Footballking16

8 minutes ago, HHF said:

As I mentioned, Id be more concerned about the height variance.  Very few under 6-3 high level defensive ends in the pros.  Weve been told for 2 years that Curry is 6-5.  Something is amiss.  

Curry is nowhere close to 6’5, that’s evident just looking at him on the field. He can still play rush end in a 4-3 as a down line man or a stand up in 3-4 at 6’3 250-255 but he needs to run in the 4.5-4.6 range. Look at Ojabo and Moye from Michigan and Minnesota who just got drafted early in the 2nd round this past weekend. Similar sizes to Curry but both ran sub 4.6 in the 40.

5 minutes ago, Grover said:

Okay, Captain Obvious, but when you’re a defensive lineman and you’re one of the fastest kids on the 5th ranked team in the country then speed isn’t your biggest concern. 

If Caden Curry is running a 4.5 or 4.6 at the NFL combine he'll have nothing to worry about. I'm guessing that isn't the case though or else you wouldn't be this defensive. 

I have little doubt he'll be able to add on the necessary weight that was giving DT concerns about his ability to get drafted. 

1 minute ago, HHF said:

I disagree.  While the defense is improved, its not light years ahead of where they were under Wilson.  And offensively, we are nowhere near the talent level we had under KW.  Of course, he was a winner coming from Oklahoma and understood what offensive talent looks like.  Your "much improved" defense got obliterated several times last year, including against the supposed worst team in the conference from Piscataway.  Im my view, IU can never have an elite defense, because they cant recruit and coach to that level.  That can and have had an "elite" offense.  We gave that up when Wilson got whacked.  All he has done is take Ohio States offense up a few more notches.  

You're looking way too much into the Rutgers game last year. Charlie Spegal lead the team in rushing attempts that game, that should tell you everything you need to know about where IU was at during that point of the season. And the defense is LIGHT YEARS ahead today than it was under any point of the Wilson era, sans the lone year Allen was the DC. It's not comparable. IU's offense was flat abysmal last year and put the defense behind the 8ball every game. IU's offense had 4 pick sixes last year alone and went 3 and out more times than any team in a P5 conference. 

And I think you're crazy if you think Kevin Wilson is what is making Ohio State's offense go. That is all Ryan Day. 

12 minutes ago, HHF said:

When it comes to IU football, I am a hard core realist.  I refuse to succumb to the hype and the lovefest.  2020 was a complete and total mirage.  IU pretty much capitalized on the fact that most teams were just going thru the motions.  Those coaches may have left a burning ship.  It could be either way.

Reality is that Tom Allen was .500 through 4 years as Indiana's coach and that just doesn't happen. Sans Mallory and few good years of John Pont, you're looking at the best era of Indiana football in almost 30 years. It is what it is. You can call 2021 a fluke, 2020 netted 8 wins. 1-11 is the fluke in my opinion until it's repeated. 

12 minutes ago, HHF said:

I liked the Kevin Wilson teams better than the Allen teams.  We had better players.  Nate Sudfeld.  Jason Spriggs.  Dan Feeney. Jordan Howard.  Cody Latimer.  Tevin Coleman.  The team had an offense first identity.  Now we have no identity. 

I credit Wilson for getting the ball rolling, but his teams were maddening to watch. Zero defense. IU is still in a much better place today than at any point of the Wilson era. Can't really refute that. 

12 minutes ago, HHF said:

Im setting the bar VERY low for 2022.  3-9/1-8 get TA another year.  Another winless Big Ten season gets him the boot

IU isn't going to pay the nearly $20 million to buy out Tom Allen regardless of what happens next year. Also a harsh reality. 

4 minutes ago, Grover said:

Caden was one of the fastest guys on our team last year.  And he’s quicker than he is fast. 

I'm not doubting that. Being the fastest kid on your high school team is entirely different than being the fastest player in your draft class. 

6 minutes ago, HHF said:

Last season took me back to the dark days.  Fact is, IU built those early Allen records on the backs of weak non con competition and wins over terrible Rutgers and Purdue teams.  A win is a win, it is what it is.  But quality wins have been rare .  Is there not a reasonable expectation that in Year 5 of a coaches tenure, the wheels should be humming.  The program fully and completely belongs to him.  IU looked like one of the worst teams in the country at the end of last season.  We continue to lose coaches and players to the portal.  Allens 4 stars have been disapointing.  There is little reason for optimism, as everyone else is getting much better in the conference, and they have deeper, more experienced staffs. No coach wants to coach at IU.  They settle on IU when all other options are gone

IU was on a roll heading into last season....and then ended up playing what was the hardest schedule in the country. Who knew when Indiana scheduled Cincinnati 6-7 years ago they'd be a playoff team? And they had massive injuries all over the field. They played 4 QB's last year and started a walk-on against Purdue. Their 2nd and 3rd leading ball carriers were both walk-ons. They had several key injuries to their secondary last year which coming into the year was the strongest unit on the team by far. It is what it is and water under the bridge at this point. 

