to say about where he lands. Look for Saffold to be the 1st or 2nd offensive tackle selected tomorrow behind Charles Brown of USC.
Patience for Big Ten Fans
It seems like ever since the Big Ten brought up the idea of expansion there have been a million and one rumors about what team or teams will be added. It looked like people were on the edge of their seats analyzing dozens of schools that they think would fit in the Big Ten. Yesterday, the Big Ten Commissioner announced that the process will still take their originally estimated 12-18 months to figure out if the Big Ten will expand. We are currently in month 4. So don't expect an announcement anytime on soon on the fate of the matter. It was also noted that there is a possibility that the Big Ten wouldn't expand although most people hope they do. The Big Ten is not desperate in need of making a splash to become a super conference but their is potential to do that. So everyone, take a deep breath and relax for a while because a decision most likely will not be made anytime soon regarding Big Ten expansion.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Rodger Saffold - Indiana - 2010 NFL Combine.wmv
Just in case you haven't seen it, here is a good interview with Rodger Saffold after the combine. Time to get pumped up for the NFL Draft! Go Hoosiers!
Saffold a 1st Round Pick
I have been looking at mock drafts for the last couple of months and the closer it has gotten to draft day the higher up Saffold has been listed in many drafts. Recently, I have seen a handful of drafts having Saffold being selected in the 1st round by teams such as the Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, and the Indianapolis Colts. Saffold's draft stock has risen more than anyone else I can think of this spring and he has a very good shot to cash a very big check soon. Will Saffold fall into the 1st round? We will see tomorrow.
Hoosiers Visit Riley Hospital
Per iuhoosiers.com Link Photo's posted online.
INDIANAPOLIS - For the second straight year, the Indiana football program visited Riley Hospital for Children on Tuesday evening. Seventy Hoosier players along with head coach Bill Lynch and his wife, Linda, took two buses up State Road 37 to the Circle City.
"This is a great opportunity for our guys," Lynch said. "They realize how fortunate they are to have the opportunity to play Big Ten football and get an education at Indiana University. If we can give a little hope and a little help to these kids while we are here it is a great benefit. Riley is an amazing hospital with amazing people. That is why I think it is a wonderful opportunity for our guys to come and experience it."
Last season, the team's Leadership Council decided to focus its community efforts on two major groups - Riley Hospital for Children and the Boys & Girls Club. The team invited the Bloomington Boys & Girls Club to Memorial Stadium prior to an August practice in 2009.
This year's Leadership Council is carrying on that tradition and the program expects both of these initiatives to become annual events.
The team arrived to Riley at 4 p.m. and following a brief orientation, it was divided into nine groups sent to different wings in the hospital. Each patient received a visit from at least one group. Players visited with the children and their families, signed posters and passed out gift bags during the stay.
"Just seeing the smiles on the kids faces makes the trip worth it," senior quarterback Ben Chappell said. "It is something special and means a lot to us as a team. We have come here two years in a row and it is definitely a great experience."
Riley Special Events Coordinator, Melissa Sexton, said the Hoosiers are still the only team in her nearly 10-year tenure at the hospital that has visited Riley en masse.
"It was very humbling seeing all these great kids and families," Doss said. "Hopefully we can keep coming up here. Bringing the joy to the kids faces is the least we can do."
INDIANAPOLIS - For the second straight year, the Indiana football program visited Riley Hospital for Children on Tuesday evening. Seventy Hoosier players along with head coach Bill Lynch and his wife, Linda, took two buses up State Road 37 to the Circle City.
"This is a great opportunity for our guys," Lynch said. "They realize how fortunate they are to have the opportunity to play Big Ten football and get an education at Indiana University. If we can give a little hope and a little help to these kids while we are here it is a great benefit. Riley is an amazing hospital with amazing people. That is why I think it is a wonderful opportunity for our guys to come and experience it."
Last season, the team's Leadership Council decided to focus its community efforts on two major groups - Riley Hospital for Children and the Boys & Girls Club. The team invited the Bloomington Boys & Girls Club to Memorial Stadium prior to an August practice in 2009.
This year's Leadership Council is carrying on that tradition and the program expects both of these initiatives to become annual events.
The team arrived to Riley at 4 p.m. and following a brief orientation, it was divided into nine groups sent to different wings in the hospital. Each patient received a visit from at least one group. Players visited with the children and their families, signed posters and passed out gift bags during the stay.
"Just seeing the smiles on the kids faces makes the trip worth it," senior quarterback Ben Chappell said. "It is something special and means a lot to us as a team. We have come here two years in a row and it is definitely a great experience."
Riley Special Events Coordinator, Melissa Sexton, said the Hoosiers are still the only team in her nearly 10-year tenure at the hospital that has visited Riley en masse.
"It was very humbling seeing all these great kids and families," Doss said. "Hopefully we can keep coming up here. Bringing the joy to the kids faces is the least we can do."
Brief Recap on College Football News
College football news asked me to write a very brief recap of something that stood out in the Spring Game. I wrote about the defense and how they managed to step up in the game, force turnovers, and keep the offense in check. Here is the link.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Ray Fisher Draft Status
From SI.com LinkRay Fisher/WR-CB-RS/Indiana: The versatile Fisher was a productive receiver for the Hoosiers before moving to cornerback as a senior. More than anything else, Fisher was a game-breaking return specialist at Indiana. He averaged 37.4 yards returning kicks as a senior and took two back for scores. Fisher's special team skills will place him in the draft's late rounds while his versatility to play cornerback or receiver is added value.
Teams with interest: Browns, Jets
Monday, April 19, 2010
Big Ten: Looks like expansion timetable accelerating - chicagotribune.com
Big Ten: Looks like expansion timetable accelerating - chicagotribune.com
Posted using ShareThis
Remember the talk that the Big Ten would take 12 to 18 months to decide whether to expand?An accelerated timetable has emerged, according to sources familiar with the process.High-ranking Big Ten representatives will meet Sunday in Washington to discuss expansion. The timing and location of the session make sense considering the Association of American Universities has its semi-annual meetings there through Tuesday and all 11 Big Ten schools are AAU members.Among those attending will be Northwestern President Morton Schapiro, according to a university spokesman, and Illinois' interim chancellor, Robert Easter.If the conference can emerge from the meetings with a mandate to expand, Commissioner Jim Delany could take a substantial step next week at the annual Bowl Championship Series meetings outside Phoenix.As laid out in the Big Ten's Dec. 15 statement, Delany would "notify" the commissioners of the affected conferences before "engaging in formal expansion discussions with other institutions."In other words, Big East Commissioner John Marinatto would get a heads-up if the Big Ten wishes to contact schools such as Rutgers, Pittsburgh and Syracuse.That would allow the Big Ten more than a month to negotiate with schools before conference presidents and chancellors meet in Chicago during the first weekend in June.That timetable also makes sense from a financial standpoint. The fiscal years of universities end on the last day of June, "so if you go past July 1, you have to wait an extra year," one source said.
