Indiana Hoosiers 2010 NCAA Football Preview

<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />Indiana Hoosiers

Big Ten Conference

2009 Record: (4-8, 1-7)

2009 Bowl: none

Coach: Bill Lynch (14-23 at Indiana, 95-90-3 overall)

Offensive Coordinator: Matt Canada

Defensive Coordinator: Brian George and Joe Palcic

Returning Leaders

Rushing: Darius Willis, RB, 607 yards

Passing: Ben Chappell, QB, 2,941 yards

Receiving: Tandon Doss, WR, 962 yards

Tackles: Tyler Replogle, LB, 80

Sacks: Adam Replogle, DT, 4.0

Interceptions: Chris Adkins, S, 1; Donnell Jones, CB, 1; Tyler Replogle, LB, 1: Nicholas Sliger, DT, 1

Other Key Returnees: WR Damarlo Belcher, DT Larry Black, OT James Brewer, K Nick Freeland, C Will Matte, G Justin Pagan, WR Terrance Turner

Key Losses: CB Ray Fisher, DE Jammie Kirlew, LB Matt Mayberry, RB Demetrius McCray, DE Greg Middleton, LB Will Patterson, S Nick Polk, OT Rodger Saffold, G Pete Saxon, S Austin Thomas, TE Troy Wagner

Indiana struggled in 2009 due to their lack of a running attack and a defense that could not stop most teams. However, what emerged was a potent passing attack led by quarterback Ben Chappell. Chappell is not the flashiest signal caller in the Big Ten, but he is an efficient quarterback who completed an impressive 62.6 percent of his passes last season.

Strengths:

Chappell has plenty of weapons to work with. Tandon Doss is the little speedster who is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. Doss ended the 2009 campaign catching 77 passes for 962 yards and five scores. Damarlo Belcher is the big target on the team. At 6-5 and 215 pounds, most opposing corners have had a tough time with Belcher and that will continue now that he is an upperclassman. Terrance Turner has some size too and was third behind Doss and Belcher in receptions and receiving yards. If Darius Willis can stay healthy and provide a consistent running attack, the Hoosiers offense should be pretty good. When Willis was healthy last year he did do a good job, rushing for 67.4 yards per game and six trips to the end zone.

Weaknesses:

The problem may be on the offensive line where the Hoosiers must replace tackle Roger Saffold. Saffold deserves a lot of credit for keeping Chappell on his feet. Andrew McDonald is an experienced replacement and James Brewer is a beast at right tackle, but Saffold was a special talent that will not be easily replaced. On the other side of the ball, the defensive line has even more problems. Ends Greg Middleton and Jammie Kirlew are gone and the best pass rusher on the team is now tackle Adam Replogle. Indiana better find a few more pass rushers on the end to replace Middleton and Kirlew or the new look secondary that only returns corner Donnell Jones will be in deep trouble.

The Bottom Line:

The strength of the IU defense could end up in the middle. Linebacker Tyler Replogle is an experienced leader who needs to step up his game even more and take charge of the entire unit. However, even a great year from the elder Replogle will not do too much good if the front four and the secondary falter. Thus, in the end, the Hoosiers will likely have to rely on the arm of Chappell to keep up with the opposition. The Big Ten is not known for their passing attacks, but more often than not Indiana will have to resort to throwing the ball if their defense cannot keep up with the rest of the teams in the conference.

2009 Team Stats:

Rushing Offense: 117.08 (96^th in nation, 9^th in conference)

Passing Offense: 247.92 (35, 4)

Total Offense: 365.00 (72, 9)

Scoring Offense: 23.50 (84, 9)

Rushing Defense: 159.08 (79, 9)

Pass Defense: 241.92 (95, 9)

Total Defense: 401.00 (88, 10)

Scoring Defense: 29.50 (91, 10)

Turnover Margin: .58 (19, 2)

Sacks: 2.08 (50, 8)

Sacks Allowed: 1.33 (28, 3)