Indiana Hoosiers
Yeah, yeah, yeah, Indiana isn't a football school, you can't recruit there, it isn't a winning situation, blah, blah, blah. Bottom line: The "basketball school" tag doesn't hold water considering the yearly success of the Purdue program, which is also a school nutso for hoops. Secondly, Northwestern, with far tougher all-around issues than IU, went to a bowl game. Indiana won one D-I game. That won't be acceptable in the third year of the Gerry DiNardo era.
DiNardo has had time to put the pieces in place and now has a veteran team that he molded himself. There aren't too many All-Big Ten caliber players to rely on, but there are more than enough good, hard-nosed tough guys that should be able to band together and be effective in a league that isn't quite as nasty as it was a few years ago.
So what, exactly, does IU have to work with? First and foremost, the running game should be far better with the three backs in BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Chris Taylor and Yamar Washington that can all play. The offensive line, a sore spot a year ago, is more experienced and started to jell by the end of the season. The defense in generally undersized, but it's athletic and can fight. With 21 returning starters, this has to be the season DiNardo turns things around or else it might be time to try yet another direction.
The Schedule: IU had better win its opener against Central Michigan
or the season might be over before it begins. At Northwestern, sandwiched
between Michigan and Ohio State, might be the only oasis. There's not a 100%
guaranteed win as the Hoosiers should be the underdog in every game after
CMU
Best Offensive Players: Sophomore RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis. A good
workhorse and an effective all-around runner, the Green-Ellis was one of the
Big Ten's breakout stars. Now he'll have more help from the rest of the running
backs so he can stay fresh, and the line is more experienced.
Best Defensive Player: Senior FS Herana-Daze Jones. Out of place as
a linebacker, Jones has taken his big hitting talents to the secondary where
he made 96 tackles and was an intimidating force. He should be one of the
league's better all-around safeties.
Key player to a successful season: The running game is there and the
receivers have talent. Now it will be up to a quarterback to make it all happen.
Matt LoVecchio had a horrible first season with consistency problems and was
generally unable to move the offense. If he isn't night-and-day better early,
Gerry DiNardo will have to pull the plug to try and save the season.
The season will be a success if ... IU wins five games. This is a lot
to ask from a team with its two easiest Big Ten games coming on the road,
but a positive step has to be taken this year or overall changes will have
to be made.
Key game: October 9th at Northwestern. Few have paid attention, but
the argument could be made that the Hoosiers and Wildcats have played the
best series of Big Ten games over the last few years with Northwestern winning
41-37 in 2002 and in a 37-31 overtime thriller last season. This is a must-win
for the Hoosiers if there is any hope of a turnaround season.
2003 Fun Stats:
- First quarter scoring: Opponents 106 - Indiana 36
- Third quarter scoring: Opponents 128 - Indiana 36
- Touchdown passes Opponents 24 - Indiana 4
- Sacks: Opponents 40 - Indiana 17
