Hoosiers: What’s Hot and What’s Cold
By CHRIS GOFF
ISL Assistant Editor
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Each week I’ll run down what’s hot and what’s cold with Indiana football. Here’s my take from Saturday’s 42-39 loss to Minnesota:
HOT
Tevin Coleman – Despite losing the lateral that lost the game, running back was Indiana’s top offensive player. Rushed 14 times for 108 yards and a touchdown and caught two passes for 51 yards. Has scored in every game this season. Is averaging 6.4 yards a carry, the highest by a Hoosier running back (minimum 100 carries) since Levron Williams averaged 6.6 yards per rush in 2001.
Nate Sudfeld – Quarterback rebounds from recent struggles to calmly direct a huge rally and avoids the big mistake – unless you blame him partially for lost lateral.
Stephen Houston – Running back essentially splits snaps with Coleman and finishes with a team-high 111 yards on 13 carries (8.5 avg.) while adding a touchdown. With some solid work receiving in previous games, Houston is giving Indiana a second role-playing back who can break arm tackles.
Return game – Houston (48 yards) and Shane Wynn (48 yards) each provide a nice kickoff return to help Indiana win early field position battle.
Erich Toth – Punter enjoys a solid, busy day (7 for 289 yards, 41.3 avg., three inside the 20).
Mitch Ewald – Kicker is perfect on field goals – from 31 and 21 yards – and is 7-for-7 on the season. Is penalized for a kickoff out of bounds, so not all hot.
Balanced distribution – No pass-catcher has a big day, but Ted Bolser, Wynn, Cody Latimer, Kofi Hughes and Isaiah Roundtree all make nice contributions.
COLD
Consistency – Offense scores just 13 points on first 10 possessions, then explodes for 26 points on next four drives. Defense allows seven points on first five series, then 28 in the next five. Hoosiers were consistently inconsistent.
Tre Roberson – Quarterback earns his best endorsement of the season, then goes 8-for-18 for 80 yards and a touchdown and is benched at halftime. Mobility and athleticism unable to make a difference.
Marcus Oliver – Freshman linebacker is penalized for a late hit out of bounds on a first quarter play in which Minnesota was flagged for holding. Gophers end up gaining 5 yards out of it.
Michael Hunter – Starting right cornerback again has some struggles in coverage.
Collin Rahrig – Penalized twice from his center position, once for an illegal block below the waist and once for holding. Also bailed out by Indiana recovery of his premature snap on first series of second half, although ugly miscue came on third-and-5 and ended the drive.
Red zone offense – Struggles result in just two touchdowns in five trips, settling for two field goals and committing a turnover on the other three.
Pass rush – Philip Nelson has too much time in the pocket. Minnesota’s offensive line controls the game.
Tackling – Hoosiers take bad angles, fail to close strong, fall for juke moves and miss far too many.
Kevin Wilson – This was supposed to be the season the Hoosiers went over the top. They haven’t. Wilson has to take some of the blame for the play calling Saturday.
Follow Chris Goff on Twitter: @chrisgoff_ISL.
