Matchup To Watch Indiana vs. Nebraska

Written By Alex Compton

After having Ohio State on the ropes for most of the game on Saturday, homecoming is here and it’s time to focus on Nebraska. While their opponents are just 10-18, Nebraska has looked very formidable at times, and will come to Bloomington ranked in the Top 10 in both the AP and Coaches Polls. IU and Nebraska are evenly matched across the board according to the S&P+ advanced statistics database, so some individual matchups will likely be key to determining which team comes out on top. 

Marcelino Ball vs. Tommy Armstrong Jr. 

IU’s secondary is young, but it is MUCH better than it was last season. Call it an attitude change or a schematic change, but the biggest change is the talent on the field. Sure they’re young, but these guys can play at a high level. One guy that has been huge to the defensive turnaround so far this season is 17-year-old true-freshman Marcelino Ball. He was certainly a sleeper as a recruit, but has been ultra impressive so far this season. Playing the “Husky” position allows him to run around the field and make plays, but in the first 5 games of the season, that same aggressiveness has also gotten him in to some trouble.

As the Husky, Ball has to set the edge for the defense on running plays. He has been great in traditional running plays so far, but the QB/RB read option out of the shotgun has often caused him to over pursue and get out of position. The game against FIU and the game this past weekend against Ohio State bring some big plays to mind. JT Barrett is one of the best quarterbacks in the nation, but he really exposed Ball with the read option. If Ball could have set the edge, the defense would have been able to cause even more trouble for the Buckeye offense.  When Ball fails to set the edge, the only guys left to make the tackle are linebackers coming from the side, and defensive backs that are getting off of blocks. Ball is so crucial to containing the quarterback in the running game, and Nebraska knows this.

Tommy Armstrong Jr. is often erratic and careless with the ball, but he is undeniably talented. He throws the deep ball as well as anyone in the conference, but can also burn the defense with his feet. Armstrong Jr. is a much better runner than Barrett, and Barrett seemed to get 10 yards on the ground at will last weekend. In order to keep Armstrong in check, Ball will have to be much more sound in his reads when Armstrong starts the read option out of the shotgun. Breakdowns this weekend won’t just mean 10 yards. They will mean touchdowns. 

So when you’re in Memorial Stadium on Saturday, watch for Ball on those read options. He will have to funnel the ball carrier back to the inside for Oliver, Scales, and co. to make the tackles. If Ball’s name isn’t mentioned on those read option plays, he did his job. 

Other Notes On This Matchup:

Urban Meyer said he wanted to limit JT Barrett to only about 10 carries last weekend. When IU’s defense made it tough on the Buckeyes however, they exploited Ball and turned to the read option. JT Barrett had tremendous success in this look, as he rushed 26 times for 137 yards and a score. 

Tommy Armstrong Jr. 2016 Stats (5 Games):

76/129 passing, 1151 yards, 9 touchdowns, 2 interceptions

60 carries, 293 yards, 5 touchdowns

Averages of:

8.9 yards per pass

15.14 yards per completion

230.21 passing yards per game 

58.60 rushing yards per game