Tag: Indiana

Preview: Michigan vs. Indiana

Options are limited. She’s wearing red and white, so she counts, I guess.

RUSH OFFENSE vs. INDIANA RUSH DEFENSE

Despite a rough outing against Iowa last week, Michigan is still #19 nationally with 236 yards/game and #23 with 5.31 yards/carry. Some fans are getting antsy with De’Veon Smith after he averaged just 2.3 yards/carry last week and failed to burrow out of the endzone, resulting in an Iowa safety. Meanwhile, freshman Chris Evans is averaging 7.82 yards/carry through ten games. The Wolverines offensive line struggled, too, and right guard Kyle Kalis was largely to blame for the safety on Smith. Michigan is #55 nationally in Adjusted Line Yards. On the other side, Indiana is #72 in Defensive Adjusted Line Yards. They’re #52 in rushing yards allowed (156 per game) but a respectable #31 in yards allowed per carry (3.74). Maryland, Michigan State, and Ohio State are the only three teams to top even 3.7 yards/carry on them, and Penn State with Saquon Barkley averaged a measly 1.71 last week. Linebacker Tegray Scales (6’0″, 230 lbs.), linebacker Marcus Oliver (6’1″, 240), and strong safety Marcelino Ball (6’0″, 210) lead the team with 94, 74, and 68 tackles, respectively. Scales (15.0) and Oliver (10.5) lead the team in tackles for loss. Statistically, it seems like Michigan would have an edge, but based on last year’s inability to run against the Hoosiers and the struggles last week, I’m not sure about that.
Advantage: Indiana

Hit the jump for more on Indiana.

read more

Michigan vs. Indiana Awards

Jake Rudock had a record-setting day on Saturday

Let’s see more of this guy on offense . . . Joe Kerridge at H-back. Kerridge, a virtual starter on offense at fullback, has been splitting time with Sione Houma. Kerridge, however, is the superior blocker, and that’s pretty much all H-back Henry Poggi does on offense. With Michigan’s defensive line depth depleted, it might be a good idea to get Kerridge some snaps at H-back and let Poggi concentrate on defense. Meanwhile, Houma can handle the fullback duties.

Hit the jump for the rest of the awards.

read more

Michigan 48, Indiana 41 (2 OT)

Jehu Chesson had a great day receiving, although this attempted leap did not end well.

I’m glad Jake Rudock transferred to Michigan. I’m not sure what Michigan’s record would be without Rudock, but they wouldn’t be 8-2. This one would have been a loss for sure. Rudock was 33/46 for 440 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 1 interception. On top of that, several times he bailed out Michigan with his legs and finished as Michigan’s leading rusher with 7 carries for 64 yards (9.1 yards/carry). He accounted for 504 total yards, which (I believe) is the second-most total yards in Michigan history, behind Devin Gardner’s 584 total yards against Indiana in 2013.

read more

Preview: Michigan at Indiana

Rush Offense vs. Indiana Rush Defense
Michigan has struggled to run the ball the past three weeks. After topping 4.0 yards/carry for five straight weeks, the Wolverines have averaged 1.9, 3.7, and 3.6 yards/carry in the past three; that last number came against Rutgers, who didn’t sack quarterback Jake Rudock even once. De’Veon Smith leads the team with 524 yards and 5 touchdowns, and he made it through last week’s game without appearing to re-injure his ankle. He’s the bruiser and needs all the leg drive he can get. Meanwhile, Drake Johnson is the speedster and is averaging 4.9 yards/carry. Ty Isaac is back on the depth chart after two weeks of banishment for an undisclosed reason. Michigan is #66 in rushing yardage (172 yards/game) and #72 in rushing average (4.27 yards/carry). Indiana is #78 in rushing defense (174 yards/game) and #92 in rushing average against (4.73 yards against/carry). Indiana’s leading tackler is linebacker Marcus Oliver with 79. Next on the list is fellow linebacker T.J. Simmons, but the next three are defensive backs: strong safety Chase Dutra, free safety Jonathan Crawford, and cornerback Rashard Fant. Outside linebacker Zach Shaw, defensive end Nick Mangieri, and defensive tackle Darius Lathan share the team lead with 8 tackles for loss each. Indiana runs a 3-4 defense that can function a bit like a 4-3 with Shaw at the end position. Indiana manned up to hold Michigan State to 3.23 yards/carry, and the Wolverines aren’t any better at running the ball than the Spartans. Michigan will probably need to throw the ball to free up the running game.
Advantage: Indiana

Hit the jump for the rest of the game preview.

read more

Indiana Recruiting Snapshot: March 2015

Hyattsville (MD) DeMatha defensive back Tyler Green

2015 Team Ranking: #51

Cream of the 2015 Crop: Hyattsville (MD) DeMatha safety Tyler Green (#532 overall in the 247 Composite) is a one-time Ohio State Buckeye commit who decommitted in December. He ended up signing with the Hoosiers, and with Michigan struggling at safety, I had hoped that the Wolverines might throw their hat in the ring. Green is big at 6’3″, 195 lbs. and might end up as a linebacker. Indiana also signed JUCO wide receiver Camion Patrick, the #53 junior college prospect, out of East Mississippi Community College.

2016 Team Ranking: N/A. The Hoosiers have yet to receive a commitment in the 2016 class.

Cream of the 2016 Crop: N/A.