So what is Indiana up against when it faces Ball State Saturday?
It’s hard to know given it has a new coach in Pete Lembo, who has thrived at Lehigh and Elon. If a guy can go 79-36 at those places, he ought to be able to build a winner at Ball State, which just a few years ago under Brady Hoke was nationally ranked.
The problem is the Cardinals are just 6-18 in the last two years, which is why Stan Parrish is no longer running the program. Lembo said the key was building trust with the players while installing a new system and approach. That approach includes a more hands-on emphasis when it comes to academics and academic support. It also involves a reorganization of the strength and conditioning program.
Anyway, figure Ball State will come out throwing. Why? Because that’s what Lembo-coached teams are known for. Last year Elon had the nation’s second-ranked passing attack.
Ball State has a pair of veteran quarterbacks in sophomore Keith Wenning and junior Kelly Page. Wenning won the starting job. That’s in contrast to IU, which still has not named a starter. All we know is that Edward Wright-Baker and Dusty Kiel will definitely play, and Trey Roberson might.
By all accounts the Hoosiers’ secondary is much improved, which it absolutely has to be if they are to have a chance at a winning season. This is an early test to see where they stand. If Ball State torches them through the air, be very afraid. If IU’s defense stuffs the Cardinals into irrelevance, a turnaround is closer than experts think. And if it's somewhere in the middle, well, a first game can only tell you so much.
*****
Is junior tailback Darius Willis the unluckiest guy in college football or just the most fragile? It’s hard to know. What we do know is that he won’t play Saturday against Ball State because he is, once again, hurt.
Yes, there is also the matter of Willis’ one-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team. That came after Willis was given a six-month protective order following an alleged domestic assault incident against a female student last winter. Willis was not charged with a crime.
The suspension is irrelevant right now because Willis is hurt. Check that. This game might count as the suspended game, or it might not. Coach Kevin Wilson isn’t sure, but is leaning toward saying that it doesn't count, which means Willis will miss at least one more game.
Anway, as the weeks passed with Willis being too hurt to practice, the initial impression was that he was still recovering from last season’s knee surgery, but Wilson said the injuries go way beyond that and involve hamstring, ankles and back.
Anyway, Willis was hurt as a redshirt freshman, but still managed to rush for 607 yards and six touchdowns. Last year he only played four games, totaling 278 yards and four TDs, before hurting his knee.
Then he missed all of spring practice, and didn’t do much during preseason camp.
Another veteran running back, Nick Turner also is banged up (concussion) and out for the Ball State game.
In the meantime, redshirt freshman Matt Perez, freshman D’Angelo Roberts and junior college transfer Stephen Houston have moved to the forefront. They might stay there even if Willis gets healthy.
Willis was recruited with the hopes of being the next Anthony Thompson, or at least a close copy. He is 6-foot and 220 pounds and, if you remember the Michigan game from 2009, fast enough to run away from defensive backs.
But you could be the second coming of Jim Brown and if you can’t stay healthy, who cares?
If Wilson is to turn the program around, he needs players he can count on, athletically, academically and socially. For one game at least, that means Perez, Roberts and Houston.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Can You Keep a Secret -- Big Ten Coaches Evaluate Wilson
Okay, Kevin Wilson says the time to win is now for the Indiana Hoosiers. There’s a belief that IU has more talent than it is given credit for, that while former coach Bill Lynch didn’t win enough, he did stock the roster with winning talent.
Ball State is the first test of the Wilson era and it comes Saturday at Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium, one of America’s great sports facilities. We’ll get to that in a second, but first we wanted to offer, thanks to Athlon Magazine, insight into what Big Ten coaches are saying anonymously about the Hoosiers.
No, there’s no dirt or controversy or gossip, but it does provide a look at what rivals think of Wilson and his IU prospects.
Coach No. 1: “I know Kevin (Wilson) is going to change their attitude. I’m not saying there was anything bad with Billy (Lynch), but this team is going to take on the personality of Kevin Wilson. Kevin’s demanding, and he’s got a lot of passion, and he’s a great offensive mind. You’ll see that program take on that personality.”
Coach No. 2: “Kevin will find out very quickly he’s not at Oklahoma anymore. He will have his work cut out for him, but he made some great hires in (co-offensive coordinators) Rod Smith and Kevin Johns along with (co-defensive coordinators) Doug Mallory and Mike Ekeler.”
Coach No. 3: “I don’t know enough about their depth defensively. They graduated quite a few guys. They were young in the secondary and had to move guys around a year ago. So it’s going to be a work in progress. But they’ve got some flexibility there. They got some junior college guys, so that gives them a chance to get good in a hurry.”
