2010 Indiana Hoosiers Game Preview
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Preface
With a win Saturday, head coach Jim Tressel would become the third-fastest coach to win 100 games at a Big Ten school (121 games) and the fastest at Ohio State. Michigan's Fielding Yost and Bo Schembechler each recorded their 100th win in their 119th game.
Ohio State has made 90 consecutive appearances in the AP Top 25 poll, the longest current active streak amoong FBS teams (taking over from Texas). Florida is second with 87 and Alabama is third with 39.
Looking forward to this week's matchup with the Hoosiers, Ohio State leads the all-time series with Indiana 66-12-5 and has a 42-10-4 edge when the two teams play in Columbus. The two teams did not play in 2007 or 2008 due to the Big Ten schedule rotation.
The Buckeyes have won 15 straight from the Hoosiers since a 41-7 loss in 1988 in Bloomington that represents the most lopsided setback for Ohio State in the 109-year-old series (first played in 1901). The Buckeyes have put together several winning streaks during the series, the longest of which was a 23-game stretch between 1960 and 1986.
Under Coach Jim Tressel, the Buckeyes are 60-13 in Conference games (.822), 31-5 (.861) in Big Ten home games overall, and 8-1 (.889) in conference home openers.
Big Ten Home Openers Under Jim Tressel
2001: Ohio State 38, Northwestern 20
2002: Ohio State 45, Indiana 17
2003: Ohio State 20, Northwestern 0
2004: Wisconsin 24, Ohio State 13
2005: Ohio State 31, Iowa 6
2006: Ohio State 28, Penn St 6
2007: Ohio State 58, Northwestern 7
2008: Ohio State 34, Minnesota 21
2009: Ohio State 30, Illinois 0
Head coach Bill Lynch is in his fourth season with Indiana. In his first season in 2007, Lynch led the Hoosiers to a 7-6 record and a trip to the Insight Bowl. He is the only head coach in Hoosier history to guide a team to a bowl game in his debut season.
Indiana has finished in the top-10 nationally just once since 1945. That was in 1967, the only time they've ever gone to the Rose Bowl. They were coached by John Pont, who had played halfback at Miami, OH under Woody Hayes in 1949-50.
They beat tOSU back-to-back in 1987 and 1988, and ended up in the top 20 of the Coaches' Poll both of those years. Of course, these are the only two times they've defeated the Buckeyes since 1951, which was Woody's first year as head coach.
Their last Bowl win was a shutout, and it occurred in the 1990's. This was a thrilling 24-0 Copper Bowl win over Baylor in 1991.
Indiana has a winning record all-time against the SEC, which is the only conference tOSU has a losing record against. Take out all the games against Kentucky and Vanderbilt, and they still have a winning record against the rest of the SEC teams, including a 1-0 mark against Florida - a game played in 1916.
Lee Corso had a 41-68-2 (.378) record as head coach of the Hoosiers from 1973 to 1982. He likes to tell the story about the time he took a picture of the scoreboard when Indiana had a brief early lead against one of Woody's teams.
When tOSU traveled to Bloomington in 2005, they had a 1-5 record in their previous six Big-10 road games. In that 2005 game, Ted Ginn, Jr. had a kickoff return called back for a penalty well behind the play as he was approaching the goal line; later in the game he did score on a punt retun TD. That game started a winning streak in Big Ten road games that has reached 16, the highest ever mark for Ohio State, and 1 short of the conference record.
Date and Time Ohio State has made 90 consecutive appearances in the AP Top 25 poll, the longest current active streak amoong FBS teams (taking over from Texas). Florida is second with 87 and Alabama is third with 39.
Looking forward to this week's matchup with the Hoosiers, Ohio State leads the all-time series with Indiana 66-12-5 and has a 42-10-4 edge when the two teams play in Columbus. The two teams did not play in 2007 or 2008 due to the Big Ten schedule rotation.
The Buckeyes have won 15 straight from the Hoosiers since a 41-7 loss in 1988 in Bloomington that represents the most lopsided setback for Ohio State in the 109-year-old series (first played in 1901). The Buckeyes have put together several winning streaks during the series, the longest of which was a 23-game stretch between 1960 and 1986.
Under Coach Jim Tressel, the Buckeyes are 60-13 in Conference games (.822), 31-5 (.861) in Big Ten home games overall, and 8-1 (.889) in conference home openers.
Big Ten Home Openers Under Jim Tressel
2001: Ohio State 38, Northwestern 20
2002: Ohio State 45, Indiana 17
2003: Ohio State 20, Northwestern 0
2004: Wisconsin 24, Ohio State 13
2005: Ohio State 31, Iowa 6
2006: Ohio State 28, Penn St 6
2007: Ohio State 58, Northwestern 7
2008: Ohio State 34, Minnesota 21
2009: Ohio State 30, Illinois 0
Head coach Bill Lynch is in his fourth season with Indiana. In his first season in 2007, Lynch led the Hoosiers to a 7-6 record and a trip to the Insight Bowl. He is the only head coach in Hoosier history to guide a team to a bowl game in his debut season.
Indiana has finished in the top-10 nationally just once since 1945. That was in 1967, the only time they've ever gone to the Rose Bowl. They were coached by John Pont, who had played halfback at Miami, OH under Woody Hayes in 1949-50.
They beat tOSU back-to-back in 1987 and 1988, and ended up in the top 20 of the Coaches' Poll both of those years. Of course, these are the only two times they've defeated the Buckeyes since 1951, which was Woody's first year as head coach.
Their last Bowl win was a shutout, and it occurred in the 1990's. This was a thrilling 24-0 Copper Bowl win over Baylor in 1991.
Indiana has a winning record all-time against the SEC, which is the only conference tOSU has a losing record against. Take out all the games against Kentucky and Vanderbilt, and they still have a winning record against the rest of the SEC teams, including a 1-0 mark against Florida - a game played in 1916.
Lee Corso had a 41-68-2 (.378) record as head coach of the Hoosiers from 1973 to 1982. He likes to tell the story about the time he took a picture of the scoreboard when Indiana had a brief early lead against one of Woody's teams.
When tOSU traveled to Bloomington in 2005, they had a 1-5 record in their previous six Big-10 road games. In that 2005 game, Ted Ginn, Jr. had a kickoff return called back for a penalty well behind the play as he was approaching the goal line; later in the game he did score on a punt retun TD. That game started a winning streak in Big Ten road games that has reached 16, the highest ever mark for Ohio State, and 1 short of the conference record.
Date: Saturday, October 9th, 2010
Time: Noon ET Kick-off
Location: Ohio Stadium - "The Horseshoe" (Columbus, OH)
Constructed: 1922 (Renovated in 2001)
Seating Capacity: 102,329 (Originally 66,210)
Playing Surface: FieldTurf
Events:
Time: Noon ET Kick-off
Location: Ohio Stadium - "The Horseshoe" (Columbus, OH)
Constructed: 1922 (Renovated in 2001)
Seating Capacity: 102,329 (Originally 66,210)
Playing Surface: FieldTurf
Events:
Broadcast Information:
TV Broacast: ESPN: Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Bob Griese and Chris Spielman (analysis).
ESPN3 online: Dave Lamont (play-by-play, Tim Brown and Ray Bentley (analysis).
ESPN3 online: Dave Lamont (play-by-play, Tim Brown and Ray Bentley (analysis).
Radio Broadcast: Ohio State Radio Network (WBNS 97.1 FM TheFan in Columbus): Paul Keels (Play-by-play), Jim Lachey (Analysis), and Marty Bannister (Sideline)
The game can also be heard on Sirius satellite radio 127 and XM 102.
2010 Indiana Hoosiers Offensive Preview The game can also be heard on Sirius satellite radio 127 and XM 102.
The Buckeyes leave a tough battle against a rugged Illinois squad and enter this week's home date with Indiana to face an entirely different type of challenge. Indiana is ranked among the top offenses in the country, and they put on a magnificent show against the equally impressive (on offense) Wolverines in a shootout last week to open conference play. After facing a team that will grind out yards with a power running game and a young, mobile QB last week, they face a stone-footed veteran with a rifle for an arm leading a deadly passing attack out of the pistol this week. The Hoosiers have made the most out of the pistol, Chris Ault's offensive brainchild, and are running it with extreme precision this season. It will be important for the Buckeyes to try and slow the passing attack, force the Hoosiers to the ground more than they're used to, and to score some points themselves in order to be successful this week.
The Hoosiers rank 24th nationally in total offense, piling up an impressive 455 yards a game. The vast majority of those are through the air, as they rank 4th in the nation in passing offense at 361.8 yards a game, whereas they rank a very pedestrian 99th in rushing at just 106.8 yards a contest. Their 39.8 points per game ranks them T12 in the country, so they have converted their offense production into a bushel points every time out. They have a surprisingly low but respectable number of first downs (101, T34) but convert a very high percentage of 3rd down opportunities (47.2%, 17th). They have allowed just 4 sacks despite 169 pass attempts, so the line has done a good job and Chappell is good at getting rid of the ball. The Buckeye secondary will earn their scholarships this week.
