It's very hard to understand why our OL isn't just bulldozing people like last year. 4 of 5 are returning starters and the new guy seemed like a no-brainer. Secondly, we knew Hoover couldn't possibly be Fernando 2.0, but he seemed like the perfect fit.
So my questions are: was Derek Owings more responsible for our OL being able to bully people than we thought? And was Chandler Whitmer more important in grooming Fernando than we knew?
Those were the only 2 major changes from last year to this. I figured the new guys would be plug and play. Might not be true. Just makes me wonder.
@bucketgetter IU's OL lost two NFL guys and moved Bray Lynch to a new position. That does not get talked about enough. Clearly they had issues with the right side and Ajani and Brunner and figuring out a fit.
Carter Smith missed all of spring and winter workouts rehabbing from surgery and was not able to lift weights until the summer. The unit had very little time playing together heading into the season.
Hoover is hurt and probably has been hurt for a few weeks that is affecting his throwing.
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It's very hard to understand why our OL isn't just bulldozing people like last year. 4 of 5 are returning starters and the new guy seemed like a no-brainer. Secondly, we knew Hoover couldn't possibly be Fernando 2.0, but he seemed like the perfect fit.
So my questions are: was Derek Owings more responsible for our OL being able to bully people than we thought? And was Chandler Whitmer more important in grooming Fernando than we knew?
Those were the only 2 major changes from last year to this. I figured the new guys would be plug and play. Might not be true. Just makes me wonder.
We may be feeling better about the run game soon.....
Nebraska, OSU & Michigan are #s 22, 18 & 9 in yds given up per rush (3.2; 3.11; 2.83).
For comparison's sake, NW is at 4.61, Rutgers at 5.83.
Coming up:
--MN 3.81
--USC 3.9
--WASH 3.84
--Purdue 5.16
BTW, IU is new #1 in the country in this stat with 2.14.
To add,
I think if you look at sacks given up this season, 50% or more are due to Hoover incorrectly changing protections and not seeing the blitz and RB pass pro, and not the O-Line.
Last season, feels like there were more sacks given up, especially following Wisconsin game, and this were 90% on the O-Line.
Pass Pro is better this season but Road Grading hasn't clicked yet imo.
Coming up:
--MN 3.81
--USC 3.9
--WASH 3.84
--Purdue 5.16
If you just look at P5 on the road (their term), this week might be a rushing get right game.
Minny - 4.3 P5 & 4.6 Road, Rushing yds allowed
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
Maybe Khobie gets some carries this weekend?
5 guys can't block 7 or 8. If Hoover can't complete half his passes, there is no reason not to load up on the run. Michigan's safety was not remotely worried about his pass coverage assignments. Strait downhill, not even a stutter step.
@tammany I sure hope so. I could be wrong, but I think he’s more of a homerun threat than the other two.
@bucketgetter I thought last year's OL was much better at runblocking and this year, it seems the opposite, that we're better at pass blocking, which to me seems to be very good, but runblocking has suffered.
@bucketgetter I felt like Turbo was an excellent threat to break one at any moment, and don't feel like he's been the same since his injury (NW?). I also think he's shown he can be a solid pass catcher out of the backfield and will keep hoping they'll give him 3-4 opps a game that way to get him on the outside a bit.
Turbo came close against Michigan on a couple runs to adding nice yards. But their secondary did as good a job of closing and tackling as ours did.
I mean, I don't know that the offense is "struggling" so much as it is playing good to top defenses each week.
OSU, UM, Nebraska and NW all are among the top scoring defenses per game (5th, 15th, 16th and 22nd respectively). Got another tough out with Minnesota only giving up 20ppg this weekend.
Sure, it's not been as easy and it's not looked as consistent but I'll keep the faith.
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"
I think Coogan brought a nastiness to the OL that is missing this year. Smith, Evans and Lynch are good but don't know that they are the vocal voice like Coogan brought. Also, Black and Hemby I thought hit the hole with more authority than Turbo and Beebe. Black was such a violent runner and that is missing this year. The one element that I feel is missing is the middle of the field attacks. Everyone knows about Marsh and Becker but we don't really have a real threat that stand out in the middle of the field passing game. Nowakowski and Horton the past two years brought more of a TE middle passing game that isn't there this year as well as blocking. I do also wonder how Hoover's height comes into play and his ability to see the middle of the field.
I've always felt when your passing game can use the middle of the field, then it means the LB's have to pause just a split second before committing to stop a run play which can mean a yard or two more gain. When they know you aren't passing into their zone then they can crowd the line or cheat up a bit more than normal and engage the running back closer to the line of scrimmage. If LB's can cheat up a bit then it changes the angle for the TE's or OL to get to them to block. Amazing how having one less step to get to your guy can mean the difference between getting the block or missing it.
I'm fine with our OL. I think their pass protection this year has been very good.
If Hoover throws to Schott in the 2nd Q or Marsh gets his foot in bounds against OSU, we are undefeated and #1 in the country.