Coach No. 4: “4–0 is very possible. If so, they should get at least two wins the rest of the way and start Wilson’s rebuilding plan in the right direction.”
*****
Ball State became a national power under Brady Hoke a couple of years ago. He left (and is now at Michigan), Stan Parrish took over and the program tanked. So Parrish got the boot and Pete Lembo took over after successful runs at Elon (which is located in North Carolina) and Lehigh.
The Cardinals, by the way, beat IU at Memorial Stadium the last time these teams played. Wilson has made it a point to mention that every time he talks about Ball State. He doesn’t want anyone in the program to forget or take the Mid-American Conference school lightly.
“In 2009 the MAC won four Big Ten games,” he said during his Tuesday press conference. “I’ve been part of MAC teams that have done well (while he was at Miami of Ohio). In fact, there’s a team (Northwestern) that won a Big Ten championship that our MAC team beat.
“The Mid-American Conference has Big Ten-level players that for whatever reason got a little under-recruited, developed late or maybe the scholarship wasn’t there …
“You see a lot of teams in the MAC that are playing well and having great records and doing awesome.”
Lembo got the Ball State job after going 79-36 at Elon and Lehigh. Wilson, who is from North Carolina, knows how impressive that record is.
“I’ve been to (Elon) and know who they compete against. The record down there speaks for itself.
“Player-wise, you watch (Ball State) last year and they were very competitive against Purdue. They let it get away from them against Iowa. But a lot of these guys who are seniors played and were recruited for Coach Hoke’s teams that were winning and winning well. I would expect them to be very much ready, very much physical, very much excited. I expect them to think they have a great opportunity to win.”
This is a Ball State home game. The Cardinals decided to move it to Lucas Oil Stadium and that’s fine with Wilson.
“It’s great for our fans. I’d think we’d have lots of fans with all of our alumni base up there …
“I think it’s neat for our kids. A lot of Indiana kids grow up in this region. Some of them have played high school games there, I’m sure. A chance to play in that arena is pretty cool. The Big Ten championship game is there for the next five years, and the Super Bowl is on that field this year. It’s an exciting venue. We’re looking forward to it. It’s going to be a big deal.”
*****
If your ability to sleep the rest of the week boils down to who will be Indiana’s starting quarterback against Ball State, take a deep breath.
Nobody is saying nothing.
Check that. IU coaches are saying that at least two, and possibly three quarterbacks will play, but it won’t be part of a scripted rotation. Coaches won’t say this guy will be in for the third series, this guy the fifth, ect. It will be more of a feel than anything else. The guy starting the game might not be the one to finish. A lot will be based on the productivity of the offense and how the guy is running the show.
The contenders are Edward Wright-Bake and Dusty Kiel, and true freshman Trey Roberson. Figure we won’t know for sure until the Hoosiers huddle up at Lucas Oil.
*****
Ben Chappell got his NFL chance. Well, let’s qualify that. The former Indiana quarterback standout got a chance to throw a lot of practice balls for the Washington Redskins in the last month. As an undrafted free agent, did he really have a shot at sticking with the team? Probably not.
So he got cut on Tuesday and now must wait to see if a team picks him up. If not, he can hope for another shot, either later this season, or next year. Or, he can move on to the rest of his life.
Chappell is a quality person and a smart guy. If the NFL isn’t in his future, he’ll be successful in whatever career he decides.
That’s a fact.
****
As the Cream ‘n Crimson world knows, IU has a pair of 2013 basketball commitments in Devin Davis and Collin Hartman. Rivals.com just came out with its top 150 for that class. Davis ranked No. 93. Harman was at No. 97.
Former Purdue commitment Derek Willis (IU is now taking a look at this 6-8 Kentucky forward) was at No. 23. The highest rated state-of-Indiana player is Bryson Scott from Fort Wayne Northrop. He’s at No. 53.
Six in-state players are in the top 100 nationally, which again highlights how impressive the talent is in the state.
For the record, Texas guard Andrew Harrison is ranked No. 1 in the Class of 2013.
Ball State is the first test of the Wilson era and it comes Saturday at Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium, one of America’s great sports facilities. We’ll get to that in a second, but first we wanted to offer, thanks to Athlon Magazine, insight into what Big Ten coaches are saying anonymously about the Hoosiers.
No, there’s no dirt or controversy or gossip, but it does provide a look at what rivals think of Wilson and his IU prospects.
