Hoosier Rout: Part II, Defense and Offense

Here's the thumbnail, based on Coach Clawson's post-game presser.

BG likes to play press coverage with corners and put defenders in the box.  Indiana was torching that coverage, so BG had to drop back out of the box, which resulted in Indiana torching the Falcons with the run.

How bad? you ask.  601 yards, 8.1 yards per play....8 of 13 on 3rd downs...6 of them on 3rd and 7 or more...42 points AND two possessions that ended on the BG 1.

That's 5.5 yards per rush, 12.9 yards per pass attempt and 19.7 yards per reception.  Only 24 minutes of possession, but that's because you have to give the ball back after you score.

Indiana is a high powered offensive team.  I don't know how much the Falcons expected to stop Indiana, but pretty much they didn't get stopped at all.  The Hoosiers "punted" only once in the whole game.  Sudfeld was 17 of 26...the guy is really good.  It wasn't an easy assignment but it was really no contest.  BG made a couple plays but the Indiana offense moved up and down the field.

You'd hope to see BG's offense join in the fun.  I think maybe we got a little over-zealous after the Kent game, because Indiana State scored 35 on Indiana and BG scored 3.  There were tons of little mistakes (as noted yesterday) including a dropped TD pass and some penalties.

BG did have 408 yards in offense, but that was on a crazy 87 plays.  Therefore, we're only talking 4.7 yards per play, which is well below league average.  BG rushed for 3.8 yards per play, 5.4 per pass attempt and 9.8 per reception, all below average.  BG was 8 of 20 on 3rd down (which is pretty decent) but threw a bagel in the red zone after being perfect in the first two games.

So, when Coach says we got "whipped" in all phases of the game, this is what we are talking about.

Travis Greene had only 11 carries for 43 yards, which is 3.9 yards per carry.

Matt Johnson had an OK game, completing 57% with 1 INT before leaving the game after taking a really hard hit.  Gallon (8-82) and Joplin (7-104, one lost fumble) both had decent games.

The offense was episodically productive, but not consistent and ultimately not nearly productive enough to win the game.

Coach said that they were pressuring the BG line--especially at tackle--and that did get them some plays.

Anyway, there isn't too much to say.  These are the things that you expect when you look at a 42-10 game that was actually not that close.