CFN's Indiana Hoosier Preview

From College Football News.

By Pete Fiutak

Indiana tries hard, has made a little noise, and has had a game or two here and there when it looked like it could be on the verge of becoming a better program. But the wins just haven’t been flowing , the talent hasn’t been comparable to the rest of the Big Ten, and despite the late Terry Hoeppner’s belief that Hoosier football really could be good, it’s going to take something special to change around the culture and the system.

It’s not like the state of Indiana doesn’t care about football. While it might be a basketball-mad place, it’s home to Notre Dame, the second biggest franchise in all of sports (behind the New York Yankees). Purdue has always had a football buzz, and the Peyton Manning Colts have become a big thing. Also, it’s not like the hoops team is doing anything to make IU a basketball school; there’s room for Indiana football to do more.

But like Kentucky, North Carolina, and Kansas, it’s hard to change around the sports identity of a school. On the flip side, Texas and Florida have had success on the hardwood success, but many fans of the two schools would trade a basketball national title for gridiron win over Oklahoma and Alabama, respectively, in a heartbeat. For Indiana to find a mix and to be better on the football field, it has to come up with a niche, and it has to find one thing that it can do better than anyone else. In other words, it has to come up with an identity.

Where Hoeppner failed in his belief about the potential of Indiana football was in the way he thought the team could play it straight. Upgrade the players, get the right mix in place, build a bit, and then the Hoosiers could eventually turn things around. But to make a big change, there has to be something to grab on to. Wisconsin was a doormat for years until Barry Alvarez arrived and built around a power running game. Kansas took a step out of the basketball shadow under Mark Mangino thanks to a high-octane passing offense. Indiana, this year, has big receivers and the potential for a great passing game, but that might not be enough to get by and it might not be enough to take a big step forward.

There’s a chance IU could have the best receiving corps in the Big Ten, but the offense might hang 45 points on the board every week and the defense could give away 50. The D wasn’t a prize last season and now it has to replace almost everyone in the back seven and loses its two best players (ends Jammie Kirlew and Greg Middleton) on the line. The offensive line will be solid, Darius Willis could grow into a special back, and QB Ben Chappell has a live arm and knows how to use it, but it’s going to take a few quirks and a lot of luck to get to a bowl game.

Going forward, IU has to simply start winning on a regular basis to get some momentum. But before that, this has to be a year when the team shows promise and potential. It needs to come up with something to scare the rest of the Big Ten.

What to watch for on offense: The passing game. Darius Willis is a talented back, but he’s not going to get a ton of carries and the big line doesn’t do much to open big holes. IU’s only chance at a good year is to bomb away, and it has the receivers to do it. Tandon Doss, Damarlo Belcher, and Terrance Turner aren’t Big Ten household names, but they’re very big, very productive, and they’ll pose matchup problems for everyone with smallish corners. It also helps to have a quarterback in Ben Chappell who knows how to spread the ball around.

What to watch for on defense: Making up for a lack of talent and experience with a lot of running. IU’s defense might not be consistent, but it’ll be flying around trying to make something happen. Only four starters return, but that doesn’t mean the coaching staff won’t get creative with the blitzing and the aggressiveness including a little more of a 3-4 alignment from time to time. There will be some big mistakes allowed, but for the most part the defense should be able to force turnovers and should be able to swarm to the ball with a high-motor. Once in a while, though, some team with talent will come out and lay a pasting on the IU D.

The team will be far better if … the placekicking is rock-solid. IU will be involved in shootout after shootout with a defense that won’t stop anyone and an offense that, on occasion, will put up yards and points in bunches. As mediocre as last year’s 4-8 team was, it would’ve gone bowling if it won two of the games that were decided by three points or fewer. The Hoosiers lost by three to Michigan, by one to Northwestern, and by three to Wisconsin, and they should’ve beaten the Wolverines and Wildcats. After Nick Freeland hit only 14-of-25 field goals, a little more production could mean a bigger season.

The schedule: 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.

Best offensive player: Junior WR/KR Tandon Doss. RB Darius Willis might turn out to be the best player, and the team certainly needs him to be, and QB Ben Chappell will be the star of the show, but the 6-3, 195-pound Doss should be an All-Big Ten caliber receiver after making 77 catches for 962 yards and five touchdowns, and he has the potential to be a special return man after a great year returning kickoffs, averaging 21.3 yards per try, and dabbling as a punt returner.

Best defensive player: Senior LB Tyler Replogle. He wins the honor of being the team’s best defensive player almost by default. Of the top nine tackles of last year, he’s the only one returning and he’ll have to come up with an all-star year to make up for all the new faces around him. He could have a monster statistical season as he’ll be allowed to roam around and do whatever is needed to get to the ball.