Coach No. 1: “I know Kevin (Wilson) is going to change their attitude. I’m not saying there was anything bad with Billy (Lynch), but this team is going to take on the personality of Kevin Wilson. Kevin’s demanding, and he’s got a lot of passion, and he’s a great offensive mind. You’ll see that program take on that personality.”
Coach No. 2: “Kevin will find out very quickly he’s not at Oklahoma anymore. He will have his work cut out for him, but he made some great hires in (co-offensive coordinators) Rod Smith and Kevin Johns along with (co-defensive coordinators) Doug Mallory and Mike Ekeler.”
Coach No. 3: “I don’t know enough about their depth defensively. They graduated quite a few guys. They were young in the secondary and had to move guys around a year ago. So it’s going to be a work in progress. But they’ve got some flexibility there. They got some junior college guys, so that gives them a chance to get good in a hurry.”
Coach No. 4: “4–0 is very possible. If so, they should get at least two wins the rest of the way and start Wilson’s rebuilding plan in the right direction.”
*****
Ball State became a national power under Brady Hoke a couple of years ago. He left (and is now at Michigan), Stan Parrish took over and the program tanked. So Parrish got the boot and Pete Lembo took over after successful runs at Elon (which is located in North Carolina) and Lehigh.
The Cardinals, by the way, beat IU at Memorial Stadium the last time these teams played. Wilson has made it a point to mention that every time he talks about Ball State. He doesn’t want anyone in the program to forget or take the Mid-American Conference school lightly.
“In 2009 the MAC won four Big Ten games,” he said during his Tuesday press conference. “I’ve been part of MAC teams that have done well (while he was at Miami of Ohio). In fact, there’s a team (Northwestern) that won a Big Ten championship that our MAC team beat.
“The Mid-American Conference has Big Ten-level players that for whatever reason got a little under-recruited, developed late or maybe the scholarship wasn’t there …
“You see a lot of teams in the MAC that are playing well and having great records and doing awesome.”
Lembo got the Ball State job after going 79-36 at Elon and Lehigh. Wilson, who is from North Carolina, knows how impressive that record is.
“I’ve been to (Elon) and know who they compete against. The record down there speaks for itself.
“Player-wise, you watch (Ball State) last year and they were very competitive against Purdue. They let it get away from them against Iowa. But a lot of these guys who are seniors played and were recruited for Coach Hoke’s teams that were winning and winning well. I would expect them to be very much ready, very much physical, very much excited. I expect them to think they have a great opportunity to win.”
This is a Ball State home game. The Cardinals decided to move it to Lucas Oil Stadium and that’s fine with Wilson.
“It’s great for our fans. I’d think we’d have lots of fans with all of our alumni base up there …
“I think it’s neat for our kids. A lot of Indiana kids grow up in this region. Some of them have played high school games there, I’m sure. A chance to play in that arena is pretty cool. The Big Ten championship game is there for the next five years, and the Super Bowl is on that field this year. It’s an exciting venue. We’re looking forward to it. It’s going to be a big deal.”
*****
If your ability to sleep the rest of the week boils down to who will be Indiana’s starting quarterback against Ball State, take a deep breath.
Nobody is saying nothing.
Check that. IU coaches are saying that at least two, and possibly three quarterbacks will play, but it won’t be part of a scripted rotation. Coaches won’t say this guy will be in for the third series, this guy the fifth, ect. It will be more of a feel than anything else. The guy starting the game might not be the one to finish. A lot will be based on the productivity of the offense and how the guy is running the show.
The contenders are Edward Wright-Bake and Dusty Kiel, and true freshman Trey Roberson. Figure we won’t know for sure until the Hoosiers huddle up at Lucas Oil.
*****
Ben Chappell got his NFL chance. Well, let’s qualify that. The former Indiana quarterback standout got a chance to throw a lot of practice balls for the Washington Redskins in the last month. As an undrafted free agent, did he really have a shot at sticking with the team? Probably not.
So he got cut on Tuesday and now must wait to see if a team picks him up. If not, he can hope for another shot, either later this season, or next year. Or, he can move on to the rest of his life.
Chappell is a quality person and a smart guy. If the NFL isn’t in his future, he’ll be successful in whatever career he decides.
That’s a fact.
****
As the Cream ‘n Crimson world knows, IU has a pair of 2013 basketball commitments in Devin Davis and Collin Hartman. Rivals.com just came out with its top 150 for that class. Davis ranked No. 93. Harman was at No. 97.
Former Purdue commitment Derek Willis (IU is now taking a look at this 6-8 Kentucky forward) was at No. 23. The highest rated state-of-Indiana player is Bryson Scott from Fort Wayne Northrop. He’s at No. 53.
