After Disappearing Under Kevin Wilson, the Tight End Position Should Remerge Under Mike DeBord

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After Disappearing Under Kevin Wilson, the Tight End Position Should Remerge Under Mike DeBord

Written By Alex Compton (@Alexncompton)

Kevin Wilson had some dynamic offenses at Indiana, there’s no other way of putting that. Wilson featured a pass-happy offense at first that slowly developed into a balanced attack capable of putting every team in the Big Ten on watch for a given weekend. The offense was not as successful last year due to a lackluster running game, but the passing game was still solid, checking in at 23rd in the country according to the S&P+. Despite the decent numbers on offense last season and the insane numbers that Wilson put up on O during his tenure, there was one gripe that was legitimate from year to year. What was it? Throw the ball to the tight ends! 

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Richard Lagow is the Clearcut Starter in 2017, but There's a Battle Brewing for the Backup Role

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Richard Lagow is the Clearcut Starter in 2017, but There's a Battle Brewing for the Backup Role

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

There has been a lot of noise surrounding the quarterback position at Indiana since the end of last season. However, there is no quarterback battle as the starting job is clearly in the hands and on the arm of senior Richard Lagow. However, there is a battle for who backs up the big Texan. Indiana is in a bit of a pickle concerning who starts the 2018 season under center.

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Success Along the Defensive Line Will Again Be a Group Effort in 2017

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Success Along the Defensive Line Will Again Be a Group Effort in 2017

By David Sugarman (@David_Sugarman2)

As Indiana has geared up for its first full season under Tom Allen, there have been a number of coaching changes, but the core of the defensive staff has stayed intact. Back for his second year as the defensive line coach, Mark Hagen will look to continue the progress his group made in 2016.

Last season Indiana gave up 35 less yards per game on the ground than they did in 2015. The team’s crowning achievement may have been when they held likely the Big Ten’s and nation’s best running back in Penn State’s Saquon Barkley to 58 yards on 33 carries, less than two yards per touch.

Now headed into year two with Hagen, Indiana will look to replace Ralph Green III due to graduation and Nile Sykes, undisclosed season ending injury. Those two combined for nearly 50 tackles and six sacks in 2016. If Indiana wants to take another step in the right direction and achieve their goal of becoming a top 25 defense, it starts with the big boys in the trenches.

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Filled With Veterans and Youth, Indiana's Safeties Could Take the Defense to the Next Level

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Filled With Veterans and Youth, Indiana's Safeties Could Take the Defense to the Next Level

Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

If you have been following our site throughout the offseason, you’ll know we have made no attempt to hide how good we think IU’s secondary has a chance to be in 2017. The Hoosiers return every contributor from last year and add a few potentially impactful newcomers to form a group that could be the best we’ve seen in Bloomington for my lifetime (for your reference, I turn 30 in September). Today’s position preview focuses on a part of that secondary: the safeties.

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The Indiana Offensive Line Has Some Parts to Replace, But it Can Be the Engine That Drives the Offense

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The Indiana Offensive Line Has Some Parts to Replace, But it Can Be the Engine That Drives the Offense

Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

The 2017 season is almost here! Hoosier Huddle’s extensive season preview continues today as we take a look at one of the most important units on a football team: the offensive line. The Hoosiers have to replace a couple of starters, including All-American guard Dan Feeney, along with position coach Greg Frey. However, there are a lot of young and talented options ready to step up and become starting lineup fixtures and new line coach Darren Hiller has put nearly two dozen players into the NFL. The offense has lots of potential answers to many questions but the fate of the attack, and possibly the season, may just come down to how well this unit gels. The line had to work through injuries in the spring, something Darren Hiller wasn’t thrilled about but he still had a good look at several of his new players, “there’s never a blessing in disguise when a guy gets banged up a little bit. But at the same time, we had good competition in the spring between Delroy (Baker), Coy (Cronk) and Brandon (Knight). Ideally, you’d like to say you have ten guys. Realistically, I’d say that we have eight guys. That’s the starting five, you got another tackle that can go in there, a swing guy, you got another guard and another center. We got to put the best five out there and after that we got to find a sixth guy, we got to find a seventh guy and we got to find an eighth guy. Doesn’t matter what position you play.”

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Top Five Secondaries the Indiana Offense Will Face in 2017

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Top Five Secondaries the Indiana Offense Will Face in 2017

Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

Our series of looking at the top five opposing units the Indiana Hoosiers will have to face in 2017 continues with a look at opposing secondaries. These rankings combine the safeties and corners for each opponent and I must say, I’d put Indiana’s secondary against pretty much any on the schedule. There should be plenty of opportunities for Richard Lagow and his excellent group of pass catchers to excel if they execute well and cut down on turnovers. Without further ado, let’s get to the rankings. We start at the top with the rock solid Wisconsin Badgers.

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2017 First Glance: Purdue Boilermakers

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2017 First Glance: Purdue Boilermakers

Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

We have reached the end of our First Glance series which means we wrap it up with a look at the Purdue Boilermakers as the Hoosiers go for their fifth-straight win in the Old Oaken Bucket Game. This year’s edition will be on the road at Ross-Ade for just the second time since 2010.

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The Top Five Defensive Lines Indiana's Offense Will Have to Deal With

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The Top Five Defensive Lines Indiana's Offense Will Have to Deal With

Written By Alex Compton (@Alexncompton)

As we march through the summer and into fall camp, Hoosier Huddle will look at the top five opposing players or position groups they will face in 2017. Only players and position groups from teams on the 2017 IU Football schedule are considered.

Today we’ll take a look at the defensive lines that Indiana will have to battle in what should make for some pretty good match-ups all year long. Big Ten teams are always strong up front on both sides of the ball, and that will definitely be true this year as well. IU will have a solid offensive line to block these lines, but neutralizing these units will likely have a huge impact on IU’s record this year. 

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2017 First Glance: Rutgers Scarlet Knights

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2017 First Glance: Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

The 2017 home football schedule concludes when Rutgers comes to Bloomington for Senior Day. Indiana's final three games are favorable and this is a chance to add another number to the win column. Rutgers is still rebuilding in Chris Ash's second season and could be coming into this matchup looking ahead to 2018.

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Top Five Linebacking Corps Indiana Will Take on in 2017

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Top Five Linebacking Corps Indiana Will Take on in 2017

Written By T.J. Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

As we march through the summer and into fall camp, Hoosier Huddle will look at the top five opposing players or position groups they will face in 2017. Only players and position groups from teams on the 2017 IU Football schedule are considered.

I’ve chosen to list the individual linebacker followed by the team’s unit as whole. That means both the overall unit and the best individual linebacker on each team have been considered for the ranking. There are plenty of talented players the Hoosiers offense will be squaring off against in 2017. The best linebacker this offense sees might just be lining up across the field from them every day in practice and going against Tegray Scales is a great way to prepare for taking on these other top-notch linebackers.

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