The Dec. 15 statement said Delany would be asked "to provide recommendations" to the Big Ten Council of Presidents/Chancellors "over the next 12 to 18 months." That wouldn't seem to preclude a recommendation after five-plus months.Efforts to reach Delany for comment Saturday were unsuccessful, and he has declined interview requests on the subject, saying he's in a "silent phase."The thinking among those in touch with Big Ten officials is the conference likely will add at least three schools to end up with a 14- or 16-team league."I don't think 16 is scaring anyone off, as long as you can find (five) that are a good enough fit," said one source who has been consulted during the exploratory phase. "They're looking long-term, across the horizon. What gives them the best shot at keeping value at a high level?"Notre Dame remains Option A, though observers are flummoxed about the school's intentions because of seemingly divergent statements athletic director Jack Swarbrick has made.
In March he spoke of the "unstable" conference landscape, telling a small group of reporters: "You each could invent a scenario that would force our hand. It's not hard to do."A week later he told USA Today: "The only things that could make it happen are the sorts of radical change in the industry that would cause upheaval and impact a lot more (schools) than Notre Dame … the big change. I don't see that happening."By joining the Big Ten, Notre Dame could increase its annual television revenue from roughly $15 million to $22 million, get a national TV platform (the Big Ten Network) for its top-notch Olympic sports and decrease travel costs for its teams.
Who would you guys like to see join the Big Ten? Rutgers?, Syracuse?, Pitt?, Mizzou? Who do you think would help the Big Ten make a big splash while increasing revenue and tv market share?
Posted using ShareThis
Remember the talk that the Big Ten would take 12 to 18 months to decide whether to expand?An accelerated timetable has emerged, according to sources familiar with the process.High-ranking Big Ten representatives will meet Sunday in Washington to discuss expansion. The timing and location of the session make sense considering the Association of American Universities has its semi-annual meetings there through Tuesday and all 11 Big Ten schools are AAU members.Among those attending will be Northwestern President Morton Schapiro, according to a university spokesman, and Illinois' interim chancellor, Robert Easter.If the conference can emerge from the meetings with a mandate to expand, Commissioner Jim Delany could take a substantial step next week at the annual Bowl Championship Series meetings outside Phoenix.As laid out in the Big Ten's Dec. 15 statement, Delany would "notify" the commissioners of the affected conferences before "engaging in formal expansion discussions with other institutions."In other words, Big East Commissioner John Marinatto would get a heads-up if the Big Ten wishes to contact schools such as Rutgers, Pittsburgh and Syracuse.That would allow the Big Ten more than a month to negotiate with schools before conference presidents and chancellors meet in Chicago during the first weekend in June.That timetable also makes sense from a financial standpoint. The fiscal years of universities end on the last day of June, "so if you go past July 1, you have to wait an extra year," one source said.
The Dec. 15 statement said Delany would be asked "to provide recommendations" to the Big Ten Council of Presidents/Chancellors "over the next 12 to 18 months." That wouldn't seem to preclude a recommendation after five-plus months.Efforts to reach Delany for comment Saturday were unsuccessful, and he has declined interview requests on the subject, saying he's in a "silent phase."The thinking among those in touch with Big Ten officials is the conference likely will add at least three schools to end up with a 14- or 16-team league."I don't think 16 is scaring anyone off, as long as you can find (five) that are a good enough fit," said one source who has been consulted during the exploratory phase. "They're looking long-term, across the horizon. What gives them the best shot at keeping value at a high level?"Notre Dame remains Option A, though observers are flummoxed about the school's intentions because of seemingly divergent statements athletic director Jack Swarbrick has made.
In March he spoke of the "unstable" conference landscape, telling a small group of reporters: "You each could invent a scenario that would force our hand. It's not hard to do."A week later he told USA Today: "The only things that could make it happen are the sorts of radical change in the industry that would cause upheaval and impact a lot more (schools) than Notre Dame … the big change. I don't see that happening."By joining the Big Ten, Notre Dame could increase its annual television revenue from roughly $15 million to $22 million, get a national TV platform (the Big Ten Network) for its top-notch Olympic sports and decrease travel costs for its teams.
Who would you guys like to see join the Big Ten? Rutgers?, Syracuse?, Pitt?, Mizzou? Who do you think would help the Big Ten make a big splash while increasing revenue and tv market share?
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Don't Sleep on the Hoosiers
Here is what Pete Fiutak from Collegefootballnews.com had to say about the Hoosiers. He listed one team from each conference that might not win the division but is a dangerous team that could pull some upsets. Link
While these teams might not be good enough to win a conference title, they come back improved enough to ruin someone else's season. Here are the teams that'll be the pains in the butt for the big boys.
Big Ten - Indiana
The brutal late schedule could be a problem for dreams of a bowl game, especially if there isn’t a hot start, but the Hoosiers should be able to work the kinks out in time to be dangerous by the second half of the season. With a nice-looking offense, led by a talented receiving corps and RB Darius Willis to use as a workhorse, IU will almost certainly catch someone napping. Iowa faces the Hoosiers on the road after a nasty October against Penn State, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Michigan State; Wisconsin gets IU at home as an oasis after road games at Iowa and Purdue and before Michigan; Penn State and IU play in Landover, Maryland, a week after the Nittany Lions go to Ohio State.
The brutal late schedule could be a problem for dreams of a bowl game, especially if there isn’t a hot start, but the Hoosiers should be able to work the kinks out in time to be dangerous by the second half of the season. With a nice-looking offense, led by a talented receiving corps and RB Darius Willis to use as a workhorse, IU will almost certainly catch someone napping. Iowa faces the Hoosiers on the road after a nasty October against Penn State, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Michigan State; Wisconsin gets IU at home as an oasis after road games at Iowa and Purdue and before Michigan; Penn State and IU play in Landover, Maryland, a week after the Nittany Lions go to Ohio State.
Hoosiers get another Commit
The commit train continues. Today LB/DE Max Pirman announced he would commit to the Hoosiers. He is 6'5 and 218 lbs and had offers from Kansas, Ball State, Bowling Green, Kent State, Ohio, Toledo, Western Michigan and interest from Northwestern. Max is from Orrville High School in Ohio and will be joining teammate Chase Hoobler when he arrives in Bloomington in 2011.
Spring Game Highlights
In case you couldn't make it to Memorial Stadium yesterday here are the highlights from IUhoosiers.com
Spring Game Recap
Here is a Spring Recap from Scout.com's John Decker. The crimson team ended up pulling away late to win 17-10 on a somewhat controversial no call. Here are a couple of tidbits. Here is the link to read the rest of the article.
Re-inserted into the game in the fourth quarter, No. 1 quarterback Ben Chappell hoisted a 21-yard touchdown strike to Charles Love to give the Crimson the go-ahead and ultimately decisively score in its 17-10 win.
Truth be told, that play may have come down to one call. With the quarterbacks dressed in orange jerseys and off limits for defensive players, officials were quick to whistle plays dead when a defender had a quarterback within his grasp. But Chappell managed to back pedal away from pressure on the winning play and dropped the ball in over the back of a Hoosier defensive back to Love.
