2008 Preview: Indiana

2007: 7-6 (3-5 in Big11Ten), Lost to Oklahoma State in Insight.com Bowl.

Things have changed in the Big11Ten. It used to be that you would see Indiana on your schedule and chalk the game up as a win in your mind, usually without much thought. But last year, Indiana gave us a healthy scare. While a couple key losses will hurt the Hoosiers, they have the pieces to make it back to a bowl game for the second straight year, a feat that was unheard of in years past.

Let’s switch things up from the norm and start on defense. The only reason we feel compelled to do this (other than the monotany of writing 10 team previews) is Indiana’s Lombardi and Bednarik award hopeful, defensive end Greg Middleton. Middleton led the nation with 16 sacks last year and the scary part was that he was only a sophomore. Middleton will command double teams this year as teams will try to stop him from collectively destroying their quarterbacks.

Other than Middleton, Indiana’s defense was hardly stout last year. In the conference, they ranked 9th in pass defense, 9th in rush defense, and yes, 9th in scoring defense. At least they were consistent. Two other starters will join Middleton on the line (Nick Polk and Christopher Phillips), while linebackers Will Peterson and Geno Johnson bring solid experience to try to shore up the run D. Junior strong safety Austin Thomas will anchor the backfield after a team-leading 112 tackles last season. However, the Hoosiers will have trouble replacing cornerback Tracy Porter who had 6 interceptions last season and was a second round draft pick this spring.

Now onto the offense, where things get a little interesting. Last year, mutli-threat quarterback Kellen Lewis had a breakout season, throwing for over 3,000 yards, tossing 28 touchdowns to just 10 picks, and rushing for over 700 yards and 9 touchdowns. Alone, that’s a helluva year. After watching Anthony Morelli for two seasons, it’s mind-bottling.

Did you just say mind-bottling? Yeah, we did.

While starting Lewis, a junior this year, seems like a no-brainer, coach Bill Lynch insists that there is a real QB competition between and pocket-passer Ben Chappell that likely won’t be decided until the season opener. That is because Lewis was suspended in the spring for an unknown team violation and wasn’t reinstated until July. Even with the suspension (something we know quite a bit about), we’d be shocked if Lewis wasn’t the starter for the first game. Given what he did last year, it would be insane not to start him.

Unfortunately for Lewis, one huge (literally and figuratively) part of the offense is gone this year, in 6’7” receiver James Hardy, currently a Buffalo Bill. You may remember what Hardy did to corner back and WWTL whipping boy Justin King last year:

Not quite tall enough.

Yeah, Hardy led the team last year with 79 catches for 1125 yards and a whopping 16 touchdowns. So obviously he’ll be sorely missed. But not all is lost. Ray Fisher returns this year at wideout, and was second on the team with 52 receptions last fall. The 6’3” sophomore Terrance Turner hopes to add some size in Hardy’s absence.

In the backfield, senior Marcus Thigpen will be the go-to guy (other than Lewis). Thigpen has serious speed, but he took a back seat to Lewis last year, rushing for only 568 yards and no touchdowns. On the O-line, Indiana has two solid returning starters on the left side in tackle Rodger Saffold and guard Pete Saxon. Young newcomers on the line must step in quickly to protect Lewis and open up more options for Thigpen this season.

While Indiana joins the likes of Purdue and Michigan State in offensive explosiveness, their defense is still a bit questionable. One thing that will help them overcome this, in our opinion, is their schedule. In fact, it is probably one of the easiest schedules we’ve ever seen.

A collection of Indiana's opponents.

Indiana has eight (8!) home games this year, including four against non-conference powers such as Western Kentucky and Murray State. And to top it off, they don’t play Ohio State or Michigan this year. While they should feast on their weak non-conference opponents, they will still struggle in the Big11Ten.

Our prediction for Indiana: 7-5 (3-5 Big11Ten).