Hoosiers won’t run from showdown at Wisconsin
By CHRIS GOFF
ISL Assistant Editor
Opponent: Wisconsin Badgers (7-2)
When: noon Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium
Not these guys again.
Over the past eight years, the Hoosiers have played a lot of different Wisconsin teams, all of them good and none of them having lost to Indiana at any time or place in eight straight meetings. But there’s something about Saturday’s matchup that actually has Indiana excited to make the trip.
“We’re making strides,” coach Kevin Wilson said. “This is an opportunity to show we’re ready to make the next stride. We’ve got an opportunity against a great team. You’re not going to Wisconsin on your heels hoping they have a bad game. You want to do it this week. I’m looking forward to seeing where the team is.”
That depends on a Hoosiers defense that is ranked near the bottom of the rushing statistics. Teams have been beating them relentlessly with runs, averaging 217.4 yards a game and 4.7 a carry. The Badgers figure to be a continuation of the problem for Indiana. They have assembled a running attack that is impossible for defenses to control.
“It’ll be a big challenge,” Indiana safety Greg Heban said. “We’re excited for this challenge. We try to put the past behind us.”
The Badgers rank seventh in the Football Bowl Subdivision on defense. The Hoosiers rank 122nd. Indiana, which might actually have more options on offense than Wisconsin, has to hope its defense can develop a little bit of an attitude and make a statement. In August, Wilson declared that stopping the run was about mentality.
If so, it’s a good sign that Wilson’s bunch is anticipating the test at Camp Randall Stadium, rather than dreading it.
Three players to watch
Melvin Gordon, RB: Averaging 8.1 yards a carry as a sophomore, Gordon is the best running back – and maybe best player – in the Big Ten. At 6-foot-1 and 203 pounds, Wisconsin’s superstar is slicing through defenses. His 1,160 yards and 11 touchdowns on just 143 carries are downright scary. The only thing not to watch about Gordon is his presence in the receiving game. There isn’t one. He’s caught one pass all year.
Jared Abbrederis, WR: A year ago, Abbrederis caught a total of 49 passes for 837 yards and five touchdowns, and this season Wisconsin’s star senior already has 54 catches for 849 yards and six scores. The 6-2, 188-pound former walk-on has speed and a knack for getting open. Even with Wisconsin’s ground game, Abbrederis has to receive plenty of Indiana’s defensive attention.
Chris Borland, LB: This dominant fifth-year senior racks up tackles by the bushel and perfectly combines elite intelligence with elite athleticism. The Hoosiers better put two hands on the ball when Borland closes in. He is one forced fumble shy of tying the FBS career record of 14. Borland, 5-11 and 246 pounds, has 47 career tackles for loss. Over the past two seasons, he has accumulated 174 tackles, 8.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. As far as defenders go, they don’t come any better.
Series history
The Badgers hold a 39-18-2 advantage. As much as can be made about Wisconsin’s absolute dominance of the Hoosiers since 2004, consider that there once was a stretch of five straight games (1986-92) in which Indiana muffled the Badgers. Although Wisconsin has played in the last three Rose Bowls, the two teams do have something in common for all their differences. Each spent less than $600,000 on football recruiting over the 2010 and 2011 fiscal years, according to an ESPN report, placing them near the bottom of the Big Ten in dollars allocated.
Familiar faces
Wisconsin special teams coordinator Jeff Genyk served for a few years with Wilson and a couple current Indiana assistants on the football staff at Northwestern. Indiana defensive lineman John Laihinen is from Mequon, Wis. and attended Homestead High School. Backup offensive lineman Cody Evers is from Little Chute, Wis. and Little Chute High School.
Injury report
Running back Tevin Coleman (ankle sprain) is doubtful. Center Collin Rahrig (back) is questionable. Cornerback Tim Bennett (concussion-like symptoms) is probable. Part-time safety Antonio Allen (torn anterior cruciate ligament) is lost for the year. The right side of the offensive line – Dan Feeney (Lisfranc) and Peyton Eckert (back) – is out for the season. Reserve offensive lineman David Kaminski (torn ACL) and linebacker Chase Hoobler (stress fracture) are also finished. For Wisconsin, defensive lineman Jake Keefer (knee) is out for the season. Starting center Dallas Lewallen is doubtful.
Trivial
Over the past three NFL drafts, Wisconsin has produced nine players taken among the first 75 picks, trailing only Alabama (13) and LSU (12).
He said it
“It’s definitely a chip on our shoulder. Anyone who was a part of that game should have a bad taste in their mouth.” – Indiana’s senior leader Heban, to IndySportsLegends.com, on remembering the Hoosiers’ 83-20 loss in 2010 to Wisconsin, which was accused by some of having a lack of sportsmanship
Outlook
At 4-5, Wilson has gone back to Nate Sudfeld as the primary quarterback. Sudfeld is Indiana’s future with 19 touchdown passes in nine games. He will try his best to attack and score touchdowns against the physical Wisconsin defense. Sudfeld won’t have as much explosiveness to fall back on at running back. Breakout star Coleman, who rushed for over 200 yards against Illinois, sprained an ankle and is doubtful to play. That could mean experienced Stephen Houston will have to make the start. The Hoosiers have to maintain one of the most important stats for an up-tempo offense: the three-and-out stat. The Hoosiers have been uncanny at avoiding three-plays-and-a-punt possessions, ranking third in the FBS with just 20 three-and-outs in 132 offensive possessions. The Indiana offense, which averages 43.1 points a game, has the potential of preventing another blowout loss against Wisconsin. The Hoosiers can’t stop the run, so it’s not too hard to figure out what the Badgers’ offensive game plan will be. Poor defensive play is killing the Hoosiers, who might have one of the worst tackling defenses in college football. Despite the best efforts of defensive coordinator Doug Mallory, the Hoosiers allow too many offensive players to run free. This may not be pretty because the Badgers have proved in their last three meetings (204-41 composite score) that they have Indiana’s number. The one-two punch of Gordon and James White at running back is too much for the Hoosiers.
Follow Chris Goff on Twitter: chrisgoff_ISL.