The Hoosiers rank 24th nationally in total offense, piling up an impressive 455 yards a game. The vast majority of those are through the air, as they rank 4th in the nation in passing offense at 361.8 yards a game, whereas they rank a very pedestrian 99th in rushing at just 106.8 yards a contest. Their 39.8 points per game ranks them T12 in the country, so they have converted their offense production into a bushel points every time out. They have a surprisingly low but respectable number of first downs (101, T34) but convert a very high percentage of 3rd down opportunities (47.2%, 17th). They have allowed just 4 sacks despite 169 pass attempts, so the line has done a good job and Chappell is good at getting rid of the ball. The Buckeye secondary will earn their scholarships this week.
Quarterbacks
QB #4 Ben Chappell (6-3, 242, SR, Bloomington South HS, Bloomington, IN)
Welcome to the Ben Chappell show, coming to a stadium near you. The Hoosiers have been "pistol-whipping" opposing defenses since last season, when they finished 35th in passing offense behind Chappell, who threw for 2941 yards and 17 TDs. He is on pace to throw for over 4000 yards this season, while shattering his TD mark last year and cutting down on both his INTs (15 last season) and sacks (also 15 last season). This season his TD/INT ratio is 12/1 already through 4 games, and he has been sacked just 4 times while attempting 162 passes. His numbers this season are more remarkable considering that against his weakest opponent, FCS team Towson State, he basically took the night off, throwing for just 182 yards and 2 TDs. He followed that with 366 and 3 TDs against Western Kentucky, 342 and 4 TDs against Akron, and a video game-esque 480 yards and 3 TDs last week against the Wolverines. He is tall, tough, and seemingly in control of what is going on all over the field. He has flourished in this offense and he continues to break Indiana passing records in rapid succession. He is not any threat to run the ball, but he is good at using his feet to create enough space to deliver the ball somewhere effectively. He has good size and is tough to bring down, and his quick release has cut back on his sacks, which already were not at a high volume. He is making good decisions, and has only been picked off once all season. Basically Chappell is having a great season as the Captain of this offensive football team and will pose a significant challenge for the Buckeye defense this week. He threw for 210 yards with 2 TDs and 2 INTs last year against the Buckeyes, a performance he will be looking to improve upon significantly.
The backups are a pair of freshmen, Dusty Kiel (#8) and Edward Wright-Baker (#7), who have virtually no experience of any kind. Kiel is 1/5 this year and Baker is 1/2, so any injury to Chappell would be a disaster for Indiana Saturday.
QB Rating: A
Head-to-Head: Indiana versus Ohio State QBs
Chappell: 116/162 (71.6%), 1370 yards, 12 TDs, 1 INT, 165.9 rating; 14/-25, 1 TD
Pryor: 80/123 (65.0%), 1015 yards, 12 TDs, 3 INTs, 161.7 rating; 54/373, 3 TDs
These two QBs are the unquestioned leaders of their offensive football teams, though their styles contrast markedly. Chappell will throw the ball all over the field but won't run a lick, whereas Pryor is dangerous throwing downfield and also running with the football, both by design and out of necessity. Pryor is able to single-handedly put the Buckeyes on his back and win games virtually by himself ... Chappell is a distributor who keeps his receivers involved and making plays. There isn't much bad to say about either player. Depth is a concern for the Hoosiers, and of course Pryor's health is a concern for the Buckeyes after last week. Hard to give either player a significant edge given their high level of play over the course of the entire season, their high efficiency ratings, and their virtually equal offensive output (1345 for Chappell, 1388 for Pryor).
Edge: Even
Running Backs
TB #28 Darius Willis (6-0, 224, SO, Franklin Central HS, Indianapolis, IN)
If there is one area where the Hoosiers have gone backwards a bit, it is running the football. They gained 2000 yards as a team in 2008, but had just 1400 last season and are on pace for even less than that in 2010. This is not a direct indictment of Willis, however, who is an explosive player with good speed and power. Last season his breakout game was against Michigan, where he gained 152 yards and scored twice. He also had 100 yard performances against Northwestern and Purdue, though he managed just 23 yards on 11 carries against the Buckeyes. He is off to a reasonably good start in 2010, though getting him more involved would probably make the Hoosier passing attack even more effective. He startd the year with 102 yards and 2 scores against Towson, and also had 87 yards against Akron and scored 2 TDs last week against Michigan, despite gaining just 59 yards on 18 carries. He also caught 7 passes for 73 yards and a score last week and has 11 receptions on the season, so he is a direct threat out of the backfield in the passing game. He is the Hoosier workhorse back, so expect him to get at least 15 carries this week, and probably closer to 20.
The Hoosiers don't have a lot of quality depth at this position. Trea Burgess (#21) has played sparingly and in some short yardage situations the past 3 seasons, gaining 130 yards and scoring 3 TDs last season. He has just 53 yards in 2010 thus far. Don't expect the Hoosiers to go any deeper than that, though Nick Turner (#26) is a speedy young player with some upside.
RB Rating: B-
Head-to-Head: Indiana versus Ohio State RBs
Willis: 64/278 yards, 4 TDs, 4.3 YPC; 11 rec/102 yards, 1 TD, 9.3 YPR
Burgess: 13/53 yards, 1 TD, 4.4 YPC; 2 rec/18 yards, 0 TDs, 9.0 YPR
Saine: 44/183 yards, 2 TDs, 4.2 YPC; 9 rec/75 yards, 3 TDs, 8.3 YPR
Herron: 65/287 yards, 5 TDs, 4.4 YPC; 8 rec/115 yards, 0 TDs, 14.4 YPR
The Hoosiers don't make use of the running game as much with the passing game firing on all cylinders as it has been. It will be interesting to see what happens if and when they have to fall back on it more. Willis is a dangerous player, but he doesn't seem to get enough quality opportunities to make him an elite back. On the Buckeye side, Saine has been struggling in recent weeks, with Herron taking over the bulk of the workload last week against Illinois. Calls for Hall and Berry are increasing, and it remains to be seen how long it will be until their opportunities to see the field in important situations increase. Willis is a quality player, but the Hoosiers have virtually nothing reliable behind him and he is not utilized enough to be considered a game-changer. Give the Buckeyes the edge because of their quality depth.
Edge: Ohio State
Wide Receivers
WR #2 Tandon Doss (6-3, 200, JR, Ben Davis HS, Indianapolis, IN)
WR #1 Terrance Turner (6-3, 209, SR, West Bloomfield HS, Auburn Hills, MI)
WR #88 Damarlo Belcher (6-5, 210, JR, North Side HS, Fort Wayne, IN)
This is a high end group that is veteran, deep and very dangerous. They all have good size and speed and can create matchup problems if coverage is rolled to a particular player or side of the field. Doss led the team in receiving last season, catching 77 passes for 962 yards and 5 TDs, including 6 for 96 and a score against the Buckeyes. He was off to a bit of a slow start this year, but exploded last week against Michigan for 15 receptions for 221 yards and he also chipped in 21 rushing yards on 6 carries. He is dangerous on screens and end arounds as well as down the field. Turner was second on the team last year with 61 receptions for 770 yards and 5 scores. He caught 4 passes for 48 yards in the 2009 game against the Buckeyes. He leads the team this season with 31 receptions for 375 yards and 3 TDs. He has been good every game, with 7 receptions for 92 yards and a score against Towson, 10 for 135 and a TD against WKU, 4 for 57 against Akron and 10 for 91 and a TD against the Wolverines. His height makes him dangerous in the red zone and he can use his body to shield off defenders effectively in the possession game as well. Turner has 24 receptions for 246 yards and a TD thus far. He has come on in recent games, with 6 receptions for 121 yards and a score against WKU and 7 for 56 last week. He also has good size and power, with deceptive speed to get downfield. All of these players have the skills and experience to start for virtually any team in the country, and have been devastating targets for Chappell in the passing game.
The top player off the bench is Duwyce Wilson (#81), a young burner who gets the nod in the frequent 4 receiver formations that the Hoosiers use. He has 12 catches for 148 yards and a TD this year so far, and last week he had 3 receptions for 22 yards and a TD against Michigan. He will be utilized frequently and will likely catch some passes this weekend. He can break a big play when given the opportunity. Fellow freshmen Jamonne Chester (#84) and Kofi Hughes (#13) are used less frequently, combining for just 3 receptions thus far, but with these 3 young players, the future looks as bright as the present in Bloomington.
