Hoosiers season preview: Peering into the crystal ball
By CHRIS GOFF
ISL Correspondent
Will the Hoosiers go to a bowl game? Who should play quarterback? We answer the big questions and offer our predictions.
The offense will be …
Full of fireworks. The talented offensive line should be very solid – great at pass blocking, still iffy blocking runs. Indiana allowed only 1.42 sacks per game last season, low enough for 33rd in the nation. Kevin Wilson’s proven he knows offense. They scored 30.8 points per game. At quarterback, tight end and receiver, the Hoosiers have the talent to rival some of the nation’s best. They should score a lot of points.
The defense will be …
Less than good, better than awful. In 2012, the Hoosiers ranked 103rd in total defense, 101st in scoring defense, 116th in rushing defense and 98th in pass efficiency defense. That’s out of 120 FBS schools. Numbers that bad won’t turn around overnight. I’m curious as to whether the Hoosier offense runs more clock this year. That defense wore down at times as a result of time-of-possession mismatches. They’ve got to get more of a pass rush this year. Defensive tackle is a big area of uncertainty. Indiana gave up an average of 6.1 yards per play and 35.2 points per game last season, both worst in the Big Ten. This time around, the secondary should be decent. It’s the front seven that cause worry.
The quarterback should be …
Nate Sudfeld. He received extensive playing time as a freshman, showing the “It” factor and an ability to inspire teammates. Sudfeld also has the arm strength and size. Only experience gives the junior Cameron Coffman an edge. Sophomores Sudfeld and Tre Roberson have higher ceilings. Roberson has the speed. The quarterback decision should be about more than this season. It determines the future, too, and if Indiana hits a home run with Sudfeld, new horizons open for the program at large, since Sudfeld has three seasons of eligibility left. He’s improved his footwork. He’s got the most room to grow into, not just a successful quarterback, but an elite one. And an elite passer is the quickest ticket to contention. While Roberson and Coffman are slightly safer bets, Sudfeld would be the more logical and inspired choice. For a program that’s not won anything of significance in a long time, why not think big?
The Hoosiers will finish …
At 6-6, and will make the postseason. From Wilson on down, they steadfastly refuse to put a ceiling on what they can achieve. They don’t talk about bowl games or win totals. This is a young team, especially on defense. But Wilson raves about what this roster is capable of. Indiana’s gone to nine bowls in school history. Come December, there will be a 10th. When you look at the schedule, not only can the Hoosiers beat Illinois, Purdue and Minnesota, but they need to, along with Navy. The Hoosiers played a lot of close games in 2012. I don’t think they’ll be 4-0 entering Big Ten play. But they can’t be 2-2. The only other season they had eight games at Memorial Stadium was 2008, and they went 3-5. This version of Hoosiers is not a complete team. Defense will be a problem again. But the quarterback play will allow them to go 6-2 at home. That’s enough.
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