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Ohio State's Opposition: Indiana

David ThurmanOct 8, 2010
Mascot: Hoosiers
Stadium: Memorial Stadium (56,692)
2009 Record: 4-8
2010 Record: 3-1
Head Coach:  Bill Lynch (fourth year at IU, 17-24; eighteenth year overall, 98-91-3)
Lettermen Returning: 45 (22 lost)
Returning Starters: Offense - 9; Defense - 4; Specialists - 2
Base Offense: Ace (3 receivers)
Base Defense: 4-3
Returning Stars: QB Ben Chappell, WR Tandon Doss (pictured) & LB Tyler Replogle

Notable Alumni:

Kevin Kline - Oscar winning actor
Dick Enberg - Sportscaster
Hoagy Charmichael - Songwriter
Mark Spitz - Swimmer (won 7 gold medals in '72 Olympics)
Jane Pauley - TV journalist
Jimmy Wales - Co-founder and president of Wickipedia
Steve Alford - NBA player and NCAA coach
Joe Buck - Emmy Award winning sportscaster
Shaun Micheel - PGA golfer

Cheerleading Scouting Report:
Indiana Preview:

With a strong-armed quarterback and a potent offense, the Indiana Hoosiers travel to Columbus with renewed confidence. Taking a page from rival Purdue and ex-coach Joe Tiller, the Crimson and Cream feature "basketball on grass."  While last week's game with Illinois was done in less than three hours thanks to a steady diet of running plays from both teams, this game may drag on as IU is prepared to pass more than fifty times. 

Most Ohio State fans may be yawning about this matchup, considering IU has been a steady cellar dweller in the Big Ten and hasn't defeated the Buckeyes since 1988, but this isn't your father's Indiana Hooiser team.  Led by Ben Chappell, this squad is averaging 362 yards passing per contest, and plans to test a wounded OSU secondary that may want to make sure there is oxygen available on the sideline.

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The Indiana offense begins and ends with Chappell's right arm.  The local boy from Bloomington South High School was a good quarterback last season, but has been phenomenal thus far in 2010, although it has been against suspect competition.  So far he has completed 71.6% of his passes for 1370 yards, with 12 touchdowns and only 1 interception, which is pretty impressive if you are merely playing against air.  Although he is not fleet of foot, Chappell is big (242 pounds) and isn't easy to bring down.  He has been sacked but four times in four games and is clever at buying himself time to throw.  He also has a quick release, so the Buckeye d-line better bring their A game Saturday.

A successful passing offense depends not only on a good quarterback but also a stable of solid receivers and Indiana is no exception to that rule. The starters are all big, run good routes, and have excellent hands.  The star of the group is Tandon Doss (6'3" 200) who combines size and speed, and caught 15 balls for 221 yards last week against Michigan.  IU tries to get him the ball in multiple ways including screens and end-arounds, and you can expect to hear his name mentioned often.  Damarlo Belcher (6'5" 210) is a star in his own right, and is a tough matchup due to his height.  He actually leads the team in 2010 with 31 catches, 375 yards, and 3 TDs.  Terrance Turner (6'3" 209) is more of a possession receiver and has 24 catches, 246 yards and 1 TD thus far. This unit is one of the best in the nation with solid depth off the bench on top of the starters.  A wounded Ohio State secondary can't be pleased to see these guys coming to town.

At tight end Indiana features two players: Max Dedmond, who is a fine blocker but not used much in the passing game; and, red-shirt freshman Ted Bolser who is another excellent weapon for Chappell having hauled in 10 catches for 155 yards and a team-leading four touchdowns,

The running game is pretty much an afterthought for the Hoosiers, although they do have a solid tailback in sophomore Darius Willis who has good size and speed.  He has rushed for 278 yards and 4 TD's, and is a threat out of the backfield with 11 catches and another touchdown.  Outside of Willis there isn't much to speak of, and overall Indiana is averaging only 107 yards per game at 3.6 per carry. 

Indiana's offensive line is built to protect the passer and has done a fine job of reaching that objective.  They feature nice size, especially at tackle.  Although none of the five starters particularly stands out, they work well as a unit. The best (and certainly biggest) of the lot is probably RT James Brewer, who is a behemoth at 6'8', 331 pounds. Unfortunately for the Hoosiers, he is out with an ankle injury Saturday.  Ben Chappell doesn't usually need a ton of time to get rid of the ball though, and these guys have supplied him exactly what he has needed so far.

