Matchup to Watch: Hilltoppers Passing Attack Against the Indiana Secondary
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Image: Indiana University Athletics
Written by: Nate Comp (@NathanComp1)
The first quarter of the Indiana football season is complete, and the Hoosiers find themselves a bit behind preseason expectations. However, there is still much of the season left to play and plenty of time to bounce back from a rocky start. A week removed from the disappointing home loss to Cincinnati, Indiana must now focus its attention to the road battle it will have this week against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.
The Indiana offense remains a concern, but there’s no doubt in my mind that the matchup to watch is on the other side of the ball this week. The Hilltoppers boast one of the nation’s most prolific passing attacks under head coach Tyson Helton’s air raid approach. They have scored 11 touchdowns and compiled 913 yards of offense through the air alone in their first two games this season.
They'll have a great crowd there and a very good football team,” said Tom Allen to the press this Monday. “The No. 1 passing offense in the country right now, No. 1 in 3rd down conversions, as well, and those two [statistics] kind of go together. They throw the ball as well as anybody in this country right now, and have a very talented quarterback, receiver corps, and new offensive coordinator.”
Do not get me wrong, the Indiana secondary has proven that it can be game changing, too. Safety Devon Matthews return this weekend after being injured in the season opener should be crucial, and they are once again at full strength at cornerback with Reese Taylor, Jaylin Williams, and Tiawan Mullen. But this could be one of the unit’s toughest tests of the year, and Western Kentucky will continually put pressure on the Hoosier secondary to make plays on the ball and open field tackles.
“We have played them twice in my coaching career and both times they were really good football teams,” continued Allen. “A lot of athletes on both sides of the ball and have always had really talented skill guys.”
“Definitely a very important game for us, as we continue to get better and improve and move towards where I know we can be.”