Sunday Reflections: Indiana Is 3-0 — Now the Test Changes

Three games. Three wins.

That’s the most important fact surrounding Indiana football on this Sunday morning.

The Hoosiers handled Western Kentucky 38-0 Saturday, improved to 3-0 and completed the nonconference portion of their schedule exactly where they wanted to be: undefeated.

Indiana has also posted consecutive shutouts, established a physical running game and gotten efficient quarterback play from Josh Hoover without asking him to carry the football team.

Was everything perfect Saturday? No. Nor should anyone have expected it to be. There are throws Hoover would like back. There are offensive possessions Indiana will want to clean up. The Hoosiers led only 14-0 at halftime before taking control with 17 points in the third quarter.

That’s why you watch the film. But there’s a difference between identifying areas that need improvement and searching for problems simply because a team didn’t play perfectly.

Indiana is 3-0. Now the test changes.

Saturday Reinforced Indiana’s Identity

Indiana’s first three games have started revealing what this football team’s identity could become.

• 513 total yards
• 233 rushing yards
• 38 points
• 186 total yards allowed
• 66 rushing yards allowed
• 0 turnovers
• 2 penalties for 15 yards

Turbo Richard provided the explosive element in the running game, carrying 15 times for 149 yards and a touchdown.

The bigger takeaway isn’t one individual statistic. Indiana is demonstrating an ability to win at the line of scrimmage, run the football, create explosive plays and play suffocating defense. That’s a good foundation for entering Big Ten play. Now we get to find out how much of it travels.

The Defense Is Doing Something Indiana Hasn’t Done in 33 Years

The offense naturally commands attention, particularly with a new quarterback following a Heisman Trophy winner. But perhaps the most significant development through three weeks is happening on the other side of the football.

Indiana hasn’t allowed a point in eight consecutive quarters.

• Howard: Indiana 55, Howard 0
• Western Kentucky: Indiana 38, WKU 0
• Points allowed over the last two games: 0
• Consecutive shutouts: First since 1993
• Last occurrence: Indiana beat Northwestern 24-0 and Michigan State 10-0 in consecutive games
• Takeaway streak: At least one in 12 consecutive games

It’s only the third time since the Big Ten’s modern era began in 1953 that Indiana has recorded consecutive shutouts. This isn’t merely a defense surviving while Indiana’s offense scores points. Bryant Haines’ group is beginning to establish its own identity.

Hoover Enters Big Ten Play Efficient and Protecting the Football

There has been plenty of discussion surrounding Josh Hoover. When you follow Fernando Mendoza after a Heisman Trophy and national championship season, every missed throw gets magnified.

But Indiana doesn’t need Hoover to recreate Mendoza. It needs him to operate the offense efficiently, protect the football and make plays when opportunities present themselves.

• Completion percentage: 72.5%
• Passing yards: 649
• Touchdown passes: 10
• Interceptions: 0
• Yards per attempt: 12.7
• Yards per completion: 17.5
• Indiana record: 3-0

That’s not a quarterback Indiana needs to rescue. There are things to improve. There always will be. But demanding improvement and demanding perfection aren’t the same thing.

Northwestern Changed the Conversation Saturday Night

If anyone viewed Northwestern as a comfortable transition into the conference schedule, Saturday night should have gotten their attention.

The Wildcats didn’t just beat Colorado. They beat the Buffaloes 41-7, led 21-0 at halftime and forced four turnovers. Northwestern also stopped Colorado on three fourth-down attempts.

And Northwestern has something else that makes Friday night’s matchup particularly interesting: a quarterback Indiana already knows. Aidan Chiles.

Indiana Has Seen Chiles Before

Chiles was Michigan State’s quarterback when the Spartans came to Bloomington last season, and he played exceptionally well.

• Completions/Attempts: 27-of-33
• Completion percentage: 81.8%
• Passing yards: 243
• Passing TDs: 1
• Interceptions: 0
• Rushing yards: 48
• Total offense: 291 yards

Indiana ultimately won the football game, but Chiles demonstrated exactly why his athletic ability creates problems for a defense. Now Indiana gets him again, only this time he’s operating Chip Kelly’s Northwestern offense.

Five Touchdowns Against Colorado

Chiles was outstanding against Colorado:

• 17-of-22 passing
• 77.3% completion rate
• 241 passing yards
• 3 passing touchdowns
• 2 rushing touchdowns
• 5 total touchdowns

When we get into the Northwestern film this week, I’m going to be interested in much more than the stat line. How is Chip Kelly creating those opportunities? How much quarterback run is built into the offense? How much motion is Kelly using? How are they manipulating linebackers? What does the read game look like?

And perhaps most importantly: How does Bryant Haines account for Chiles without compromising the structure of Indiana’s defense?

Chiles Changes the Numbers

A legitimate dual-threat quarterback creates a mathematical problem for a defense. When the quarterback becomes a legitimate running threat, the defense must account for another gap. Add Chip Kelly’s motion, option principles and play-action concepts, and defenders can be forced to hesitate for just a fraction of a second.

Indiana’s defense has played exceptionally fast through three games. Against Northwestern, the challenge changes slightly: Play fast—but play disciplined.

Eyes matter. Leverage matters. Gap integrity matters. And tackling the quarterback in space will matter.

Don’t Overlook Northwestern’s Defense

Chiles and Kelly will generate most of the attention this week. Northwestern’s defense deserves plenty of it, too.

• Takeaways vs. Colorado: 4
• Colorado failed fourth downs: 3
• Points allowed: 7

That’s exactly where Hoover’s zero interceptions through three games become particularly important. Northwestern doesn’t need to hold Indiana to 200 yards to make Friday night difficult. Create two turnovers, win field position and give Chiles and Kelly a short field, and suddenly the complexion of the game changes.

This Is Why the Nonconference Games Matter

The first three weeks weren’t supposed to determine whether Indiana could repeat as a Big Ten or national championship contender. They were supposed to prepare Indiana for games like this one.

Now the margin starts shrinking. A missed explosive throw matters more. A busted run fit matters more. A penalty that turns second-and-5 into second-and-15 matters more. A missed tackle on the quarterback can become a 25-yard gain.

The standard hasn’t changed. The consequences for failing to meet it have.

Friday Should Tell Us More About Indiana

Can Indiana’s defensive front control Northwestern while still accounting for Chiles? Can the linebackers remain disciplined against Kelly’s motion, play action and misdirection? Can Indiana continue running the football against a Big Ten defense? Can Hoover continue protecting the football when the coverage becomes more complicated?

Those aren’t reasons for concern. They’re reasons to look forward to Friday night. Championship teams eventually have to answer those questions.

Coach Griff’s Sunday Reflection

Indiana should feel good this morning. Not satisfied. Good. There’s a difference.

• 3-0
• Owners of back-to-back shutouts for the first time since 1993
• Allowing zero points over the last eight quarters
• Running the football effectively
• Getting explosive plays from Turbo Richard
• Getting efficient quarterback play from Josh Hoover
• Protecting the football

There doesn’t need to be doom and gloom surrounding that. But there shouldn’t be complacency either.

Northwestern just beat Colorado 41-7. They have an athletic quarterback Indiana already knows can cause problems, Chip Kelly designing the offense around him, and a defense capable of stealing possessions.

Indiana spent three weeks preparing for Big Ten football.

Friday night, we start finding out how much the Hoosiers learned.

Friday, September 25: Northwestern at No. 4 Indiana — 8:00 PM ET on FOX.

Catch Hoosier Tailgate WKU Recap Monday Night at 7:30 PM on YouTube