WR Rating: A
Head-to-Head: Indiana versus Ohio State WRs
Doss: 23 catches, 323 yards, 1 TD, 14.0 YPR
Turner: 24 catches, 246 yards, 1 TD, 10.3 YPR
Belcher: 31 catches, 375 yards, 3 TDs, 12.1 YPR
Sanzenbacher: 23 catches, 351 yards, 6 TDs, 15.3 YPR
Posey: 18 catches, 261 yards, 2 TDs, 14.5 YPR
The Indiana receiving corps is 4-deep and is of very high quality. All 4 players have good, size, speed, and are experienced enough to run any route in the playbook. If coverage takes away one or two players, the others can step up at any time, as evidenced by Doss' explosion last week. The Buckeyes have 2 very high quality players of their own, and both are just as effective as their Hoosier counterparts. The Buckeye receivers are skilled at blocking and route running and they can also break big plays downfield. This comes down to depth, which the Hoosiers have plenty of, as they can run 4 top shelf players out on the field at once anytime. Both groups of receivers should shine if given adequate opportunities on Saturday.
Edge: Indiana
Tight Ends
TE #41 Max Dedmond (6-5, 257, JR, Evansville Central HS, Evansville, IN)
Dedmond is a highly effective blocker who figures sparingly into the passing game. He plays in specific situations and has made 14 career starts, so he has the experience to know what his role is and plays it very well. The revelation has been the backup, freshman Ted Bolser (#83). He has 10 receptions for 155 yards and 4 TDs thus far this season, though he had just one 27 yard reception last week against the Wolverines. He is devastating in the red zone, having already tied the school record for TD receptions by a TE in a season, and he is also capable of getting open downfield, as he had a 68 yard reception against Towson. He is yet another factor in the passing game that makes the Hoosiers nearly impossible to contain for an entire game.
TE Rating: A-
Head-to-Head: Indiana versus Ohio State TEs
Dedmond: 2 catches, 8 yards, 1 TD, 4.0 YPR
Bolser: 10 catches, 155 yards, 4 TD, 15.5 YPR
Stoneburner: 9 catches, 110 yards, 1 TD, 12.2 YPR
Bolser has been a welcome addition to the Hoosier passing game, particularly in the red zone. He is a weapon over the middle when the receivers are covered on the wings. Dedmond catches less passes but blocks better in the running game. As a unit these two combine for a very effective skill set. Stoneburner has been hurt and less of a factor in the passing game as the season has gone on. He is still a very effective blocker when healthy.
Edge: Indiana
Offensive Line
LT #72 Andrew McDonald (6-6, 306, JR, Warren Central HS, Indianapolis, IN)
LG #66 Aaron Price (6-4, 305, FR, Bloomington South HS, Bloomington, IN)
C #60 Will Matte (6-2, 293, SO, Wheaton-Warrenville South HS, Wheaton, IL)
RG #70 Justin Pagan (6-5, 308, JR, St. Patrick HS, Chicago, IL)
RT #73 James Brewer (6-8, 331, SR, Arlington HS, Indianapolis, IN)
The line is an area where the Hoosiers have less veteran leadership but still have plenty of talent, as evidenced by the offensive production and low number of sacks allowed. There has been good continuity here, with the only major change coming at RG after 2 games. At the tackle spots, Brewer has started every game at RT the past 2 seasons and McDonald has been a stalwart on the left side despite only 2 career starts entering the season. Along the interior, Price was the scout team player of the year last season and has moved into the starting LG spot, which he has manned all 4 games. Pagan has started the past 2 games at RG and had 11 career starts at LG entering the season. He has also played some tackle, making him one of the team's most versatile assets. Matte had never played center before arriving on campus but has started every game of his career at the position. He is an intelligent and agile lineman.
The reserves include sophomore Marc Damisch (#65), who started the first 2 games at RG. He can man either guard position and is a valuable reserve. Freshman Pat McShane (#67) has appeared in all 4 games along the interior, as has junior tackle Josh Hager (#77). Junior college transfer Jordan Marquette (#62) is the backup in the middle.
OL Rating: B
Head-to-Head: Indiana versus Ohio State OL
The Hoosier line lacks big name superstars, but they allowed only 16 sacks last year and are on pace to allow only 12 this season. The run blocking could be classified as fair, but the pass blocking has been superb, and that is the primary role of the line. The Buckeyes have bigger names and essentially more talent at most positions, but whether they have been more effective throughout the course of the season as a unit is debatable. The Hoosiers have a quality reserve or two, but the Buckeyes probably have more game-ready depth.
Edge: Even
Overall Offensive Analysis
The Indiana aerial attack is firing on all cylinders this season, as evidenced last week against Michigan. The only thing keeping this from being a truly elite offense is their one-dimensional nature, with barely 100 yards of rushing a game. Still they are moving the ball early and often and piling up points every game, so it's hard to argue with that much success. The Buckeye defense will present their most formidable challenge to date, but they moved the ball some last year against the Buckeyes and are playing at a much higher level this season. If the Buckeyes can force some situations where the Hoosiers have to run the ball or get some pressure on Chappell, they may be able to put a significant dent in the Hoosier attack. If they don't, it will be very difficult to cover the many quality receiving options at Chappell's disposal. The Hoosier offense passed a big test last week and racked up almost 500 passing yards against Michigan. If they can even remotely approach those numbers this week, they could be in line for an upset win. It will not be easy against a much better defense, but it is quite possible they will be up to the challenge.
Overall Offensive Rating: A-
2010 Indiana Hoosiers Defensive Preview QB #4 Ben Chappell (6-3, 242, SR, Bloomington South HS, Bloomington, IN)
Welcome to the Ben Chappell show, coming to a stadium near you. The Hoosiers have been "pistol-whipping" opposing defenses since last season, when they finished 35th in passing offense behind Chappell, who threw for 2941 yards and 17 TDs. He is on pace to throw for over 4000 yards this season, while shattering his TD mark last year and cutting down on both his INTs (15 last season) and sacks (also 15 last season). This season his TD/INT ratio is 12/1 already through 4 games, and he has been sacked just 4 times while attempting 162 passes. His numbers this season are more remarkable considering that against his weakest opponent, FCS team Towson State, he basically took the night off, throwing for just 182 yards and 2 TDs. He followed that with 366 and 3 TDs against Western Kentucky, 342 and 4 TDs against Akron, and a video game-esque 480 yards and 3 TDs last week against the Wolverines. He is tall, tough, and seemingly in control of what is going on all over the field. He has flourished in this offense and he continues to break Indiana passing records in rapid succession. He is not any threat to run the ball, but he is good at using his feet to create enough space to deliver the ball somewhere effectively. He has good size and is tough to bring down, and his quick release has cut back on his sacks, which already were not at a high volume. He is making good decisions, and has only been picked off once all season. Basically Chappell is having a great season as the Captain of this offensive football team and will pose a significant challenge for the Buckeye defense this week. He threw for 210 yards with 2 TDs and 2 INTs last year against the Buckeyes, a performance he will be looking to improve upon significantly.
The backups are a pair of freshmen, Dusty Kiel (#8) and Edward Wright-Baker (#7), who have virtually no experience of any kind. Kiel is 1/5 this year and Baker is 1/2, so any injury to Chappell would be a disaster for Indiana Saturday.
QB Rating: A
Head-to-Head: Indiana versus Ohio State QBs
Chappell: 116/162 (71.6%), 1370 yards, 12 TDs, 1 INT, 165.9 rating; 14/-25, 1 TD
Pryor: 80/123 (65.0%), 1015 yards, 12 TDs, 3 INTs, 161.7 rating; 54/373, 3 TDs
These two QBs are the unquestioned leaders of their offensive football teams, though their styles contrast markedly. Chappell will throw the ball all over the field but won't run a lick, whereas Pryor is dangerous throwing downfield and also running with the football, both by design and out of necessity. Pryor is able to single-handedly put the Buckeyes on his back and win games virtually by himself ... Chappell is a distributor who keeps his receivers involved and making plays. There isn't much bad to say about either player. Depth is a concern for the Hoosiers, and of course Pryor's health is a concern for the Buckeyes after last week. Hard to give either player a significant edge given their high level of play over the course of the entire season, their high efficiency ratings, and their virtually equal offensive output (1345 for Chappell, 1388 for Pryor).
Edge: Even
Running Backs
TB #28 Darius Willis (6-0, 224, SO, Franklin Central HS, Indianapolis, IN)
If there is one area where the Hoosiers have gone backwards a bit, it is running the football. They gained 2000 yards as a team in 2008, but had just 1400 last season and are on pace for even less than that in 2010. This is not a direct indictment of Willis, however, who is an explosive player with good speed and power. Last season his breakout game was against Michigan, where he gained 152 yards and scored twice. He also had 100 yard performances against Northwestern and Purdue, though he managed just 23 yards on 11 carries against the Buckeyes. He is off to a reasonably good start in 2010, though getting him more involved would probably make the Hoosier passing attack even more effective. He startd the year with 102 yards and 2 scores against Towson, and also had 87 yards against Akron and scored 2 TDs last week against Michigan, despite gaining just 59 yards on 18 carries. He also caught 7 passes for 73 yards and a score last week and has 11 receptions on the season, so he is a direct threat out of the backfield in the passing game. He is the Hoosier workhorse back, so expect him to get at least 15 carries this week, and probably closer to 20.
