IU Football 2025

[PDB26]

3 hours ago, PDB26 said:

This seems like an overreaction. Mendoza was a three star not some top-flight guy. The only mid-major QBs who ever get talked about in the portal are guys from sling-it-around offenses who will be in their 5th/6th year of eligibility. I'm not sure why an elite incoming freshman would see the need to go to a mid-major, pass on oodles of NIL money, and burn a year of eligibility while risking injury. Indiana is going to need an experienced guy next year just like they did this year.

Just a comment on the idea that highly rated qbs should or would even consider going to a mid-major or lower tier P4 when they have offers from big time programs. That was the overreaction. Mendoza was a three star out of high school, but that’s meaningless now. I’m sure he’ll be a fine player for IU in the fall.

[BTF]

On 12/28/2024 at 7:31 PM, PDB26 said:

Just a comment on the idea that highly rated qbs should or would even consider going to a mid-major or lower tier P4 when they have offers from big time programs. That was the overreaction. Mendoza was a three star out of high school, but that’s meaningless now. I’m sure he’ll be a fine player for IU in the fall.

Overreaction? Sure. Just making a point that the transfer portal is BS and doesn't do much justice toward the kids who committed from the beginning. Call me old school. 

[Sparty]

1 hour ago, BTF said:

Overreaction? Sure. Just making a point that the transfer portal is BS and doesn't do much justice toward the kids who committed from the beginning. Call me old school. 

Old school.  Old school here too.  Bigger fan of Dabo now.  

[PDB26]

16 hours ago, BTF said:

Overreaction? Sure. Just making a point that the transfer portal is BS and doesn't do much justice toward the kids who committed from the beginning. Call me old school. 

What's Cignetti supposed to do, play a guy who he didn't recruit, and obviously isn't impressed with, or one of two true sophomores with no experience––especially after raising expectations and dollar signs in year 1––on the verge of a season where they go to Oregon, Iowa, and Penn State? I don't think any of these coaches really want to get into the portal QB pipeline. You mentioned ND, but there's no way ND is in the playoff this season if any of the other QBs on the roster had been the starter given how bad ND has been at receiver, and I say that with the understanding of Leonard's own limitations as a passer. 

I don't like how coaches use the portal to remake large parts, or the entirety, of their rosters, but limited use isn't all that different than recruiting a guy out of high school who comes in and immediately overtakes an upperclassman. Nothing really does justice to the kids who were committed from the beginning other than each player being a strong performer in the eyes of their coaches although it is easier to get passed by someone else now.

Athletes in every sport except for men's and women's basketball, football, baseball, and men's hockey have been able to play immediately after transferring without a waiver from the NCAA since at least 2002, so long as they were academically eligible, and the portal is just a clearinghouse for athletes that was created when they no longer had to ask permission to leave starting in like 2018 and then 2021 for football. All the rules for initial and transfer eligibility were supposed to be based on academics and staying on track to graduate anyway.

[Irishman]

Ponds is coming back

 

 

[BTF]

6 hours ago, PDB26 said:

1.  What's Cignetti supposed to do, play a guy who he didn't recruit, and obviously isn't impressed with, or one of two true sophomores with no experience

2. You mentioned ND, but there's no way ND is in the playoff this season if any of the other QBs on the roster had been the starter given how bad ND has been at receiver, and I say that with the understanding of Leonard's own limitations as a passer. 

 

1.  He's supposed to do what he has to do to maintain his multi million dollar salary. Money is what drives this world, not really "doing the right thing."

2. You can't say that for certain. I understand the point your making, but "there's no way" is over dramatizing a bit. 

[PHJIrish]

I'm  kind of freaked out that 2025 is just two days away!😵

[PDB26]

51 minutes ago, BTF said:

1.  He's supposed to do what he has to do to maintain his multi million dollar salary. Money is what drives this world, not really "doing the right thing."

2. You can't say that for certain. I understand the point you’re making, but "there's no way" is over dramatizing a bit. 

1. But if you’re recruiting players to come in out of high school every year, and you could get a player at any position to come in and play immediately and better ahead of a guy who has been in the program is that doing the wrong thing or is that ok because it feels different than waiver-free transfers?

