What is Going on With Indiana’s Offense?

Written by: Nate Comp (@NathanComp1)

It does not take a keen eye or a world-class knowledge of the Xs-and-Os of football to realize that the Indiana Hoosiers have problems on offense. On defense through the first third of the season, the Hoosiers have allowed just 19.5 points per game. That comes after having faced an NFL-talent loaded Ohio State team and a top ten scoring Louisville Cardinal team.

Unfortunately, those strong defensive numbers have resulted in just two wins – one over an FCS opponent, and the other in a lucky escape of a MAC opponent in the Hoosiers home stadium after four overtimes. Inconsistency and a lack of an identity have completely riddled any progress.

So, what is wrong with the Indiana offense?

We know what Harold Simpson says need to be done – he made his opinion clear at Tom Allen’s weekly radio show this week, calling out the offensive play calling and simply telling Allen that “it’s a business,” hinting that he feels offensive coordinator Walt Bell is to blame.

But before we go to those lengths, which we know Allen is hesitant to do, is there anything that can be done?

“The first thing is you identify why,” said Allen to the media on Thursday. “Sometimes it's scheme execution. Do you feel like you're maybe doing something in that situation where you need to either change the scheme or not call that in that situation?”

This could be to blame in a couple of scenarios – Indiana’s offense has struggled in the red zone and on 4th downs, where a different scheme or play call could certainly have benefited the team. Indiana has converted just six of its 11 redzone opportunities into touchdowns and nine of the 11 into scoring opportunities at all (74th nationally). Even worse, the Hoosiers are just 1-of-7 on 4th down (128th nationally). These failures are most memorable in the Louisville game, where Indiana failed to tie the game up on a failed 4th and inches on the goal line.

Allen also believes failures could fall into another category, however, and that is simply the execution of the offense, not the scheme.

“A lot of times it has been execution for us of the scheme in those situations,” continued Allen. “If it's a focus issue of a certain player, or how that individual or some individuals prepare, then there may be some changes in personnel if that person can't get that corrected.”

This hints at the fact that there may be changes in who we see on the field, not only in these key situations, but just in the regular flow of the offense. Or it could mean an expanded role for guys like Jaylin Lucas, who we have seen make things happen when utilized correctly.

“I just think that we want to continue to give him the ball in space and that's definitely the way to do that, is to throw him the football,” said Allen on Lucas. “When you see the way he was utilized in that Louisville game and the opportunities he was given, that was more in line with what I envisioned for him. I definitely want to see that be a big part of his role.”

Whatever changes Allen, Bell, and the rest of the staff make, they must make them quickly. Indiana is finished with their nonconference slate and now enter the thick of the Big Ten season, first with a tough contest on the road at Maryland. Eyeing out the rest of the schedule, this is likely a swing game the Hoosiers would need in order to end the year playing a bowl game.

“Coach Locksley is doing a great job there,” Allen said about the Terrapins. “Played them here for eight years now, and they are always one of the most athletic teams we play. That's no different this year. So, definitely a very, very important game for us and a big week for us as we get back into Big Ten play and play a really, really good football team on the road.”

The Hoosiers will kick off Saturday in Maryland at 3:30 local time.