@kelly_32 I love that you are tracking this for us.  Puts the two QB in a better light.

The team is still figuring things out.  Nebraska was hell bent on making Hoover beat them by being darn sure we weren't going to run or screen our way to a win.  As soon as Hoover started making plays in the 4th, the run game suddenly opened back up.  I think OSU is going to take that same game plan, and we will need to be ready to have Hoover make throws early.  Short or no gain runs are just as worthless as incompletions, but the clock doesn't run.  

With our defense, we should want to extend the game as long as we can.  IU is so deep on the DL. Nebraska's OL wore down while IU stayed fresh and that showed late in game. Teams won't be able to run out the clock or sit back all day to throw late when the game is on the line.  

Posted by: @yothn

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The team is still figuring things out.  Nebraska was hell bent on making Hoover beat them by being darn sure we weren't going to run or screen our way to a win.  As soon as Hoover started making plays in the 4th, the run game suddenly opened back up.  I think OSU is going to take that same game plan, and we will need to be ready to have Hoover make throws early.  Short or no gain runs are just as worthless as incompletions, but the clock doesn't run.  

With our defense, we should want to extend the game as long as we can.  IU is so deep on the DL. Nebraska's OL wore down while IU stayed fresh and that showed late in game. Teams won't be able to run out the clock or sit back all day to throw late when the game is on the line.  

completely agree.. they will stack the box , so throw the ball please... then the run opens up ... we have 2 studs at receiver they have to be a part of the gameplan each week.  Said the same thing before Rutgers and Nebraska.  Hoovers stats to me are actually better.  Thru 6 games last year we had scored a lot more points via more opportunities because our defense was better and kept the other teams offense off the field. Fernando's scrambling ability was much better I would say.. both QB's have been amazing 

The most exciting part of IU and Hoover Passing game this season is that the team is creating outstanding opportunities for huge plays that I was generally displeased we didn't create more of with Mendoza.  

Hoover puts an "A+" game out there and WoW that will be exciting. 

@hoosiers94 - The more consistent option is to establish the run to open up the passing game, but Nebraska was not going to allow the running game to be the reason they lost.   We had just 3 possessions in the first half and it's really hard on the offense to get a rhythm on just 3 possessions. Looking at our rush yards per carry in the game prior to Marsh TD (not counting Hoover scrambles)... 1, 3, 4, 0, 1, -1, 4, 4, 6, 0, -2.  As for passing yards for each pass: 43, 0, 37, 0, 0, 14, 5, 4, 13, 8, 14, 3, 0, 0, 75.

I think people criticize the offense more than they should but we clearly were unable to simply manhandle Nebraska and the coaches seemed to think we could or should have.

Defensively, we are struggling mightily against mobile QB's.  That is becoming more and more clear.  We are a stout DL but we're not necessarily the most agile/fastest.  I don't think Julian Sayin is going to have the same ability to shake free and find open guys or run it himself to keep the chains/clock moving.  Bo Jackson has had 1 game (yes just one game) over 83 yards rushing. He had 107 last week against Maryland.   If OSU is going to be one dimensional against Haines, they are going to struggle to move the ball.   It's that simple. 

We seemed really confused on when to leave a reciever to come up and make a stick on Colandrea. Then when we did get to him on the outsides only one or two DBs made an actual stick the others just tried to arm tackle or were juked out their shorts. Zachmann had a couple where he hustled and got there at or even behind the LOS but was blocked out of the play because they still had more blockers at the point of attach. TE, RB.

Once we kept Colandrea in the pocket that problem went away and made a huge difference. I'm grateful Nebraska didn't call designed plays for the man once in the fourth quarter. Straight drop back it was clear early that we could usually handle those and had chances at picks.

@yothn Its gonna be fascinating.  OSU has to stop our run game.  Period.  So they're going to try really hard to do that.  They're OSU, so they have the dudes to make it much more difficult, I'm sure.  Especially early in the game when everyone is fresh...similar to what NW did.  How will being at home help?  If at all?  And then how will Hoover handle getting the ball to guys like Marsh and Becker?  If we can run the ball early, if the crowd does make it easier, if Hoover is able to get Marsh and/or Becker going, we're going to move the ball just fine on them Saturday.  