IU Coach Bill Lynch said he didn’t have a good view of the play and couldn’t offer much of an opinion about whether or not Chappell could have been ruled down, but the quarterback said he heard from some that they weren’t so sure his touchdown should have counted.
While Chappell and Love turned in solid evenings of work, the rest of the offense had its share of struggles. Freshmen quarterbacks Dusty Kiel and Ed Wright-Baker split the reps with the Cream squad and both had some struggles. Kiel completed just 4-of-10 throws for 29 yards and was both intercepted and sacked twice. Wright-Baker didn’t turn the ball over, but he was only 8-of-20 for 54 yards and was sacked two times.
there were also some positives from some new faces. Playing out of the Hoosiers’ new 3-4 defense, outside linebacker Kevin Bush had six tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack. Junior college defensive back Lenyatta Kiles added six tackles, two interceptions and two passes broken up, and true freshman running back Antonio Banks finished with a team-high 49 rushing yards.
RUSHING Cream – Burgess 12-29, Covington 5-3, Wright-Baker 4-(-4), Pines 1-(-7), Kiel 2-(-8), Creevey 2-(-13).
Crimson – Banks 11-49, Turner 10-12, Chappell 1-0, Schell 3-(-24).
PASSING Cream- Wright Baker 20-8-0 54, Kiel 10-4-2 29, Creevey 8-3-0 33.
Crimson – Chappell 23-15-0 142, Schell 11-8-0 79, Follett 5-2-2 19.
RECEIVING Cream – Doss 6-67, Adetona 3-26, Martin 2-18, Dedmond 2-9, Burgess 2-(-4). Crimson – Wilson 5-65, Muhammad 5-52, Love 5-46, Chester 5-37, Turner 2-13, Lanning 1-12, Dahlstrom 1-9, Banks 1-6.
Re-inserted into the game in the fourth quarter, No. 1 quarterback Ben Chappell hoisted a 21-yard touchdown strike to Charles Love to give the Crimson the go-ahead and ultimately decisively score in its 17-10 win.
Truth be told, that play may have come down to one call. With the quarterbacks dressed in orange jerseys and off limits for defensive players, officials were quick to whistle plays dead when a defender had a quarterback within his grasp. But Chappell managed to back pedal away from pressure on the winning play and dropped the ball in over the back of a Hoosier defensive back to Love.
IU Coach Bill Lynch said he didn’t have a good view of the play and couldn’t offer much of an opinion about whether or not Chappell could have been ruled down, but the quarterback said he heard from some that they weren’t so sure his touchdown should have counted.
While Chappell and Love turned in solid evenings of work, the rest of the offense had its share of struggles. Freshmen quarterbacks Dusty Kiel and Ed Wright-Baker split the reps with the Cream squad and both had some struggles. Kiel completed just 4-of-10 throws for 29 yards and was both intercepted and sacked twice. Wright-Baker didn’t turn the ball over, but he was only 8-of-20 for 54 yards and was sacked two times.
there were also some positives from some new faces. Playing out of the Hoosiers’ new 3-4 defense, outside linebacker Kevin Bush had six tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack. Junior college defensive back Lenyatta Kiles added six tackles, two interceptions and two passes broken up, and true freshman running back Antonio Banks finished with a team-high 49 rushing yards.
RUSHING Cream – Burgess 12-29, Covington 5-3, Wright-Baker 4-(-4), Pines 1-(-7), Kiel 2-(-8), Creevey 2-(-13).
Crimson – Banks 11-49, Turner 10-12, Chappell 1-0, Schell 3-(-24).
PASSING Cream- Wright Baker 20-8-0 54, Kiel 10-4-2 29, Creevey 8-3-0 33.
Crimson – Chappell 23-15-0 142, Schell 11-8-0 79, Follett 5-2-2 19.
RECEIVING Cream – Doss 6-67, Adetona 3-26, Martin 2-18, Dedmond 2-9, Burgess 2-(-4). Crimson – Wilson 5-65, Muhammad 5-52, Love 5-46, Chester 5-37, Turner 2-13, Lanning 1-12, Dahlstrom 1-9, Banks 1-6.
Kyle Kennedy 2009 Cathedral High School Football
Here are some highlights from our most recent commit Kyle Kennedy. As you can see he runs very well for a linebacker and has great speed. The video does a good job pointing out who he will before every play. He will need to add weight but if he redshirts he should be fine. Enjoy!
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Hoosiers get 2 Commits
Not only was the Spring Game a great opportunity for the Hoosiers to show off all of there hard work this spring, but it was a good opportunity for a handful of recruits to check out the Hoosier program. After the game it was announced that both Ralston Evans and Kyle Kennedy would commit to the Hoosiers. Evans is a 6'4 260 lb offensive lineman from Arlington High School in Indy and had offers from Duke, BuffaloN and Ball State. Kennedy a linebacker from Cathedral High School had an offer from Ball State and interest from Tennessee, Wisconsin, Michigan and Purdue among others.
Spring Game Notes
The Spring Game is today at 6 p.m. The game will feature four 12-minute quarters, with a 12-minute halftime. Coach Lynch will address the fans at halftime. The first 3,000 fans will receive a free Cream or Crimson T-shirt. Complimentary rosters will be available and the marketing department will be on hand to pass out the T-shirts, schedule cards and posters. If you can't make it to The Rock, the game will be broadcast on WHCC 105.1 FM by Jeremy Gray.
My prediction: I think it will be a close game but I think the Crimson team will pull away in the end. Too much Chappell and Wilson for the Cream team. To view the rosters click here.
The Marketing Department has been working extremely hard to make the Spring Game atmosphere very enjoyable. I hope that we can get a very good crowd out there today assuming the weather cooperates.
My prediction: I think it will be a close game but I think the Crimson team will pull away in the end. Too much Chappell and Wilson for the Cream team. To view the rosters click here.
The Marketing Department has been working extremely hard to make the Spring Game atmosphere very enjoyable. I hope that we can get a very good crowd out there today assuming the weather cooperates.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Mayberry Listed as Sleeper
NFL Analyst Chris Steuber came up with his list of defensive sleepers. Here is what he had to say about Matt Mayberry.
A two-year starter at middle linebacker for Indiana, Mayberry led the Hoosiers in tackles the last two years, and this past season, he had a breakout year where he recorded 108 tackles, 11 for a loss, 5.5 sacks and three interceptions.
An underrated and fairly unknown prospect, the 6-foot-2, 236-pound Mayberry was a Scouting Combine snub last month, but made his presence felt at Indiana’s Pro Day. He put on a show during Indiana’s March 9th Pro Day and stunned representatives from 23 NFL teams with his 4.57 in the 40, 24 reps on the bench press and agility during drills. Mayberry is the 8th rated middle linebacker listed on Scout.com’s 2010 NFL Draft Rankings.
Draft Projection: 5th – 6th Round
Click here to read the rest.
A two-year starter at middle linebacker for Indiana, Mayberry led the Hoosiers in tackles the last two years, and this past season, he had a breakout year where he recorded 108 tackles, 11 for a loss, 5.5 sacks and three interceptions.
