Coach Griff’s Evaluation: Josh Hoover’s Four-Touchdown Night Shows How Far He Has Come
Josh Hoover has been dissected since Week 1. His mechanics, his missed deep throws and his place in Indiana’s offense have all been discussed. At times, the comparisons to Fernando Mendoza got a little over the top.
Saturday night against Rutgers, Hoover gave everyone another performance to evaluate—and plenty of reasons to feel good about Indiana’s quarterback.
He completed 20 of 27 passes for 251 yards and four touchdowns without an interception in the Hoosiers’ 47–15 victory. Indiana improved to 5–0 overall and 2–0 in the Big Ten. Official Rutgers box score
From my coaching perspective, the biggest takeaway was his growing comfort within the offense. Hoover looked confident in his decisions, and his connection with his receivers continues to develop.
The Opening Drive Showed His Comfort in the RPO Game
Hoover’s work in Indiana’s run-pass option game stood out immediately.
While many viewers may have thought those quick hitch throws on the opening drive were called passes, my evaluation was that most of those reps were RPOs. Hoover was reading the defender and deciding whether to hand the football off or take the available throw.
Without the actual play calls, that remains my interpretation. But his confidence was apparent. There was no hesitation.
That matters in an RPO offense. The quarterback has to process the read and act on it. Hesitation can disrupt the timing of the entire play. Saturday’s opening drive showed a quarterback who looked comfortable with his responsibilities and confident in his answers.
The Connection With Becker and Marsh Is Developing
The deep passing game has been a consistent topic through Indiana’s first five games. Some opportunities had not connected, and those misses brought questions.
What stood out to me was how Hoover carried himself through it. Outwardly, he did not appear to let that scrutiny affect his confidence. He kept taking those opportunities downfield.
Against Rutgers, you could see the connection developing with Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh.
Becker finished with 107 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Marsh added 120 yards and a touchdown. Together, they accounted for three of Hoover’s four touchdown passes. Official receiving statistics
The production extended to the running game. Turbo Richard rushed for 204 yards, and Lee Beebe Jr. added 122. Combined with Becker’s 107 receiving yards and Marsh’s 120, Indiana became the first Big Ten team since at least 1995 with two 100-yard rushers and two 100-yard receivers in a conference game, according to Indiana’s official postgame notes. It was a balanced offensive performance that gave Rutgers problems on the ground and through the air.
Hoover’s throw to Becker on the post route was, in my opinion, his best throw of the night. After all the discussion about the deep passing game, that was the connection I would highlight in evaluating his performance.
The relationships between a quarterback and his receivers take work. Saturday offered encouraging evidence of where those relationships are heading.
Moving the Pocket Added Another Element
I also liked that Mike Shanahan moved the pocket at least a couple of times, with positive results.
Changing the launch point gives the defense another element to account for. It can change the quarterback’s throwing angle and how the defense has to pursue and cover.
For Hoover, those opportunities add another dimension to an offense in which he is becoming increasingly comfortable. From a coaching standpoint, that is something worth continuing to build on.
Five Games of Accuracy and Ball Security
Through five games, Hoover has completed 76 of 107 passes for 1,101 yards and 15 touchdowns. His completion percentage is 71.03%, and he has thrown zero interceptions. Official Indiana season statistics
| Opponent | Completions/Attempts | Completion % | Passing Yards | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Texas | 13/16 | 81.25% | 231 | 4 | 0 |
| Howard | 6/11 | 54.55% | 145 | 4 | 0 |
| Western Kentucky | 18/24 | 75.00% | 273 | 2 | 0 |
| Northwestern | 19/29 | 65.52% | 201 | 1 | 0 |
| Rutgers | 20/27 | 74.07% | 251 | 4 | 0 |
| Total | 76/107 | 71.03% | 1,101 | 15 | 0 |
Sources: official box scores for North Texas, Howard, Western Kentucky, Northwestern, Rutgers.
His accuracy continues to be a strength. So does his ability to produce touchdowns without throwing interceptions.
Every game asks something different of a quarterback. Hoover has continued to give Indiana productive play while becoming more comfortable with the offense and the players around him.
Another Elite Quarterback—and the Next Test
In my evaluation, it is becoming apparent that the Hoosiers have another elite quarterback for the third consecutive season.
Hoover is showing the accuracy, confidence and decision-making that give this offense a chance to keep winning. Saturday’s performance provided another reason to believe in what he can become at Indiana.
What happens next? We will find out.
The next three weeks bring Nebraska on the road, Ohio State at home and Michigan on the road. Trips to Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium and Michigan Stadium will put Hoover in two of college football’s most iconic environments, with crowd noise adding another challenge. Official Indiana schedule
From a coaching perspective, those environments test communication, protection adjustments and the ability to make decisions under pressure. Hoover’s growing comfort will have to carry into those moments.
Through five games, he has given Indiana plenty of reasons for confidence. Now we get to see how he responds to the next test.
Related coverage: Indiana’s 47–15 win at Rutgers · Indiana schedule, results and Big Ten standings
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