Six in-state players are in the top 100 nationally, which again highlights how impressive the talent is in the state.
For the record, Texas guard Andrew Harrison is ranked No. 1 in the Class of 2013.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Earn It -- In Wilson’s IU Football World, Performance Counts
Kevin Wilson refuses to give anything to anybody. He’s big into this you’ve-gotta-earn it thing. Why are we mentioning this? Because it looks like it’s going to cost tight end Ted Bolser and receiver Duwyce Wilson a chance to start this weekend, when the Hoosiers open the season against Ball State and Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium.
Bolser and Duwyce Wilson are talented guys, two of IU’s best football players, but they’ve been banged up in recent weeks and missed a bunch of practices. In the meantime, receiver Dre Muhammad and tight end Max Dedmond filled in and did the job. They have earned the opportunity to start.
This will be huge for Muhammad, and vindication for five years worth of effort (first at Purdue, then at IU) during which he has started zero games and played minimally.
Anyway, Bolser and Duwyce Wilson don’t have major injuries. Coach Wilson described them as minor tweaks and pulls. Both are likely to be cleared to play against Ball State, but the coach isn’t about to just hand them the No. 1 position.
“To me, you gotta kind of earn it back. To the other guys that have been out there battling every day, it’s a little disheartening. Even though some guy might have a skill set, you have to earn it back. It might be a quick earn because your skill set drives you to the point. But I don’t buy the deal, I got hurt; I automatically get my spot back because I was the starter.”
Kevin Wilson, like all coaches, believes in the motivating power of competition and the old cliché that you either get better every day or you get worse. There is no treading water, which is likely what Bolser and Duwyce Wilson have done because of their injuries.
“One of my comments is, it’s not about getting healthy, it’s about getting better,” Kevin Wilson said. “Better doesn’t mean healthy; it means you’re becoming a better football player, too. When you miss work, that’s hard to do.
“We’ll keep an eye on those guys. Those are two skilled kids. They did a lot in the spring. We’ll see if they get back in the mix.”
Bet the house that they will.
****
Okay, we can’t help ourselves. When you’re a member of the media and there’s a high-profile position that seemingly is not nailed down, you gotta ask. It’s part of our journalistic DNA.
So when you look at an IU depth chart that lists its quarterback order as either Edward Wright-Baker or Dusty Kiel, you gotta wonder and question.
The problem is, Kevin Wilson doesn’t want to reveal his hand. He HAS to have a good idea at this point. The quarterback position is too important not to. But when asked, he suggested he might play three quarterbacks against Ball State, with freshman Tre Roberson in the mix.
So we get a little twist. IU released its two-deep depth chart on Monday, and Wright-Baker and Kiel were listed, in no particular order, as the starters. Then Kevin Wilson said Roberson was still in the picture. He also said he has no timetable in naming a starting quarterback.
“I don’t know. We’re just not as consumed with it as you guys. They’re all doing good. No one has really separated.”
The best way to separate, by the way, is not turn the ball over.
“Even if a guy goes up there first (to start), we’ll see if he stays the starter,” Wilson says. “I don’t know if anyone has had the support or played well enough to clearly separate. You get into game situations, maybe things go different. We’re not going to look over the shoulder at one bad pass, but right now, we’re just gonna let it keep going a little bit.
“We’ll have a guy go first. He might not be the starter. It might be based on what we’ve seen short team. That guy is taking care of the ball the best.”
*****
By now you probably know, have probably seen, Mitch McGary’s costly dunk. He was in a dunk contest and jammed so hard the backboard shattered and cut him. He needed 37 stitches to close the wound.
McGary isn’t coming to Indiana, or to Purdue or to Notre Dame. Yes, he’s an in-state guy who got away. He’s big, strong and very likely will end up a very rich guy if the NBA and its players ever reach an agreement.
Would it have been nice if a guy like that ended up wearing Cream ‘n Crimson? Of course it would, but the way Tom Cream is recruiting, the Hoosiers won’t miss a beat.
Bolser and Duwyce Wilson are talented guys, two of IU’s best football players, but they’ve been banged up in recent weeks and missed a bunch of practices. In the meantime, receiver Dre Muhammad and tight end Max Dedmond filled in and did the job. They have earned the opportunity to start.
This will be huge for Muhammad, and vindication for five years worth of effort (first at Purdue, then at IU) during which he has started zero games and played minimally.
Anyway, Bolser and Duwyce Wilson don’t have major injuries. Coach Wilson described them as minor tweaks and pulls. Both are likely to be cleared to play against Ball State, but the coach isn’t about to just hand them the No. 1 position.
