Most excellent as usual. I have only caught some of the ND games this season but came away thinking you need to go back to Saquon Barkley for IU to find a back as good as ND’s. Back then PSU’s qb scrambles hurt as much as anything. But this isn’t Tom Allen defense. Qb runs as noted here have hurt this year’s Hoosiers BUT normally on scrambling or broken plays.
IU attacks the perimeter with tunnel/bubble screens or reverses. They mix in the over shifted toss play you can see coming from Mishawauka.
I look for some key buster counters from IU. Perhaps a return of the ill executed rb option pass that has misfired twice. Or appearing to run the tunnel screen to Williams and a blocker sneaks long. Maybe Elijah doesn’t drop this one.
I look for more throws to the backs and Horton.
The OL needs to show up strong. If ND plays man I look for rub routes and maybe Cooper deep. THE SLANTS in the RPO game have scared me all season.
I Don’t worry about IU’s defense holding up. I think their safeties can play.
Let’s be honest. Aside from the OSU game the ill timed monumental ^**+-up hasn’t been a weakness in 2024. IU needs to avoid the big blunder
If I have fears it’s:
1. Weather
2. IU’s Guard play
3. An officiating crew of O’Hara, O’Riley, O’Flanagan, O’Toole and O’Malley
@taylor — reading this again. Scale of 1-10 how concerned are you that IU, similar to against OSU, will not be able to pick up blitzes from LBs knowing ND does blitz. What’s your thoughts there ?
It's interesting because it will be some sort of hybrid between what Michigan and Ohio State did -- LB blitzes (OSU) with strong DT play (Michigan). It will put quite a bit of pressure on the interior OL. The only comfort IU fans can really take from this is that ND's LBs haven't been particularly effective in their blitzes against worse teams and IU will likely find ways to prevent that rush from getting such a strong first step (which it failed to do against OSU). To put it on a scale of 1-10, I'd say maybe a 5, but there's no way to know for sure until the game actually starts (something Galen and I discuss on a CC pod releasing soon).
Just listened to Crimson Cast and a some thoughts about this playoff game being as important as a bowl game. A playoff game is much better than a bowl game!
The only reason a bowl game would be better is the weather. Fans could travel to a warm weather city which would be nice. Going to South Bend in December is less than ideal.
Years from now this playoff game will be considered more significant than most of IU’s bowl games. I suspect the format of the playoffs will be different in years to come so this first year of the 12 team format may be a brief blip in the history of the game.
I’ve played this game in my mind several times. I’ve decided that in the end weather and weather related turnovers will ultimately make the difference. Can IU play pitch and catch in inclement weather? IU can’t have clutch drops as in the Michigan game. TWO BIG ONES made a comfortable win a nail biter and got IU a road game. When IU has played poorly or in poor stretches, they shot themselves in the foot.
If you endeavor to take something away you compromise something else. Can IU take qb runs away and not give up the TE in the middle of the field?
Can IU minimize mistakes and win? Sure
Way down deep my biggest angst (and I feel bad saying this) is my long deep seeded mistrust of the College Football/TV Network establishment that sees $$ and viewers in a long ND run. If IU is not victimized by ram job borderline to just plain bad calls I will be stunned. Go Hoosiers
Most excellent as usual. I have only caught some of the ND games this season but came away thinking you need to go back to Saquon Barkley for IU to find a back as good as ND’s. Back then PSU’s qb scrambles hurt as much as anything. But this isn’t Tom Allen defense. Qb runs as noted here have hurt this year’s Hoosiers BUT normally on scrambling or broken plays.
IU attacks the perimeter with tunnel/bubble screens or reverses. They mix in the over shifted toss play you can see coming from Mishawauka.
I look for some key buster counters from IU. Perhaps a return of the ill executed rb option pass that has misfired twice. Or appearing to run the tunnel screen to Williams and a blocker sneaks long. Maybe Elijah doesn’t drop this one.
I look for more throws to the backs and Horton.
The OL needs to show up strong. If ND plays man I look for rub routes and maybe Cooper deep. THE SLANTS in the RPO game have scared me all season.
I Don’t worry about IU’s defense holding up. I think their safeties can play.
Let’s be honest. Aside from the OSU game the ill timed monumental ^**+-up hasn’t been a weakness in 2024. IU needs to avoid the big blunder
If I have fears it’s:
1. Weather
2. IU’s Guard play
3. An officiating crew of O’Hara, O’Riley, O’Flanagan, O’Toole and O’Malley
I believe IU HAS A punchers chance. Go IU
Just an awesome primer for the Notre Dame game!
@taylor — reading this again. Scale of 1-10 how concerned are you that IU, similar to against OSU, will not be able to pick up blitzes from LBs knowing ND does blitz. What’s your thoughts there ?
It's interesting because it will be some sort of hybrid between what Michigan and Ohio State did -- LB blitzes (OSU) with strong DT play (Michigan). It will put quite a bit of pressure on the interior OL. The only comfort IU fans can really take from this is that ND's LBs haven't been particularly effective in their blitzes against worse teams and IU will likely find ways to prevent that rush from getting such a strong first step (which it failed to do against OSU). To put it on a scale of 1-10, I'd say maybe a 5, but there's no way to know for sure until the game actually starts (something Galen and I discuss on a CC pod releasing soon).
This is good insight, thank you !
Just listened to Crimson Cast and a some thoughts about this playoff game being as important as a bowl game. A playoff game is much better than a bowl game!
The only reason a bowl game would be better is the weather. Fans could travel to a warm weather city which would be nice. Going to South Bend in December is less than ideal.
Years from now this playoff game will be considered more significant than most of IU’s bowl games. I suspect the format of the playoffs will be different in years to come so this first year of the 12 team format may be a brief blip in the history of the game.
I’ve played this game in my mind several times. I’ve decided that in the end weather and weather related turnovers will ultimately make the difference. Can IU play pitch and catch in inclement weather? IU can’t have clutch drops as in the Michigan game. TWO BIG ONES made a comfortable win a nail biter and got IU a road game. When IU has played poorly or in poor stretches, they shot themselves in the foot.
If you endeavor to take something away you compromise something else. Can IU take qb runs away and not give up the TE in the middle of the field?
Can IU minimize mistakes and win? Sure
Way down deep my biggest angst (and I feel bad saying this) is my long deep seeded mistrust of the College Football/TV Network establishment that sees $$ and viewers in a long ND run. If IU is not victimized by ram job borderline to just plain bad calls I will be stunned. Go Hoosiers