BLOOMINGTON, IN -
I'll start by saying that the schedule makers didn't do the Hoosiers any favors with their first two league games. The Michigan game is the kind of performance you could build on, perhaps gain a little momentum from.
However, it still counts as a loss, and now with the best team in the Big Ten in Bloomington, the Hoosiers are staring at an 0-2 start to conference play and a 3-2 overall record. I'm guessing nobody thought IU would have a better record through five games, but if they Hoosiers played anyone else in the Big Ten at home this week, I would've given them a chance.
To quote Dwight Freeney (and many others) 'At the end of the day,' OSU had just too much talent . I figured IU could hang around for awhile, but never really thought they could pull off a victory. (And I almost always think the underdog has a chance)
JJ's B-Town Break-Down
* I anticipated a little bit of a traffic snarl on the way to the 7:00 kickoff between Indiana and Ohio State. I thought I was in the clear until I got off of State Road 37 and onto State Road 46. Apparently, the NEW and Improved traffic plan is not yet a well-oiled machine. A major back-up caused some pre-game frustrations for the Big Ten Home Opener.
* I also anticipated a large crowd, but wondered just how many Ohio State fans would flock to Memorial Stadium. I tried an experiment, closing my eyes for a few plays, listening only to the fan reactions while in my seat in the press box. I've determined that if the band is quiet, it is VERY hard to figure out who won the particular play based only on the applause. I do think the IU fans out-numbered the OSU Fans 65% to 35%, but the Buckeye Backers were very loud and pumped for this one. I would estimate 15,000 to 20,000 of the 51,500 fans at the game were cheering for the Buckeyes.
* One other experiment might be fun to try and is really only worth mentioning in the hypothetical world of the internet. If the IU and Ohio State Players were wearing identical white pants and jerseys, how long would it take to figure out who was who? I think I'd have it figured out in a couple plays. Position-by-position, the OSU players are just a little big bigger, faster, and stronger than their IU counterparts. Team speed is the biggest difference between top-15 teams and the next level of contenders. While the Hoosiers do have some players who can make a big play (remember Darius Willis' 85-yard TD run against Michigan) it's that speed up and down the roster that gives Ohio State such an advantage over most of the rest of the Big Ten.
* Rough first quarter for the Hoosiers. OSU marched down the field on the opening drive, and Aaron Pettrey converted for a 46-yard field goal. Ohio State scored the first touchdown of the game on a five-yard pass from Terrelle Prior to Duron Carter. The Buckeyes dominated the stat sheet through the first 15 minutes, out-gaining the Hoosiers 156 to 49. Indiana's longest play from scrimmage went for 11 yards, but Tandon Doss fumbled, giving the Buckeyes the ball back at their own 45-yard line.
* The Hoosiers showed some signs of life in the second quarter. Ben Chappell directed an 8-play, 80-yard drive that resulted in a Tandon Doss TD reception, cutting the Ohio State lead to 10-7. However, the Buckeyes quickly answered thanks to Terrelle Prior's 2nd TD pass giving OSU a 17-7 lead. Buckeye kicker Aaron Pettrey did miss two field goals in the first half, but Prior's 3rd TD with 1:10 to play gave the Buckeyes some breathing room at the break. "Certainly 17-7 at the half is different than 24-7 at the half," acknowledged IU coach Bill Lynch.
* As much as the Buckeyes dominated the first-half statistics (279-to-149 yardage advantage) it still felt like a competitive football game during the first 30 minutes. Both teams were hitting hard; the Hoosiers did move the ball a little bit and if not for a couple costly turnovers, would've been right in the game.
However, it felt like a bubble popped around Memorial Stadium in the second half. The Hoosiers failed to get anything going on offense, had to take a safety on a botched punt snap, and IU fans quickly started heading towards the exits. IU scored a touchdown on the final play of the game, making the second half score OSU 9 IU 7, but the Buckeyes were going through the motions a bit as well as the clock started running out. I felt as though the Hoosiers were ready to play in the first half, but as the game wore on, they were just hoping to get the game over with and move on. I can't say that I blame them, as it will be important for Indiana to come away from this grueling two-game stretch injury free, and still confident. We should learn quite a bit about this team next week in Virginia.
* As effective as the various versions of the spread offense have become, you still have to be able to run the football. The Hoosiers finished the game with 26 carries for 18 yards. After the loss, Bill Lynch addressed the importance of establishing a running game against a defense like Ohio State. "If you decide that you aren't going to run it, just gonna throw it, then it really can get away from you with the kind of pass rushers they have. I've been in those games before where you play against those great defenses, if you say 'we're going to throw it every down' it becomes a sack-fest."
* The schedule does give the Hoosiers a unique opportunity to regroup and get some confidence. IU travels to Virginia next Saturday for the final non-conference game. The Cavaliers surprised some people by defeating North Carolina 16-3 Saturday. However, the Hoosiers realize they've might have already played the biggest and best teams on the schedule. "I think we played two of the better teams we'll see all season," said IU linebacker Matt Mayberry after the game. "Can't stop playing football, we've got alot of football let to play, now we've gotta focus on Virginia and go play our best football."
