Halftime Thoughts: Michigan State 21, Indiana 14
By CHRIS GOFF
ISL Assistant Editor
Here are some thoughts at halftime of the Hoosiers’ first road game of the season against Michigan State, with Indiana trailing 21-14:
A very solid first quarter followed by a concerning second period has the Hoosiers down at intermission.
Three penalties — one by Ralston Evans and one by Jake Reed, injury replacements on the offensive line, as well as a delay of game — were big plays on Indiana’s third drive. Those cost the Hoosiers 25 yards on a series that began at their 46. The miscues symbolized the inconsistency of Indiana’s offense, which punted five times in seven possessions.
One reason the Hoosiers are in the game is because their special teams forced the only turnover of the half (a muffed punt recovered by Indiana long snapper Matt Dooley). That turned into points when Tre Roberson hit Cody Latimer for a 3-yard touchdown pass on third-and-goal. Roberson was 3-for-3 for 35 yards on that series. He looked better than Nate Sudfeld, who was not sharp. Sudfeld is 10 of 19 for 62 yards, far off his usual production.
The difference in this game is Indiana’s inability to get off the field on third down. Michigan State has converted seven times in nine third-down opportunities. Overall the Spartans have outgained Indiana 235-176.
Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook is hurting the Hoosiers and, in a surprise development, has looked like the best passer on the field. He’s out-throwing the Hoosiers’ high-octane attack. Some of it is a credit to Cook, but the Hoosiers can also tighten up the coverage. Kenny Mullen lost Bennie Fowler on a 34-yard touchdown, a play compounded by the inability of safeties Mark Murphy and Greg Heban to get Fowler down before he reached the goal line.
From a strategy perspective, the running game went missing after Tevin Coleman’s stunning 64-yard touchdown run on the fourth play of the game. Indiana quarterbacks dropped back to pass 26 times, with only nine designed rushes. Granted, Indiana has not run it well, with Coleman getting just 11 yards on his other eight carries. One of those, though, was a 2-yard gain on third-and-1 to keep that first drive alive.
Outside of just being competitive with a good team on the road, Indiana’s punt team was a positive. They’ve twice pinned the Spartans inside the 20, including once at the 3, in addition to Dooley’s big turnover.
The defense started strong, forcing consecutive three-and-outs, but hemorrhaged yards and points the rest of the way. On the play before Fowler’s touchdown, defensive end Nick Mangieri jumped offside. On Jeremy Langford’s 11-yard touchdown catch that put the Spartans in the lead, Flo Hardin came on a failed blitz. Several times in the half, linebackers were out of position.
Michigan State gets the ball to start the second half.
Follow Chris Goff on Twitter: chrisgoff_ISL.
