Avon Barksdale

December 28th, 2015 at 3:56 PM ^

And while Zander Diamont has not been very good, he is an experienced backup option who can run the spread option attack. He nearly led them to a win over Ohio State with his 79 yard TD run. They also return their top target in Simmie Cobbs and Devine Redding (who also ran for 1000 yards this season).

The days of beating Indiana 45-0 are probably over as long as they keep Wilson. Their defense is not good. We all know that. But their offense is going to put up a ton of yards again next season.

Joined: 04/27/2013

MGoPoints: 12859

Jack Hammer

December 28th, 2015 at 4:21 PM ^

"I’m not being coy because David’s sitting here," Wilson said, motioning to Duke coach David Cutcliffe at a joint news conference Friday. "I thought he was gonna play against Maryland, didn’t feel well. He’s practiced. He’s done a fair amount of work. ...

"I'm hoping he can."

http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2015/12/25/kevin-w…

 
 

Joined: 11/25/2014

MGoPoints: 24427

Lanknows

December 28th, 2015 at 4:11 PM ^

They won't miss Howard much, just as they didn't miss Coleman much.  That system is going to go regardless of RB personnel.  The OL will be harder to replace but, as pointed out above, Fry is very good at his job.

They'll be fine. Their offense is at a point that 2000s Wisconsin and 1990s Michigan was -- the RB personnel is plug-and-play.  The guys they send to the NFL are rarely going to exceed expectations because they are the product of an excellent well-coached offensive system that is consistent from year to year in it's schemes, techniques, and objectives.

"guys like green" would probably do fine there too, or at least guys like Smith, Johnson, Rawls, Toussaint, Cox, etc.

Michigan's problems in the run game have been due to OL personnel/depth, poor development, and poor scheme (under Borges) far more than they have been because of RB.

Joined: 03/23/2012

MGoPoints: 5384

jbibiza

December 28th, 2015 at 4:46 PM ^

Good points, but we haven't been finding anyone like Coleman (in the NFL) or Howard (will play on Sunday) or thier new guy who went for over 200 in the bowl. Yeah, the system is great, but these kids show more talent than anyone we have had since Hart... and they are IU... which means they don't get a shot at the highly rated guys... yet they find studs. Impressive.   IMHO we have one of those studs in Walker and JH will get us more running backs that will play on Sundays.

 

Joined: 10/08/2009

MGoPoints: 7385

Lanknows

December 28th, 2015 at 6:54 PM ^

Cox and Toussaint both played on Sundays and Rawls might be better than both Coleman and Howard.

RB talent and RB production are not always the same thing. OL, QB, offensive system, etc. all play into it. 

Rawls clearly had more talent than he demonstrated at Michigan for one example.  None of the greats that Michigan had in the 90s really did much in the NFL.

Joined: 03/23/2012

MGoPoints: 5384

SalvatoreQuattro

December 28th, 2015 at 4:58 PM ^

But you can't say "they'll be fine" when they have no track record of replacing a QB as good as Sudfeld. Coleman didn't really come on until his Sophomore season and Howard was a proven commodity that fell into their laps. Basically, they have developed ONE elite RB. 

Indiana has poor overall talent. Their records reflect that. But when they have an above average talent at key spots like QB and RB they can do some damage.

IU has a lot of work to do over the next nine months if they want to get back to a bowl.

Joined: 11/30/2010

MGoPoints: 78837

Lanknows

December 28th, 2015 at 7:16 PM ^

because I don't think Sudfeld is anything remarkable despite being projected to be a 4th or 5th round pick (because, again - system).  Roberson and Coffman produced about as well as Sudfeld did before they transferred. Next year, they might be better off with this JUCO kid for all we know or maybe one of their young guys develops (as Sudfeld did). I do think the chances that they'll miss Sudfeld's experience are A LOT higher than that they'll miss Howard FWIW, but we're not talking about a special talent.

My point was about RB though:  Indiana already has another 1,000 yard rusher on their roster (Redding). Before Coleman displaced him, Stephen Houston was very productive as the starter and he did quite fine in his last year too -- ran for 6.7 ypc behind Coleman. They'll be fine (at RB), they're always fine (at RB).

It's an offensive system.  Yes, they won't be as good without seniors and NFL caliber players but none of these guys are as studly as the offense makes them look. We're not talking about Andrew Luck or Todd Gurly here. Experience in that system can easily make average or even below average players look good.  They'll have a good offense next year.  Maybe not top-10-capable-of-beating-anyone-when-healthy good, but still good.

Joined: 03/23/2012

MGoPoints: 5384

EastCoast Esq.

December 28th, 2015 at 3:41 PM ^

That was a terrible picture. If you look at it from right behind the left goal post, it's clear that it went right over the post. No good.

I was there and the experience right after was surreal. People were just staring and a lot of people were like "that looked good to me...." And this was the Duke side (seats were a lot cheaper because B1G fans show up).

Joined: 07/16/2012

MGoPoints: 22968

xtramelanin

December 28th, 2015 at 7:16 PM ^

and was good.   the camera angle from behind shows the ball at and outside the post, but it was on it's downward arc at that time.  i think when it crossed the plane of the goal posts it was 'in'.   too bad for IU, i agree with the others who think they were the best 5-8 team ever.

Joined: 12/09/2014

MGoPoints: 15439

Amaizing Blue

December 28th, 2015 at 3:32 PM ^

We saw enough of him this season, don't need to see any more to realize he's good.  I would encourage all players from the Big Ten to declare for the draft immediately.  Unless they play for us. 

Joined: 12/02/2013

MGoPoints: 9145

Mr. Yost

December 28th, 2015 at 3:42 PM ^

His backup wasn't running through tackles and running over people nearly as consistently. He was more of a outside runner that would find the lane and cut it up field.

Howard just hit everyone with the truck stick and our LBs thought he was Bo Jackson from Tecmo Super Bowl.

Joined: 07/25/2011

MGoPoints: -9898220

elhead

December 28th, 2015 at 3:42 PM ^

like IU did perfectly fine with that RB Devine Redding the other day. That's a well-coached offense and I'd be surprised if they don't figure out a way to get better next year.

Our problem wasn't IU. It had more to do with our own limitations on defense including an inability to deal with no huddle read-option football. That's a function of talent, player development and game planning. We know we need to get better in all of those areas.

Joined: 11/07/2009

MGoPoints: 3377

Avon Barksdale

December 28th, 2015 at 4:02 PM ^

They are replacing him with either the #2 ranked JUCO passer in the country or an experienced backup who almost beat Ohio State this year. They also return a 1000 yard rusher and a 1000 yard receiver. If they can find a couple offensive linemen, they are going to put up a ton of points and yards again.

Joined: 04/27/2013

MGoPoints: 12859

SalvatoreQuattro

December 28th, 2015 at 4:15 PM ^

His offers: Central Arkansas, Prairie View A&M, Colorado St. Florida A&M, Memphis, SE Louisiana, and UNLV. Except for Memphis and maybe Colorado St. that's a pretty poor list of offers.

Jordan Diamont is terrible. IU hung with OSU in part because Sudfeld played. When he went out IU's offense withered.

Joined: 11/30/2010

MGoPoints: 78837