An underrated and fairly unknown prospect, the 6-foot-2, 236-pound Mayberry was a Scouting Combine snub last month, but made his presence felt at Indiana’s Pro Day. He put on a show during Indiana’s March 9th Pro Day and stunned representatives from 23 NFL teams with his 4.57 in the 40, 24 reps on the bench press and agility during drills. Mayberry is the 8th rated middle linebacker listed on Scout.com’s 2010 NFL Draft Rankings.
Draft Projection: 5th – 6th Round
Click here to read the rest.
Spring Game Preview
From the ESPN Big Ten Blog. To read the rest of them click here.
The vitals: The Cream & Crimson game kicks off at 6 p.m. ET at Memorial Stadium. Fans can choose to cheer for the Cream or Crimson squads and will be able to sit on opposite sides of the stadium. Admission is free and gates open at 5 p.m. ET. Everything you need to know can be found here.
What to watch:
The defense is Indiana's top priority this spring, and there's plenty of competition in the secondary as three starters depart. Although safety Mitchell Evans and cornerback Matt Ernest are limited and cornerback Lawrence Barnett is out with an injury, it'll be interesting to see which defensive backs step up on Saturday. I'll keep an eye on junior college transfer Lenyatta Kiles and safety Jerimy Finch, who I'm told is having a solid spring.
The Hoosiers' defensive front seven also should be intriguing. IU knows what it has in linebacker Tyler Replogle, but junior college transfer Jeff Thomas and others are competing for the other two starting linebacker spots. Co-defensive coordinator Joe Palcic had some very high praise this week for defensive ends Darius Johnson and Kevin Bush, two players worth watching.
Indiana should have one of the Big Ten's top passing offenses in 2010, but there are big questions with the run game. Can Darius Willis stay healthy and become a star? Is freshman Antonio Banks the real deal? We'll find out a little bit more on Saturday night.
The vitals: The Cream & Crimson game kicks off at 6 p.m. ET at Memorial Stadium. Fans can choose to cheer for the Cream or Crimson squads and will be able to sit on opposite sides of the stadium. Admission is free and gates open at 5 p.m. ET. Everything you need to know can be found here.
What to watch:
The defense is Indiana's top priority this spring, and there's plenty of competition in the secondary as three starters depart. Although safety Mitchell Evans and cornerback Matt Ernest are limited and cornerback Lawrence Barnett is out with an injury, it'll be interesting to see which defensive backs step up on Saturday. I'll keep an eye on junior college transfer Lenyatta Kiles and safety Jerimy Finch, who I'm told is having a solid spring.
The Hoosiers' defensive front seven also should be intriguing. IU knows what it has in linebacker Tyler Replogle, but junior college transfer Jeff Thomas and others are competing for the other two starting linebacker spots. Co-defensive coordinator Joe Palcic had some very high praise this week for defensive ends Darius Johnson and Kevin Bush, two players worth watching.
Indiana should have one of the Big Ten's top passing offenses in 2010, but there are big questions with the run game. Can Darius Willis stay healthy and become a star? Is freshman Antonio Banks the real deal? We'll find out a little bit more on Saturday night.
Hoosiers Get LB Commit
And the commits just keep rolling in. Today Ohio linebacker Zack Shaw announced he has verbally committed to the Hoosiers. He is 6'4 and 218 pounds and had offers from Toledo, Ball State, and Kent State. Last year he had 228 tackles and 8 interceptions. I will keep you posted with any information I find on him.
NCAA Rule Changes
It looks like the NCAA is banning eye black with messages and wedge blocks this fall. Taunting in the field of play will start costing teams points in 2011.
Link
Link
Changing Spring Game Culture
There was a good article today written in the IDS about Glass and Kraft's efforts to create a great spring game environment. To read the whole article click here. Here are a few highlights from the article. This year's Spring Game will see a ton of changes that will make the atmosphere very game like. I encourage all fans to come to Memorial Stadium and watch all the progress this Hoosier team has made this spring.
Glass, Kraft and the rest of the administration have two goals with the annual Cream and Crimson Spring Game: create a festive atmosphere and create traditions similar to those of basketball’s Hoosier Hysteria.An IU linebacker from 1997-99, Kraft said he knows firsthand how barren the Memorial Stadium stands can be for April action. “I’ve played in spring games where the parents were the only ones there,” Kraft said.
Now a member of the athletics department since June, Kraft said the front office can no longer accept that. “We really haven’t put 100 percent into it from an administration standpoint. No one’s fault of their own, it’s just times have changed,” he said.In changing the culture of a program, the administration has to be willing to think outside the box, Glass said. Last season, coinciding with the new North End Zone facility, Glass added game-day experiences such as Kick for Keeps and Knothole Park to regular-season games. He also lowered student ticket prices to $5 for all games. The changes left an impressionable mark on the season. Average attendance in 2009 spiked to 41,833 people per game, 10,051 more than 2008 and the highest average since 1992.
Now, Glass said, the same decisions have to be made to turn the spring game into a must-see event. But before such a big change can happen, the department is making small changes.During the game, the scoreboard and corresponding video board will be on. The Marching Hundred will play, and fans are permitted to bring their dogs to the stadium. The Hoosiers’ new uniforms will also be unveiled Saturday, set up on mannequins throughout the stadium. But that’s where the small changes end and the bigger vision begins.
The stadium’s east side — where fans are asked to sit — will be split into Cream and Crimson sides. Fans will know their side when they arrive, as — depending on which gate they enter — the first 3,000 fans will receive a free cream or crimson T-shirt. As each side scores or makes a stop, crimson- or cream-clad fans will win a prize. Fans will have a chance to text plays in, either helping their own team or sabotaging the other. Random prizes — including an opportunity to kick from the 40-yard line for a year’s free tuition — will be awarded throughout the game. Kraft said he hopes the division and desire for free things will create a friendly competitive atmosphere and establish new traditions. “We really said, ‘OK, this is what we’re going to do. We’re going to focus around this game.’ And guess what? We’re going to do it next year,” Kraft said. “You’ve got to start somewhere. “We talk about changing the culture, and it’s believing in success, saying ‘It’s Indiana, we’re going to go root for them and have fun.’” Kraft said he’s been asked questions about how the department will bring basketball back.
The 100-plus years of traditions will get that program back on track, but football doesn’t have that luxury, he said. “When we go to a bowl game this year, is the culture going to be changed? No,” Kraft said. “When we go to two bowl games back-to-back, is it going to be changed? No, but we’re getting there.“To me, it’s consistency, it’s focus and dedication.”
Glass, Kraft and the rest of the administration have two goals with the annual Cream and Crimson Spring Game: create a festive atmosphere and create traditions similar to those of basketball’s Hoosier Hysteria.An IU linebacker from 1997-99, Kraft said he knows firsthand how barren the Memorial Stadium stands can be for April action. “I’ve played in spring games where the parents were the only ones there,” Kraft said.
