Hoosiers: What’s Hot and What’s Cold
By CHRIS GOFF
ISL Assistant Editor
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Each week I’ll run down what’s hot and what’s cold with Indiana football. Here’s my take from Saturday’s 63-47 loss at Michigan:
HOT
Tre Roberson – Backup quarterback replaces Nate Sudfeld early on in a coach’s hunch and delivers by completing 16 of 23 passes for 288 yards and three touchdowns. Ran 11 times for 50 yards and another score. Fearlessly took the action right at the Michigan defense and performed under pressure in a back-and-forth contest.
Offense – The Hoosiers’ offense found its groove and then some in the middle quarters, scoring 33 points in those 30 minutes.
Bye week – Indiana does not look like a team building momentum. Coming off what was not a convincing defensive effort at the Big House, a little time off allows them to try to find some kind of spark.
Receiver trio – Kofi Hughes (six catches for 138 yards and a touchdown), Cody Latimer (five catches for 96 yards and a score) and Shane Wynn (four catches for 52 yards and two touchdowns) gave the Wolverines fits. Their performances stood out.
Running back attack – Tevin Coleman (11 carries for 78 yards and a score) and Stephen Houston (eight rushes for 45 yards) were unstoppable.
COLD
Tim Bennett/Michael Hunter – The corners struggled. Bennett is in coverage on Jeremy Gallon’s 50-yard touchdown reception and on a killer 70-yard catch by Gallon midway through the third quarter, while Hunter is targeted in the final minute of the first half on Gallon’s 21-yard touchdown catch.
Greg Heban/Antonio Allen – On a day where there were some major defensive breakdowns and the Wolverines had nine plays of 20 yards or more, the safety duo bears a lot of the blame. Their job is to limit those big gainers.
Flo Hardin – Recovered a fumble and returned it 13 yards. Stopped Gallon on a reverse for a loss of 5 yards. Otherwise, performed quite poorly. Was sealed off on blocks. Missed tackles. Appeared lost in coverage.
Doug Mallory – Defensive coordinator tries freshman Allen at strong safety, a move that backfired. Stays with Hardin despite results. Sees players miss assignments and blow coverages while generally playing with their head on a swivel looking back at Michigan ball carriers running past them. Defense allows nine touchdowns and 9.0 yards per snap in a horrific performance.
