Coach Griff’s Keys to the Game: What Indiana Must Do to Control Howard

Indiana enters Saturday’s 12:30 PM matchup with Howard as the team expected to control the football game. But the standard for the Hoosiers is bigger than simply putting another victory in the win column.

The question isn’t simply whether Indiana wins. It’s how Indiana plays.

On Thursday night’s Hoosier Football Tailgate, I laid out the areas I believe will determine whether Indiana plays to its standard. Here are Coach Griff’s Keys to the Game.

1. Win First Down Defensively

This is where the defensive improvement needs to begin. North Texas was able to move the football too consistently in the opener, and Indiana cannot allow Howard to stay on schedule because of missed fits, poor tackling or assignment errors.

Win first down and Howard’s playbook changes. Second-and-long and third-and-long allow Bryant Haines to dictate the terms rather than react to the offense.

2. Keep Ja’Shawn Scroggins Inside the Rush

Indiana has to maintain rush-lane integrity. Against a quarterback capable of extending plays, pressure only helps if the defense keeps him contained.

The defensive front cannot create escape lanes by getting too far upfield. Collapse the pocket, keep Scroggins inside the rush and make him operate from where Indiana wants him.

3. Tackle Better in Space

This is one of the biggest corrections I’m watching after Week 1. Good defenses force an offense to earn every yard. That means getting ball carriers on the ground when the opportunity is there.

Howard cannot be allowed to turn routine completions or runs into explosives because of missed tackles. Indiana needs better leverage, better pursuit and cleaner finishes.

4. Establish the Run

Indiana should have an advantage at the line of scrimmage, and I want to see the Hoosiers use it. Establishing the run does more than generate yards. It creates manageable down-and-distance situations, controls the tempo and opens opportunities throughout the passing game.

This is an opportunity for Indiana’s offensive line and running backs to establish a physical identity early.

5. Stay Explosive in the Passing Game

Josh Hoover was extremely efficient in his Indiana debut. Against Howard, Indiana should continue attacking opportunities down the field without forcing the football.

Efficiency and explosiveness do not have to be opposites. If the Hoosiers establish the run and stay ahead of the chains, opportunities should be there for Hoover to push the football vertically and create chunk plays.

6. Win the Hidden Yardage

Special teams remain part of Indiana’s identity. Field position, returns, coverage, penalties and the kicking operation all contribute yards that never appear next to an offensive play call.

Indiana’s return units created important field-position advantages against North Texas. The expectation Saturday should be the same: make Howard play on a long field and give the Hoosier offense every possible advantage.

7. Get the Two-Deep Meaningful Snaps

If Indiana takes control of the game, the afternoon becomes an important developmental opportunity. But there is a difference between empty late-game snaps and meaningful repetitions.

The starters need to establish the standard. Then the second unit needs to maintain it. Indiana has a long season ahead, and building dependable depth now can pay off later.

Coach Griff’s Final Word

Indiana should win Saturday. But championship teams are measured against their own standard, not simply against the opponent across the field.

I want to see a cleaner Indiana defense, a physical offense, explosive plays without unnecessary risk, winning special teams and quality snaps throughout the two-deep.

The scoreboard will tell us whether Indiana won. The film will tell us whether Indiana got better.

Fast. Physical. Relentless.