Now a member of the athletics department since June, Kraft said the front office can no longer accept that. “We really haven’t put 100 percent into it from an administration standpoint. No one’s fault of their own, it’s just times have changed,” he said.In changing the culture of a program, the administration has to be willing to think outside the box, Glass said. Last season, coinciding with the new North End Zone facility, Glass added game-day experiences such as Kick for Keeps and Knothole Park to regular-season games. He also lowered student ticket prices to $5 for all games. The changes left an impressionable mark on the season. Average attendance in 2009 spiked to 41,833 people per game, 10,051 more than 2008 and the highest average since 1992.
Now, Glass said, the same decisions have to be made to turn the spring game into a must-see event. But before such a big change can happen, the department is making small changes.During the game, the scoreboard and corresponding video board will be on. The Marching Hundred will play, and fans are permitted to bring their dogs to the stadium. The Hoosiers’ new uniforms will also be unveiled Saturday, set up on mannequins throughout the stadium. But that’s where the small changes end and the bigger vision begins.
The stadium’s east side — where fans are asked to sit — will be split into Cream and Crimson sides. Fans will know their side when they arrive, as — depending on which gate they enter — the first 3,000 fans will receive a free cream or crimson T-shirt. As each side scores or makes a stop, crimson- or cream-clad fans will win a prize. Fans will have a chance to text plays in, either helping their own team or sabotaging the other. Random prizes — including an opportunity to kick from the 40-yard line for a year’s free tuition — will be awarded throughout the game. Kraft said he hopes the division and desire for free things will create a friendly competitive atmosphere and establish new traditions. “We really said, ‘OK, this is what we’re going to do. We’re going to focus around this game.’ And guess what? We’re going to do it next year,” Kraft said. “You’ve got to start somewhere. “We talk about changing the culture, and it’s believing in success, saying ‘It’s Indiana, we’re going to go root for them and have fun.’” Kraft said he’s been asked questions about how the department will bring basketball back.
The 100-plus years of traditions will get that program back on track, but football doesn’t have that luxury, he said. “When we go to a bowl game this year, is the culture going to be changed? No,” Kraft said. “When we go to two bowl games back-to-back, is it going to be changed? No, but we’re getting there.“To me, it’s consistency, it’s focus and dedication.”
Wide Receivers Shine
One of my articles is now up on the front page at collegefootballnews.com. Here is the link.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
"I'm telling you, they're both going to end up being better than Jammie Kirlew."
No disrespect for Jammie Kirlew, because he was certainly an awfully good player for the Hoosier squad. The statement in the title came from the mouth of Coach Palcic when talking about new defensive ends Darius Johnson and Kevin Bush. Read the conversation between Coach Palcic and Adam Rittenberg from ESPN Big Ten's Blog. Coach Palcic has high hopes for our new defensive ends to say the least.
Link
Link
DE Kevin Bush
If you didn't know, defensive end Kevin Bush has had a much different road to Indiana football then all the other players. He started out his college football career by playing a year at Toledo only to join the U.S. Armed Forces for the next three and a half years. Wondering how his transition has been back to playing football? Mike Peagram wrote a great article on Kevin and how his life experiences have changed him as a person and how he sees himself fitting into the Hoosiers defense.
Will Antonio Banks Redshirt?
Antonio Banks could be back in Ohio enjoying his last days as a high school senior. Instead, he graduated early so he could enroll at IU this spring to get a head start on his college football career. By enrolling early he will likely a leg up on the incoming freshman running backs this summer and will be more adjusted to the life of a student athlete playing division 1 football. It has been Coach Lynch's philosophy, the past couple of years, to redshirt as many freshman as possible to allow more players time to develop in the weight room and on the field .
With Darius Willis and Zach Davis-Walker hurt this spring Antonio has seen more reps than he would have otherwise. He has done a good job showing off his power running ability and he has been one of the better performers throughout the spring. When the fall rolls around, Darius Willis figures to be back as the starter and Trea Burgess will likely be the 3rd down back. Nick Turner probably has a slight edge over Banks because he has had a year to get acclimated with the offense and has also had a good spring showing off his blazing speed. Antonio will be one of the many backs competing for the backup spot but don't rule him out yet to be a redshirt. If he continues to improve the way he has so far this spring he will likely increase the competition for the backup running back spot. If he does end up redshirting then so be it, it will still have many benefits to him and the Hoosiers down the road. However, if a running back goes down with an injury during the season he could be one of the backs asked to step up.
Big Ten Preview
You can find a pretty good big ten preview from college football news here. After reading it I think I agree with most of what they have to say. Here is the Indiana run down.
Big Ten Teams Missed: Michigan State, Minnesota
Realistic Best Case Record: 7-5
Worst Case Record: 4-8
Likely Finish: 6-6
Summary: There isn't a non-conference game the Hoosiers won't be favored in. Towson, at Western Kentucky, Akron and Arkansas state isn't exactly what most would call a murderer's row of teams to deal with. Missing Michigan State and Minnesota in conference action isn't a positive, and having to go to Ohio State and Wisconsin stings even more with the Penn State game being played in Landover, Maryland. The bye week comes too early, September 11th, but if the Hoosiers can upset Michigan, they'll almost certainly be 4-0 going into Michigan Week.
Big Ten Teams Missed: Michigan State, Minnesota
Realistic Best Case Record: 7-5
Worst Case Record: 4-8
Likely Finish: 6-6
Summary: There isn't a non-conference game the Hoosiers won't be favored in. Towson, at Western Kentucky, Akron and Arkansas state isn't exactly what most would call a murderer's row of teams to deal with. Missing Michigan State and Minnesota in conference action isn't a positive, and having to go to Ohio State and Wisconsin stings even more with the Penn State game being played in Landover, Maryland. The bye week comes too early, September 11th, but if the Hoosiers can upset Michigan, they'll almost certainly be 4-0 going into Michigan Week.
FoxSports
Another article of mine is in the process of getting posted up on FoxSports. Hopefully I can get you guys the link soon. I have sent in 2 articles so far and will send in another one after the spring game.
Matte, Replogle Building on Early Success
Per iuhoosiers.com with a video of Will Matte. Link
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Two of the Hoosiers young guns along the offensive and defensive lines talked to IUHoosiers.com. Center Will Matte and defensive lineman Adam Replogle filled voids on their respective lines as freshmen last season and are poised to improve on their successes as sophomores.
Matte was named freshman All-Big Ten by Sporting News and recognized as a CollegeFootballNews.com Freshman All-America honorable mention selection in 2009. He started all 12 games at center and allowed just one sack.
As a unit, the offensive line allowed just 16 sacks on the season, a total that ranked second in the Big Ten and shared 28th nationally. The front five surrendered one sack per 27.5 pass attempts, which ranked second in the Big Ten, and the Hoosiers finished second in conference games only with 262.4 passing yards per game.
Replogle, the only true freshman to play for the Hoosiers in 2009, appeared in all 12 games and started the final 11 contests of the season at defensive tackle. The Centerville, Ohio, native earned a spot on the CollegeFootballNews.com Freshman All-America third team.
