Hoosiers season preview: Projecting the defense and special teams
By CHRIS GOFF
ISL Correspondent
After three weeks of preseason preparation and three scrimmages, the cleats go on for real Thursday night. Click here for a look at the offense. Here’s how we envision the Hoosiers’ defense and special teams shaping up:
DEFENSIVE ENDS: Ryan Phillis (No. 25, 6-3, 260, junior) and Zack Shaw (No. 33, 6-3, 255, sophomore)
Comment: Along with linebacker, defensive line is the biggest positional concern on the entire roster. Stopping the run and generating a pass rush could be big issues. Shaw set foot on campus as a touted linebacker. Phillis, too, is a former linebacker and was once a player who showed potential. Now they’re prominently involved up front, where Indiana is desperate. Phillis started all 12 games in 2012 and had three sacks. Shaw made nine starts with two sacks. Freshmen Darius Latham and David Kenney offer the most hope for putting actual fear in opposing coaches and for disrupting offenses.
DEFENSIVE TACKLES: Alex Todd (No. 69, 6-3, 301, sophomore) and Bobby Richardson (No. 95, 6-3, 281, junior)
Comment: Significant changes – namely the loss of solid starters Adam Replogle and Larry Black – leave the Hoosiers banking on unknowns. While Richardson can get after the quarterback a little, it is unclear how he will fare inside. He lacks a true position. Todd isn’t as talented as Replogle or Black but the Hoosiers are hopeful he can at least be a steady presence. A lot of bodies will rotate here. Redshirt freshman Ralphael Green has upside. Junior college transfer Jordan Heiderman will be involved when healthy. The Hoosiers would happily accept mediocrity from defensive tackle.
LINEBACKERS: MLB David Cooper (No. 42, 6-1, 235, junior), OLB Griffen Dahlstrom (No. 49, 6-3, 235, senior) and OLB Flo Hardin (No. 4, 6-1, 225, junior)
Comment: Cooper was a sure tackler and a genuinely good player on a bad defense in 2012. He made 86 stops and got three sacks. Defensive coordinator Doug Mallory will lean on Cooper because the rest of the linebackers are subpar. Hardin needs to get off blocks and wrap up. Dahlstrom struggled in coverage. If they can’t step it up, Indiana will try youngsters and live with the growing pains.
CORNERBACKS: Tim Bennett (No. 24, 5-9, 190, junior) and Michael Hunter (No. 17, 6-1, 190, sophomore)
Comment: Bennett only joined the team last August by way of Ellsworth Community College. Now he is Indiana’s No. 1 corner. He’s not a pure cover corner but will be counted on to set a physical tone in the secondary and to offer run support. Hunter started three games as a freshman before redshirting last year. He can play. Expect to see at nickel Kenny Mullen, who started the final five games of 2012.
SAFETIES: Greg Heban (No. 9, 6-1, 205, senior) and Mark Murphy (No. 37, 6-2, 210, junior)
Comment: Heban is one of Indiana’s top two defenders and a leader on the unit. Murphy is hot and cold and doesn’t really make a lot of plays. When promising freshman Antonio Allen is ready to join the starting lineup, he’ll replace Murphy. Allen was one of the stars of training camp on defense.
KICKER: Mitch Ewald (No. 16, 5-10, 176, senior)
Comment: Ewald arrived in Bloomington with hype and has been the team’s sole kicker three seasons running. Ewald is 44 for 55 in field goal attempts for his career. He’s a candidate for the Lou Groza Award, given annually to college football’s top place kicker.
PUNTER: Erich Toth (No. 36, 6-3, 206, sophomore)
Comment: Toth was Indiana’s punter for the final eight games last season after the starter got hurt. Coaches haven’t been enamored with his punts then or in preseason camp.
Special teams: Long snapper Matt Dooley (6-4, 252, junior), kick returner Tevin Coleman (6-1, 205, sophomore), punt returner Shane Wynn (5-7, 170, junior).
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