What Worked and What Didn't in Indiana's Loss to Michigan
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Image: Sammy Jacobs Hoosier Huddle
Written by Lauralys Shallow
Indiana lost 30-21 at No. 4 Michigan, and while nobody was expecting IU to pull off an upset in a hostile environment like the Big House, nobody expected IU to compete against Michigan the way they did today. IU was able to move the ball offensively against the best defense in the country, and they controlled the pace of the game in the first half. As usual, Indiana could not finish the game, and we are going to take a closer look at what worked and what didn’t work in today’s loss against the Wolverines.
Worked:
Red Zone Defense
In the first half, Michigan had three red zone trips, and IU held them to three field goals. IU’s red zone defense is the main reason why IU stayed in the game in the first half. The IU defense never allowed Michigan to take more than a 3-point lead in the first half, and it gave IU’s offense a chance to answer Michigan’s field goals. The most impressive play of the first half came on the last play when Devon Matthews stood up Sean McKeon at the goal line. The IU defense ended the half with a ton of momentum and kept their lead because of a goal line stand.
In the second half, IU continued to show a strong red zone defense. Michigan was back inside IU’s 20 yard line and was driving with a 22-17 lead mid-way through the third. On a 3rd and 2 from the 15, James Miller stuffed Karan Higdon for no gain, and the IU defense showed another outstanding red zone stand. Michigan’s kicker Jake Moody hit a 33-yard field goal, but IU’s red zone stand is significant because it allowed IU to head into the fourth quarter trailing by only one score. Head Coach Tom Allen emphasizes finishing, and the IU defense was able to finish longer drives by holding Michigan to field goals in the red zone.
Running Game
The Michigan defense struggled to contain Peyton Ramsey and Stevie Scott’s rushing attack. In the first half, Scott had 96 yards and a TD while Ramsey scrambled for 51. Ramsey and Scott’s running success early in the game is a large reason why IU headed into halftime with a 17-15 lead. Ramsey’s three rushes in the first half were all on third down and kept IU’s drives alive. Ramsey ripped off a 29 yarder that put IU at the Michigan 13 and set up a Scott rushing touchdown on the very next play to give IU a 7-3 lead. Ramsey and Scott already combined for 100 rushing yards 10 minutes into the game against a Michigan defense that is ranked number one in total defense in the country, allowing just 219 yards per game.
Once Indiana found success on the ground, it opened up the passing game. Ramsey was 8-14, throwing for 105 yards, a TD and a pick for a passer rating of 129.4 in the first half. The run success allowed Ramsey to throw down field more aggressively. Ramsey found Luke Timian for a 30-yard pickup and later found Nick Westbrook for 41 yards. Both long balls put IU in Michigan territory and lead to points for IU.
What Didn’t Work:
Secondary
The Indiana secondary allowed Patterson to gash the defense with big yardage passes that set up Michigan deep inside IU territory. The Wolverines only touchdown of the first half came on a busted coverage play. Patterson found a wide open Nick Eubanks for a 41-yard touchdown on 1st and 10 from the IU 41. The IU secondary allowed a big play, and Michigan took a 15-10 lead in the second quarter. Coverage problems was an issue for the secondary and so was tackling. Too often, the secondary missed tackles that allowed Michigan receivers to tack on extra yards to the ends of their catches and put the Michigan offense further inside IU territory. The secondary had multiple DPIs called simply because the corners failed to turn their heads around. In deep coverage scenarios, corners will always get the DPI called if they make contact with the receiver and fail to turn their head around. The secondary struggled against Michigan’s offensive weapons tonight, and it allowed the Wolverines too many points and yards.
Discipline
Things became chippy in the second half when Indiana’s Simon Stepaniak knocked Michigan linebacker Chase Winnovich out of the game with a boarder-line late hit and then killed an Indiana driver when he hit a Michigan defender near the pile later after a 19-yard Stevie Scott run. It was later shown that Winnovich had stomped on Stepaniak’s ankle after a play. The first play should have taken care of that issue and the second penalty was just selfish.
Later in the half IU’s Cam Jones was called for targeting and knocked a Michigan player out and needed a stretcher to be taken off the field. I really hope that Michigan’s Berkley Edwards is OK, that was a scary injury and the injury folks are trying to get rid of. However, it was not a “dirty” hit. Jones did lead with the crown of his helmet and made contact, but his hands followed milliseconds after and he did not launch himself at the blocker. By the letter of the law, it’s targeting.
Field Position Battle
Michigan dominated the field position battle. On average the Wolverines were starting drives from their own 39-yard line. Conversly, the Hoosiers started from their own 25-yard line. Much of this is thanks to IU’s fair catching every kickoff philosophy. The other part is that outside of the first kick that went for a touchback, Jared Smolar’s pooch kickoffs did not work.