He finished third on the team with four sacks (16 yards), which ranked second among freshmen defensive tackles and third among all freshmen players in the Big Ten. Replogle added five tackles for loss (18 yards) and 32 tackles, 16 solo.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Two of the Hoosiers young guns along the offensive and defensive lines talked to IUHoosiers.com. Center Will Matte and defensive lineman Adam Replogle filled voids on their respective lines as freshmen last season and are poised to improve on their successes as sophomores.
Matte was named freshman All-Big Ten by Sporting News and recognized as a CollegeFootballNews.com Freshman All-America honorable mention selection in 2009. He started all 12 games at center and allowed just one sack.
As a unit, the offensive line allowed just 16 sacks on the season, a total that ranked second in the Big Ten and shared 28th nationally. The front five surrendered one sack per 27.5 pass attempts, which ranked second in the Big Ten, and the Hoosiers finished second in conference games only with 262.4 passing yards per game.
Replogle, the only true freshman to play for the Hoosiers in 2009, appeared in all 12 games and started the final 11 contests of the season at defensive tackle. The Centerville, Ohio, native earned a spot on the CollegeFootballNews.com Freshman All-America third team.
He finished third on the team with four sacks (16 yards), which ranked second among freshmen defensive tackles and third among all freshmen players in the Big Ten. Replogle added five tackles for loss (18 yards) and 32 tackles, 16 solo.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Big Ten Draft Analysis
Both Jammie Kirlew and Matt Mayberry are mentioned around the 2 minute and 20 second mark.
Replogle Brothers
A good article written on the ESPN Big Ten Blog.
Rittenberg talks about how important both of them will be to the success of the Hoosiers defense next season. There is also a mention of the two younger brothers Mike and Jake.
Rittenberg talks about how important both of them will be to the success of the Hoosiers defense next season. There is also a mention of the two younger brothers Mike and Jake.
Dre Muhammad Article
From the Journal Gazette Link
He talks about his off season and the hard work he has put in. It can't be easy for anyone who transferred from Purdue but he is doing a great job this spring.
He talks about his off season and the hard work he has put in. It can't be easy for anyone who transferred from Purdue but he is doing a great job this spring.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Spring Practice Recap
Here is a brief recap of today's practice. Remember that this Saturday is the Spring Game at 6pm. The event is going to simulate a real game day atmosphere as best as it can. There will be tailgating before and plenty of activities to do during the game. Now on to today's practice.
- Hagerup continues to show off a very strong leg. He has made some progress with shortening up his motion but his leg strength has been very impressive. The kicking game should be improved all around.
-Justin Pagan was back in pads. This should help the o-line a good deal. There seemed to be a couple more holes for the running backs to get through today. Trea Burgess and Antonio Banks showed some good runs up the middle while Nick Turner showed off good speed getting to the edge multiple times.
-Our top 3 QB's had a pretty good day. Chappell was his usual self completing most of his passes. He seems to be getting some good chemistry with Duwyce Wilson. Duwyce had a great day. Not only did he catch a ton of passes but he caught a ton of difficult ones. He had a big catch in double coverage and a handful on the sideline keeping his feet in bounds. He has definitely taken advantage of the fact that Belcher and Turner haven't been able to practice this spring. Tandon Doss also had a pretty good day making some big catches in big situations such as 3rd and goal or 3rd and ten.
-Dusty Kiel also had a good day throwing the ball. His best performance was in the red zone where he completed back to back touchdown throws. One of them he had to escape the pocket and make the throw on the run. Ed Wright-Baker also looked better today but did throw an interception to Alex Webb. The receivers did a great job blocking today on a couple of plays that opened up big holes down the sidelines.
-Although the offense seemed to perform better today it seemed as if our coverage was a bit tighter than usual. During one on one drills Yatta Kiles, Matt Ernest, Richard Council and Adrian Burks all showed off some good coverage skills. Burks made a couple of great plays today swatting down some well thrown balls. Council knocked a ball or two loose out of the hands of our receivers.
- I like what I saw from redshirt freshman Damon Sims. His speed will likely be a good attribute for him in coverage and making plays all around the field. I also like how physical Chad Sherer has been playing.
-Max Dedmond had a couple of catches over the middle during 7 on 7 drills. Charles Love III also is looking like a decent receiving threat at tight end.
Spring Preview: Defense
My article on the defense has now been published. Here is the link. IU Believe Train
Spring Game Guide
The spring game will be hosted this Saturday at 6 p.m. There are a ton of things that will be going on to make the event very fan friendly. To view all of them click here. Here are just a couple that will be going on.
Student Athletic Board Alumni Reunion and Tailgate: The Student Athletic Board Alumni Association invites you and your family to the SAB reunion tailgate before the Cream & Crimson Spring Game. Come join past and current SAB members at the festivities, which begin at 4 p.m. The tailgate is free of charge for SAB alumni and their families and will be located at the North Entrance to Memorial Stadium. Please RSVP to sab@alumni.iu.edu.
Bark in the Park: We encourage everyone to participate in "Bark in the Park," hosted by Indiana University Athletics. "Bark in the Park" is a promotion that allows IU football fans to enjoy the privilege of bringing their dogs into Memorial Stadium while they watch the game. The designated area for the "Bark in the Park" will be on the hill behind the South end zone.
Taste of The Rock: Come to Memorial Stadium early to enjoy a taste of Bloomington's finest restaurants as part of your football tailgate. Nick's, Moe's, Papa John's and HoneyBaked Ham will participate.
Little 500 Kickoff: A tradition like nothing else. Get Little 500 week off to a great start!! See all the participating houses in the 60th running of the Little 500.
Kick for Tuition: IU students, here is your chance to win FREE tuition for a year! One randomly selected student will be chosen from the crowd to attempt a field goal from the 40-yard line for free tuition. Make sure you are in the stands for this great opportunity!
Tour of the Henke Hall of Champions: Be one of the first to experience the Henke Hall of Champions, celebrating the achievements of IU Athletics over the years. Tours will be offered prior to the start of the game. Register at the entrance of the North End Zone to schedule your tour.
Student Athletic Board Alumni Reunion and Tailgate: The Student Athletic Board Alumni Association invites you and your family to the SAB reunion tailgate before the Cream & Crimson Spring Game. Come join past and current SAB members at the festivities, which begin at 4 p.m. The tailgate is free of charge for SAB alumni and their families and will be located at the North Entrance to Memorial Stadium. Please RSVP to sab@alumni.iu.edu.
Bark in the Park: We encourage everyone to participate in "Bark in the Park," hosted by Indiana University Athletics. "Bark in the Park" is a promotion that allows IU football fans to enjoy the privilege of bringing their dogs into Memorial Stadium while they watch the game. The designated area for the "Bark in the Park" will be on the hill behind the South end zone.
Taste of The Rock: Come to Memorial Stadium early to enjoy a taste of Bloomington's finest restaurants as part of your football tailgate. Nick's, Moe's, Papa John's and HoneyBaked Ham will participate.
Little 500 Kickoff: A tradition like nothing else. Get Little 500 week off to a great start!! See all the participating houses in the 60th running of the Little 500.
