What Worked and What Didn't Against Ohio State
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Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)
The Indiana Hoosiers dropped their seventh-straight football game on Saturday to fall to 3-7 (1-6) after a 56-14 blow out against the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus.
What Worked
Dexter Williams
Dexter Williams took the reins of the IU offense after three drives from Connor Bazelak and Williams never gave back control. While the numbers were not spectacular, the energy around the offense changes. Williams immediately led the Hoosiers to a touchdown drive using both his legs and a big arm.
Williams finished with 76 non-sack running yards while completing six passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns. He was, however, sacked four times. Williams looks like he will be the starter going forward and I would anticipate an announcement Monday from Tom Allen saying just that. The threat of a quarterback run adds a dimension that was missing from the position all year.
Youth Movement
The Hoosiers finally started playing more of their younger players on Saturday and they held their own for the most part. Beyond Williams at quarterback, all-purpose back Jaylin Lucas led the Hoosiers with 105 all-purpose yards, offensive lineman Carter Smith held his own against a very good Ohio State defensive line. The Hoosiers also got Cam Knight and Vinny Fiacablein on the offensive line.
On defense, true freshmen Kaiden Turner made three tackles, safety Phillip Dunnam made two while Jorden Grier and Isaiah Jones had one each. Defensive end Venson Sneed also saw time.
Playing all of these players not only builds depth, it speeds up the development of these players who will need to have bright futures if Indiana is to turn the ship around in 2023 and beyond.
What Did Not Work
Connor Bazelak
The Connor Bazelak Era at IU may be over. While he gave the program his all and with stood beat down after beat down, he looked finished on Saturday. Bazelak started the game, but was pulled after three drives. He was 3-of-5 passing for 12 yards. He look disengaged with his teammates after being pulled and the extra dynamic that Williams brings to the offense, most likely spells the end of his season.
Tackling, Takeaways, Effort
Tackling, takeaways and effort are the keystones of the DNA that head coach Tom Allen built his defense around. In 2022, those thing characteristics are non-existent for the most part.
Yes, it Ohio State has elite athletes and they are very difficult to stop, but the tackling against the Buckeyes (and all year) was bad. Ohio State gained 662 yards of offense and they took it easy late in the game.
The only takeaway by the Hoosiers came on a muffed punt, but IU had a chance to get two or three more, but just could not haul the ball in, a theme all season.
It is extremely difficult to question effort of players, but it was visible to everyone that some players on this team just were not giving their A effort, especially on Xavier Johnson’s big run. The most concerning is the effort from the veterans on defense and the fall off we have seen there.
The Hoosiers have two games left, two trophy games, in Michigan State and Purdue. While the season is a wash out, there are still things this staff can do to start preparing for the 2023 season.