Hoosiers Defense Folds After Being Put in Bad Positions All Day

Image: Rutgers Athletics

Written by Evan Orris

The turnover battle cost the Hoosiers a 38-3 loss to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Saturday as six Hoosier giveaways set up Rutgers offense in great field position all afternoon.

The defense could only stand idle and watch in pain as the Indiana offense turned the ball over three times in the first half. Including a botched hand-off on the first play of the game and a muffed punt return by Ty Fryfogle. Both set up Rutgers in the red zone. However, the defense failed to force a turnover.

“Just some bad mistakes,” true freshman quarterback Donaven McCulley said after the game. “Can’t start the game like that. It just starts the tone for the rest of the game, and it’s hard to come back from that.”

All season long, the coaching staff has preached havoc plays such as sacks, tackles for losses, fumbles, and interceptions. The ball-hawking formula was what made the Hoosiers defense successful in the first place last season. They were able to lead the nation in interceptions with 17.

And even with injuries to Tiawan Mullen and Cam Jones they still held their own in the passing game. They managed to hold Noah Vedral to just 102 yards passing with a 5.7 yards per attempt average. The defense also did not let him beat them on third down as Rutgers converted just 6-of-17.

The secondary was hunting the ball this game in the air, also. They came up with four pass deflections. However, they could not come up with an interception against the quarterback who has thrown six so far this season.

The defense against the run game was a different story. They were torn up on the ground. As a unit, the Scarlet Knights were able to gain 218 yards. The bulk of the work was from Isaih Pacheco who gained 79 yards and had two scores.

Even with the injuries on defense, it is no excuse to allow Rutgers—a team who only averages about 326 yards per game and 23 points per game—to run rampant against them.  

“We gotta stick together. Can’t worry about who’s injured, who’s not playing, who’s sick,” Captain Micah McFadden said of the injuries. “Eleven guys are on the field at one time. Those are the guys who got to play and perform for this team and today all three phases didn’t do that.”

The defense has had bad luck when it comes to injuries, but McFadden also indicated that lack of preparation has affected this team. It was evident as the team performed today. But he also felt it in the offseason.

“Obviously injuries have affected this team in a way. And, I think guys could’ve prepared a little bit harder,” McFadden said.

“You know, I think there could have been a little bit more effort throughout our fall camp preparation to really get everybody’s minds ready for this season and the schedule and the opponents that we played.”

The Hoosiers will start to prepare for next week. They take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Memorial Stadium. Maybe there will also be an appearance by the shirtless fan section that stole the show.