Let's put the media's matchup tropes aside and talk some real ball and the intangibles that might factor into this game.
Would love to hear any unique analysis from you as we approach kickoff.
Here's mine.
1. See it's a bit breezy there in Miami today, any passing game impact in that stadium? Thinking that could favor Miami.
2. Indiana went hurry up on offense for a few plays late against Oregon.
If the IU offense gets a first down or two to get near mid field, will they amp up the tempo to wear down that Miami defense, keep them confused, and take more advantage of our offensive execution?
3. Miami resembles and wants to play very much like Iowa. What did Indiana learn from that game and can now exploit?
More possessions, more plays almost always favors the more efficient team.
4. Ohio St.'s game plan and in game coaching against Miami was atrocious, what did we learn from the tape in that one?
From the start, IU needs to take away all dink and dunk BS passing game that Miami dials up.
Defensive aggression between the 20's will be important. Our LBs and Safety's need to play great ball today filling gaps, wrapping up, and specifically hitting Tony and Beck violently.
5. Does either team need to go to a silent count?
I feel good the crowd is 50% Hoosier, 40% Miami, and 10% casual. Would love to see the avalanche effect if IU can get up two scores in the first half.
6. Coin toss. I see this as a win/win for IU, however it goes. Thinking there's a slight chance Miami/Mario wins the toss and takes the first kickoff due to their corner sitting out the first half.
7. I believe Ponds gets in on offense to make a play. And if the game script allows, Cignetti gets him an offensive TD.
8. Gut tells me we see more blitzing tonight from the IU D than what we've seen all season.
9. Offensively, think we pass to setup the run early to exploit that secondary.
We've seen so much more edge rushing from IU these last three games. I have yet to hear any reason why Miami could slow us down on the outside. 10 days of media analysis, have yet to hear the name of a Miami LB.
10. Nowakowski and Hemby. Have a day.
Kamara and Hardy. Have a day.
The talking heads were saying before the Ole Miss game that 10-12 possessions favored Miami, and the Rebels needed 13-14 minimum. I think that's the really the key here. If we force tempo on offense, and if we force them into passing situations on 3rd down, we win.
Diligence is the mother of good luck. Plough deep while sluggards sleep and you shall have corn to sell and keep. Work as if you were to live 100 years. Pray as if you were to die tomorrow. All progress springs from work. Work has laid the foundation of every fortune in America. – Benjamin Franklin
POTFB
I honestly can't wait to see how we defend Toney. Guy is dynamite, but what I notice is that 90% of the time he touches the ball, he's moving east-west and then turns it north south, where he's explosive. I think that will be the key for IU, is stopping him before he gets turned. I don't know if that will be D'Angelo covering him the whole time, and that will be a great matchup, but I also think our LBs and pursuit are way better than anything they've seen. From the couple of games I've watched of Miami, they don't seem to throw it downfield much and most of Beck's passes are under 10 yards. I think as the game wears on, he's going to be counted on to throw it downfield, which means he'll be holding the ball longer and more prone to hits. So weird as an IU fan to expect us to win versus the likes of OR, Bama, Miami and PSU, but something I think I can get used to!
1) Handling their defense pressure
giving Fernando time to throw is key, keep their defense on field to wear them out
2) our passing attack
take advantage of their best cb being out first half, brings in freshman to start in his absence (I think) and their secondary rotation during first half, throw ball more
3) in game adjustments
teams when they score against us usually score in first qtr but we have been able to make adjustments to slow that down
4) new wrinkles
love to see the wr screen play where one of the blocking wr chip blocks and releases down field. Use their aggressiveness against them…they picked 6 Ohio State on wr screen, let that same guy thru and our wr takes off. He doesn’t have to go 30 yards downfield for Fernando to hit him, 10 yds will do before fs comes over
this is boys you are already legends. How history will remember you is up to you- team that went 15-1 or undefeated and 16-0. This team will be brought up and compared to for DECADES TO COME. THIS IS HOW YOU STAY IMMORTAL
Follow-up question. Did not see this discussed anywhere by the media.
Miami's top RB Fletcher on 199 carries averaged 5.4 ypc this season.
His backup, Brown, who was a G5 or FCS back in '24 on 119 carries this season averaged 3.7 ypc.
That is quite the ypc differential.
One could surmise by those stats the Miami run game effectiveness is not Oline dependant so much for them, but rather RB Fletcher making plays/yards.
The Calendar mutes my next point, but Fletcher now has 78% more carries than he did in '24. Could there be some wear and tear, fatigue there with that massive jump in workload?
On the flip side, both Hemby and Black have seen workload jumps this season as well.
I believe it will all come down to the OL & DL...
Can our OL protect Fernando long enough for him to be effective and can we run the ball at a 4.0 yards per carry (or better) clip...
Perhaps even more importantly..., can our DL hold up against a Miami OL that outweighs them an average of 53lbs per man... We can't let them get in Rugby style scrums and literally use an ultra old school wedge to just bulldozer us down the field...
I'm with you on using the pass to open up the run... We have a known 80-20 tendency to run it on the early downs; we might want to flip that at least in the first half...
Should be a good one...
Another one for me.
2nd down and 4,3,2,1. I want deep shots, especially around mid field and plus territory.
For me, the biggest question is whether or not we can just continue to play our game? Can we continue to impose our will on the opponent?
I'm not worried about Miami. Everything they're good at, we're just as good if not better at countering. They have 2 big time pass rushers. We have a great O-line and a QB who can find a receiver quickly or use his legs to run out of pressure (and good luck to their secondary trying to cover all our receivers). Miami has a strong running game. Not many teams in the country better against the run than us. Miami likes to blitz. Good luck with that- Mendoza is crazy good against pressure. Miami has more team speed? We have one of the best tackling teams in the country.
If we just continue to be efficient and play our game, we'll win this by at least 2 touchdowns, probably more.
Not overly insightful, but it's simple: If IU plays like IU can, Miami has no chance. None. Zero. Zip. Nada.
I was just watching the Championship Drive on ESPN. Booger McFarland picked Miami, kept saying they have NFL talent on the D-line and that'll be the difference. What, OSU didn't have NFL talent on their D-line? Oregon doesn't have NFL talent? Alabama doesn't have NFL talent? Penn State doesn't have NFL talent?
Latest Post: Anyone remember La Bamba restaurant Our newest member: Doug Beder Recent Posts Unread Posts
