Inside the Numbers: Indiana Hoosiers at Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Written by: Nate Comp (@NathanComp1)

Each game week, we will take a further look into the stats to preview Indiana’s upcoming matchup. The Hoosiers are in the midst of a four-game losing streak with a date at Rutgers on the schedule this week. It is likely Indiana will not be favored in any of their remaining matchups this season, but this matchup will likely be the closest and is a game they absolutely need to keep their bowl hopes alive. Let’s take a look at the stats that could come into play this week.

91.67

If I told you the Hoosiers would face four opponents this year ranked inside the top 10 nationally in rushing defense, you probably would not be shocked: the Big Ten East schedule features Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, and Penn State every year and these powerhouses likely have the front sevens capable of stopping the run. If I told you Rutgers was actually one of the schools, however, you may be a bit surprised. (Michigan, Ohio State, and Illinois are the other 3, for those wondering.)

Rutgers, despite the 3-3 record and winless conference slate, actually rank 8th nationally in rush defense, allowing just 91.67 yards per game. They are allowing just 2.89 yards per carry through their six games. 37.5% of Indiana’s rushes this past week against Maryland went for 0 or fewer yards, a far too high percentage that will only be facing a tougher challenge this weekend. It is not even the fact that the Scarlet Knights are vulnerable in the secondary, either. Rutgers ranks 27th in pass defense and 18th in interceptions. A struggling Indiana offense will face a stingy Rutgers defense this weekend.

12.25

Indiana can relate, however, on the offensive side of the ball to the Scarlet Knights. Over their past four games, Rutgers has averaged just 12.25 points per game. The offensive performance this season has been poor enough that over last week’s bye week, Rutgers dismissed offensive coordinator Sean Gleeson and replaced him with tight ends coach Nunzio Campanile. This is the second time in this young season that the Hoosiers will face a team coming off a bye week with a new offensive coordinator.

“We seem to be getting many opportunities to figure that out,” Tom Allen joked with the media Monday. “You can't just change your whole system. We get that. But they do have a bye week, like you said, this happened to us in the past this year. So, there will be some new things for sure you're going to see.”

10

We discussed it this past week on our podcasts, but I think it is officially time to establish Josh Henderson as the Hoosiers’ number one running back. Intended touches is a basic statistic that adds rush attempts and targets together. On 8 intended touches this past weekend, Henderson averaged 10 yards – Shivers averaged just 2.6 on double (16) the intended touches, for reference. Henderson was averaging 9.3 yards before contact – the highest on the team behind just Emery Simmons and Cam Camper, who have the benefit of catching the ball downfield.

The benefits of having a running back that can pass block, which Shivers has proven to be a bit better at, are well documented. But at some point, especially when the offense is designed so that Bazelak only has to hold the ball for a couple seconds before getting it out of his hands, more productive players need to be on the field.