“To me, you gotta kind of earn it back. To the other guys that have been out there battling every day, it’s a little disheartening. Even though some guy might have a skill set, you have to earn it back. It might be a quick earn because your skill set drives you to the point. But I don’t buy the deal, I got hurt; I automatically get my spot back because I was the starter.”
Kevin Wilson, like all coaches, believes in the motivating power of competition and the old cliché that you either get better every day or you get worse. There is no treading water, which is likely what Bolser and Duwyce Wilson have done because of their injuries.
“One of my comments is, it’s not about getting healthy, it’s about getting better,” Kevin Wilson said. “Better doesn’t mean healthy; it means you’re becoming a better football player, too. When you miss work, that’s hard to do.
“We’ll keep an eye on those guys. Those are two skilled kids. They did a lot in the spring. We’ll see if they get back in the mix.”
Bet the house that they will.
****
Okay, we can’t help ourselves. When you’re a member of the media and there’s a high-profile position that seemingly is not nailed down, you gotta ask. It’s part of our journalistic DNA.
So when you look at an IU depth chart that lists its quarterback order as either Edward Wright-Baker or Dusty Kiel, you gotta wonder and question.
The problem is, Kevin Wilson doesn’t want to reveal his hand. He HAS to have a good idea at this point. The quarterback position is too important not to. But when asked, he suggested he might play three quarterbacks against Ball State, with freshman Tre Roberson in the mix.
So we get a little twist. IU released its two-deep depth chart on Monday, and Wright-Baker and Kiel were listed, in no particular order, as the starters. Then Kevin Wilson said Roberson was still in the picture. He also said he has no timetable in naming a starting quarterback.
“I don’t know. We’re just not as consumed with it as you guys. They’re all doing good. No one has really separated.”
The best way to separate, by the way, is not turn the ball over.
“Even if a guy goes up there first (to start), we’ll see if he stays the starter,” Wilson says. “I don’t know if anyone has had the support or played well enough to clearly separate. You get into game situations, maybe things go different. We’re not going to look over the shoulder at one bad pass, but right now, we’re just gonna let it keep going a little bit.
“We’ll have a guy go first. He might not be the starter. It might be based on what we’ve seen short team. That guy is taking care of the ball the best.”
*****
By now you probably know, have probably seen, Mitch McGary’s costly dunk. He was in a dunk contest and jammed so hard the backboard shattered and cut him. He needed 37 stitches to close the wound.
McGary isn’t coming to Indiana, or to Purdue or to Notre Dame. Yes, he’s an in-state guy who got away. He’s big, strong and very likely will end up a very rich guy if the NBA and its players ever reach an agreement.
Would it have been nice if a guy like that ended up wearing Cream ‘n Crimson? Of course it would, but the way Tom Cream is recruiting, the Hoosiers won’t miss a beat.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Crean Recruiting Never Stops – Russell, Fischer and Donuts; Urban Meyer Makes a Point
You might think college football dominates this time of year, but you haven’t spent time on the Indiana campus lately. Yes, the football Hoosiers under new coach Kevin Wilson are generating plenty of buzz with the season opener against Ball State less than a week away, but basketball coach Tom Crean isn’t lounging on the couch eating donuts.
First, if you’ve seen Crean, you know he never lounges at any time. As far as donuts, we have no evidence to suggest that he eats anything like that. He’s a perpetual motion guy who never stops recruiting. Over the weekend he had a pair of high-profile recruits swing by for visits, which meant it was time for him to break out the golf cart and buzz around campus.
The highest-profile player was Louisville guard D’Angelo Russell, a top-25 prospect from the Class of 2014 with a 6-8 wingspan even though he’s just 6-3. IU has offered a scholarship. So have Xavier and Louisville. Don’t be surprised if Purdue, Kentucky, Ohio State, Missouri, Tennessee and Alabama also make offers.
IU already has a pair of 2014 commitments from forward Trey Lyles and guard James Blackmon. Yes, Russell has noticed, and in a good way.
*****
What are the odds of Luke Fischer playing his college basketball at Indiana?
Let’s just say this 6-9 forward from Wisconsin, Class of 2013, left Bloomington very, very impressed. Competition includes Wisconsin, Wisconsin-Green Bay, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Marquette, Boston College, Creighton, Wake Forest, Butler and Drake.
That’s an interesting list and one certain to shrink in the coming months.
Fischer took an unofficial visit to IU over the weekend. It’s his second unofficial visit to Bloomington, which bodes well for Hoosier prospects, although it’s far from a deal clincher.