IU still netted it's best recruiting class of all-time despite going 2-10 and added much more in the portal than what they lost. The only significant loss was Reese Taylor, a 5th year corner who was a spot starter last year only due to injury. IU is losing coaches to better programs which is a sign of a progressing team. Both of IU's coordinators in 2020 are now head coaches at the FBS level and Deland McCullough left to coach at Notre Dame. Can you really blame any of those departures?

14 minutes ago, HHF said:

2021 was closer to reality

 

 

How? Tom Allen before last year had gone:

5-7

5-7

8-5

6-2

IU hasn't had a comparable season since Kevin Wilson's inaugural year where they went 1-11. 

17 minutes ago, temptation said:

IU:  Nowhere as good as their record in 2020…nowhere near as bad as their record in 2021.

Can we all agree on that statement?

More than fair although IU was bad last year, no sugarcoating it. Would be a lot more alarmed though with how 2021 ended if it was the same personnel on the field that started the season. IU was forced to play a ton of guys at the end of the year that had no business playing. It is what it is. Call it Allen's mulligan.

9 minutes ago, Grover said:

Which numbers would you worry about?

40 time, shuttle, etc. Those rush ends that are 6'3-6'4 250-260 lbs are still running 4.5's and 4.6's and some of them faster. No clue what Caden runs or will run when he's draft eligible but in my opinion would be a bigger concern than his size. It's not everything but can't deny that guys are penalized for poor combine performances. 

Chatard back to 3A is definitely a winner after only one year in 4A.

1 minute ago, HHF said:

You sure sounded a lot more optimistic than 4-8.  

I do think bowl eligibility is a possibility and should be the goal every year in Bloomington, but I wouldn't bet on it. Only way that is going to happen is if the OL takes a huge step forward (wouldn't count on it with Hiller still employed; one of Allen's biggest flaws as a head coach) and some of the skill position transfers make day 1 impacts. The JUCO kid they signed at wideout can absolutely fly and I like the toughness and versatility of the RB they bring in from Auburn. 

I do think the defense is good enough to keep IU in just about every game if they go back to forcing turnovers like they did in 2020 and 2021 which has been a staple under Allen. The guy Allen brought in last year was not aggressive in dialing up and disguising blitzed like you saw in previous years and with Allen reverting back to play-calling duties you'll see a much more aggressive defense. 

4 minutes ago, HHF said:

Good to hear about the QB.  I say 3-9. 1-8 BT   Whats your call?

If I had to bet, 4-8. Beat Illinois, Maryland, Idaho, WKU. Will be competitive with Cincy, Rutgers, Nebraska, and Purdue. 

I'm down on IU and Allen as much as the next guy, but do think last year was an aberration. I do think IU came in last year with way too much overinflated confidence and had a few unlucky breaks and bounces go against them early in the season that snowballed into the disaster you saw last year once the injuries starting piling up. I hate to say it, but last years team quit 3/4 into the season. Wasn't a good look for Allen. 

1 minute ago, HHF said:

Im more skeptical now than Ive ever been during the Allen era.  Im not sure there is a pro prospect on the current roster.  Most of our recent 4 stars have been duds.  Our offensive line looked below MAC level at the end of last season.  We have a one and done QB coming in to take over.  I wish I shared your optimism, but I dont see where it is coming from.  The team was uncompetitive and overmatched last year.  The Rutgers loss should tell you something about this team.  And a killer like Schiano will want a bigger margin of victory this year, at home.  

TA is set for life, but the school way overpaid for premature , non lasting results.  

Hogwash.

Taiwan Mullen is most definitely a pro prospect and was a freshman AA and then a 2nd team AA as a sophomore who played the entirety of last year hurt and missed several games. Jaylin Williams and Monster Matthews as well as Cam Jones also have a very good chance of being drafted. QB coming in has 3 years of eligibility left. Redshirted as a freshman, played two at Mizzou and has two years left + a COVID year if he wants it. 

4 minutes ago, HHF said:

Im tired of all the "LEO" BS.

We got our butts kicked all over the field last year and 2020 was a pandemic fluke.  The reason we have so many injuries is do to the fact that the roster is filled with sub par athletes who cant take the pounding of BT football.

Allen's pixie dust has run dry.  Indiana football's only hope is that the BT scraps its divisions and goes to an 8 game conference schedule, which is being discussed.  The conference wants to create a BT-PAC12-ACC Alliance to offset the SECs addition of OU and TEX.  The quicker IU can get away from OSU/PSU/UM the better.  Then we will pick up games like NC State, Oregon State, Arizona, Boston College, etc.  

 

I’d call the pandemic year a fluke if they didn’t go 8-5 the year prior. I think your injury take is nonsense. Penix, Matthews (Florida State), Carr (Southern California), and Mullen (All-American) doesn’t align with your subpar athlete narrative and when 4 or 5 of your top players all miss significant time, it’s going to reflect in the W-L column. IU is recruiting at a level they never have before and hit the portal hard this off-season to add quality talent and depth all across the defensive line. 

1 minute ago, HHF said:

Rutgers is much improved under Schiano and they smoked IU last year 38-3 in Bloomington.  RU will be heavily favored to win at home.