2. I don’t want to keep derailing the IU thread with ND talk, but Leonard’s athletic ability, experience, and instincts  have allowed him to make positives out of many negative plays in the pass game that I don’t think anyone else on the roster has. Leonard has also thrown the two worst interceptions I’ve ever seen on downfield passes, but the young offensive line and generally poor receiver play would have been a lot for the other guys to overcome with how that would allow defenses to attack ND. 

[BTF]

8 hours ago, PDB26 said:

1. But if you’re recruiting players to come in out of high school every year, and you could get a player at any position to come in and play immediately and better ahead of a guy who has been in the program is that doing the wrong thing or is that ok because it feels different than waiver-free transfers?

2. I don’t want to keep derailing the IU thread with ND talk, but Leonard’s athletic ability, experience, and instincts  have allowed him to make positives out of many negative plays in the pass game that I don’t think anyone else on the roster has. Leonard has also thrown the two worst interceptions I’ve ever seen on downfield passes, but the young offensive line and generally poor receiver play would have been a lot for the other guys to overcome with how that would allow defenses to attack ND. 

Again, I'll defer to Dabo on this. I think you commit to the kids you invested in at the beginning. Having a multi million dollar salary on the line changes things though. It's a money driven world, certainly not loyalty driven. 

I do like your assessment of the ND offense, it's hard to debate. But I think you're being a little harsh on Angeli and Carr. Maybe it's Leonard that's not doing the receivers many favors? I'm not arguing that he isn't the right man to lead the offense, I'm just debating whether they should have brought him in in the first place. If Angeli went to a MAC school, he's be a draft prospect already. 

[PDB26]

2 hours ago, BTF said:

Again, I'll defer to Dabo on this. I think you commit to the kids you invested in at the beginning. Having a multi million dollar salary on the line changes things though. It's a money driven world, certainly not loyalty driven. 

I do like your assessment of the ND offense, it's hard to debate. But I think you're being a little harsh on Angeli and Carr. Maybe it's Leonard that's not doing the receivers many favors? I'm not arguing that he isn't the right man to lead the offense, I'm just debating whether they should have brought him in in the first place. If Angeli went to a MAC school, he's be a draft prospect already. 

Ok, we’re derailing this thread. In an effort to make it relate to IU, I’d love for Surratt to enter the portal and go to ND—he’s a dawg.

I believe Dabo, but Clemson has had more five-star quarterbacks in the past ten years than ND has had in my lifetime. His argument has always been, in part, one that seeks to protect the recruiting advantage he had built up—and that’s ok, too. Dabo has done a great job at Clemson and I can’t think of the last time I heard something bad about a Clemson player—while they were at Clemson, anyway.

Transfers have always been a way to improve a specific position, it just required looking ahead one year in the past. I love the idea of loyalty and think it’s great for teams to develop players over time, but I also have a tough time believing that college football, as a whole, was necessarily more loyal or moral in the past.

I’m not being harsh on Angeli or Carr—interesting that nobody ever mentions Minchey. All three of those guys are probably better passers than Leonard. I wanted Angeli to be the guy this year, but I think the gains for the offense would have been modest—at best—even if the quarterback play definitely would have been more consistent because ND would be much easier to defend without Leonard’s improv ability and his capacity to carry the ball on designed runs. Without Leonard, ND’s offense would often look like IU did against the Irish defense except ND doesn’t have a Surratt to take a chance with on a few 50/50 balls.

Leonard’s deficiencies as a passer almost certainly mean there have been completions left on the field either through missed throws or no-throws. ND’s receivers might look better if that wasn’t the case. We know he’s missed chances to hit guys downfield on the scramble, too. Still this year’s group of receivers is no better at defeating press coverage or separating from coverage in general, and the only guy who kind of threatens as a deep contested ball catcher is Faison. ND has fared better throwing against teams that are heavy zone teams (IU) because the receivers don’t need to take the top off to be effective enough and Leonard is able to evade pressure to avoid a lot of sacks. Sorry IU thread.

[PHJIrish]

17 hours ago, PDB26 said:

1. But if you’re recruiting players to come in out of high school every year, and you could get a player at any position to come in and play immediately and better ahead of a guy who has been in the program is that doing the wrong thing or is that ok because it feels different than waiver-free transfers?

2. I don’t want to keep derailing the IU thread with ND talk, but Leonard’s athletic ability, experience, and instincts  have allowed him to make positives out of many negative plays in the pass game that I don’t think anyone else on the roster has. Leonard has also thrown the two worst interceptions I’ve ever seen on downfield passes, but the young offensive line and generally poor receiver play would have been a lot for the other guys to overcome with how that would allow defenses to attack ND. 

