While
the team will rally around Hoeppner's memory, it also has emerging young
leaders. All struggling teams need at least one great prospect to build
around, and the Hoosiers found their man in quarterback Kellen Lewis,
who showed the moxie of a longtime veteran in his freshman season.
Paired with receiver James Hardy, who’s put up tremendous numbers in his
first two seasons, Lewis is set to explode and be the type of player who
hasn’t scared Big Ten teams since Antwaan Randle El was in Bloomington.
Unfortunately, the rest of the Big Ten should be better this year,
meaning it’ll be a weekly fight for IU to scrape up a few wins. That’s
not to say the offense can’t catch fire and do what it did against Iowa
and Michigan State last year, but realistically, the Hoosiers need
turnovers and big breaks to stay with the top teams. The program might
be better, but it’s not where Hoeppner wanted it to be quite yet.
The defense could use more size, the offensive line needs to be more
physical, and the team needs to learn how to close after losing its
final three games last year. If nothing else, this will be an exciting
team that will score in bunches at times, be maddening at others, and
for the first time in years, will be a factor in some way, shape or form
in the conference race.
What to watch for on offense: The coaching staff likes to use
several receivers in an up-tempo style that’s great when things are
going well, but can lead to way to quick three-and-outs when it’s not
working. The line isn’t all that big and isn’t going to dominate in the
ground game, so the emergence and improvement of Lewis will be
everything. As he goes, so will the attack. Hardy might be the Big Ten’s
best receiver not playing at Michigan, and should win at least two games
by himself.
What to watch for on defense: Theoretically, IU would love to
attack, attack, attack with a smallish, quick defense, but more often
than not it’ll have to read and react unless the defensive front four
plays much better than it did last year. This is a veteran group that
should be more effective and should create more turnovers and big plays,
but don’t expect it to be a brick wall against the run. The Big Ten
teams with the better offensive lines should be able to run at will.
The team will be far better if … it’s able to move the chains a
bit better. Lewis is the team’s most dangerous running threat, and the
lines aren’t built to run consistently or stop the run. The defense
needs as much time off the field as possible, so Lewis needs to be
better at cranking out long drives and connecting on his third-down
passes.
The Schedule:
Who goes on
the road to play to MAC teams? A team coached by a former MAC head man
does. IU gets a layup against Indiana State to start the season before
going to Western Michigan and Akron, while a third MAC game, against
Ball State late in the year, is in Bloomington. The Big Ten season
starts out against Illinois in a battle of Big Ten also-rans looking to
get off to a hot start. Beating Minnesota, Penn State or Purdue at home
would be a big key to the program’s progression. The big plus? No Ohio
State and no Michigan.
Best Offensive Player: Sophomore QB Kellen Lewis. Yeah, junior receiver James
Hardy is the best offensive player going into the season, but that'll
change. There’s hope surrounding the Hoosier program for the first time
in ages because of young players like Lewis, who led IU in rushing and
passing as a freshman despite beginning the year No. 3 on the depth
chart. You don’t have to be an NFL scout to recognize Lewis’ many
physical gifts, but it’s his unexpected poise and leadership qualities
that have the program thinking it’s close to returning to the
postseason.
Best Defensive Player: Senior CB Tracy Porter. The Hoosiers’
best playmaker on defense and most reliable cover corner is already No.
10 on the school’s all-time list for interceptions. Porter makes sharp
breaks on passes, always draws the opposition’s most dangerous receiver
and is a real nuisance on special teams, blocking kicks and returning
punts.
Key player to a
successful season:
Defensive linemen
Jammie Kirlew, Greg Brown and Joe Kremer. With the graduation of Kenny
Kendal, the line needs to find another top pass rusher. Not that Kendal
was a stud with his four sacks, but he was the team’s best end at
applying a little bit of pressure. For a D that desperately needs more
sacks, everyone has to do more. Kirlew has the most promise, but Brown
should be the best llinemen of the bunch.
The season will be a
success if
... the Hoosiers go to a bowl for the first time since 1993. It’s not
going to be easy and there can’t be any mistakes against the mediocre
teams. The chance is there for a special year if there’s an upset or two
in the mix over someone like Minnesota or Penn State. If IU can beat
Indiana State, Western Michigan, Akron, Illinois, Minnesota, Ball State and Northwestern, or at least six of the seven, a 13th game
will be possible.
Key game:
Sept. 22 vs. Illinois.
Assuming IU can get past two MAC road games, it’ll have a shot at a 4-0
start against the Illini before going to Iowa. Win the Big Ten home
opener, win three of the final eight games, go to a bowl. It might be
that simple.
2006 Fun Stats:
- First quarter scoring: Opponents 130; Indiana 48
- Fourth down conversion: Opponents 4 of 5 (80%); Indiana 8 of 23 (35%)
- Red zone touchdowns: Opponents 34 of 46 (74%); Indiana 21 of 37 (57%)