The Hoosiers don't have a lot of quality depth at this position. Trea Burgess (#21) has played sparingly and in some short yardage situations the past 3 seasons, gaining 130 yards and scoring 3 TDs last season. He has just 53 yards in 2010 thus far. Don't expect the Hoosiers to go any deeper than that, though Nick Turner (#26) is a speedy young player with some upside.
RB Rating: B-
Head-to-Head: Indiana versus Ohio State RBs
Willis: 64/278 yards, 4 TDs, 4.3 YPC; 11 rec/102 yards, 1 TD, 9.3 YPR
Burgess: 13/53 yards, 1 TD, 4.4 YPC; 2 rec/18 yards, 0 TDs, 9.0 YPR
Saine: 44/183 yards, 2 TDs, 4.2 YPC; 9 rec/75 yards, 3 TDs, 8.3 YPR
Herron: 65/287 yards, 5 TDs, 4.4 YPC; 8 rec/115 yards, 0 TDs, 14.4 YPR
The Hoosiers don't make use of the running game as much with the passing game firing on all cylinders as it has been. It will be interesting to see what happens if and when they have to fall back on it more. Willis is a dangerous player, but he doesn't seem to get enough quality opportunities to make him an elite back. On the Buckeye side, Saine has been struggling in recent weeks, with Herron taking over the bulk of the workload last week against Illinois. Calls for Hall and Berry are increasing, and it remains to be seen how long it will be until their opportunities to see the field in important situations increase. Willis is a quality player, but the Hoosiers have virtually nothing reliable behind him and he is not utilized enough to be considered a game-changer. Give the Buckeyes the edge because of their quality depth.
Edge: Ohio State
Wide Receivers
WR #2 Tandon Doss (6-3, 200, JR, Ben Davis HS, Indianapolis, IN)
WR #1 Terrance Turner (6-3, 209, SR, West Bloomfield HS, Auburn Hills, MI)
WR #88 Damarlo Belcher (6-5, 210, JR, North Side HS, Fort Wayne, IN)
This is a high end group that is veteran, deep and very dangerous. They all have good size and speed and can create matchup problems if coverage is rolled to a particular player or side of the field. Doss led the team in receiving last season, catching 77 passes for 962 yards and 5 TDs, including 6 for 96 and a score against the Buckeyes. He was off to a bit of a slow start this year, but exploded last week against Michigan for 15 receptions for 221 yards and he also chipped in 21 rushing yards on 6 carries. He is dangerous on screens and end arounds as well as down the field. Turner was second on the team last year with 61 receptions for 770 yards and 5 scores. He caught 4 passes for 48 yards in the 2009 game against the Buckeyes. He leads the team this season with 31 receptions for 375 yards and 3 TDs. He has been good every game, with 7 receptions for 92 yards and a score against Towson, 10 for 135 and a TD against WKU, 4 for 57 against Akron and 10 for 91 and a TD against the Wolverines. His height makes him dangerous in the red zone and he can use his body to shield off defenders effectively in the possession game as well. Turner has 24 receptions for 246 yards and a TD thus far. He has come on in recent games, with 6 receptions for 121 yards and a score against WKU and 7 for 56 last week. He also has good size and power, with deceptive speed to get downfield. All of these players have the skills and experience to start for virtually any team in the country, and have been devastating targets for Chappell in the passing game.
The top player off the bench is Duwyce Wilson (#81), a young burner who gets the nod in the frequent 4 receiver formations that the Hoosiers use. He has 12 catches for 148 yards and a TD this year so far, and last week he had 3 receptions for 22 yards and a TD against Michigan. He will be utilized frequently and will likely catch some passes this weekend. He can break a big play when given the opportunity. Fellow freshmen Jamonne Chester (#84) and Kofi Hughes (#13) are used less frequently, combining for just 3 receptions thus far, but with these 3 young players, the future looks as bright as the present in Bloomington.
WR Rating: A
Head-to-Head: Indiana versus Ohio State WRs
Doss: 23 catches, 323 yards, 1 TD, 14.0 YPR
Turner: 24 catches, 246 yards, 1 TD, 10.3 YPR
Belcher: 31 catches, 375 yards, 3 TDs, 12.1 YPR
Sanzenbacher: 23 catches, 351 yards, 6 TDs, 15.3 YPR
Posey: 18 catches, 261 yards, 2 TDs, 14.5 YPR
The Indiana receiving corps is 4-deep and is of very high quality. All 4 players have good, size, speed, and are experienced enough to run any route in the playbook. If coverage takes away one or two players, the others can step up at any time, as evidenced by Doss' explosion last week. The Buckeyes have 2 very high quality players of their own, and both are just as effective as their Hoosier counterparts. The Buckeye receivers are skilled at blocking and route running and they can also break big plays downfield. This comes down to depth, which the Hoosiers have plenty of, as they can run 4 top shelf players out on the field at once anytime. Both groups of receivers should shine if given adequate opportunities on Saturday.
Edge: Indiana
Tight Ends
TE #41 Max Dedmond (6-5, 257, JR, Evansville Central HS, Evansville, IN)
Dedmond is a highly effective blocker who figures sparingly into the passing game. He plays in specific situations and has made 14 career starts, so he has the experience to know what his role is and plays it very well. The revelation has been the backup, freshman Ted Bolser (#83). He has 10 receptions for 155 yards and 4 TDs thus far this season, though he had just one 27 yard reception last week against the Wolverines. He is devastating in the red zone, having already tied the school record for TD receptions by a TE in a season, and he is also capable of getting open downfield, as he had a 68 yard reception against Towson. He is yet another factor in the passing game that makes the Hoosiers nearly impossible to contain for an entire game.
TE Rating: A-
Head-to-Head: Indiana versus Ohio State TEs
Dedmond: 2 catches, 8 yards, 1 TD, 4.0 YPR
Bolser: 10 catches, 155 yards, 4 TD, 15.5 YPR
Stoneburner: 9 catches, 110 yards, 1 TD, 12.2 YPR
Bolser has been a welcome addition to the Hoosier passing game, particularly in the red zone. He is a weapon over the middle when the receivers are covered on the wings. Dedmond catches less passes but blocks better in the running game. As a unit these two combine for a very effective skill set. Stoneburner has been hurt and less of a factor in the passing game as the season has gone on. He is still a very effective blocker when healthy.
Edge: Indiana
Offensive Line
LT #72 Andrew McDonald (6-6, 306, JR, Warren Central HS, Indianapolis, IN)
LG #66 Aaron Price (6-4, 305, FR, Bloomington South HS, Bloomington, IN)
C #60 Will Matte (6-2, 293, SO, Wheaton-Warrenville South HS, Wheaton, IL)
RG #70 Justin Pagan (6-5, 308, JR, St. Patrick HS, Chicago, IL)
RT #73 James Brewer (6-8, 331, SR, Arlington HS, Indianapolis, IN)
The line is an area where the Hoosiers have less veteran leadership but still have plenty of talent, as evidenced by the offensive production and low number of sacks allowed. There has been good continuity here, with the only major change coming at RG after 2 games. At the tackle spots, Brewer has started every game at RT the past 2 seasons and McDonald has been a stalwart on the left side despite only 2 career starts entering the season. Along the interior, Price was the scout team player of the year last season and has moved into the starting LG spot, which he has manned all 4 games. Pagan has started the past 2 games at RG and had 11 career starts at LG entering the season. He has also played some tackle, making him one of the team's most versatile assets. Matte had never played center before arriving on campus but has started every game of his career at the position. He is an intelligent and agile lineman.
The reserves include sophomore Marc Damisch (#65), who started the first 2 games at RG. He can man either guard position and is a valuable reserve. Freshman Pat McShane (#67) has appeared in all 4 games along the interior, as has junior tackle Josh Hager (#77). Junior college transfer Jordan Marquette (#62) is the backup in the middle.
OL Rating: B
Head-to-Head: Indiana versus Ohio State OL
The Hoosier line lacks big name superstars, but they allowed only 16 sacks last year and are on pace to allow only 12 this season. The run blocking could be classified as fair, but the pass blocking has been superb, and that is the primary role of the line. The Buckeyes have bigger names and essentially more talent at most positions, but whether they have been more effective throughout the course of the season as a unit is debatable. The Hoosiers have a quality reserve or two, but the Buckeyes probably have more game-ready depth.