Key player to a successful season: Junior OT Andrew McDonald. One of the strength of last year’s team was the pass protection, and three good starters return. One of the losses is Rodger Saffold, a steady left tackle who wasn’t special, but he got the job done. McDonald is a 6-6, 304-pound talent who hasn’t quite been able to step up into a major role. Now he’ll get his chance with a great frame and enough experience to step in and produce, but he’ll be pushed hard for the job.

The season will be a success if … the Hoosiers go to a bowl game. It might be a battle between Indiana and Minnesota for the dishonor of being the Big Ten’s worst team, but the schedule works out nicely with Towson, at Western Kentucky, and Akron to start the season, and with home games against Michigan, Arkansas State, and Northwestern providing the hope to get to six wins. IU will have to outbomb at least one team to get a bowl bid, and it’ll have to catch someone napping, but the potential is there to get back to a bowl for the first time since 2007.

Key game: Oct. 2 vs. Michigan. IU has lost 16 straight to the Wolverines with the last victory a 14-10 shocker in 1987. Considering how soft the first part of the season is, if the Hoosiers can win the Big Ten opener, they have a serious shot of starting 5-1 (assuming a loss at Ohio State) and with a decent chance to get bowl eligible before November with at Illinois and Northwestern to follow. There are few winnable home games in Big Ten play for IU, and this will be one of them

Hoosier Spring Recap

Per ESPN Big Ten Blog and Adam Rittenberg

Spring answers

1. End game: Jammie Kirlew and Greg Middleton formed one of the Big Ten's most productive defensive end tandems during the last three seasons, and their departures raise a red flag about the defensive end position. So why isn't co-defensive coordinator Joe Palcic concerned? He has tons of faith in Darius Johnson and Kevin Bush, the favorites to start at the two end spots. Bush, a 24-year-old redshirt sophomore, spent three plus seasons in the military before joining the Hoosiers. "I'm telling you, they're both going to end up being better than Jammie Kirlew," Palcic said.

2. Hoosiers switch to 3-4: Despite losing two veteran linebackers, Indiana employed more of the 3-4 alignment on defense this spring in an effort to capitalize on its athleticism. The switch allows the Hoosiers to rotate more players up front. Among the players to be featured in the 3-4 are Johnson, Bush, Damon Sims, Fred Jones and Adam Replogle, a big, athletic defender who moved from tackle to end this spring.

3. Receiving orders: Indiana entered the spring loaded at wide receiver, and the Hoosiers added more depth on the perimeter. First-team All-Big Ten selection Tandon Doss turned in a stellar spring, and redshirt freshman Duwyce Wilson worked his way into a rotation that also includes Damarlo Belcher and Terrance Turner. Junior Dre Muhammad also stepped up, as he and Wilson combined for 10 catches in the spring game.

Fall questions
1. The secondary: There were some bright spots this spring, like the play of redshirt freshman cornerback Lawrence Barnett, but the secondary is far from settled heading into the summer. Indiana loses two multi-year starters at safety as well as Ray Fisher, its top cover corner. Junior college transfer Lenyatta Kiles went through spring ball, and another juco corner, Andre Kates, arrives for preseason camp. It will be interesting to see where those two fit in and whether Jerimy Finch finally blossoms at safety.

2. Run game: The pistol formation was supposed to ignite Indiana's rushing attack, but it hasn't happened yet. And while there's little doubt the Hoosiers can light up defenses through the air, their running game is a major question mark. Darius Willis shows flashes but struggles to stay on the field because of ankle problems. Indiana needs a strong camp from Willis and continued production from other backs like Antonio Banks, who had a nice spring.

3. Offensive line: Indiana must replace arguably the Big Ten's most underrated player in left tackle Rodger Saffold, who nearly worked his way into the first round of April's NFL draft (he was the first pick of the second round). Junior Andrew McDonald is Saffold's projected successor, but other players are in the mix, including starting guard Justin Pagan. The Hoosiers also must replace veteran guard Pete Saxon, so building chemistry will be key in preseason camp.

Arkansas State and Illinois Game Times Set

per iuhoosiers.com

The Indiana football team will face Arkansas State and Illinois at noon ET on Oct. 16 and Oct. 23, respectively. IU welcomes ASU to Bloomington for Homecoming and travels to Champaign, Ill., to take on the Fighting Illini.
Taking a break from Big Ten play, Indiana wraps up non-conference play with its first-ever meeting against Arkansas State. The 2010 Homecoming date was previously scheduled for the weekend of Oct. 30, but the addition of a third home football game in October prompted the change. The Hoosiers have won five of their last six Homecoming contests, including a 27-14 victory over Illinois in 2009.