He checked out the campus, the academic center and even the basketball skills of some committed players from the Class of 2012 in Yogi Ferrell and Ron Patterson, plus some current Hoosier players, including veterans Derek Elston and Jordan Hulls, plus freshman Cody Zeller, as part of an open gym pick-up game.
Fischer weighs 200 pounds, which would be fine if he was 6-foot. At 6-9, he’s skinny and needs a significant strength boost. This is no big deal because he’ll get bigger as he matures and once he gets to college, he’ll benefit from a structured strength training program.
Yes, in case you’re wondering, IU has a very, very good strength training program.
*****
How big is the Big Ten’s new conference football championship game going to be? Let’s hear from Urban Meyer, the former Florida head coach who experienced all the drama around the SEC title game. He’s retired from coaching, for now at least, and an analyst for ESPN.
During a college football teleconference Meyer said the way the SEC does its championship game rivals if not surpasses what the BCS title game does. He said Big Ten coaches have to approach the conference championship game as the biggest event of the season, even bigger than the BCS finale.
“Make that thing huge so the players look forward to it because it is a grind,” Meyer said. “You reach that point in the second (early December) when you’re dealing with injuries, fatigue. A Big Ten team that goes through that and wins the game is probably going to play in the national championship game.
“It’s great for college football. It’s one of the great experiences. It’s also one of the most fatiguing, nerve wracking experiences you can go through.”
Friday, August 26, 2011
Tough Enough -- Don't Mess With Former Hoosier Doss
Tandon Doss is one tough son of a buck. Yes, by now you’ve seen the story, the tweets, the blogs, the messages. The former IU stud receiver was minding his own business at a Five Guys hamburger place in Baltimore late Thursday afternoon, getting ready to play in a Ravens’ exhibition game (he’s a Ravens rookie) against the Washington Redskins when a knife fight broke out. Two former employees were attacking the restaurant manager.
For most people, this would be an excuse to run or watch. Doss intervened and broke up the fight. He did it without a weapon of any kind other than the fact he’s a big, athletic guy with a bunch of tattoos. The employees bolted. The manager escaped with just a cut chin.
Then Doss caught two passes for 28 yards in the exhibition game. He also found time to use Twitter to defend himself for helping. His tweet basically said that in Indianapolis, people don’t let victims get jumped without helping.
It’s that kind of fearless attitude that made Doss such an outstanding player for IU. It’s also why he’s likely to stick with the Ravens. You can’t have enough tough-minded guys who do the right thing on your roster.
Doss showed some of that toughness last year. He was banged up at the start of the season, and probably wasn’t ever totally healthy, but still made a huge impact all over the field. He caught 63 passes for 706 yards and seven touchdowns. He averaged 7.0 yards on punt returns, 24.8 yards on kickoff returns. He rushed for 163 yards and averaged 5.8 yards a carry.
He could have returned for another year of college, but decided to pass in favor of NFL opportunity. There’s one Five Guys manager who is very glad he did.
For most people, this would be an excuse to run or watch. Doss intervened and broke up the fight. He did it without a weapon of any kind other than the fact he’s a big, athletic guy with a bunch of tattoos. The employees bolted. The manager escaped with just a cut chin.
Then Doss caught two passes for 28 yards in the exhibition game. He also found time to use Twitter to defend himself for helping. His tweet basically said that in Indianapolis, people don’t let victims get jumped without helping.
It’s that kind of fearless attitude that made Doss such an outstanding player for IU. It’s also why he’s likely to stick with the Ravens. You can’t have enough tough-minded guys who do the right thing on your roster.
Doss showed some of that toughness last year. He was banged up at the start of the season, and probably wasn’t ever totally healthy, but still made a huge impact all over the field. He caught 63 passes for 706 yards and seven touchdowns. He averaged 7.0 yards on punt returns, 24.8 yards on kickoff returns. He rushed for 163 yards and averaged 5.8 yards a carry.
He could have returned for another year of college, but decided to pass in favor of NFL opportunity. There’s one Five Guys manager who is very glad he did.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
QB Who -- IU's Great Football Mystery Remains
We arrived seeking wisdom, understanding and insight. The great mystery that is Indiana football practice was about to be revealed. With it, we hoped, would come the answer to the question that has vexed everyone since Kevin Wilson arrived:
How can you sneak into Memorial Stadium?
Wait, that was the question a pair of students asked us as we were leaving IU’s situational scrimmage Thursday night. Darkness had fallen and Memorial Stadium was all ablaze, a football siren for those who appreciate impressive facilities. At one time, the last thing anyone would want to see was a lit-up Memorial Stadium at night. Now, it is a testament to the university’s commitment to football excellence and a lure for those seeking adventure.
