Hoosiers Need to Finish Drives in the Red Zone to Continue Success

Image: Indiana University Athletics

Written by Matt Smith

Indiana’s offense has their first road test of the season against Cincinnati in a rowdy environment. The Hoosiers are coming off a win against Western Kentucky where the offense struggled to finish drives in the red zone.

Connor Bazelak had 364 passing yards and two touchdowns against the Hilltoppers and led another drive down the field to tie the game late in the fourth quarter. Bazelak has been able to put receivers in a position to make a play early in the season.

“He’s a great spot hitter,” Walt Bell said during his Monday morning press conference. “He’s going to have the ball in the area, but I think he’s got a very special gift to throw the appropriate ball.”

According to Bell, the “appropriate ball,” is a ball that is on time, with the right amount of pacing to allow the receiver to get yards after the catch.

Indiana’s receiving core has the most depth out of any position group on the team, and Cam Camper has set himself apart from the group by leading the team in receiving yards for the second time this season.

“He’s just a great kid,” Bell said. “He’s a worker, he’s a high achiever, anything you ask him to do he does at a high level. Outside of those white lines, everything is done in the right way.”

A big switch for the Hoosiers in the offseason was the movement of Donaven McCulley from quarterback to wide receiver. 

McCulley came in as a four star recruit out of high school to play quarterback for the Hoosiers, but he decided to make the switch in the offseason and it has paid off so far. 

“I think for Donaven the biggest thing is, he’s so young at the position, he’s still learning,” Bell said. “Every single day you see exponential growth in him, you see his skills get better.”

McCulley also has a bigger frame than most receivers, and is able to use his frame and strength in order to improve at the position. This was evident on the two point conversion where he was held and was still able to separate and make the catch.

The offense has been able to come together late in games after struggling for most of the game in the red zone. Both against Illinois and Western Kentucky, Bazelak led late fourth quarter drives to win or tie the game.

Bell attributed some of the struggle to his play call in the red zone, he said he was too aggressive at times with the play calling when the Hoosiers got there. Bell continued by saying he was trying to push the ball too much.

However, he was happy with the Hoosiers ability to move the ball down the field throughout the beginning of the game.

As the Hoosiers travel to Cincinnati for their first road game of the season, the offense will need to finish drives with touchdowns in order to take down the Bearcats.