Defensively... Sayin isn't a stiff back there.  He's kind like Mendoza, and even Hoover, he'll extend drives with his legs, at times with 3rd down runs.  But it won't be an every down type of threat.  The obvious concern is Jeremiah Smith against one of the few weak points this team has, its secondary.  No one can cover him one on one, and I mean no one.  But last year, we had guys like Ponds and Moore, to make sure the coverage overall was sound, and we weren't giving up huge plays.  This year... man, we're just not nearly as good behind our front 7.  The front 7 needs to be very good on Saturday, or Sayin/Smith will have a big day on us.  

Posted by: @yothn

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@hoosiers94 - The more consistent option is to establish the run to open up the passing game, but Nebraska was not going to allow the running game to be the reason they lost.   We had just 3 possessions in the first half and it's really hard on the offense to get a rhythm on just 3 possessions. Looking at our rush yards per carry in the game prior to Marsh TD (not counting Hoover scrambles)... 1, 3, 4, 0, 1, -1, 4, 4, 6, 0, -2.  As for passing yards for each pass: 43, 0, 37, 0, 0, 14, 5, 4, 13, 8, 14, 3, 0, 0, 75.

I think people criticize the offense more than they should but we clearly were unable to simply manhandle Nebraska and the coaches seemed to think we could or should have.

Defensively, we are struggling mightily against mobile QB's.  That is becoming more and more clear.  We are a stout DL but we're not necessarily the most agile/fastest.  I don't think Julian Sayin is going to have the same ability to shake free and find open guys or run it himself to keep the chains/clock moving.  Bo Jackson has had 1 game (yes just one game) over 83 yards rushing. He had 107 last week against Maryland.   If OSU is going to be one dimensional against Haines, they are going to struggle to move the ball.   It's that simple. 

yeah I'm aware of how it usually works. But when they are stacking 8 or more in the box we will have one on ones with 2 studs ... throw the ball.  If they aren't stacking the box then that may change it.  
our d line is stout.  Our secondary and linebacker play has been suspect.  Maybe AJ coming back will improve us in that regard.  
and you're right Sayin is not near as mobile as NW and Neb QB's.  They also didn't have a Jeremiah smith either.  Gonna be a good one.  I think the home field gets us the win.  

The crazy thing is Ponds did a GREAT job limiting Jeremiah Smith in last years title game. But Smith still had 8 catches for 148 yards. 😮  (46 yards were on the meaningless hail mary just past midfield on the final play.)

Tough task limiting that guy.

Sammy made a point a day or two ago answering one of my complaints, that having Harris back should help improve our physicality with the DBs. Agreed.

@openwheel He's going to make some plays.  Its impossible to stop him.  What IU did last year was get him to the ground, and to not allow any of them to be game altering TDs.  If IU can keep him out of the endzone, hard to see how that won't be a huge positive for us.  They have other weapons, their running backs are really good... so we can't just completely sell out and triple team Smith, or anything.  But if we don't allow any of the huge play touchdowns, from him... I'm not sure OSU is good enough to beat us.

@iunorth - Last year OSU had other legit weapons like Carnell Tate (4th overall pick) and Max Klare at TE.  This year, the other weapons aren't as great.  Not bad, but not the same level as they had last year.

Nebraska doesn't have those receiver weapons either. Northwestern doesn't. 

If the quarterback can put the ball on target, less elite receivers can be very effective.  

Sayen is older and I assume improved, from when we last played them.

@yothn Yeah... it's gonna be interesting.  They always have capable playmakers.  I think its possible this year it feels like the backs, and other receivers, are worse than they are because they've thrown it to Smith as much as they have.  The Jacksons are very good backs, and very dangerous.  McCuinn and Innis are very capable receivers.  Henry Jr is dangerous.  But you're right, it doesn't seem like the supporting cast is anywhere as good as last year's was.  If I didn't think Smith would have 15 receptions for 250+ yards and 3-4 touchdowns, I'd say shut everyone else down and just single cover him and hope for the best!  You have to account for him with multiple people, unfortunately. 

If we can run the ball offensively, and put some decent pressure on Sayin, we'll win the game.  If we can't do those things, we likely won't.