What kind of adventure?
We didn’t ask.
For the record, we told the students that trying to sneak into Memorial Stadium was a REALLY bad idea, that they would be caught, arrested and find themselves spending the last few days before class begins doing community service rather than what all students have gathered early to do -- partying like it was 1999.
So they left, and then so did we, and the real question gnawing at Hoosier fans hovered in the air:
Who would be the starting quarterback?
Still can’t say.
Check that. Based on what we saw, which was scripted situations with ever changing personnel to maximize reps and opportunity, Edward Wright-Baker looked the best. The offense just seemed to flow crisper and smoother while he ran the show. But that also might have had to do with the players he played with and against. There was a lot of shuffling. Still, Wright-Baker opened with the first unit on the opening series. Dusty Kiel got the first unit on the second series, and then they rotated. Tre Roberson didn’t get any first-unit action.
Kiel and Roberson had their moments. Roberson is still more advanced as a runner than a thrower, but that’s to be expected from a true freshman still learning the offense and how to read college defenses.
Also, while it was 11 against 11, it was not full-contact hitting.
Anyway, here is what Wilson had to say when asked for a quarterback update:
“They’re plugging along. I don’t know if they’re getting great help all the time. It’s timing. The receivers get a littled gassed, the rhythm is off, the timing isn’t always ideal. A guy looks like he’s off target, but maybe there’s a receiver leaving him out to dry.
“We’re trying to get the whole crowd to play well around them. They’re still a little inconsistent. We haven’t had a bunch of meetings talking about it. We’re working hard and trying to get better. We’ll let it play out.”
Play can’t last much longer. IU opens its season against Ball State on September 3, just over a week away. You might figure that whoever starts against Ball State will be the No. 1 guy.
You might be wrong. Wilson added a touch of mystery.
“We might get to that first game, a guy goes out first, that doesn’t mean he’s the starter. He just might be the guy going first. It will be interesting to see.
“Some guys are doing pretty well. There are good situations and bad situations. Some guys when the lights go on, they’re really different. Some guys the lights go on and they play better. Some don’t.
“As little as they have played, I don’t know if there will ever be an official announcement. We might just let it play out. I’m not trying to be coy. I’m not trying to hide anything. That’s where we’re at.”
How can you sneak into Memorial Stadium?
Wait, that was the question a pair of students asked us as we were leaving IU’s situational scrimmage Thursday night. Darkness had fallen and Memorial Stadium was all ablaze, a football siren for those who appreciate impressive facilities. At one time, the last thing anyone would want to see was a lit-up Memorial Stadium at night. Now, it is a testament to the university’s commitment to football excellence and a lure for those seeking adventure.
What kind of adventure?
We didn’t ask.
For the record, we told the students that trying to sneak into Memorial Stadium was a REALLY bad idea, that they would be caught, arrested and find themselves spending the last few days before class begins doing community service rather than what all students have gathered early to do -- partying like it was 1999.
So they left, and then so did we, and the real question gnawing at Hoosier fans hovered in the air:
Who would be the starting quarterback?
Still can’t say.
Check that. Based on what we saw, which was scripted situations with ever changing personnel to maximize reps and opportunity, Edward Wright-Baker looked the best. The offense just seemed to flow crisper and smoother while he ran the show. But that also might have had to do with the players he played with and against. There was a lot of shuffling. Still, Wright-Baker opened with the first unit on the opening series. Dusty Kiel got the first unit on the second series, and then they rotated. Tre Roberson didn’t get any first-unit action.
Kiel and Roberson had their moments. Roberson is still more advanced as a runner than a thrower, but that’s to be expected from a true freshman still learning the offense and how to read college defenses.
Also, while it was 11 against 11, it was not full-contact hitting.
Anyway, here is what Wilson had to say when asked for a quarterback update:
“They’re plugging along. I don’t know if they’re getting great help all the time. It’s timing. The receivers get a littled gassed, the rhythm is off, the timing isn’t always ideal. A guy looks like he’s off target, but maybe there’s a receiver leaving him out to dry.
“We’re trying to get the whole crowd to play well around them. They’re still a little inconsistent. We haven’t had a bunch of meetings talking about it. We’re working hard and trying to get better. We’ll let it play out.”
Play can’t last much longer. IU opens its season against Ball State on September 3, just over a week away. You might figure that whoever starts against Ball State will be the No. 1 guy.
You might be wrong. Wilson added a touch of mystery.
“We might get to that first game, a guy goes out first, that doesn’t mean he’s the starter. He just might be the guy going first. It will be interesting to see.