Kick for Tuition: IU students, here is your chance to win FREE tuition for a year! One randomly selected student will be chosen from the crowd to attempt a field goal from the 40-yard line for free tuition. Make sure you are in the stands for this great opportunity!
Tour of the Henke Hall of Champions: Be one of the first to experience the Henke Hall of Champions, celebrating the achievements of IU Athletics over the years. Tours will be offered prior to the start of the game. Register at the entrance of the North End Zone to schedule your tour.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Big Ten vs. MAC in Little Caesars Bowl
The Big Ten has signed a contract through 2013 to play against the MAC in the Little Caesars Bowl in Detroit. The deal announced Monday calls for the No. 8 bowl-eligible Big Ten team to face the No. 1 or No. 2 MAC team at Detroit's Ford Field. If the Big Ten doesn't have eight bowl-eligible teams, the Little Caesars bowl will get a Sun Belt Conference team.
Link
Link
Chappell Recognized for Achievement
Ben Chappell was one of twenty four Hoosier student athletes recognized for the Scholastic Achievement Award. The award is given to the athlete with the highest grade point average of his or her respective team. To see the rest of the list click here.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
More on our recent Commit
Tre chose the Hoosiers over offers from Toledo and Purdue. However, interest for the QB had picked up recently. Tre was getting letters from Oregon, Ohio State, Tennessee and Illinois among others. His grandfather lettered with the Hoosiers back in 1968. Here is a link to what his Coach had to say about him.
Link
Link
More Scrimmage Recap
Again I apologize I could not make it to the scrimmage today. Here is a link to the Hoosier scoop. Most of their recap is about the offense's performance. Looks like due to some injuries some younger players were able to step up. Antonio Banks did a good job running the ball and looks like Nick Zachery is fitting in well at wide receiver. Read the rest here.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Indy QB Commits to Hoosiers
The Hoosier staff are really getting out on the recruiting front early this year. Today they received their 4th commit for the 2011 class. The commit, QB Tre Roberson from Lawrence Central, is listed at 6'1 170 pounds. Check back for later for more analysis of our most recent commit.
Details of Today's Scrimmage
Per IUhoosiers.com
I won't be in attendance today but will be at next week's practices and spring game.
I won't be in attendance today but will be at next week's practices and spring game.
Friday, April 9, 2010
News-Sentinel Article on Barnett
A good article about how much progress Lawrence Barnett has made since coming to IU and how he has proven to be in the mix for the starting corner spot next fall. Link
Coach Lynch in Action
Check out Coach Lynch Mic'd Up at Tuesday's practice. Here is the link. The Hoosiers will hold another scrimmage on Saturday followed by the Spring Game the following week.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
IU Believe Train
Along with FoxSports I will have some things published for the IU Believe Train. If you don't know they are a student organization that does a lot of things to create enthusiasm and a better game day atmosphere for students. My analysis of the offense is already posted.
IU Believe Train
IU Believe Train
Kiel Having a Good Spring
As the title reads, redshirt freshman Dusty Kiel is having a pretty good spring. Recently, he has spent a lot of time with the 2nd unit and has continued to show off his strong arm and accuracy. Dusty has done a good job hitting receivers in stride. Dusty has been competing with Ed Wright-Baker mostly for the backup position and the competition will likely continue throughout the spring. Lately though, it seems as if Dusty has taken a small step ahead of Ed Wright-Baker. Ed could be a good candidate for the "Wildcat" in our offense next season because he can make plays with his feet along with his arm. However, Dusty also has some good speed as he took a bootleg for a score last practice to end a redzone drill. The competition should be a good one throughout the spring but as it stands right now it seems Kiel has a slight lead.
Rittenberg on Doss
Adam Rittenberg wrote a article recently on the Big Ten Blog on Tandon Doss. He talks about how well he has played this spring and how talented our receiving core can be. It's a pretty good read.
Link
Link
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Practice Recap
A few general notes from today's practice:
I was very pleased with how safety Jerimy Finch practiced today. He did a good job in coverage during 1 on 1 drills getting an interception and almost more during the 11 on 11 drills. He made numerous plays around the line of scrimmage versus the run and was showing leadership skills while directing players in the right spots when he was not on the field.
The red zone drills were completely dominated by the defense. The first string offense failed to score both series while the second string offense finally scored on a Dusty Kiel bootleg. The defense did a great job against the run and didn't give up the big passing plays. Definitely good progress made today.
Dusty Kiel is most likely the backup quarterback at this point. He showed off his strong arm and hit many receivers in perfect stride during 7 on 7 drills. He even showed off his legs scoring a TD on a bootleg at the end of practice.
Mick Mentzer and Adam Replogle were pretty disruptive in the backfield. The defensive line in general did a good job stuffing the run. I don't recall any big runs the whole practice but Antonio Banks and Nick Turner showed a couple of good physical runs up the middle to get some tough yards.
The corner backs seemed to do a better job in coverage today. They didn't give up the big plays as I have mentioned. Matt Ernest and Richard Council both did a good job making plays on the ball while it was in the air and Finch also had a very good day as I previously stated. Chris Adkins showed off good closing speed during drills and Lawrence Barnett continues to impress and got some time with the 1st string today.
Duwyce Wilson and Ben Chappell seem to be developing some good chemistry. Chappell found Wilson on 3-4 consecutive passes during some 7 on 7 drills.
It looks like freshman linebacker Jack Denton was moved to tight end today and Nick Zachery was moved to wide receiver from safety. I'm not sure if they are permanent moves yet or not.
Here is a link to more recap and video footage from today's practice.
I was very pleased with how safety Jerimy Finch practiced today. He did a good job in coverage during 1 on 1 drills getting an interception and almost more during the 11 on 11 drills. He made numerous plays around the line of scrimmage versus the run and was showing leadership skills while directing players in the right spots when he was not on the field.
The red zone drills were completely dominated by the defense. The first string offense failed to score both series while the second string offense finally scored on a Dusty Kiel bootleg. The defense did a great job against the run and didn't give up the big passing plays. Definitely good progress made today.
Dusty Kiel is most likely the backup quarterback at this point. He showed off his strong arm and hit many receivers in perfect stride during 7 on 7 drills. He even showed off his legs scoring a TD on a bootleg at the end of practice.
Mick Mentzer and Adam Replogle were pretty disruptive in the backfield. The defensive line in general did a good job stuffing the run. I don't recall any big runs the whole practice but Antonio Banks and Nick Turner showed a couple of good physical runs up the middle to get some tough yards.
The corner backs seemed to do a better job in coverage today. They didn't give up the big plays as I have mentioned. Matt Ernest and Richard Council both did a good job making plays on the ball while it was in the air and Finch also had a very good day as I previously stated. Chris Adkins showed off good closing speed during drills and Lawrence Barnett continues to impress and got some time with the 1st string today.
Duwyce Wilson and Ben Chappell seem to be developing some good chemistry. Chappell found Wilson on 3-4 consecutive passes during some 7 on 7 drills.
It looks like freshman linebacker Jack Denton was moved to tight end today and Nick Zachery was moved to wide receiver from safety. I'm not sure if they are permanent moves yet or not.
