A scoreless 2d 1/2 consigned Indiana to a 35-21 loss Saturday night at Nebraska. Here are 3 reasons why:
Jekyll and Hyde habitual once again…
Slow, inconsistent starts plagued Indiana (3-2, 1-1) thru the month of September. October did not flip the page.
The Hoosiers’ first six drives Saturday night ended without factors. Two lasted seven plays. The other 4 failed to even manipulate a first down, going 3-and-out whenever.
It’s been a chronic warfare for Tom Allen’s team for the reason that opener towards Illinois. Whether or not because of blocking issues, rushing problems, bypass accuracy issues or a lack of comfort with the rhythm of Walt Bell’s excessive-pace offense, the Hoosiers have needed to combat to find their ft every first half they have got played this season, and Nebraska changed into no extraordinary. A fumble recuperation in the end zone for a landing saved them in the sport, slightly.
Then that pace advised, like it has so regularly this season. Indiana calls it “pace, area, race.” cross fast, locate area, allow fly. Pace at the level IU runs is constructed to wear a protection down. And this night, it did.
The Hoosiers’ final two drives of the primary 1/2 included 145 yards in a combined thirteen plays. Each ended ultimately region, and Indiana jogged to the locker room tied 21-apiece. Allen is desperate for higher starts to halves. But he can’t complain approximately the finishes, both in manner, or result.
Neglected receivers
Thru the season’s first month, Cam Camper and D.J. Matthews were by using any measure Indiana’s maximum crucial receivers.
They have been Connor Bazelak’s favorite goals, ranking first and 2nd on the team in targets, catches and receiving yards through games. And that they have been both evident absences, Matthews with an harm sustained at Cincinnati final week and Camper because of a non-COVID related infection, Saturday.
Advantage wasted
Nebraska (2-3, 1-1) became no longer a need to-win inside the feel that you have to be able to accept winning in Lincoln is hard. However this Nebraska turned into extremely prone and Indiana could not take benefit. Now, the Hoosiers’ course to a bowl looks complicated.
They should beat Maryland and Rutgers this month. Without that, it is exceedingly difficult to peer Allen’s team getting to 6 wins. Then, they’ll need to get a scalp in a tough November: Penn nation, at Ohio kingdom, at Michigan country, Purdue.
The 3-1 September gave this crew a platform it is now struggling to stand on. To mention Indiana need to ever visit Nebraska awaiting to win seems unrealistic, and yet it’s where IU turned into Saturday night. This was a golden opportunity for the Hoosiers, and that they didn’t score a second-half of point. Now, the march is steeply uphill.
It appeared like it. Bazelak struggled to discover a rhythm passing the ball, no longer just in terms of finishing passes however in getting at ease together with his receivers. His first 8 throws focused seven unique bypass catchers. It wasn’t until the seventh of those 8 throws that he centered the equal teammate a 2d time.
Stand-ins done admirably. Andison Coby (5 catches, fifty four yards) and Emery Simmons (six catches, 57 yards) made enough plays to hold matters aggressive. However Bazelak struggled for most of the evening to find a rhythm without his desired objectives, and it value IU dearly.