“Some guys are doing pretty well. There are good situations and bad situations. Some guys when the lights go on, they’re really different. Some guys the lights go on and they play better. Some don’t.
“As little as they have played, I don’t know if there will ever be an official announcement. We might just let it play out. I’m not trying to be coy. I’m not trying to hide anything. That’s where we’re at.”
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
IU Football Freshmen -- Redshirt or Play; Alexander Visits; Summitt a Fighter
You’ve heard all the talk from Kevin Wilson and his staff about freshman opportunity, that he’s not looking to redshirt these guys. If they can play, if they can make the two deep, they will play.
You’ve also heard about the previous emphasis from former coach Bill Lynch and his redshirt preference.
Is there really a change in philosophy?
To be honest, as opposed to being dishonest, which we only do when asked about who ate the chocolate chip cookies in the pantry, the philosophies are basically the same.
Lynch’s approach was this -– if you were good enough to start or get significant playing time as a freshman, you played. A guy like receiver Damarlo Belcher was proof of that. If not, you redshirted.
Wilson almost certainly will do the same thing. If, for instance, freshman tailback D’Angelo Roberts and freshman quarterback Tre Roberson can make a difference this year, and it seems certain they can, they will play. If not, they’ll redshirt.
“If they’re good enough to be in the 2-deep, we’re going to play them,” co-defensive coordinator Doug Mallory said. “If they’re going to make us a better team right now, they’ll play. We want to have success this year and continue to have success. If the kids can come in and earn a starting position or a backup job, we’ll get them on the field.”
*****
Do you think IU could use a guy like Cliff Alexander, a 6-9, 240-pound member of the Class of 2014?
Sorry. We just had to ask. Of course the Hoosiers could use a big, powerful inside guy. It’s the one piece to the recruiting puzzle coach Tom Crean hasn’t nailed down. He’s gold with guards, swingmen and small forwards. But a beast in the middle, somebody who can dominate the paint like Jared Sullinger, that would be manna from heaven.
Is Alexander, who is from Chicago, that kind of guy? Can he do it at the college level? It’s hard to say, but he was good enough to play up a year, for the USA 2013 team, at the adidas Nations tourney in Los Angeles. You don’t do that unless you have something good to offer.
It doesn’t hurt that Indianapolis’ Trey Lyles, a very versatile big man who has already committed to IU for the Class of 2014, played on that same 2013 adidas team. Maybe Lyles can serve as an unofficial recruiter to help Alexander see the world in a Cream ‘n Crimson light.
Anyway, Alexander made an unofficial visit to IU on Wednesday, and reportedly received a scholarship offer. It’s not his first and won’t be his last given he’s a guy with the potential to be a top-25 player in his class.
The Hoosiers aren’t recruiting Alexander in a vacuum. Kentucky is in the picture, and when John Calipari gets involved, brace yourself for a battle. So are Ohio State and Illinois as those three programs loom as front runners. Pretty much anybody who’s anybody is also in the mix, including Michigan State, Connecticut and Kansas. It’s not going to be easy, but nothing worthwhile ever is.
Stay tuned.
Oh, in case you missed it, ESPN still ranks Crean’s Class of 2012 -- Yogi Ferrell, Jeremy Hollowell, Hanner Perea, Peter Jurkin and Ron Patterson -- as the nation’s best.
Yeah, that’s impressive.
*****
The news broke with shocking surprise -- Pat Summitt has early onset dementia. The greatest women’s basketball coach in history (yes, you could argue for Connecticut’s Geno Auriemma and Standford’s Tara VanDerveer, the former Hoosier, but you would lose), seemed indestructible while turning Tennessee into a dynasty.
She’s won nearly 1,100 games, basically 200 more than men’s career leader Bob Knight, along with eight national titles and two Olympic medals, with a steely intensity few could match.
Let others succumb to age or mediocrity. She seemed, just like Knight, above all that.
Now we know that appearances are misleading. Time eventually gets to all of us and the fact Summitt is just 59 (she took the Tennessee job when she was 22) and dealing with this problem is a scary thought. If it can happen to her, who can’t it happen to?
The fact is, of course, that all of us are vulnerable. Some will be lucky. Some will not.
Summitt doesn’t want us to pity her. She’s lived a great life, insists that she still will. She plans to coach this season, and perhaps more. She will fight it as best she can, and if the weapons are reading and crossword puzzles, if that seems no match against a mysterious illness that destroys the brain bit by bit, who’s to say it won’t be enough.
Life threw Summitt a curve. She plans on doing what she’s always done -- smash the son of a bitch out of the park.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)