(Please Click on the related content to hear more post-game comments from Bill Lynch, Tandon Doss, and Matt Mayberry)
However, it still counts as a loss, and now with the best team in the Big Ten in Bloomington, the Hoosiers are staring at an 0-2 start to conference play and a 3-2 overall record. I'm guessing nobody thought IU would have a better record through five games, but if they Hoosiers played anyone else in the Big Ten at home this week, I would've given them a chance.
To quote Dwight Freeney (and many others) 'At the end of the day,' OSU had just too much talent . I figured IU could hang around for awhile, but never really thought they could pull off a victory. (And I almost always think the underdog has a chance)
JJ's B-Town Break-Down
* I anticipated a little bit of a traffic snarl on the way to the 7:00 kickoff between Indiana and Ohio State. I thought I was in the clear until I got off of State Road 37 and onto State Road 46. Apparently, the NEW and Improved traffic plan is not yet a well-oiled machine. A major back-up caused some pre-game frustrations for the Big Ten Home Opener.
* I also anticipated a large crowd, but wondered just how many Ohio State fans would flock to Memorial Stadium. I tried an experiment, closing my eyes for a few plays, listening only to the fan reactions while in my seat in the press box. I've determined that if the band is quiet, it is VERY hard to figure out who won the particular play based only on the applause. I do think the IU fans out-numbered the OSU Fans 65% to 35%, but the Buckeye Backers were very loud and pumped for this one. I would estimate 15,000 to 20,000 of the 51,500 fans at the game were cheering for the Buckeyes.
* One other experiment might be fun to try and is really only worth mentioning in the hypothetical world of the internet. If the IU and Ohio State Players were wearing identical white pants and jerseys, how long would it take to figure out who was who? I think I'd have it figured out in a couple plays. Position-by-position, the OSU players are just a little big bigger, faster, and stronger than their IU counterparts. Team speed is the biggest difference between top-15 teams and the next level of contenders. While the Hoosiers do have some players who can make a big play (remember Darius Willis' 85-yard TD run against Michigan) it's that speed up and down the roster that gives Ohio State such an advantage over most of the rest of the Big Ten.
* Rough first quarter for the Hoosiers. OSU marched down the field on the opening drive, and Aaron Pettrey converted for a 46-yard field goal. Ohio State scored the first touchdown of the game on a five-yard pass from Terrelle Prior to Duron Carter. The Buckeyes dominated the stat sheet through the first 15 minutes, out-gaining the Hoosiers 156 to 49. Indiana's longest play from scrimmage went for 11 yards, but Tandon Doss fumbled, giving the Buckeyes the ball back at their own 45-yard line.
* The Hoosiers showed some signs of life in the second quarter. Ben Chappell directed an 8-play, 80-yard drive that resulted in a Tandon Doss TD reception, cutting the Ohio State lead to 10-7. However, the Buckeyes quickly answered thanks to Terrelle Prior's 2nd TD pass giving OSU a 17-7 lead. Buckeye kicker Aaron Pettrey did miss two field goals in the first half, but Prior's 3rd TD with 1:10 to play gave the Buckeyes some breathing room at the break. "Certainly 17-7 at the half is different than 24-7 at the half," acknowledged IU coach Bill Lynch.
* As much as the Buckeyes dominated the first-half statistics (279-to-149 yardage advantage) it still felt like a competitive football game during the first 30 minutes. Both teams were hitting hard; the Hoosiers did move the ball a little bit and if not for a couple costly turnovers, would've been right in the game.
However, it felt like a bubble popped around Memorial Stadium in the second half. The Hoosiers failed to get anything going on offense, had to take a safety on a botched punt snap, and IU fans quickly started heading towards the exits. IU scored a touchdown on the final play of the game, making the second half score OSU 9 IU 7, but the Buckeyes were going through the motions a bit as well as the clock started running out. I felt as though the Hoosiers were ready to play in the first half, but as the game wore on, they were just hoping to get the game over with and move on. I can't say that I blame them, as it will be important for Indiana to come away from this grueling two-game stretch injury free, and still confident. We should learn quite a bit about this team next week in Virginia.
* As effective as the various versions of the spread offense have become, you still have to be able to run the football. The Hoosiers finished the game with 26 carries for 18 yards. After the loss, Bill Lynch addressed the importance of establishing a running game against a defense like Ohio State. "If you decide that you aren't going to run it, just gonna throw it, then it really can get away from you with the kind of pass rushers they have. I've been in those games before where you play against those great defenses, if you say 'we're going to throw it every down' it becomes a sack-fest."
* The schedule does give the Hoosiers a unique opportunity to regroup and get some confidence. IU travels to Virginia next Saturday for the final non-conference game. The Cavaliers surprised some people by defeating North Carolina 16-3 Saturday. However, the Hoosiers realize they've might have already played the biggest and best teams on the schedule. "I think we played two of the better teams we'll see all season," said IU linebacker Matt Mayberry after the game. "Can't stop playing football, we've got alot of football let to play, now we've gotta focus on Virginia and go play our best football."
(Please Click on the related content to hear more post-game comments from Bill Lynch, Tandon Doss, and Matt Mayberry)