I keep hearing about the Irish OL and Leonard, but the Irish RB's don't seem to be having too many problems with the OL.    I am glad that the Irish coaches have modified the game plan to take advantage of Leornard's strength.  I hope he has the game of his life tomorrow night!

[Sparty]

How does Georgia make ND 1 dimensional?  Man coverage?   All out run blitzes?  Man low, zone high?

I think ND will struggle to move the ball on the ground consistently 

[Sparty]

2 minutes ago, Sparty said:

How does Georgia make ND 1 dimensional?  Man coverage?   All out run blitzes?  Man low, zone high?

I think ND will struggle to move the ball on the ground consistently 

Sorry.  Wrong thread. 

[PHJIrish]

6 hours ago, Sparty said:

Sorry.  Wrong thread. 

Wrong commentary too!

[Bash Riprock]

Nice summary by the Star on transfer portal activity to date for the Hoosiers

https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2024/12/31/iu-football-transfer-portal-tracker-players-in-out-for-indiana-hoosiers-2025-roster/77353901007/

 

[Irishman]

10 minutes ago, Bash Riprock said:

Nice summary by the Star on transfer portal activity to date for the Hoosiers

https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2024/12/31/iu-football-transfer-portal-tracker-players-in-out-for-indiana-hoosiers-2025-roster/77353901007/

 

As others have said several times, not a fan of this portal business. On this list is Louis Moore. Played all 24 games he was on the roster for during his first stint under Tom Allen; transferred to Ole Miss and is now coming back to IU. 

[Irishman]

They still need to upgrade the o line. That is the group that struggled the last 3 games. 

The schedule looks easier next season, but will they face tougher scrutiny with the way they lost to Ohio State and Notre Dame? 

[Bash Riprock]

7 minutes ago, Irishman said:

As others have said several times, not a fan of this portal business. On this list is Louis Moore. Played all 24 games he was on the roster for during his first stint under Tom Allen; transferred to Ole Miss and is now coming back to IU. 

I wasn't registering a position on the portal...just providing a listing of IU portal activity.  Unfortunately, its now become the norm for D1 FBS football.  

Would love to see a rule requiring the player to sit out a year unless his head coach left the program.  Also, would love to see the portal closed until the season is fully complete.

[Irishman]

Just now, Bash Riprock said:

I wasn't registering a position on the portal...just providing a listing of IU portal activity.  Unfortunately, its now become the norm for D1 FBS football.  

Sorry if that is the way my post came across. I did not mean it to. I agree though, it is what it is now. 

[Bash Riprock]

44 minutes ago, Irishman said:

Sorry if that is the way my post came across. I did not mean it to. I agree though, it is what it is now. 

I didn't take it bad...we align on the portal.  Not a big fan of how NIL is being applied as well.

[Sparty]

On 12/31/2024 at 3:41 PM, Sparty said:

How does Georgia make ND 1 dimensional?  Man coverage?   All out run blitzes?  Man low, zone high?

I think ND will struggle to move the ball on the ground consistently 

@Irishman

can you move this (if possible) to the CFP thread?  Thank you.  

On 12/31/2024 at 10:08 PM, PHJIrish said:

Wrong commentary too!

I hope ND figures it out, b/c so far, they are struggling to run the ball. 

[Irishman]

7 minutes ago, Sparty said:

@Irishman

can you move this (if possible) to the CFP thread?  Thank you.  

I hope ND figures it out, b/c so far, they are struggling to run the ball. 

I looked into it and don't see any options for moving a reply to a different topic.

[Sparty]

8 minutes ago, Irishman said:

I looked into it and don't see any options for moving a reply to a different topic.

No worries. 

[Bash Riprock]

Not great news…..

 

[PDB26]

On 12/31/2024 at 4:23 PM, PHJIrish said:

I keep hearing about the Irish OL and Leonard, but the Irish RB's don't seem to be having too many problems with the OL.    I am glad that the Irish coaches have modified the game plan to take advantage of Leornard's strength.  I hope he has the game of his life tomorrow night!

I only mean that the limitations at receiver make it hard on both quarterback and the offensive line to have a traditionally successful passing attack.