Hoosiers Get Creative to Trample Terrapins

Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

The Indiana Hoosiers knew they needed to get their rushing attack going if they were to find any success during the remainder of the season. They had failed to top four yards per carry in any conference game and the lack of a ground game was making the offense unbalanced and putting way too much pressure on quarterback Richard Lagow and the passing attack. Having a healthy Dan Feeney certainly made a positive difference but it was a creative new package that truly ignited the rushing game and led the Hoosiers to a much-needed 42-36 victory over the Maryland Terrapins. 

True freshman Tyler Natee mentioned in a post-game interview that the coaching staff approached him early in the week about a new package that would see him taking direct snaps and running a zone read type scheme. The coaching staff thought it would be successful based on the way the Maryland defense overplayed specific formations so they implemented it throughout the week of practice and unleashed it early and often against Maryland's unprepared run defense. The new package was unique because not only was Tyler Natee used to run a zone read, backup quarterback Zander Diamont was used right beside him. The Hoosiers threw a variety of plays at Maryland using that personnel group and found success in nearly every variation. Natee ran for 111 yards on 18 carries (average of 6.2 yards per carry) and Diamont ran for 104 yards on 11 carries (a 9.5 yards per carry average). Natee, a freshman from Texas, had his second rushing touchdown of the season and Zander Diamont found the endzone twice, including a 52-yard scamper that sealed the victory for IU. 

"The key to our games over time has been finding a run game," IU head coach Kevin Wilson said after the game. "Fortunately, we did today. That was huge."

Natee and Diamont both took direct snaps in the formation and both handed off the ball to the other but the majority of the plays resulted in the "quarterback" that took the snap running for a nice gain after faking a hand off. The creativity from the coaching staff and the execution from the players allowed the Hoosiers to rush for 414 yards and it helped open up holes for IU's third 100 yard rusher on the day, Devine Redding. Kevin Wilson cautioned that this did not mean things were perfect for IU's offense and he referred to the package as a "band-aid" that would only serve as a temporary salve for the running game. Defenses will adjust and IU likely won't find the same level of success on the ground now that teams know what to prepare for. Make no mistake though, the Hoosiers have found a very creative way to use a pair of creative talents and this new package will be tough for any future IU opponent to handle.