Edge: Even
Overall Offensive Analysis
The Indiana aerial attack is firing on all cylinders this season, as evidenced last week against Michigan. The only thing keeping this from being a truly elite offense is their one-dimensional nature, with barely 100 yards of rushing a game. Still they are moving the ball early and often and piling up points every game, so it's hard to argue with that much success. The Buckeye defense will present their most formidable challenge to date, but they moved the ball some last year against the Buckeyes and are playing at a much higher level this season. If the Buckeyes can force some situations where the Hoosiers have to run the ball or get some pressure on Chappell, they may be able to put a significant dent in the Hoosier attack. If they don't, it will be very difficult to cover the many quality receiving options at Chappell's disposal. The Hoosier offense passed a big test last week and racked up almost 500 passing yards against Michigan. If they can even remotely approach those numbers this week, they could be in line for an upset win. It will not be easy against a much better defense, but it is quite possible they will be up to the challenge.
Overall Offensive Rating: A-
Indiana has Co-Defensive Coordinators with Brian George, who also coaches the tackles, and Joe Palcic, who also coaches the secondary. The duo also served as Co-Coordinators at Miami of Ohio prior to coming to Indiana. Palcic is now in his 6th season at Indiana, all of which have been as coordinator, while this marks his second season as secondary coach. A former linebacker, Palcic is the son of Bob Palcic, who currently coaches the UCLA offensive line, and was once an Ohio State assistant under Earle Bruce. With an emphasis on creating havoc, Palcic's defenses have performed well in recent seasons in getting to the QBs, setting a team record 42 sacks in 2007. George is also in his sixth season at Indiana, and like Palcic this marks his second season coaching the tackles. A former fullback with the Ohio Bobcats, George coached the running backs at Pickerington HS before joining Miami, Ohio's staff in 1998. After two years coaching offense, George switched to the defensive side of the ball and - along with Palcic - wants to establish a defense which is anchored by strong line play.
Stats.......|Score..|Tot.Yds..|Rush..|Pass..|INT.| Fum.|Sack.|1stD..|3rd D..|PCT...|Red Zone.|PCT.|RZ TDs.|PCT.|TOF..|
Indiana.....|.25.0..|..397.2..|207.0.|190.2.|.3..|..2..|..4..|.65...|16-45..|35.67%|.8-9.....|89%.|..6-9..|67%.|28:00|
Ohio State..|.14.2..|..242.4..|.80.6.|161.8.|.8..|..6..|..8..|.60...|19-66..|28.8%.|.7-10....|70%.|..5-10.|50%.|26:14|
* TOF = Time on Field (Opponent's T.O.P)
The Indiana defense has been unable to generate as much pressure as they have in recent years, largerly due to missing the talented pair of DEs they had last year in Jammie Kirlew and Greg Middleton. They have only played 4 games in comparison to tOSU's 5, so that must be considered when looking at some of the above categories. The numbers that stick out are the 108th-ranked rushing defense, which yields 6.3 yards per carry (118th in the country), as opposed to the Buckeyes' 8th-ranked unit yielding 2.8 ypc (13th nationally). One category that is rather misleading is time of possession. Last week Indiana's defense was only on the field for 18:13, but that was because TSUN's average offensive play gained 12.8 yards, so they were scoring very quickly. The Buckeye defense is almost 155 yards per game better than the Hoosiers, with most of that difference being on the ground. While Indiana has respectable numbers in passing yards and 3rd down percentage, they have only forced 5 turnovers and generated 4 sacks so far. Indiana's defense is not as solid as last year's version, and Jim Tressel will probably thoroughly test that run defense with his RBs before asking Terrelle Pryor to do many rollouts or read-options.
Stats.......|Score..|Tot.Yds..|Rush..|Pass..|INT.| Fum.|Sack.|1stD..|3rd D..|PCT...|Red Zone.|PCT.|RZ TDs.|PCT.|TOF..|
Indiana.....|.25.0..|..397.2..|207.0.|190.2.|.3..|..2..|..4..|.65...|16-45..|35.67%|.8-9.....|89%.|..6-9..|67%.|28:00|
Ohio State..|.14.2..|..242.4..|.80.6.|161.8.|.8..|..6..|..8..|.60...|19-66..|28.8%.|.7-10....|70%.|..5-10.|50%.|26:14|
* TOF = Time on Field (Opponent's T.O.P)
The Indiana defense has been unable to generate as much pressure as they have in recent years, largerly due to missing the talented pair of DEs they had last year in Jammie Kirlew and Greg Middleton. They have only played 4 games in comparison to tOSU's 5, so that must be considered when looking at some of the above categories. The numbers that stick out are the 108th-ranked rushing defense, which yields 6.3 yards per carry (118th in the country), as opposed to the Buckeyes' 8th-ranked unit yielding 2.8 ypc (13th nationally). One category that is rather misleading is time of possession. Last week Indiana's defense was only on the field for 18:13, but that was because TSUN's average offensive play gained 12.8 yards, so they were scoring very quickly. The Buckeye defense is almost 155 yards per game better than the Hoosiers, with most of that difference being on the ground. While Indiana has respectable numbers in passing yards and 3rd down percentage, they have only forced 5 turnovers and generated 4 sacks so far. Indiana's defense is not as solid as last year's version, and Jim Tressel will probably thoroughly test that run defense with his RBs before asking Terrelle Pryor to do many rollouts or read-options.
Defensive Line
DE #98 Adam Replogle (6-3, 295, So.)
DT #69 Mick Mentzer (6-4, 303, Sr.)
DT #97 Larry Black Jr. (6-2, 326, So.)
DE #33 Darius Johnson (6-0, 252, Jr.)
Adam Replogle is able to play both inside and outside, giving them some flexibility in personnel and formations. If they feel they need more quickness, Mentzer or Black will come out and Terrance Thomas will man an end spot while Adam slides inside. Bill Lynch tried not to give away his hand regarding his DL at his press conference this week, saying that tOSU is effective at both running and passing the ball, and that the Hoosiers would have to prepare equally for both. Their best pass rusher is Darius Johnson, who has a good first step, but has yet to register a TFL this season. He does have 16 tackles, 8 of which are solo, and a QB hurry and a pass breakup (PBU). If they're going big, the other end is Replogle, a solid run stopper who managed 4 sacks last season while playing inside (he has 9 tackles including 1.5 TFL this season). When the tackles are Black and Mentzer, that's a pair of large bodies that can plug things up inside, while providing an occasional pass rush up the middle. Black has 5 tackles this season, 1 behind the LOS; while Mentzer has 4 tackles, 2 of which are for a loss.
Reserves include ends; #51 Terrance Thomas (6-1, 265, Sr.), #93 Fred Jones (6-4, 272, Jr.), and #34 Kevin Bush (6-3, 248, So.); and tackles: #75 Nick Sliger (6-3, 286, So.), and #55 Deonte Mack (6-3, 281, Sr.). Thomas is a strong-side DE that isn't a great pass rusher, but his 8 tackles include 4 behind the LOS and 1 sack. Bush is a transfer from Toledo that blocked a punt in the Towson game. Mack is able to play both inside and outside, but injuries have slowed his career. Jones and Sliger complete the rotation; Jones has 2 tackles, .5 behind the line, and Sliger has 4, with one for a loss.
DL Rating: C-
Head-to-Head: Indiana DL versus OSU DL
The Indiana D-Line misses the experience and pass rushing abilities of Kirlew and Middleton; they have struggled against the run and only generated limited pressure on opposing QBs. They have good size, but lack the quickness to force problems for opposing offenses. Ohio State's D-line continues to play like one of the nation's premier units, while rotating in young guys like Johnathan Hankins without missing a beat. The Indiana line has not gone against particularly impressive O-Lines this season, and an improved Ohio State O-Line should represent their toughest test this young season. However, the Buckeyes O-line struggled with the size and movement of the Illini last week, so Indiana can hope to learn from that film. But their generous yards per rushing attempt allowed (6.3) indicates that they won't be able to cause the same problems that Illinois did. There's a large differential in talent and production between these two units.
Edge: Ohio State
Linebackers
SLB #46 Tyler Replogle (6-2, 239, Sr.)
MLB #43 Leon Beckum (5-11, 235, Jr.)
WLB #34 Chad Sherer (6-0, 222, So.)