Defensively Indiana is not nearly so fearsome.  Returning only four starters from a group that gave up 29.5 points a game in 2009, the numbers were fairly good through the first three games, but that was against Towson, Western Kentucky and Akron. Things changed last week, when Denard Robinson torched the Hooisers for 574 yards and 42 points. 

The defensive line is big but has not been overly effective.  After possessing some fine pass-rushers the past few years, IU has struggled getting to the quarterback this year and has totaled but four sacks.  Despite featuring a couple 300-pounders at defensive tackle, the line has not been effective in plugging the middle, as opponents have run for 207 yards a game and averaged 6.3 ypc.  The best of the lineman has been Centerville, Ohio native, Adam Replogle, who starts at end but often moves inside.  He has nine tackles including 1.5 for loss through the season's first four games.

Indiana's linebacking corps is headlined by Adam's big brother, Tyler Replogle, who leads the team with 26 tackles despite missing one game.  He and middle backer Leon Beckum are a serviceable pair, but overall this is not one of the Big Ten's better units.

Defensive back is manned by another group that is playing without distinction.  The safties, Mitchell Evans and Donnell Jones, have nice size and have been active with 19 and 18 tackles respectively.  The starting corners, Matt Ernest and Richard Council are tall and rangy and have been decent so far, with Ernest taking a pick to the house versus Towson. Considering the fact that Robinson lit them up for 277 yards and 3 TD's on just 10 completions leads one to believe that these guys can be burned long.  

The kicking game is not spectacular with punter Chris Hagerup averaging 37.1 per boot, and the kicking tandum of Nick Freeland and Mitch Ewald 4-5 on field goals.  On the other hand, the return game has been pretty good with the dangerous Tandon Doss being the main man.  IU is averaging over 27 yards per kick return and with the Buckeye's woes in coverage well documented they will need to be on their toes. 

Game Outlook:

This game offers a classic matchup of teams with different styles.  Indiana wants to march up and down the field with short passes, hoping that their big receivers can turn a few of them into long gains.  Ohio State, meanwhile, will try and establsih the run as "Tresselball" makes its way back to Ohio Stadium.  Indiana desires a high scoring game, similar to last week's 42-35 thriller with Michigan.  The Buckeyes would prefer a lower scoring game that features ball control, defense, and solid special teams.  It will be interesting to see which team is able to create their desired tempo.

If Ohio State entered this contest relatively healthy I would pick them going away.  But with a severly impaired secondary facing a steep test, and with a quarterback nursing a strained quadricep who may be limited, I think this may be a pretty competitive game.

Look for IU to come out swinging as they have nothing to lose and they want a fast-paced game.  The Silver Bullets need to be ready to cover the whole field, and missed assigments will result in disaster.  It is imperative that the d-line get some pressure on Chappell, and with Heyward and Williams coming off their best game, the hope is that they will pick up where they left off.  Heacock needs to mix in some blitzes as well, sending people from every angle to disrupt the timing of the Indiana passing game.  While the secondary will surrender plenty of yardage, I look for the Bucks to stiffen in the red zone and force a number of field goal attempts.  Interestingly, Indiana (like the Buckeyes) has not turned it over much so Ohio State may not want to depend on getting the kinds of gifts they have in most games this year. 

Ohio State will hope to get their tailbacks going early against a team that is weak versus the run.  The o-line needs to bring the kind of attitude they had in the fourth quarter against Illinois, and simply punch the Hoosiers in the mouth early and often.  Pryor may not throw too much, but I look for him to take some chances down the field, and Indiana can be exploited in the passing game.  It will surprise me if Terrelle runs it more than seven or eight times, but if he picks his moments, I think he can hurt IU, even with an injured leg.  As the game heads into the late third quarter, the physical Buckeye lines should take over and nail down a victory.  It won't be easy, and there may be some anxious moments, but in the end, look for Ohio State to win with old-fashioned football. 

Father vs. Son Prediction Battle:

Dave: OSU 34-23
Drew: OSU 31-14
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