Fast-paced Hoosiers look to solve slow starts
By CHRIS GOFF
ISL Assistant Editor
Opponent: Illinois Fighting Illini (3-5)
When: 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium
Despite explosive scoring during the final three quarters of games, Indiana has had trouble putting points on the scoreboard early. Only 49 of their 336 points have occurred in the first quarter. The Hoosiers are averaging just 6.1 points in the first 15 minutes, compared to 35.9 points in the final 30 minutes.
Slow starts have forced the Hoosiers to attempt furious comebacks in second halves, all of which were unsuccessful. They have trailed 17-0, 14-0, 21-7 and 28-13 early in games this season.
Asked what could be causing Indiana’s fast-tempo offense to have trouble out of the gate, tight end Ted Bolser replied, “I really have no idea.”
Offensive coordinator Seth Littrell got right to the point about the slow starts.
“We’re streaky,” he said. “Honestly, man, as you’ve seen, we’ve had a lot of those this year. We’ve been streaky, hot and cold. When we get hot, it’s pretty fun to watch. We’ve just got to get them in a better rhythm early on.”
Perhaps the Hoosiers’ still-murky quarterback situation is playing a role. Tre Roberson has started three games and Nate Sudfeld five. Both have been effective players, and each has played in every contest, but often the substitute on any given day has performed better. Roberson produced just one touchdown and five punts in eight drives last week before Sudfeld led Indiana to 26 points in the second half.
“Some of it’s coaching, trying to get them in the best call possible,” Littrell said. “It’s not always about the perfect call. It’s what gets a rhythm. It’s where’s that initial first down you get and where’s your tempo. Are you going too fast? Sometimes tempo can hurt you. Right now I don’t have a complete answer.”
Beginning Saturday against Illinois, the Hoosiers better find one.
Three players to watch
Jonathan Brown, LB: The senior Butkus Award candidate tops the Big Ten and ranks 17th in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 10.1 tackles per game. Dating back to the start of last season, he has 140 tackles and 5.5 sacks. At 6-foot-1 and 235 pounds, the Memphis native is both strong and quick.
Josh Ferguson, RB/WR: However the Illini use him, the 5-10, 195-pound Ferguson just makes big plays. He leads the team in yards rushing (395), yards receiving (434) and touchdowns (seven). He is extremely fast, so Indiana tacklers better not take a wrong angle or he’ll be gone.
Nathan Scheelhaase, QB: The senior leader is averaging 246 passing yards per game, with 13 touchdown throws and two rushing TDs. He is completing 64.9 percent of his passes and has helped Illinois add more 12 points per game of offensive production from last season. With Scheelhaase healthy, the Illini are averaging 29 points a game.
Series history
The Illini have won four of the last six meetings and hold a 45-23-2 advantage. Even in Bloomington, the Hoosiers are just 13-15-1 against Illinois.
Familiar faces
Starting right guard Ted Karras is an Indianapolis native who went to Cathedral High School. Backup kicker Ryan Frain also is from the Circle City and attended Scecina High School. Meanwhile, the Hoosiers have a whopping 13 players from the state of Illinois: Tevin Coleman, Mitch Ewald, Nick Mangieri, Peyton Eckert, Dan Feeney, Danny Friend, Jake Michalek, Josh Pericht, Bobby Hess, Nick Campos, Ben Bach, Nate Boudreau and Tyler Brady.
Injury report
Part-time safety Antonio Allen (torn anterior cruciate ligament) is lost for the year. The right side of the offensive line –Feeney (Lisfranc) and Eckert (back) – is out for the season. Reserve offensive lineman David Kaminski (torn ACL) and linebacker Chase Hoobler (stress fracture) are also finished. On the Illinois side, offensive lineman Tony Durkin and linebacker Henry Dickinson are out for the season. Defensive lineman Vontrell Williams (foot) and defensive back V’Angelo Bentley (foot) are questionable.
Trivial
Under new offensive coordinator Bill Cubit, formerly the head coach at Western Michigan, Illinois’ attack has jumped at least 50 spots in the national rankings from 2012 to now in the following categories: gains of at least 20 yards from scrimmage, first downs, yards passing, pass efficiency, giveaways, scoring offense and total offense.
He said it
“There were probably about half of our fans left at halftime. Fans can think whatever they want. We played really hard. We’re trying to be as positive as we can. People say we can’t beat Ohio State or Wisconsin. It’s fine. The players that we have, everybody cares. It’s so much different than it has been.” – Indiana’s fifth-year senior Bolser, to IndySportsLegends.com, on the mood around the team following Saturday’s potentially crushing loss to Minnesota
Outlook
A year ago, the Illini went 2-10. This year, you don’t know which Illinois team will show up. They looked good last week, seizing a 17-14 lead late at Beaver Stadium before falling in overtime. Because the Hoosiers are playing an Illini defense that is giving up 223 rushing yards a game, Coleman should expect to put up great numbers. Coleman is on pace for a 1,100-yard season, which is amazing considering he’s averaging only 14 carries a game. For both teams, this game is one of the few they can win the rest of the way. This should be one of the highest scoring games of Week 8 in the Big Ten. Indiana’s passing offense is one of the best in the nation, and Illinois is allowing opponents to convert 47.7 percent of third downs. Take the over in this game. At Illinois, heads are spinning because of the 18-game conference losing streak, which should give the Hoosiers a good chance to improve to 4-5.
Follow Chris Goff on Twitter: chrisgoff_ISL.