The linebacking group is led by Tyler Replogle, who leads the team with 26 tackles despite missing the Akron game with a concussion. Able to play either Sam or Mike, he's a heady player that exerts great effort. He made the team's lone defensive fumble recovery of the season last week when he jumped on a ball that Denard Robinson lost just short of the goal line. The other spots have been rotated some, but Beckum should see the most time in the middle. He has 20 tackles including 1 sack this year. The weak side 'will' either be manned by Chad Sherer or jack-of-all-trades #10 Donnell Jones (5-10, 223, Jr.), who slid down from free safety to the weak side against TSUN last week in order to get more speed on the field. He made three solo tackles last week and was credited with a QB hurry on a blitz. It's uncertain how much Indiana will make use of Jones in this hybrid role this week. We'll talk more about him in the next section with his more frequent role of free safety. JUCO transfer #53 Jeff Thomas (6-1, 245, Jr.) has started the last 2 games at LB, but the first was due to Replogle's concussion. He has 20 tackles this year and will split time with Beckum in the middle.
Backup linebackers are #33 Damon Sims (6-3, 224, Fr.), #39 Brandon McGhee (6-1, 235, Jr.), and #54 Jamie Lukaszewski (5-9, 206, Sr.). Sims has good quickness and started the Western Ky game at the Will spot, but his only statistic was 1 PBU. McGhee has 8 tackles, and Lukaszewski has 7 in limited action.
LB Rating: C
Head-to-Head: Indiana LBs versus OSU LBs
The Indiana LBs are an average group that hasn't made many big plays. They have only 1 sack and 2 turnovers as a group. Three LBs are 1-2-3 on the team in tackles, but the fact that a pair of safeties are close behind isn't a good sign. While not getting enough help from a DL that doesn't demand double-teams, they aren't reading and reacting to plays quickly enough. The Buckeyes corps, led by Rolle and Homan, have established themselves as a talented group. With excellent depth waiting in the wings the Buckeyes can rotate freely without much drop in production, whereas the Hoosiers don't have that same kind of depth. Once again, the Buckeyes get the clear edge here.
Edge: Ohio State
Secondary
CB #15 Matt Ernest (6-2, 189, Jr.)
SS #5 Mitchell Evans (6-3, 206, Sr.)
FS #10 Donnell Jones (5-10, 223, Jr.)
CB #7 Andre Kates (5-11, 195, Jr.)
[strike]CB #6 Richard Council (6-1, 198, Sr.)[/strike]out with injury
The group has good size for a secondary, with a pair of tall CBs. Council was a returning starter that has had injury problems and has now been ruled out for this week's game. Kates is a JUCO transfer that will be making his first start in his place. Ernest is a one-time WR and baseball pitcher that got a 56-yard pick-6 in the opener against Towson. Jones (who was mentioned in the LB group as a Will in last week's game) has good range and instincts. Mitchell Evans made the switch from WR since that unit has solid depth and safety was a position of need, and he also got an interception in the season opener. Due to a lack of production up front, the safeties are busy, with Evans having 19 tackles and 2 PBUs, and Jones making 18 stops with 1 TFL and 1 QB hurry. The team is missing safety Chris Adkins, a speedy athlete who is out for the season with an ankle injury.
Reserves include corners, #23 Adrian Burks (6-0, 185, Sr.), and #17 Greg Heban (6-1, 185, Fr.); and safeties, #22 Lenyatta Kiles (5-11, 196, Jr.), #20 Lawrence Barnett (5-10, 189, R-Fr), and #31 Aaron Burks (5-11, 197, Sr.). Adrian Burks got a start against Akron, and has 6 tackles on the year. Heban is another baseball pitcher on the defense, with 4 tackles and 1 PBU. Kiles is a JUCO transfer from Culver City, CA that has 7 tackles so far this season. He'll get more time when Jones moves up to the weakside LB spot. Barnett is a redshirt freshmen from Bishop Luers HS in Fort Wayne. Aaron Burks is the twin brother of Adrian, and has played in 2 games this season.
DB Rating: C-
Head-to-Head: Indiana DBs versus OSU DBs
Indiana hasn't given up a ton of yards through the air this season, but that is largely due to the team's inablility to stop the run. Although giving up just over 190 yards per game through the air doesn't sound bad, the unit ranks 98th in passing efficiency defense (140.78). Ohio State ranks 11th in passing efficiency (99.38). Indiana has ony grabbed 3 interceptions on the year, and all of them were against lower division Towson in the opener. Indiana's DBs aren't getting a lot of help via pressure from the front 7, but QBs with time can pick them apart. Indiana has limited depth, and injuries would likely cause more serious problems. Ohio State's secondary held together against a dangerous Miami passing attack, and will need to do the same against Ben Chappell and the group of talented receivers. Despite the losses of Barnett and Moeller, the Buckeyes still have an edge in talent.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Defensive Analysis
Indiana fields a defense with less difference makers than they had on the field last year, and they have been vulnerable to passing attacks while being very weak in stopping the run. Among Big Ten teams, Ohio State ranks first in the conference in pass defense (161.8 ypg), turnover margin (+1.80) and fewest first downs allowed (12.0 per game). The Buckeyes are second in scoring defense (14.2 ppg), rushing defense (80.6 ypg), total defense (242.4 ypg) and lowest 3rd down conversion percentage (19-of-66, .288). Indiana is 10th in the Big Ten in passing efficiency defense, and 118th in the nation in defensive yards per rushing attempt. With an eye on keeping Terrelle Pryor healthy, expect the Buckeyes to thoroughly test Indiana's rushing defense before asking Pryor to run plays that might cause him to move quickly. Whether or not Indiana can slow down the vanilla offense they are probably anticipating will be the story on that side of the ball. If the Buckeyes are able to establish the ability to run the football, however, Indiana could be in for a long day.
Overall Defensive Rating: C-
2010 Indiana Hoosiers Special Teams Preview DE #98 Adam Replogle (6-3, 295, So.)
DT #69 Mick Mentzer (6-4, 303, Sr.)
DT #97 Larry Black Jr. (6-2, 326, So.)
DE #33 Darius Johnson (6-0, 252, Jr.)
Adam Replogle is able to play both inside and outside, giving them some flexibility in personnel and formations. If they feel they need more quickness, Mentzer or Black will come out and Terrance Thomas will man an end spot while Adam slides inside. Bill Lynch tried not to give away his hand regarding his DL at his press conference this week, saying that tOSU is effective at both running and passing the ball, and that the Hoosiers would have to prepare equally for both. Their best pass rusher is Darius Johnson, who has a good first step, but has yet to register a TFL this season. He does have 16 tackles, 8 of which are solo, and a QB hurry and a pass breakup (PBU). If they're going big, the other end is Replogle, a solid run stopper who managed 4 sacks last season while playing inside (he has 9 tackles including 1.5 TFL this season). When the tackles are Black and Mentzer, that's a pair of large bodies that can plug things up inside, while providing an occasional pass rush up the middle. Black has 5 tackles this season, 1 behind the LOS; while Mentzer has 4 tackles, 2 of which are for a loss.
Reserves include ends; #51 Terrance Thomas (6-1, 265, Sr.), #93 Fred Jones (6-4, 272, Jr.), and #34 Kevin Bush (6-3, 248, So.); and tackles: #75 Nick Sliger (6-3, 286, So.), and #55 Deonte Mack (6-3, 281, Sr.). Thomas is a strong-side DE that isn't a great pass rusher, but his 8 tackles include 4 behind the LOS and 1 sack. Bush is a transfer from Toledo that blocked a punt in the Towson game. Mack is able to play both inside and outside, but injuries have slowed his career. Jones and Sliger complete the rotation; Jones has 2 tackles, .5 behind the line, and Sliger has 4, with one for a loss.
DL Rating: C-
Head-to-Head: Indiana DL versus OSU DL
The Indiana D-Line misses the experience and pass rushing abilities of Kirlew and Middleton; they have struggled against the run and only generated limited pressure on opposing QBs. They have good size, but lack the quickness to force problems for opposing offenses. Ohio State's D-line continues to play like one of the nation's premier units, while rotating in young guys like Johnathan Hankins without missing a beat. The Indiana line has not gone against particularly impressive O-Lines this season, and an improved Ohio State O-Line should represent their toughest test this young season. However, the Buckeyes O-line struggled with the size and movement of the Illini last week, so Indiana can hope to learn from that film. But their generous yards per rushing attempt allowed (6.3) indicates that they won't be able to cause the same problems that Illinois did. There's a large differential in talent and production between these two units.
Edge: Ohio State
Linebackers
SLB #46 Tyler Replogle (6-2, 239, Sr.)
MLB #43 Leon Beckum (5-11, 235, Jr.)
WLB #34 Chad Sherer (6-0, 222, So.)
