Would like to pick the brains and eyesight of those of you in the stadium Friday.
TV cut just does not give a good picture for viewers on the movements, openings, and play of the IU Secondary.
So curious, what insight and football perspective you can provide for those of us not capable of being in stadium?
Thx!
Doesn’t directly answer the question, but I saw this and thought it was interesting. Our DBs really need to improve.
https://twitter.com/bretwaltswx/status/2104225855375560839?s=46
We will see in games when QB isn't so elusive.
I always heard need to play more man against QBs who can escape. I don't really know a ton about coverages, but that's not usually Haines' thing.
IU is playing zone in the secondary nearly 90% of the time (86.8% per HUDLIQ) mainly Cover 3 and Cover 4. It's allowing receivers to finds seems in there and get open. It's been keep the ball in front of them for the most part and make the tackle.
A couple times Friday night Osunsamni is is coverage and it's a really tough ask to have him cover a slot receiver, especially for as long as Chiles was getting buying time in the pocket. He's as just not as agile as a slot wide receiver and got put on skates a time or two.
Preston Zachman flipped his hips the wrong way on the first NW TD pass as well. There hasn't been a lot of havoc because the opportunities for it haven't been created. Running zone that often is going to make it easy for opponents to find holes.
Thank you for reading Hoosier Huddle
@thehoosierhuddle Wondering how much the loss of Ponds, Boykin, and Louis Moore has forced IU to use more zone coverage this season. When the frontline was unable to put Chiles down he exploited that zone.
A.J. Harris was expected to be a valuable member of the secondary but various injuries have kept him off the field. I don't know how much help Harris will provide as Cignetti has said he's practiced very little since being on the roster.
The thing I noticed is that there appears to be way too much cushion and we have some inexperience back there. The departures of Louis Moore, Boykin and Ponds were killers. Been really disappointed in the lack of aggressiveness with our secondary. Nobody seems to try to make an attempt on the ball. It’s keep everything in front of them but no ability to dictate anything.
@thehoosierhuddle Wondering how much the loss of Ponds, Boykin, and Louis Moore has forced IU to use more zone coverage this season. When the frontline was unable to put Chiles down he exploited that zone.
A.J. Harris was expected to be a valuable member of the secondary but various injuries have kept him off the field. I don't know how much help Harris will provide as Cignetti has said he's practiced very little since being on the roster.
Could be wrong but I think they played zone 80-85% of the time last year as well........(?)
People are talking Jaylen Bell a lot when discussing our secondary. Don't see him mentioned here much, drowned out by the 'we lack talent, woe is us' posts.
Nobody has a perfect secondary. We have talent. They won't have to cover as long most games when our pass rush dump the QB.
Safety was concerning. Can't let guys just go deep on Zachmann over and over. But Haines should be able to figure a way to use him in run support where's he's really good, and hide him a bit other times. He's experienced.