What Worked and What Didn't For Indiana Against FIU

Written By Rylie Kyhn

It may not have all been pretty, but the Hoosiers got the job done and came out of Miami with a win. One of the most talented Florida International teams in recent years, said Coach Allen, and they gave Indiana a bit of challenge at times in certain aspects of their game. Although it wasn’t all pretty, it was the first game of the season and there was plenty that went right for the Hoosiers.

What worked?

The offense looked like it took leaps and bounds forward compared to last season where they struggled to get the ball moving consistently and in the red zone. The passing game was sharp despite one hiccup, an interception thrown in the beginning of the game, but both quarterbacks threw the ball well and showed that this offense can move the ball.

Peyton Ramsey got the start but Mike Penix saw field time too and got to showcase his skills. Ramsey threw 20/27 for 156 yards and three TDs with one interception. Penix threw 8/10 for 96 yards and one TD. The passing game looked smooth and both quarterbacks seemed comfortable in the pocket which is a complete turnaround from last season where you almost cringed on a pass play. Both quarterbacks were mobile and took off when they needed to and showed they also have the ability to use their feet to make a play.

In order to have a complete passing game you have to also have wide receivers that you can count on and they have quite a few. Donavan Hale is a force to be reckoned with and after missing a lot of last season, he is hungry to compete and last night that’s exactly what he did. Hale led the team in receiving yards with four receptions for 60 yards and two touchdowns. Right behind him Luke Timian had six receptions for 50 yards and Nick Westbrook, Ty Fryfogle and Whop Philyor were all close behind that. The receiver group is deep and with the strength of the quarterbacks, allowed for a productive passing game.

The offensive line is another aspect that seemed to be well polished. Returning all five starters with a lot of experience, they controlled the line of scrimmage and allowed the quarterbacks a good amount of time to evaluate and then get a pass off. Even after making substitutions across the line, they only allowed one sack which is a positive note to take away.

On the opposite side of the ball, the defense looked young and made a few mistakes. They played “just ok,” said Coach Allen. However, the takeaways were key to the win and they got their goal of three a game all within the first half. They forced two fumbles and had one interception which were all key to keeping the ball in the Hoosiers possession which in turn, allowed them to come out with a win. Jonathan Crawford’s forced fumble, recovered by Devon Matthews, in the first four minutes of the game sparked the defense to get a start on their takeaway goal and just nine minutes later came up with a pick six to give Indiana back the lead and tally a second takeaway. Just before halftime, Nile Sykes came up with his second career fumble recovery and finished off their goal all within the first two quarters. Takeaways are an aspect of their game that Coach Allen has repeatedly highlighted the importance of and this game is an example of why they are so vital to the Hoosiers getting a win.

IU was also three-of-three on fourth downs against the Golden Panthers, including a conversion that iced the game with 18 seconds left inside the FIU five-yard line and a touchdown to Donavan Hale shortly before half time.

What didn’t work?

There was quite a bit that worked but the game was not free of rough patches. The defense may have gotten their takeaway goal but the youth showed at times. A costly mistake by a young defender led to a touchdown for the Golden Panthers and Coach Allen said he saw the same mistake made just a few years ago when Marcelino Ball was just coming into the program and still learning. Losing eight starters on defense that saw virtually all the field time at their positions is detrimental to any team so it’s not surprising that growing pains are going to be visible for at least a few weeks.

The pass rush was an aspect that didn’t see a lot of production. They finished the game with only one sack and they struggled to stop the run game which is something Coach Allen also stated after the game. They missed a big stop on fourth down that they needed to get the ball back to their offense. It would seem the Hoosiers were taking over and FIU would turn right around and knock on the door. The defense gave up a few key stops that the Golden Panthers capitalized on.

They scored 38 but gave up nearly the same amount. “28 points is too much,” said Coach Allen. FIU kept creating opportunities for their offense to score and the Hoosiers just couldn’t put them away for good. A week of practice and film will do the young defense well and allow them to correct their few mistakes in order to cut the opportunities of their opponents. With time and experience this young defensive group has the opportunity to improve and with their talent, become a dominant force.

IU did stop 7-of-12 FIU third down attempts. However, the Hoosiers did allow the Panthers to 2-fo-2 on fourth down conversions. Getting off the field their is an important aspect for the Indiana defense.

After week one, they know exactly what they need to do and where to make adjustments and they have six days before the next test. They will get to spend the week making changes, practicing where they were weak, and polishing certain aspects before they take on the Virginia Cavaliers in their home opener next Saturday.