The linebacking group is led by Tyler Replogle, who leads the team with 26 tackles despite missing the Akron game with a concussion. Able to play either Sam or Mike, he's a heady player that exerts great effort. He made the team's lone defensive fumble recovery of the season last week when he jumped on a ball that Denard Robinson lost just short of the goal line. The other spots have been rotated some, but Beckum should see the most time in the middle. He has 20 tackles including 1 sack this year. The weak side 'will' either be manned by Chad Sherer or jack-of-all-trades #10 Donnell Jones (5-10, 223, Jr.), who slid down from free safety to the weak side against TSUN last week in order to get more speed on the field. He made three solo tackles last week and was credited with a QB hurry on a blitz. It's uncertain how much Indiana will make use of Jones in this hybrid role this week. We'll talk more about him in the next section with his more frequent role of free safety. JUCO transfer #53 Jeff Thomas (6-1, 245, Jr.) has started the last 2 games at LB, but the first was due to Replogle's concussion. He has 20 tackles this year and will split time with Beckum in the middle.
Backup linebackers are #33 Damon Sims (6-3, 224, Fr.), #39 Brandon McGhee (6-1, 235, Jr.), and #54 Jamie Lukaszewski (5-9, 206, Sr.). Sims has good quickness and started the Western Ky game at the Will spot, but his only statistic was 1 PBU. McGhee has 8 tackles, and Lukaszewski has 7 in limited action.
LB Rating: C
Head-to-Head: Indiana LBs versus OSU LBs
The Indiana LBs are an average group that hasn't made many big plays. They have only 1 sack and 2 turnovers as a group. Three LBs are 1-2-3 on the team in tackles, but the fact that a pair of safeties are close behind isn't a good sign. While not getting enough help from a DL that doesn't demand double-teams, they aren't reading and reacting to plays quickly enough. The Buckeyes corps, led by Rolle and Homan, have established themselves as a talented group. With excellent depth waiting in the wings the Buckeyes can rotate freely without much drop in production, whereas the Hoosiers don't have that same kind of depth. Once again, the Buckeyes get the clear edge here.
Edge: Ohio State
Secondary
CB #15 Matt Ernest (6-2, 189, Jr.)
SS #5 Mitchell Evans (6-3, 206, Sr.)
FS #10 Donnell Jones (5-10, 223, Jr.)
CB #7 Andre Kates (5-11, 195, Jr.)
[strike]CB #6 Richard Council (6-1, 198, Sr.)[/strike]out with injury
The group has good size for a secondary, with a pair of tall CBs. Council was a returning starter that has had injury problems and has now been ruled out for this week's game. Kates is a JUCO transfer that will be making his first start in his place. Ernest is a one-time WR and baseball pitcher that got a 56-yard pick-6 in the opener against Towson. Jones (who was mentioned in the LB group as a Will in last week's game) has good range and instincts. Mitchell Evans made the switch from WR since that unit has solid depth and safety was a position of need, and he also got an interception in the season opener. Due to a lack of production up front, the safeties are busy, with Evans having 19 tackles and 2 PBUs, and Jones making 18 stops with 1 TFL and 1 QB hurry. The team is missing safety Chris Adkins, a speedy athlete who is out for the season with an ankle injury.
Reserves include corners, #23 Adrian Burks (6-0, 185, Sr.), and #17 Greg Heban (6-1, 185, Fr.); and safeties, #22 Lenyatta Kiles (5-11, 196, Jr.), #20 Lawrence Barnett (5-10, 189, R-Fr), and #31 Aaron Burks (5-11, 197, Sr.). Adrian Burks got a start against Akron, and has 6 tackles on the year. Heban is another baseball pitcher on the defense, with 4 tackles and 1 PBU. Kiles is a JUCO transfer from Culver City, CA that has 7 tackles so far this season. He'll get more time when Jones moves up to the weakside LB spot. Barnett is a redshirt freshmen from Bishop Luers HS in Fort Wayne. Aaron Burks is the twin brother of Adrian, and has played in 2 games this season.
DB Rating: C-
Head-to-Head: Indiana DBs versus OSU DBs
Indiana hasn't given up a ton of yards through the air this season, but that is largely due to the team's inablility to stop the run. Although giving up just over 190 yards per game through the air doesn't sound bad, the unit ranks 98th in passing efficiency defense (140.78). Ohio State ranks 11th in passing efficiency (99.38). Indiana has ony grabbed 3 interceptions on the year, and all of them were against lower division Towson in the opener. Indiana's DBs aren't getting a lot of help via pressure from the front 7, but QBs with time can pick them apart. Indiana has limited depth, and injuries would likely cause more serious problems. Ohio State's secondary held together against a dangerous Miami passing attack, and will need to do the same against Ben Chappell and the group of talented receivers. Despite the losses of Barnett and Moeller, the Buckeyes still have an edge in talent.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Defensive Analysis
Indiana fields a defense with less difference makers than they had on the field last year, and they have been vulnerable to passing attacks while being very weak in stopping the run. Among Big Ten teams, Ohio State ranks first in the conference in pass defense (161.8 ypg), turnover margin (+1.80) and fewest first downs allowed (12.0 per game). The Buckeyes are second in scoring defense (14.2 ppg), rushing defense (80.6 ypg), total defense (242.4 ypg) and lowest 3rd down conversion percentage (19-of-66, .288). Indiana is 10th in the Big Ten in passing efficiency defense, and 118th in the nation in defensive yards per rushing attempt. With an eye on keeping Terrelle Pryor healthy, expect the Buckeyes to thoroughly test Indiana's rushing defense before asking Pryor to run plays that might cause him to move quickly. Whether or not Indiana can slow down the vanilla offense they are probably anticipating will be the story on that side of the ball. If the Buckeyes are able to establish the ability to run the football, however, Indiana could be in for a long day.
Overall Defensive Rating: C-
Encouraging. That is the operative word when discussing the Buckeyes Special Teams play. Aside from a blocked PAT negated by a penalty (which may have been why it was blocked in the first place), the Special Teams played well. There were no long returns by Illinois and the return teams did fairly well, considering the weather. Overall, there is optimism.
Special Teams
Indiana
P #12 Chris Hagerup (6-5, 203, Jr., Whitefish Bay HS, Whitefish, WI)
PK #99 Nick Freeland (5-11, 192, So., Lawrence North HS, Indianapolis, IN)
PR #2 Tandon Doss (6-3, 200, Jr., Ben Davis HS, Indianapolis, IN)
PR #1 Terrance Turner (6-3, 209, Sr., West Bloomfield HS, Auburn Hills, MI)
PR #81 Duwyce Wilson (6-3, 196, Fr., Columbus East HS, Columbus, IN)
KR #2 Tandon Doss (6-3, 200, Jr., Ben Davis HS, Indianapolis, IN)
KR #1 Terrance Turner (6-3, 209, Sr., West Bloomfield HS, Auburn Hills, MI)
KR #26 Nick Turner (6-0, 188, Fr., Southport HS, Indianapolis, IN)
LS #95 Jeff Sanders (6-4, 230, Sr., Sacred Heart - Griffin HS, Springfield, IL)
Hldr #17 Teddy Schell (6-5, 229, Jr., Barrington HS, Barrington, IL)
Indiana's Special Teams have been solid if not spectacular. Punter Chris Hagerup is averaging a net of 34.15 yards per punt, good for 86th in the Nation. Incidentally, his brother Will Hagerup is the starting punter for Michigan. In the punt return department, Doss, Turner and Wilson have only returned 3 punts for 35 yards (11.67 avg) to rank 30th in the Nation. The Hoosier's kickoff return team of Doss and the two Turners has had some success, returning 15 kicks for an average of 27.40 yards (6th Nationally). On defense, Indiana is so-so. The punt return defense has been respectable, having allowed only 18 yards on 3 returns. The kickoff return defense, on the other hand, has not helped the Hoosiers defense much, giving up 23.44 yards per return to rank 96th in the Nation. This has frequently put the already suspect IU defense in an even tougher position. So far this year, the Hoosiers have neither allowed nor scored a TD on Special Teams.