Illinois will be a new team in Bielema's second year, a clone of Wisconsin, which is IUs biggest nightmare.

I dont see us beating Nebraska

Maryland has much more talent, especially with 4 star recruits.  They have 14, IU has 7.  Terps should beat IU handily if we base contest solely on talent matchup.

PS/OSU/MSU/UM - forget it.

Cincinnatti on the road - forget it.

Idaho - we should win that one.

Western KY - we've lost to many MAC schools before.  

Purdue - they beat us by 5 TDs in 2021.  What do we have coming up that will reverse that result?

IUs entire season rests on the shoulders of transfer Mizzou QB Connor Bazelak. He started 20 games for the Tigers and is a legit P5 D1 QB.  Thankfully our season does not rest on Donaven McCulley's shoulders.

 

If IU has the same injury (un)luck it incurred last year, then sure, anything is on the table. But I don't foresee IU starting a true freshman at QB for the second half of the season nor do I see their RB rotation featuring multiple walk-ons and true freshmen. 

IU getting Allen back as it's full-time defensive play caller should help immensely.  

9 minutes ago, HHF said:

Curry appears to be The Incredible Shrinking Man

He has gone from 6-5, 250 to 6-2.5, 240.

Dont kids usually get bigger after the football season?

What gives?

https://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/caden-curry/6WzD83YiEeiAyNdjx8XCRA/default.htm

https://ohiostate.rivals.com/commitments/football/2022

https://247sports.com/Season/2022-Football/RecruitRankings/?InstitutionGroup=highschool&State=in

Like I said, I'm sure these services are strictly going off what is listed in the Center Grove program and as everyone knows those tend to be inflated. 

47 minutes ago, HHF said:

Whats your take if IU goes 1-11 this year, 0-9 in conference?

Does Allen get another year?

I dont see a conference win on the schedule.

We wont beat UC on the road.  WKU is dangerous.

Could get very ugly in Bloomington.

PU has momentum off 9-4 season.

BT West is weak.

 

 

Buyout is still over $15mil. He’s not getting fired next year regardless of what happens. 
 

I’ve seen worse IU teams finish better than 1-11 and next year isn’t anywhere close to the worst fielded IU team. Literally everything that had to go wrong for IU to finish 2-10 last year happened and then some. Bowl eligibility will be tough to come by as always playing in the East but I still see 4-5 wins.

1 minute ago, HHF said:

You just made my point.  They've listed him at 250 for the past two seasons.  

Maybe in the Center Grove program. 247 lists him at 240. My guess is he’s closer to 235 and built extremely well and will only get stronger and bigger with a specialized diet and meal plan. Definitely room for him to fill out with his frame.

2 minutes ago, HHF said:

Hes never looked as heavy as he has been listed.  Thats just a personal observation.  Neither did Paxson.  

Muscle weighs more than fat. Kids a brick. He’ll be 250-260 after 4 years in a college weight room.

6 minutes ago, temptation said:

Let's revisit this in a few years.

Curry’s got more than a legit shot assuming he stays healthy and can avoid getting bumped from the rotation.

2 minutes ago, HHF said:

Not sure if Curry's body is going to fill out to the NFL standard .  He's quite lean.  Reminds me a lot of another highly recruited CG DE who upon closer scrutiny was a little on the smallish side.

 

 

He’s got prototypical size for a modern day rush end. I’d be more worried about his combine numbers than size in my opinion.

Just now, HHF said:

Do you think a football coach or AD would ever decline an inbound transfer in the name of maintaining competitive balance?

An inbound? A smart one wouldn't.

Just now, HHF said:

Quality attracts quality.  Cant hardly blame a kid for wanting to play in that environment, as long as its within the rules.

I don't either. 

4 minutes ago, HHF said:

I believe Yeast was a one year transfer into CG.  Not really a product of the system.

 

 

Was CG able to cash in on any one year rentals for this coming year or do we have to wait till the end of the school year to find out?

On 4/24/2022 at 7:23 AM, temptation said:

So I’ve heard.

No ranking but a few that come to mind:

Script Ohio (actually was first performed by the the UM band, lol)

Jump Around

Traveler

Enter Sandman

The Children’s Hospital Wave

The Go Blue Banner

Howard’s Rock

Toomer’s Corner

Chief Osceola

Ralphie

The Sooner Schooner

 

Surely I’m missing a few.  What separates college football from any other sport in my opinion.

The Grove in Oxford MS is the pinnacle of college football tailgating. Fortunate to have attended on a few occasions. Went to an LSU game a few years ago while visiting NOLA on a bachelor party. 

2 minutes ago, temptation said:

ND OL vs OSU DL?

Probably a wash. Worst Ohio State defense I’ve seen in years, not sure it can get any worse this year. I think Knowles is the real deal and the last opponent he faced…Notre Dame. Domers don’t have the horses to keep up.

23 minutes ago, temptation said:

I’d love your analysis on this matchup.

Where does ND have obvious advantages in your opinion?

None. OL may be equal.

Ohio State has a top 2 QB, a top 3 RB, and the best receiver in college football. Blood bath coming.