@openwheel Yeah, but the blocking from the TE position seems to be the problem. If they had a consistent blocker, I think that's who would be on the field.
I'm optimistic. We're 4-0 and haven't played up to our potential. Northwestern could have beaten us, but we figured out a way to win. Lots of room to get better and get some players back from the training room. I'm unaware of a Cig coached team regressing, so I fully expect play to improve. I don't see how we can top last year and don't really expect us to match last year. Get into the CFP and see what happens.
I started rooting for IUFB in '79. We're something like 230-320 in that time. I'll never get upset about an 8 win season, but I would be disappointed any time Cig doesn't make the playoffs.
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
Here's a funny metric. Hoover's QBR is the 4th highest in cfball right now.
I’m still of the opinion that the reason they did not take a TE is that they just could not find one with the character they want so they went with what they have. They are young and will make leaps every week. Are they going to be as good as the last two? Probably not this year, but possibly in the future.@openwheel Yeah, but the blocking from the TE position seems to be the problem. If they had a consistent blocker, I think that's who would be on the field.
This team will improve each week. How fast they come is yet to be seen but it will sure be fun to watch and see. What their ceiling is only time will tell but that’s going to be fun to watch as well. This is just so much fun having a good team and great coaches to watch.I'm optimistic. We're 4-0 and haven't played up to our potential. Northwestern could have beaten us, but we figured out a way to win. Lots of room to get better and get some players back from the training room. I'm unaware of a Cig coached team regressing, so I fully expect play to improve. I don't see how we can top last year and don't really expect us to match last year. Get into the CFP and see what happens.
I started rooting for IUFB in '79. We're something like 230-320 in that time. I'll never get upset about an 8 win season, but I would be disappointed any time Cig doesn't make the playoffs.
I'm double pumped. I see no 'can't improve, can't fix weakness. 1 time consuming developing weakness that hurts most is young TE's both passing and rushing attack. Genius idea giving Marsh some playing minutes at TE. Opponents gotta spend time preparing for that going forward. Creative staff make life tougher as the season goes on for opponents.
Genius idea giving Marsh some playing minutes at TE. Opponents gotta spend time preparing for that going forward.
Yeah, would be interesting and if you're not getting out of the TE's what you want, why not try it? The way he blocks, I have no doubt he'd do OK there, even if giving up 25 lbs. Plus, it allows you to get more of what seems like a deep and talented WR room on the field. It would be fun seeing Hoover have WR: Becker, Preston/Chandler, Slot: Morris, and TE: Marsh with Turbo or Beebe out of the backfield. Unlikely, but they did trot Ponds out at receiver last year and have not hesitated to use the DL guys for short yardage plays. Also wouldn't hate seeing if Chandler could return punts. With his productivity and explosiveness, seems like we need to find more snaps for him and see what he can do.
@kkott I would also like to see Chandler return some punts but the most important thing is weather he can reliably catch the ball. Did you see where Charlie described how difficult it is to judge where a punt is coming down based on spin, etc.? I don’t want that job.
@walt542 Yeah, I did see that. I just like that group so much, and Becker is so valuable, whether it's Morris, Chandler, Preston, Bond or Keys, I would think one of those guys could do it and give them a chance to contribute. Thought at one point both Bond and Keys were said to be potential punt returners. Cig likes his experienced guys!
Did you feel like we wouldn't miss those guys?
I almost have more of an issue with the returning guys. I'm not sure any of them, minus Becker, is better than they were in January. The linebackers are playing like they've been reading about how good they are, same for Tucker. Farrell, Landino, and Baldwin have been ok. Sharpe is a very capable Robin but clearly isn't Batman.
I'd like to see Shanahan take the shackles off of the offense. They keep saying that this year's team isn't last year's team. They are obviously correct. But, given that, don't call the game the same way. Hoover isn't Fernando and he isn't gonna save your ass on 3rd down every time. Running on 1st and 2nd down isn't getting it done. The play calling is weird and it seems like the goal is to not throw interceptions than it is to score a lot of points.
This is dated, but oh well. They remind me of Rocky in Rocky 3. They beat Apollo are comfortable. Money and fame and the spoils of being a champion soften you. Time to get back to what made them good.
Now that we're a top 10 team, the number of people that STILL know more than the coaching staff is really befuddling.
Hoover isn't Fernando
Is this your own thought or are you just regurgitating the National Media's lazy ass "in depth" analysis of the Hoosiers?
If the second, I would recommend ignoring those national media types that don't watch Indiana games in full and only watch highlight or clip packages, or tuned in for the fourth quarter of the NW game, or just box score watch.
@bligedy I think they are just trying to establish the run, and balance what they want/need for better teams and playoffs. Guessing they'll stay committed to it, until it's into the 2nd half Rutgers or NB and we're down, or OSU, whichever comes first. Almost bit us vs NW. I actually think the NW game was impressive. So much going against us between the weird opening penalties and non-explanation to Cig, questionable calls during, Hoover being off to start, injuries before, injuries during and then Chiles steps out of the phone booth in the 2nd half and we start getting torched by a kid from MN-Duluth or wherever. A ton to work on. I'm not going to panic until I see what happens this week. I'm expecting a lot of improvement w penalties, tackling, D coverage and passing. If we play like we did and Rutgers is moving the ball and in the game, I'll worry more.
@kkott yeah i don't want to be panic guy, but there's some stuff that is troubling, imho. I have to catch myself and realize that 4-0, 1-0 in big ten is pretty awesome so lfg.
I expect another lackluster effort against Rutgers and then a loss to Nebraska. This team just isn’t there mentally or physically.