...this may sound counterintuitive, but I'm actually a lot less worried about them than I was before they sprung the huge upset win over #8 Penn State. (I was able to watch that entire game from start to finish before our game.)
Their QB Penix still has a lot of obvious physical upside as a runner and thrower, but man, I thought he looked pretty bad on Saturday throwing the ball, and they couldn't get him into position to use his legs whatsoever. He just doesn't look like he has taken the next step yet. Indiana managed less than 200 yards of total offense in regulation... you want to avoid overreacting too much to first games in college football, and it's possible that Penn State's defense is just that good, but the Hoosier Offense didn't pass the eye test to me.
And on the other side of the ball, a Penn State offense that to my eye lacks the explosive difference-making playmakers at the offensive skill positions from recent years past still gained over 450 yards of total offense on the Hoosiers in regulation, leaving a lot of points on the board through unforced, self-inflicted mistakes.
I really, really like our odds in that one now, whereas a few days ago, I would have only considered us slight favorites.
Their QB Penix still has a lot of obvious physical upside as a runner and thrower, but man, I thought he looked pretty bad on Saturday throwing the ball, and they couldn't get him into position to use his legs whatsoever. He just doesn't look like he has taken the next step yet. Indiana managed less than 200 yards of total offense in regulation... you want to avoid overreacting too much to first games in college football, and it's possible that Penn State's defense is just that good, but the Hoosier Offense didn't pass the eye test to me.
And on the other side of the ball, a Penn State offense that to my eye lacks the explosive difference-making playmakers at the offensive skill positions from recent years past still gained over 450 yards of total offense on the Hoosiers in regulation, leaving a lot of points on the board through unforced, self-inflicted mistakes.
I really, really like our odds in that one now, whereas a few days ago, I would have only considered us slight favorites.
