Indiana vs. Rutgers Postgame Analysis: The Hoosiers Make a Statement on the Road

Indiana 47, Rutgers 15

There were plenty of questions surrounding Indiana heading into its first road game of the season. How would the Hoosiers respond after a closer-than-expected win over Northwestern? Could the offense maintain its efficiency away from Memorial Stadium and improve in the red area? Would the defense bounce back and play a complete game by improving lapses in coverage on the back end?

By the time the final whistle sounded in Piscataway, most of those questions had been answered. Indiana didn’t simply beat Rutgers. The Hoosiers overwhelmed them.

Indiana rolled to a 47-15 victory Saturday night, improving to 5-0 and extending its winning streak to 21 games. The Hoosiers dominated the line of scrimmage, piled up 593 yards of offense and turned their first road game of the season into dominate victory

1. The Running Game 

Indiana’s rushing attack might be the biggest takeaway from the first five games.

After Lee Beebe Jr. rushed for more than 200 yards against Northwestern, Turbo Richard responded with a 204-yard performance against Rutgers.

Richard carried the ball just 13 times for 15.7 yards per carry and added a touchdown to his stat line. Beebe added 122 yards on 18 carries with a touchdown, giving Indiana two backs over 100 yards in the same game.

Nationally, Richard (8th) and Beebe (11th) rank in the top 15 in total rushing yards so far this season. Richard leads the nation in yards per carry (9.32 ypc). This isn’t simply about individual running back talent. The offensive line is starting to gel and is creating opportunities.

Indiana is consistently winning the first level, getting blockers to the second level and creating cutback lanes. When the initial hole isn’t there, Richard and Beebe have demonstrated the vision and acceleration to create something anyway.

That creates a significant problem for opposing defenses.

Load the box?

Indiana can throw over it.

Play lighter?

The Hoosiers can run through you.

That balance is becoming one of the defining characteristics of this offense.

The offensive line has had its inconsistencies, but we are starting to see a unit working together with some continuity. Carter Smith and Drew Evans have shown over time their elite abilities in both the run game and pass protection. The right side of the line particularly is an area I have been watching. What we know is that we have three completely different players from center over. Bray Lynch has played his career as a right guard and is starting at center for Indiana this season. This is a tough transition as center is a much different position that asks a lot more of a player on the offensive line. He showed in the Rutgers game improvement with getting out of his stance, and looked good pulling out in the pin and pull rush scheme. Joe Brunner is a proven pass protector. He has been Indiana’s highest graded pass protector this season which is what he was known for coming over from Wisconsin. Adedamola Ajani brings more physicality in the run game, but his pass protection ability is still developing. If Brunner continues to improve in the run game and Ajani continues to develop in pass protection, Indiana’s right side could become a strength and not an area of concern.

2. Josh Hoover Continues to Make the Right Decisions

Josh Hoover’s stat line was excellent:

251 passing yards.
4 touchdowns.
0 interceptions.

What stood out was Hoover’s control of the offense. He didn’t need to force the football. The opening drive of the game offensively was the best opening drive of the season. Hoover delivered the ball all over the field with accuracy and allowed his playmakers the ability to make plays. Indiana’s rushing attack consistently created favorable situations, and Hoover took advantage of the opportunities that followed. The result was an extremely efficient offensive performance.

The biggest development for Indiana is that Hoover doesn’t have to be a superhero every Saturday. He simply needs to make the correct read, distribute the football and punish defenses when they give him opportunities. That’s exactly what he did against Rutgers.

Also, the deep ball to Charlie Becker in stride was a relief to many fans worried about Hoover’s inconsistencies getting the ball down the field. We are seeing a comfort in Hoover’s game as he continues to thrive in Curt Cignetti’s and Mike Shanahan’s system.

3. Indiana’s Defense Was Dominant – Mostly

This is where the film gets interesting. Indiana’s defense was outstanding throughout the game minus some lapse in coverage. This continues to be an area of improvement for this defense.

Rutgers managed only 253 total yards, crossed midfield just three times and was held scoreless in the first half. The Hoosiers also recorded eight tackles for loss and four sacks.

That’s dominance.

But there is still something for Bryant Haines and Curt Cignetti to clean up. Rutgers scored twice in the second half, including a 53-yard touchdown pass after a coverage mistake in the secondary.

The defense played extremely well for most of the night. But against better competition, those communication issues on the back end and explosive plays can change a football game.

Indiana doesn’t need to reinvent anything defensively. It needs to eliminate the occasional lapse in coverage. Continued improvement in this area is imperative as Indiana begins the meat of their schedule from a competition standpoint.

4. Nick Marsh Is Becoming a Difference-Maker

One of the most encouraging developments offensively continues to be the emergence of Indiana’s receiving corps. Nick Marsh finished with 120 receiving yards, providing Hoover with another legitimate explosive weapon. Marsh is ninth in the country in explosive epa rate. He is showing his comfortability with the offense and Hoover. Marsh continues to show his ability to shed off tackles and gain extra yardage when the ball is in his hands much like Omar Cooper Jr. last season. This is what makes him a viable draft prospect. This is important because Indiana’s offense is becoming increasingly difficult to defend vertically as the season moves forward. If defenses commit extra resources to stopping Richard and Beebe, Hoover has receivers capable of winning downfield with yards after catch and ability to create chunk plays.

If defenses back off to protect against the passing game, Indiana can run directly at them and control the game offensively.  That’s what makes this offense so dangerous when it is staying ahead of the chains and in rhythm.

5. The Biggest Statement Was Made on the Road

Perhaps the most important takeaway from Saturday night was the environment.

This was Indiana’s first road game of the season. After a 29-23 victory against a good  Northwestern team, there was a legitimate question about how the Hoosiers would respond with the inconsistency in all three phases of the game.

They responded by scoring 23 first-half points and never allowing Rutgers to establish control of the game. That matters. Great teams don’t simply win at home. They take their product and standard on the road and deliver in hostile environments. They take care of opponents they are supposed to beat while continuing to show progress with their blueprint of success. Indiana did exactly that.

The Candid Hoosier Verdict

The Hoosiers are no longer trying to prove they belong in the Big Ten. They have earned that respect from their conference counterparts the last two seasons.  They are continuing to shut down the negative brand and logo bias of the national media to prove they belong among the best teams in the country.

And the next stretch of the schedule will give us a much better answer.

5-0 is impressive. But now we find out just how good this Indiana team really is.