Hoosiers Offense Working Hard to Fix Issues in the Red Zone

Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

Since the departure of Kevin Wilson as Indiana's head football coach in December there have been plenty of questions about how the Hoosiers are going to keep up the offensive production that Indiana fans came to see under new head man Tom Allen and offensive coordinator Mike DeBord.  One of the quickest ways to start producing more points is by improving the Hoosiers' offensive production inside the red zone, an area where IU ranked 126th out of 128 in successful conversions.

While the offense did move the ball well between the twenties, it came to a screeching halt after that. The Hoosiers made 49 trips inside their opponents 20-yard line in 2016 and produced points just 71.4 percent of the time. The most troubling part however, was that IU only 24 touchdowns and had to settle for 11 made field goals. If Indiana wants to have the breakthrough season that Tom Allen wants, those numbers have to change and red zone offense has become a major focus early in fall camp.

So how does offensive coordinator Mike Debord start to fix these numbers? 

According to the veteran OC it all starts up front. "Everything in any part of the field starts with protection of the guys up front, that's where it all starts" Debord said after the Hoosiers' third practice on Friday. It's up to the offensive line to either open holes for the running backs or to give quarterback Richard Lagow enough time to find one of his big receivers in the end zone.

Another knock on the Hoosiers' red zone performance in 2016 was their play selection and maybe over thinking too much on what they had to do. Coach DeBord wants to just get the ball in the end zone, something he learned a few years ago.

"I feel like I have to do a great job of putting the ball in the end zone with throws. I learned that a couple years ago where it was almost like trying to play perfect. When you get down in the red zone, everything gets tighter, the coverage gets tighter, the linebackers are tighter, the safeties are up in there. It's hard to play perfect so you have to put the ball in the end zone. That's what we concentrated on today" said Debord.

DeBord can consult with his head coach about what gives defenses problems in the red zone as well. Allen told reporters on Friday that his defenses have trouble boding up multiple taller, bigger receiving threats that IU has plenty of. 

"That is a physical issue that sometimes we do not have an answer for," Allen said. "If you try to take that away, it weakens you up in other spots. If the offense has one of those guys, we can kind of handle it, but if you have two and a third guy in the middle that stresses you, like Ian Thomas, it creates a lot of problems for a defense. You have to decide, do you pressure or do you cover. I know that we have the pieces offensively to put pressure on a defense, which excites me. It frustrates me as a defensive guy during practice, but that is good for us."

For Indiana to get over the hump they cannot be ranked 126th in the red zone. The Hoosiers will need to climb back to the middle of the pack or higher. There were plenty of games over the last few years that have swung one way or the other on the points IU has left on the field.