Last year the special teams screwups absolutely killed us. I think we are better prepared to match up with STs now.
"You can't make someone listen to reason if they aren't willing to think"-- Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451
you know I noticed that too with Benson being on the field at the end with the 2nd stringers. Maybe he's been demoted. I didn't pay attention earlier in the game though
@gros-louis That's what I understood as well. Sounds like we're trending in the right direction though. Love to be at full boat Saturday!
Last year the special teams screwups absolutely killed us. I think we are better prepared to match up with STs now.
STs won't be a concern imo. The keys are getting pressure on Sayin and getting some TDs when inside the red zone. Do those things and we win. We can't kick FGs like Michigan did.
Evans dressed but did not play..has lower leg injury? Benson held out 1st half due to violation of team rules.
Yesterday on BTN the broke down the matchup and while they gave OSU the edge, they graded us better in several areas.
They gave OSU the edge at skill positions (on the strength of their WRs), D-line, secondary, and special teams. They gave IU the edge at QB, O-line and coaching (which they labeled intangibles). At the end of the segment, they admitted that most of these weren't cut and dry.
Hope is not optimism, which expects things to turn out well, but something rooted in the conviction that there is good worth working for. - Seamus Heaney, Irish poet and likely Hoosier basketball fan.
POTFB
@hoosiers94 Many are starting to talk about this OSU team being historically good. I think that's overblown, they haven't played a very difficult schedule, at all. In the 2 games this year against teams with any sort of CFP DNA... they struggled mightily, at home, against Texas. Many thought Texas outplayed them. And then the most recent game at Michigan. It took them until around halftime to exert control. They did, for sure. But like a lot of their other games, they weren't dominant the entire game...like a historically good team probably should be.
They also don't have any wins as good as IU's win at Oregon.
Finally... if we had played that game last year in Lucas Oil, it likely would have been a nail biter. We didn't play the CFP version of OSU, I don't think... but I honestly don't think this OSU team is much better than the team we played in Columbus last year. Their OLine isn't as good. Their running backs aren't as good. Smith and Tate are better, maybe Sayin in is a little better than Howard was. The defense is probably better on the backend, but not as good on the front 7, overall.
All in all... I'd say we're a fair bit better than we were last year. And OSU is probably marginally less good than they were in the CFP, similar to what they were against us.
In the end, I do think their elite players are more than capable of just making enough impactful plays to beat us. But I think IU will battle OSU on Saturday, overall, just fine. If they can avoid Reese and Downs making huge game breaking plays, and can keep Smith and Tate in front of them, IU will win the game.
And then the most recent game at Michigan. It took them until around halftime to exert control. They did, for sure. But like a lot of their other games, they weren't dominant the entire game...like a historically good team probably should be.
The MI game gives me hope. MI had two scores under their belts (FGs) before OSU got it together. If those FGs are TDs instead, that is a completely different game. If we can get on the board early rather than find ourselves in an early hole then we should be in a good position to win. Unfortunately, our tendency of late is to start out slow on offense.
I would agree that we are better this year and I don't think they are quite as good as last year but I've watched them enough to see their resolve. Their determination. They are the only team outside of us and ND ( ND hasn't played anyone of consequence but they have dominated for the most part) that I've seen that over the last 7-8 weeks. Alabama has had it on occasion, same with Georgia but not as consistent as OSU, ND and IU. Plus the confidence factor, defending champs, last years game, history. It's not an impossible leap , but it is a difficult one. I believe we can win, but I'm not betting the house on it. I think we'd fare better in a rematch on the CFP title game if we met up, provided we don't get stomped in this one
Logos are going up on LoS today. There we are.
D-Line Advantage OSU
Linebackers Advantage OSU
I think we have the best LB corp in college football, and 2nd best defensive line after Texas Tech. OSU has more guys who could (key word: could) be stars in the NFL so they will be drafted higher, but they are not better college players today. Aiden Fisher wont be setting any cone drill records but I would take him over any MIKE LB in CFB.
On the DL, Daley is just as athletic and good as anyone on OSU and will show that come combine season. The difference is he has the production to also justify it. Tucker and Kamara are NFL guys who are highly productive. Landino should be a NFL player by the time he graduates, but is currently a plus player. Wheeler and Ratcliffe are good rotational players.
Also in case anyone didnt see, they are handing out Rally Towels on Saturday at Victory Field before the game (2pm - 6pm)
@hoosieralum07 I thought Illinois was that game, then Iowa, then Oregon. Sure this is a big game but we have been in some big games
A good friend will bail you out of jail, but your best friend will be sitting next to you in the cell saying "that was f***ing awesome"
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