I’m conflicted with this one. If we come in with a full plan, I think this is a curb stomping but I don’t we will and this will be more of a game than I’d hope for. But I understand that Urb is aiming to peak in November and win along the way. How much of a game is the question?
All the talk with be all about Jordan Howard, and he looks to be a load. The game will come down to Sudfeld and turnovers. I like Nate but he isn’t precise enough to match the Bucks secondary, and will have to force the ball downfield.
Cardale will offer one up as well, but the Bucks will have too much firepower for the Hoosiers to play Tresselball.
Prediction: Bucks 42-17 as the O continues to work out the kinks, and the D takes another step.
Game Flow: Both teams will come out and take shots. This is the Bucks MO and Sudfeld will need to strike before the secondary settles in and they will try to catch the safeties peeking early. I don’t see Sudfled hitting his, but CJ will nail one. The game will settle in, and the Bucks will drive and score enough while IU will drive but not score enough to keep pace.
Things I’ll Look For: Like everyone else can the D stop Howard from gaining 4+ yards on first down, and can the offense establish some rhythm within the big play framework they are trying to build for the late season run. I’ve been super happy with special teams and can only hope this continues.
When the Hoosier’s have the Ball.
I thought NIU would be the most complete O we’d play until Sparty. I hadn’t figured Jordan Howard would emerge as the leading rusher in the NCAA. I still think Hawaii, NIU and WMU have more dangerous passing attacks but IU sports the first B10 class running game the Bucks have faced this season.
While WMU had some success with MUCH less talent, I think the Bucks will do pretty much what they do against the run = maintain control. I look for IU to have some success. The Ash D doesn’t aim to stop the run cold at all costs and IU is good enough to win some 1:1 battles. They just won’t win them often enough.
If Sudfeld had either of WMU WRs or the kid from Hawaii this game would be VERY interesting, and I think he will have some success in the air… just not enough. My score assumes we don’t give them an easy score through TO’s and 17 would be a lot of points based on the way the Bullets have been playing
When the Bucks Have the Ball
The Bucks have been struggling to integrate the VERTICAL O elements Urb and Tom relied on through the CFP run last year. I pointed out in a post earlier this week that the VERTICAL elements have some limitations that have to be addressed: Staying ahead of the chains, engaging the H back and avoiding TO’s.
I think CJ will run some to move the chains and keep IU honest, but the key in this game is to get Zeke fully engaged in the O. This is the foundation of both the Urban power spread and VERTICAL scheme, and it’s been in the background for most of the first 4 games. It goes into the foreground today, and with it comes the deep ball.
Part of the struggle has been forcing the scheme to engage Braxton and the H backs, and we will have MUCH more success this week. This is a work in progress, and it’ll still be a bit of a mish mash as the staff works though how they want to do this
Final Thinking:
It won’t be as pretty as many fans want but we will make another step, while conserving energy for the stretch run.
All the talk with be all about Jordan Howard, and he looks to be a load. The game will come down to Sudfeld and turnovers. I like Nate but he isn’t precise enough to match the Bucks secondary, and will have to force the ball downfield.
Cardale will offer one up as well, but the Bucks will have too much firepower for the Hoosiers to play Tresselball.
Prediction: Bucks 42-17 as the O continues to work out the kinks, and the D takes another step.
Game Flow: Both teams will come out and take shots. This is the Bucks MO and Sudfeld will need to strike before the secondary settles in and they will try to catch the safeties peeking early. I don’t see Sudfled hitting his, but CJ will nail one. The game will settle in, and the Bucks will drive and score enough while IU will drive but not score enough to keep pace.
Things I’ll Look For: Like everyone else can the D stop Howard from gaining 4+ yards on first down, and can the offense establish some rhythm within the big play framework they are trying to build for the late season run. I’ve been super happy with special teams and can only hope this continues.
When the Hoosier’s have the Ball.
I thought NIU would be the most complete O we’d play until Sparty. I hadn’t figured Jordan Howard would emerge as the leading rusher in the NCAA. I still think Hawaii, NIU and WMU have more dangerous passing attacks but IU sports the first B10 class running game the Bucks have faced this season.
While WMU had some success with MUCH less talent, I think the Bucks will do pretty much what they do against the run = maintain control. I look for IU to have some success. The Ash D doesn’t aim to stop the run cold at all costs and IU is good enough to win some 1:1 battles. They just won’t win them often enough.
If Sudfeld had either of WMU WRs or the kid from Hawaii this game would be VERY interesting, and I think he will have some success in the air… just not enough. My score assumes we don’t give them an easy score through TO’s and 17 would be a lot of points based on the way the Bullets have been playing
When the Bucks Have the Ball
The Bucks have been struggling to integrate the VERTICAL O elements Urb and Tom relied on through the CFP run last year. I pointed out in a post earlier this week that the VERTICAL elements have some limitations that have to be addressed: Staying ahead of the chains, engaging the H back and avoiding TO’s.
I think CJ will run some to move the chains and keep IU honest, but the key in this game is to get Zeke fully engaged in the O. This is the foundation of both the Urban power spread and VERTICAL scheme, and it’s been in the background for most of the first 4 games. It goes into the foreground today, and with it comes the deep ball.
Part of the struggle has been forcing the scheme to engage Braxton and the H backs, and we will have MUCH more success this week. This is a work in progress, and it’ll still be a bit of a mish mash as the staff works though how they want to do this
Final Thinking:
It won’t be as pretty as many fans want but we will make another step, while conserving energy for the stretch run.
