Why is Indiana so threatening?

B

BQuastU

Well-Known Member
What is it about Indiana that makes us all worried (self included)? A few weeks back, Narinsky and Tate called out this one as a tough game on their podcast. Vegas obviously sees something. All of the Hawkeye site moderators are in this group.

Their QB has some NFL quality traits, for sure. Their RB is apparently good. But is the rest just recent history with Iowa struggling? Is it that a big arm like their QB gives Iowa trouble, even with Iowa's great D. I thought running QBs give Iowa trouble?

Their D is really bad, right? Look at their wins (margin and opponent) and their losses (margin and opponent) and the fear seems irrational. But alas, we all seem to feel the same way. No doubt that each week will give some pause (e.g., but Purdue did beat Nebraska; Minny almost beat UM; etc.), but this seems to have been called a while ago with universal agreement.

Is the thought that Iowa has to keep up with this offense and it might stumble doing so?
 
Not to me

Iowa has one of the best defensive units in the country
Iowa can wear em down with our OL

SCREW IT .... the public movement on Indiana makes this line tempting
 
How many times now have we heard this story and each time the Iowa D shuts them down. I disagree with the notion that we'll need to score 30+ points to win this one. We'll be fine.
 
For me, the fear of Indiana started when they played Ohio State tough and only lost by a touchdown. I hope this game is a blowout and we can rest some guys since we weren't really able to do that vs Maryland. I was pretty surprised to see the line opened at -7, thought it'd be at least 10-14.
 
It's a big 10 road game, those all scare me.

They especially scare me when we are 8-0 and teams are really wanting to knock us off our pedestal.
 
They throw for ~290 per game. Pass defense is where we are the most susceptible. They've scored 30+ in all but one game. Not sold on our offense being able to outscore teams. They have no defense, but if they do what Maryland did to us (8 in the box with press coverage on the outside), we are a pick-six and blocked punt from scoring only 17. That is why they are threatening in my eyes.
 
99topdawg said:
They throw for ~290 per game. Pass defense is where we are the most susceptible. They've scored 30+ in all but one game. Not sold on our offense being able to outscore teams. They have no defense, but if they do what Maryland did to us (8 in the box with press coverage on the outside), we are a pick-six and blocked punt from scoring only 17. That is why they are threatening in my eyes.
Click to expand...

Are pass D looks so suspect only because its all that teams can do against us. They cant run the ball so they have to pass it and honestly we have not done that bad of a job. Iowa has to get to Indianas QB and keep pressure on him all day. If they cant do that and he can sit in the pocket he will pick Iowa apart. Which Indiana team shows up matters also. Will it be the team that took Ohio st (overrated) to the wire or the team that let Rutgers score 50+ on them?
 
I think they're threatening because of their ability to score points, and the pressure that can put on the other team to match that output. Iowa has done a very good job of eliminating big plays by their opponents' offense this year. The Hawks will look to do the same to Indiana - score on Iowa, perhaps, but not on quick drives that force a response. The coaches and players keep talking about assignment football, no heroes, just do your job, and rely on the coaches having the other 10 doing their job. Over the course of a game, that wears out the opponent. Norm Parker's defenses were great at that. This year's defense has done that, so far.
 
Big ten road game against a team that can SCORE a TON, yeah easy reason to worry, Iowa needs 35+ to win
 
Isn't it crazy how Kellen Lewis and James Hardy are still eligible and are going to play this Saturday after so many years?
 
If Iowa plays with the same intensity as Wisconsin and Northwestern and doesn't turn the ball over, Iowa will win. I really believe that. Ferentz will have them ready to go.
 
My confidence level goes way up if Nate Meier is able to play. Going to need a pass rush, and him and Johnson are the only linemen able to provide that right now
 
Bottom line is that this same thread applies to every week this season (other than North Texas). Iowa is good, but not good enough to forecast any game as a comfortable win.
 
Iowa's offense is severely limited with CJ hurt. Iowa is actually decent against the pass, just not great. Stop the run and that opens up the passes for them. And vice versa Best plan for Iowa is to limit their offensive touches.

Indiana doesn't get impressed when Ohio State shows up in Bloomington, so Iowa's 8-0 isn't going to scare them either. But I am not impressed with Ohio State's defense so I think Iowa is different in that respect. The problem with Indiana is that they can score points in a hurry so is their advantage. Iowa needs to take control early and hold it. Control the clock, keep Indiana's defense on the field.

All these games are a concern. No team wants to end on the bottom. Stopping Iowa is a big victory for them.
 
Sudfeld and the runningback(the UAB transfer I can't remember his name).
 
Indiana's season and Kevin Wilson's coaching career is on the line. Indy sits at 4-4 but have lost 4 in row and are 0-4 in conference. They need 2 more wins to make a bowl, but what they really need is to show they can finish a game and they need a signature win to get over the hump.

Indiana is coming off a bye week and is playing at home. They probably feel that Iowa is beatable and may have a now or never approach to the game.

But then again, their defense is awful, can not stop anybody, especially in the 4Q when it counts. Iowa has show an ability to do what it has to in the 4Q to pull out close games. all trends suggest if the game is close entering the 4Q, then Iowa will win and Indiana will fall apart.
 
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