Hoosier Huddle Mailbag: May 11th

Image: Cam Koenig HoosierHuddle.com

Answers From T.J. Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

-What’s the biggest trap game on the 2016 schedule? - From Hoosier Hank

Thanks for the question Hank, we appreciate it. A trap game is generally thought of as a game against a weaker opponent that is imminently beatable played the week before a game against a more formidable opponent. There are only a couple of opponents on the 2016 schedule that would even qualify as potentially “weak”: FIU, Ball State, Wake Forest and potentially Maryland, Rutgers and Purdue. The Purdue game is at the end of the regular season and the Boilers are a rival so it should be impossible for the Hoosiers to be unprepared to defend the Old Oaken Bucket. IU lost to Rutgers in embarrassing and scarring fashion a year ago so I fully expect a well-prepared IU squad on November 5 in New Jersey. I won’t deem Florida International as a trap game because it’s the season-opener and the players should be more than ready to hit someone other than their teammates by the time IU invades Miami on September 1 (this is a very tricky opening game though). Ball State isn’t a trap game because it’s the home opener, an in-state rival and IU has a bye week the following week. 

In my opinion, the only surefire choice for “trap game” is the September 24 contest against Wake Forest. IU hammered the Demon Deacons for the better part of four quarters last year in Winston-Salem and they should feel confident in their ability to beat them this season in Bloomington. However, I fully expect Wake to be improved in Dave Clawson’s third season and the Hoosiers will be potentially looking ahead to a potentially huge primetime B1G opener against Michigan State the following week. If they aren’t capable, they may fall into a “trap” against the Demon Deacons.

-As of right now, which 2016 game would be you most surprised about IU winning? – from Bleeding Crimson

There is only one game on the 2016 slate that I would consider Indiana significant underdogs in: at the Michigan Wolverines on November 19. Obviously, that game is very far away and there are a lot of things we need to learn before properly evaluating each matchup. It will be very difficult for IU to win in Columbus but if Ohio State’s young players mesh quickly around J.T. Barrett, the Hoosiers will likely be major underdogs in that one as well but for now, I’m taking the game at Michigan, a place IU hasn’t won since 1967, for the unlikeliest IU victory.

Jim Harbaugh’s reclamation project in Ann Arbor is well underway and the Maize and Blue have already placed themselves in position to win a division title. Despite several departures, the Wolverines should have a very strong defense, a tremendous crop of running backs and as good a trio of pass catchers (Amara Darboh, Jehu Chesson and Jake Butt) as you’ll find in the B1G. Michigan may not receive tremendous QB play from any of their options but I’m expecting Harbaugh to have things figured out at that position by November 19. Nothing is impossible but if forced to pick the likeliest IU defeat, I’d go with the game at Michigan Stadium.

-The first three wide receivers appear set. How will the WR position play out behind Jones, Cobbs and Paige? B-Town Allan

Thanks for the question, we appreciate it! Your initial thought is 100% correct, Ricky Jones, Simmie Cobbs and Mitchell Paige are likely written down in ink as the top three pass catchers for IU. Those three each caught more than 50 passes and each had more than 650 receiving yards in 2015 and there’s no reason to expect regression from any of them this coming season. Mitchell Paige is one of my favorite players to watch, Simmie Cobbs is turning into a star and Ricky Jones was finally able to show what he is capable of as he stayed healthy last season. In addition, the position appears well-stocked, albeit unproven and inexperienced, behind those three. How it plays out requires quite a bit of guess work but since you asked, let’s attempt to forecast the future.

A number of interesting candidates will be on the 2016 roster at wide receiver: J-Shun Harris, Isaac James, Nick Westbrook, Isaac Griffith, Luke Timian and Marqui Hawkins all return and true freshmen Jonah Morris, Taysir Mack, Philip Benker and potentially Cole Gest (unless he plays RB) will all arrive on campus soon. Hoosier Huddle will provide a very detailed breakdown of the wide receiver position sometime this offseason (so check back for each of our extensive position previews) but I believe at least six of the players I just listed will see some significant snaps and targets. For reference purposes, IU had eight receivers (non-TE or RBs) garner more multiple targets during the 2015 season. Paige, Cobbs and Jones were definitely the top three but other guys did have opportunities and I think we’ll see more of the same in 2016. I believe Nick Westbrook is due for a breakthrough campaign as the fourth receiver on this roster. He’s 6’3” and showed during the bowl game that he was capable of making plays. I think he’ll be the man to provide either Jones or Cobbs with a breather on the outside. The two most likely candidates to contribute at slot are Isaac James, a redshirt freshman that likely would have seen the field in 2015 if not for a shoulder injury, and J-Shun Harris, an electric athlete returning from a season-ending ACL injury that kept him out last year. Luke Timian was mentioned by coaches a couple of times as a player that had impressed during spring practices and he had a huge catch in IU’s rally against Maryland. Jonah Morris, a top recruit from Ohio, looks like a playmaking outside receiver and I believe he’s the true freshman wideout most likely to see action this coming Fall. To recap, I’ll go with Nick Westbrook, Jonah Morris and Luke Timian as the three wide outside receivers that see significant time as “subs” and J-Shun Harris and Isaac James as the two main slot rotation players. Again, we’ll provide a more in-depth breakdown of the position and each of the players involved later this offseason but I hope this answer shed some light on the situation.

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