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Indiana Football: 3 Takeaways from home opener vs Ball State
The Indiana Hoosiers are sitting at 2-0 after taking down the Ball State Cardinals in the 2016 home opener.
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Indiana football is looking good so far in 2016 as the Hoosiers (2-0) put together another complete performance in beating the Ball State Cardinals (1-1) at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington.
There are some names on offense which Indiana fans should get used to hearing this season – Richard Lagow, Devine Redding, Mitchell Paige, Luke Timian – and the defense is developing into a seriously solid unit.
For the second straight week, the defense held their opponent to less than 20 points (Ball State got a touchdown on a blocked punt scoop-and-score), and forced three turnovers.
If there was anything negative jumping out about the Hoosiers performance this week, it was penalties, with Indiana being flagged 8 times for 79 yards. Head coach Kevin Wilson will certainly take issue with that in his team meetings this week.
Indiana has one more non-conference game before heading into Big Ten play, and here are some big takeaways from the week two win over Ball State.
Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
Hoosiers Defense Not Star-Filled But Very Solid
Indiana won’t be going out and stealing a lot of 5-star prospects anytime soon, particularly on defense with guys like Jim Harbaugh and Mark Dantonio running around the Big Ten. But defensive coaches Tom Allen and Mark Hagan are taking the talent they have and putting together a very gritty unit.
Ball State is a far cry from Ohio State, but this is still an offense which had been averaging 23 points per game in 2015, and put up 30 in their first game this season. Despite giving up some yardage, the defense was opportunistic in creating turnovers or keeping the Cardinals out of the end zone, forcing field goal attempts.
There were a few lapses in the secondary, and the Hoosiers showed a little susceptibility to screens and swing passes, but those are easily correctable issues. The defense was fortunately not put into any short field situations by the offense, who did not turn the ball over at all.
Last week, Ball State ran the ball to a tune of 325 yards against Georgia State. Indiana was able to hold them to 140 yards and no rushing touchdowns. That’s a lot of progress from last season.
Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Richard Lagow Will be a Fine Replacement for Sudfeld
With quarterback Nate Sudfeld moving on to the NFL, Indiana rested their hopes on Iowa State transfer Richard Lagow. So far, he hasn’t disappointed.
Lagow had an unspectacular but solid game once again, going 17 of 28 for 266 yards and three touchdowns. Most importantly, zero interceptions or fumbles.
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The redshirt junior transfer spread the ball around well, finding eight different receivers during the game, although it was apparent he has a comfort level with Mitchell Paige, who is shaping up to be yet another NFL prospect for the Hoosiers.
There were very few bad throws (if any) made by Lagow, and his decision making was solid. He didn’t face much of a rush against the Cardinals, and that’s certain to change as the nasty Big Ten defenses line up against his Hoosier offensive line in the coming weeks.
So far, it seems fans can breathe a little easier about the quarterback position.
Sep 10, 2016; Bloomington, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers wide receiver Nick Westbrook (15) evades a tackle from Ball State Cardinals safety Mitch Larsen (29) and Ball State Cardinals cornerback Josh Miller (11) during the during the first half of the game at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
Indiana WRs Could Surprise the Big Ten
The Hoosiers may have lost a lot of senior talent at the wide receiver position this year, but the youngsters coming up are proving to be quite good.
This is quietly developing into one of the best wide receiver groups in the Big Ten. Nick Westbrook and Mitchell Paige are both favorite QB targets, but if you haven’t noticed, sophomore Luke Timian is starting to show his stuff.
Timian ran some nifty routes, showed good hands and has a nice-sized fame for a target. He’s going to hear his number called a lot more if he continues to have solid games like the last two weeks.
Those three have the ability to keep secondaries busy, along with the rest of the Hoosier wideouts and running backs who have the ability to catch balls out of the backfield like Devine Redding.
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But Westbrook is going to be the home run hitter. Today he caught three passes and averaged 44.3 yards per catch with two of them coming for touchdowns. The Lagow-Westbrook connection will be something for Indiana football fans to watch closely this season.
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