Saffold Honored to Wear Pace's #76

Link from BND.com


BY STEVE KORTE - News-Democrat

ST. LOUIS -- Rookie offensive lineman Rodger Saffold tried calling Orlando Pace to get his blessing before donning No. 76 for the St. Louis Rams.
"Just out of respect," Saffold said. "He's still doing his thing, so I wanted to make sure he didn't mind going ahead and using his jersey."
Saffold left a voice mail message for Pace, and he plans on trying to call him two or three more times.
Saffold, the Rams' second-round pick in the 2010 NFL draft, grew up idolizing Pace, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection for the Rams.
Saffold comes from Bedford, Ohio. Pace comes from Sandusky, Ohio, and played for Ohio State.
"I've been 76 since I was in the seventh grade," Saffold said. "It was definitely important to me to try to ask the person I have been wearing it for."
Meeting Pace at Dave and Buster's Restaurant near Rams Park in Earth City, Mo., was one of Saffold's best childhood memories.
"I was probably 11 or 12," Saffold said. "I got him to sign my jersey."
Saffold, whose family was on a cross-country vacation trip, was wearing a No. 76 Pace jersey at the time.
"He was real nice," Saffold said. "When you're wearing a lineman's number, you're probably going to get noticed."
Pace is considering retirement after the Chicago Bears released him in March, while Saffold's career is just starting.
The Rams plan on working Saffold at both right tackle and left tackle as well as guard to see where he best fits in.
"I've said this before:We like our linemen to be versatile," Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo said. "That's one good thing about this guy right now."
The 6-foot-5, 316-pound Saffold started 41 consecutive games at the University of Indiana. He was a member of an offensive line that allowed only 17 sacks last season.
Saffold allowed only three sacks -- none in the team's first nine games -- and one quarterback pressure on 440 pass plays last season.
Saffold played mostly left tackle for the Hoosiers, but he was tutored on playing guard by former Rams guard Tom Nutten at IMG Academies in Brandenton Fla., before the NFL Combine.
"He usually comes down and tries to help out the offensive lineman because he likes to work with us," Saffold said. "I wanted to learn more about guard, so of course I had many questions, especially since he was a guard right next to Orlando Pace.
"He knows what to expect from a guard as well as a tackle. The drills that we did were basically the smaller things, just trying to make sure all the steps were in the right place because the difference between tackle and guard can be a shortness of an inch or two by step and you have got to have that muscle memory in order to put yourself in the best position to make the block."
Saffold left practice briefly with a sprained right shoulder Saturday morning, but he was able to fully participate in the team's afternoon practice.
Like all the rookies at the Rams' minicamp, Saffold is getting his feet wet this weekend.
And, putting on the Rams' No. 76 jersey for the first time was a special moment that Saffold said he'll never forget.
"It just felt really good," Saffold said. "It felt exciting to come out there and wear his jersey and be able to stand out on that field with (Offensive line) Coach (Steve) Loney pushing us.
"Even when you make mistakes, you have to excited because I'm learning something new. That's the whole point of this process."
Since he's only minutes away, Saffold also may revisit the Dave and Buster's Restaurant where he first met Pace.
"I might go back and look around and say, 'This is the table right here,'" Saffold said.

Comcast SportsRise Chicago, 5/3/10

Big Ten Expansion Finalizing?

It isn't confirmed but a source supposidly close to the situation in St. Louis told News Center 16 that Missouri is accepting the offer to join the Big Ten and will be one of 5 teams making the move.

Link

A source in St. Louis familiar with the situation told NewsCenter 16 Thursday afternoon that Missouri will leave the Big XII and soon join the Big 10. Other schools expected to follow the Tigers are Syracuse, Pitt, Rutgers and Nebraska.
Many have speculated that such an expansion would include Notre Dame but ND athletic director Jack Swarbrick told me today that the Irish prefer to stay independent in football and in the Big East for other sports. Swarbrick said maintaining football Independence is such a part of what Notre Dame is.
He went on to say the Big East is a great partner for the University in other sports.
"We do have to monitor what is going on," Swarbrick said. "There will be significant shifts. "Hopefully we can navigate them by keeping our football independent and keeping our Big East affiliation because that is what we care about."
The move of Syracuse, Pitt and Rutgers to the Big Ten from the Big East could categorically change the landscape of the Big East itself. Thus, what Swarbrick is referring to when stating the University must continue to monitor what is going on.
The interview with Swarbrick was done before the late afternoon announcement.

Expansion Speculation

During the recent days there has been some speculation around the Big Ten's expansion efforts. The latest speculation is that the Big Ten will be adding 5 more teams to make a 16 team conference. The teams that would likely be added would be Mizzou, Syracuse, Rutgers, Pitt and Nebraska. By having the Conference Championship Game the season would end the first week of December like most other conferences. The Big Ten probably feels left out towards the end of the season watching other conferences play and get more exposure. There is also a lot of money to be made by the addition of teams to the conference. One of the biggest reasons why has been the success of the Big Ten Network.

I am all for expanding the Big Ten and having a Conference Championship Game however, I do worry that if we added 5 teams it would lessen the current rivalries that the Big Ten already has. You could go years without seeing a Michigan vs Ohio State, Indiana vs Purdue, Michigan vs Michigan State etc...