ST Rating: C
Ohio State
P #17 Ben Buchanan (6-0, 195, Fr., Westerville Central HS, Westerville, OH)
PK #24 Devin Barclay (5-10, 204, Sr., McDonough HS, Annapolis, MD)
KO #24 Drew Basil (6-1, 206, Fr., Chillicothe HS, Chillicothe, OH)
PR #8 DeVier Posey (6-2, 200, Jr., LaSalle HS, Cincinnati, OH)
PR #10 Corey Brown (5-10, 170, Fr., Cardinal O'Hara HS, Upper Darby, PA)
PR #7 Jordan Hall (5-9, 195, So., Jeanette HS, Jeanette, PA)
KR #7 Jordan Hall (5-9, 195, So., Jeanette HS, Jeanette, PA)
KR #1 Dan Herron (5-10, 202, Jr., Harding HS, Warren, OH)
KR #3 Brandon Saine (6-1, 219, Sr., Piqua HS, Piqua, OH)
KR #4 Jaamal Berry (5-10, 200, Fr., Palmetto HS, Pinecrest, FL)
LS #96 Jake McQuaide (6-3, 234, Sr., Elder HS, Cincinnati, OH)
Hldr #14 Joe Bauserman (6-1, 233, Jr., Lincoln HS, Stasburg, VA)
Punting: 37.45, 28.8 net, 117th
Punt Return defense: 7 for 133, 19.0 avg, 110th
Punt Returns: 17 for 114, 6.71 avg, 87th
Kickoff returns: 16 for 428, 26.75 avg, 10th
Kickoff return defense: 32 for 696, 21.75 avg, 74th, 5 touchbacks
The Buckeyes continue to recover from their disasterous 3 game slump in the area of Special Teams. Last week's performance against Illinois continued the improvement started against Eastern Michigan. The Illini did not benefit from any big plays and the only significant Special Teams event was a blocked PAT which was the result of an offsides. Jordan Hall had a couple of good returns and the Buckeye Punt defense team escaped the basement (they were ranked 120th out of 120 before last week) and no doubt also Coach Tressel's doghouse. The kickoff return team, which had underperformed inr recent years, continues to be a bright spot. They are averaging 26.75 yards per return good for 10th in the Nation. Basil got several wind-aided kickoffs into the endzone and Buchanan was as good as could be hoped in punting.
ST Rating: C (and improving)
Overall Special Teams Analysis
Once again the Buckeyes will field the better athletes when Special Teams take the field. They should be able to swing the important battle for field position and let their superior offense and defense have their way with Indiana. But a slip back into the mediocrity of the first 3 games is not something that the Buckeyes can afford with the toughest part of the schedule coming up.
Predictions Indiana
P #12 Chris Hagerup (6-5, 203, Jr., Whitefish Bay HS, Whitefish, WI)
PK #99 Nick Freeland (5-11, 192, So., Lawrence North HS, Indianapolis, IN)
PR #2 Tandon Doss (6-3, 200, Jr., Ben Davis HS, Indianapolis, IN)
PR #1 Terrance Turner (6-3, 209, Sr., West Bloomfield HS, Auburn Hills, MI)
PR #81 Duwyce Wilson (6-3, 196, Fr., Columbus East HS, Columbus, IN)
KR #2 Tandon Doss (6-3, 200, Jr., Ben Davis HS, Indianapolis, IN)
KR #1 Terrance Turner (6-3, 209, Sr., West Bloomfield HS, Auburn Hills, MI)
KR #26 Nick Turner (6-0, 188, Fr., Southport HS, Indianapolis, IN)
LS #95 Jeff Sanders (6-4, 230, Sr., Sacred Heart - Griffin HS, Springfield, IL)
Hldr #17 Teddy Schell (6-5, 229, Jr., Barrington HS, Barrington, IL)
Indiana's Special Teams have been solid if not spectacular. Punter Chris Hagerup is averaging a net of 34.15 yards per punt, good for 86th in the Nation. Incidentally, his brother Will Hagerup is the starting punter for Michigan. In the punt return department, Doss, Turner and Wilson have only returned 3 punts for 35 yards (11.67 avg) to rank 30th in the Nation. The Hoosier's kickoff return team of Doss and the two Turners has had some success, returning 15 kicks for an average of 27.40 yards (6th Nationally). On defense, Indiana is so-so. The punt return defense has been respectable, having allowed only 18 yards on 3 returns. The kickoff return defense, on the other hand, has not helped the Hoosiers defense much, giving up 23.44 yards per return to rank 96th in the Nation. This has frequently put the already suspect IU defense in an even tougher position. So far this year, the Hoosiers have neither allowed nor scored a TD on Special Teams.
ST Rating: C
Ohio State
P #17 Ben Buchanan (6-0, 195, Fr., Westerville Central HS, Westerville, OH)
PK #24 Devin Barclay (5-10, 204, Sr., McDonough HS, Annapolis, MD)
KO #24 Drew Basil (6-1, 206, Fr., Chillicothe HS, Chillicothe, OH)
PR #8 DeVier Posey (6-2, 200, Jr., LaSalle HS, Cincinnati, OH)
PR #10 Corey Brown (5-10, 170, Fr., Cardinal O'Hara HS, Upper Darby, PA)
PR #7 Jordan Hall (5-9, 195, So., Jeanette HS, Jeanette, PA)
KR #7 Jordan Hall (5-9, 195, So., Jeanette HS, Jeanette, PA)
KR #1 Dan Herron (5-10, 202, Jr., Harding HS, Warren, OH)
KR #3 Brandon Saine (6-1, 219, Sr., Piqua HS, Piqua, OH)
KR #4 Jaamal Berry (5-10, 200, Fr., Palmetto HS, Pinecrest, FL)
LS #96 Jake McQuaide (6-3, 234, Sr., Elder HS, Cincinnati, OH)
Hldr #14 Joe Bauserman (6-1, 233, Jr., Lincoln HS, Stasburg, VA)
Punting: 37.45, 28.8 net, 117th
Punt Return defense: 7 for 133, 19.0 avg, 110th
Punt Returns: 17 for 114, 6.71 avg, 87th
Kickoff returns: 16 for 428, 26.75 avg, 10th
Kickoff return defense: 32 for 696, 21.75 avg, 74th, 5 touchbacks
The Buckeyes continue to recover from their disasterous 3 game slump in the area of Special Teams. Last week's performance against Illinois continued the improvement started against Eastern Michigan. The Illini did not benefit from any big plays and the only significant Special Teams event was a blocked PAT which was the result of an offsides. Jordan Hall had a couple of good returns and the Buckeye Punt defense team escaped the basement (they were ranked 120th out of 120 before last week) and no doubt also Coach Tressel's doghouse. The kickoff return team, which had underperformed inr recent years, continues to be a bright spot. They are averaging 26.75 yards per return good for 10th in the Nation. Basil got several wind-aided kickoffs into the endzone and Buchanan was as good as could be hoped in punting.
ST Rating: C (and improving)
Overall Special Teams Analysis
Once again the Buckeyes will field the better athletes when Special Teams take the field. They should be able to swing the important battle for field position and let their superior offense and defense have their way with Indiana. But a slip back into the mediocrity of the first 3 games is not something that the Buckeyes can afford with the toughest part of the schedule coming up.
BB73's prediction: 34-20, Ohio State
Buckeyeskickbuttocks' prediction: 38-10, Ohio State
Bucklion's prediction: 34-24, Ohio State
Bucky Katt's prediction: 34-20, Ohio State
DaddyBigBucks's prediction: 38-16, Ohio State
JCOSU86's Prediction: 34-7, Ohio State
jwinslow's prediction: 42-17, Ohio State
Previous Game's Results (tOSU 24 - Illinois 13)
Low score wins the year long battle of prediction supremacy! (Difference of actual score versus predicted score. 10 point penalty for picking the losing team.)
(087) DaddyBigBucks's prediction: 45-10, Ohio State (24 + 63 last week = 087)
(090) Bucklion's prediction: 33-10, Ohio State (12 + 78 last week = 090)
(097) Bucky Katt's prediction: 38-17, Ohio State (18 + 79 last week = 097)
(101) jwinslow's prediction: 42-7, Ohio State (24 + 77 last week = 101)
(105) BB73's prediction: 34-17 Ohio State (14 + 91 last week = 105)
(108) JCOSU86's prediction: 42-17, Ohio State (22 + 86 last week= 108)
(110) Buckeyeskickbuttocks' prediction: 42-3, Ohio State (28 + 82 last week = 110)
Adjusted scores for weeks missed. Participant must take the highest score from the week they missed.
Buckeyeskickbuttocks' prediction: 38-10, Ohio State
Bucklion's prediction: 34-24, Ohio State
Bucky Katt's prediction: 34-20, Ohio State
DaddyBigBucks's prediction: 38-16, Ohio State
JCOSU86's Prediction: 34-7, Ohio State
jwinslow's prediction: 42-17, Ohio State
Previous Game's Results (tOSU 24 - Illinois 13)
Low score wins the year long battle of prediction supremacy! (Difference of actual score versus predicted score. 10 point penalty for picking the losing team.)
(087) DaddyBigBucks's prediction: 45-10, Ohio State (24 + 63 last week = 087)
(090) Bucklion's prediction: 33-10, Ohio State (12 + 78 last week = 090)
(097) Bucky Katt's prediction: 38-17, Ohio State (18 + 79 last week = 097)
(101) jwinslow's prediction: 42-7, Ohio State (24 + 77 last week = 101)
(105) BB73's prediction: 34-17 Ohio State (14 + 91 last week = 105)
(108) JCOSU86's prediction: 42-17, Ohio State (22 + 86 last week= 108)
(110) Buckeyeskickbuttocks' prediction: 42-3, Ohio State (28 + 82 last week = 110)
Adjusted scores for weeks missed. Participant must take the highest score from the week they missed.
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