Here is a link to more recap and video footage from today's practice.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Hoosier Commit #3
It has just been announced that Columbus North H.S. (IN) Tight End/Defensive End Jake Reed has committed to the Hoosier program. Jake is 6'4 and 231 pounds. He is the 3rd member of the hoosiers 2011 recruiting class. Usually the Hoosiers don't get their commits until the summer time so this year is starting out on a different note. I will have more information about him as it becomes available. 
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Scrimmage Stats
Link
IUHoosiers.com has more stats from the scrimmage along with some photos. I was going to post up about the kickers but here are the stats on them.
Mitch Ewald was 3-3, connecting on field goals from 35, 37 and 29 yards out. Nick Freeland was 5-6, hitting from 37, 34, 34, 20, 28 and 23. Mick Mentzer broke through to block Freeland's only miss. The other kickers missed all of their field goals.
IUHoosiers.com has more stats from the scrimmage along with some photos. I was going to post up about the kickers but here are the stats on them.
Mitch Ewald was 3-3, connecting on field goals from 35, 37 and 29 yards out. Nick Freeland was 5-6, hitting from 37, 34, 34, 20, 28 and 23. Mick Mentzer broke through to block Freeland's only miss. The other kickers missed all of their field goals.
Scrimmage Recap: Defense
The defense did a much better job defending the run than it did the pass. Here is a break down on how they did.D-line: the tackles did a good job stuffing the run. The only big run was when Dusty Kiel broke one loose up the middle against the 2nd string. Adam Replogle and Larry Black didn't allow many runs longer than 3 or 4 yards. The defensive ends are pretty quick and did a good job today. Fred Jones and Darius Johnson both got sacks. Darius Johnson and Javon Cornley were usually standing up instead of down on the line but both showed off good quickness today. Javon almost got an interception and did a good job reading the offense. Darius Johnson laid a big hit off the edge to stop the running back in the backfield.
LB: The linebackers came to hit today. Tyler Replogle had multiple tackles around the line of scrimmage where he delivered some big hits. Jeff Thomas had a good day in run support and almost intercepted Dusty Kiel. Damon Sims did a good job chasing down Dre Muhammad on a screen play by the sideline. He has some good speed and started alongside Replogle and Beckum as the1st string. Beckum had some big tackles against the run. Chad Sherer also came to hit today. He had multiple big hits and did a good job tackling in the open field. Jack Denton made a leaping interception during 7 on 7 drills.
Secondary: the offense had a lot of success through the air. Albeit, our wide receiving core is very good. I felt like the best all around corner today was redshirt freshman Lawrence Barnett. He did a very good job in coverage and made some great plays on the ball. He showed good technique and knocked down a pass intended for Tandon Doss with his left hand in single coverage.Richard Council had a few good plays on the ball and broke up a pass. Jerimy Finch did a good job in run support and made some plays around the line of scrimmage. Yatta Kiles also did a good job in coverage and made some good open field tackles. Donnell Jones delivered a blow on Jamonne Chester when he came across the middle.
Overall: the defensive line did a good job against the run. Tyler Replogle and Jeff Thomas were the best linebackers but, many different linebackers made plays. It will be interesting to see if Thomas starts at middle linebacker and Tyler moves back outside or if he continues to back up Tyler at middle linebacker. Barnett was the best corner in coverage but will be having surgery on his wrist next Friday.
Scrimmage Recap: Offense
Get ready for information overload. There is a lot to say after seeing the first scrimmage. Just some general notes: Belcher, Mack, Faulkner, Martin did not play. Darius Willis got hurt after a few runs. Looks like it is a left hip injury but hopefully isn't too serious. Lots of recruits on hand today to watch the first scrimmage. Let's get right to it.QB's: Chappell was pretty much flawless the whole day. Completed almost every pass to a variety of receivers. Even hit Tandon on a deep pass after he rolled out to the right and threw on the run. He didn't turn the ball over and just had a great day overall.
Ed Wright-Baker- did a good job escaping the pocket and running the ball. Had a tough time throwing the ball the first time out but eventually settled in and made some good throws. Most of the incomplete passes were when he threw off his back foot. He should fit in nicely at the "Wildcat" position.
Dusty Kiel- he had the longest run of the whole day. He dropped back and quickly took off up the middle and probably would've gone 60 yards to the house until they blew the play dead. Did a pretty good job today. Didn't force a whole lot even though he didn't have many players open the first couple of drives. Once he settled in, he found Tandon a couple of times and showed off his good arm strength.
RB's:
Darius Willis had a couple carries for a few yards but hurt his left hip it looked like. He went to the locker room and iced up and watched the rest of the day from the sideline.
Nick Turner- had a couple of good runs up the middle. Did a good job catching the ball out of the backfield. Clearly the fastest back of them all but the o-line didn't provide a ton of holes.
Antonio Banks- also had a good day. Similar to Turner, Banks did a good job running tough up the middle and getting yards between the tackles. Also had a few catches out of the backfield and had the longest run of all the running backs, a 10 yd TD.
Shane Covington- did a good job making the initial defender miss. He was pretty elusive and did a good job cutting back where he saw the holes. Caught the ball out of the backfield as well.
Trea Burgess- did a good job in short yardage situations. Showed some power on a few runs up the middle to get some tough yards.
WR's:
They clearly dominated the scrimmage today. Tandon Doss had a ton of catches for some pretty big gains. He did a lot in space and usually made the first defender miss. Nobody could really stop him and he clearly was the best wide out today. One of his biggest gains happened after getting a huge block from Duwyce Wilson opening up the whole right side of the field.
We all know what Tandon can do but watch out for redshirt freshman Duwyce Wilson. He was the #2 receiver today and had a great day. He had a 40 yd TD catch on a great post route and had a couple other catches where he did a good job keeping his feet in bounds. Duwyce shined today and is continuing a very good spring. The wide receiver position has so much depth. Even with the 2nd strings, Tyler Adetona had some big plays. Once he gets into space he has the ability to make multiple defenders miss and take off with his good speed. Jamonne Chester had a few catches as well, one being on a critical 3rd down.TE's:
Max Dedmond had a couple of nice catches and both Ted Bolser and Charles Love III got a catch. These three are all good receiving tight ends and I hope we continue to get them more involved in the passing game.
OL:
The O-line did a pretty decent job in pass protection. They didn't open up a ton of holes and had around 6 penalties. Pagan and Faulkner didn't play so some younger guys had to fill in with the 1st string. They have some room for improvement and need to cut down on the penalties.
To sum up the offense's performance: Chappell, Doss, and Wilson were the 3 best players in my opinion. Our receiving core is going to be extremely difficult to stop and we have so much depth. They performed extremely well and didn't even have Belcher and Turner playing. The back up running back spot will have a lot of competition and Turner, Banks, Covington all showed some good things today.
Let's get a discussion going
As of today, how many wins do you think the Hoosiers will get next season? Who do you think we will beat? Which games will be toss ups? Any predictions about anything regarding the team? Will Doss get over 1,000 yds receiving? Anything you want to comment about, feel free.
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