Next week's opponent

[ColumbusCatFan1]

Interestingly Indiana has the 26th best defense in the country which is surprising

It would have been surprising if Wilson was still running the show, but Tom Allen has a done a good job of coaxing consistent play out of average defensive talent throughout most of this decade.

He’s a good coach.

 

[Jonny2TheP]

Interestingly Indiana has the 26th best defense in the country which is surprising

Their defense is definitely improved this year, but a little perspective on that...

In three games against Eastern Illinois, Rutgers, and UConn, they gave up a total of 3 points (1 point per game). In those games, they gave up 116 total yards, 145 total yards, and 75 total yards respectively, for an average of 112 yards per game.

In the five other games against Ball State, Maryland, OSU, MSU, and Nebraska they gave up 174 points (35 points per game). In those games, they gave up, 398 yards, 383 yards, 520 yards, 442 yards, and 514 yards respectively, for an average of 451 yards per game.

Eastern Illinois is FCS and 0-8 on the year, while Rutgers and UConn are arguably the worst FBS schools in the country. So when they have played any team with a pulse on offense, it's been a little bit of a different story.

The bad news...we don't really have a pulse on offense. However, this is by far the worst defensive team we have played since UNLV so there may actually be at least some signs of life on that side of the ball for the first time since September.

 

[Mister G]

Not apples to apples

Iowa faced QB Patrick Ramsey last year in Bloomington. He is an experienced QB compared to the missing starter, who won the job in 2019 for IU.

Northwestern is 3 out of 5 against Iowa. Iowa's two wins were against Wildcat teams with young QBs starting.

May say something.

Illinois has a fifth year starter, though a transfer.

Purdue is struggling with a first year starter, as is Nebraska.

Wisconsin and Minnesota each have a QB in their second year starting.

Peters is a 4th year Jr. redshirt.

 

[Tsnider30]

SP+ has IUs defense adjusted for strength of opponent somewhere around the 40s or 50s

 

[fkfootball]

Their defense is definitely improved this year, but a little perspective on that...

In three games against Eastern Illinois, Rutgers, and UConn, they gave up a total of 3 points (1 point per game). In those games, they gave up 116 total yards, 145 total yards, and 75 total yards respectively, for an average of 112 yards per game.

In the five other games against Ball State, Maryland, OSU, MSU, and Nebraska they gave up 174 points (35 points per game). In those games, they gave up, 398 yards, 383 yards, 520 yards, 442 yards, and 514 yards respectively, for an average of 451 yards per game.

Eastern Illinois is FCS and 0-8 on the year, while Rutgers and UConn are arguably the worst FBS schools in the country. So when they have played any team with a pulse on offense, it's been a little bit of a different story.

The bad news...we don't really have a pulse on offense. However, this is by far the worst defensive team we have played since UNLV so there may actually be at least some signs of life on that side of the ball for the first time since September.

It’s not a shutdown defense. But they really only struggle when the other team has an abundance of playmakers. It’s been an opportunistic defense. They force turnovers and get stops at the right times. This reminds me of a Randy Walker NW team. Really good offense and the defense does “just enough.”

 

[julescat]

It’s not a shutdown defense. But they really only struggle when the other team has an abundance of playmakers. It’s been an opportunistic defense. They force turnovers and get stops at the right times. This reminds me of a Randy Walker NW team. Really good offense and the defense does “just enough.”

Randy Walker defenses rarely did "just enough". They were pretty much crap (but had some good talent).

 

[fkfootball]

Randy Walker defenses rarely did "just enough". They were pretty much crap (but had some good talent).

Well....maybe more like “Early Fitz.”