NCAA Football Preview - Indiana Hoosiers
Sports Network | August 12, 2008
2008 ANALYSIS:
OFFENSE: QB Kellen Lewis' indefinite suspension for a violation of team rules was lifted a month before camp started. After serving about four months of the suspension, the second-team All-Big Ten selection is now ready to add to his 5,000 career passing yards. Last year, he was one of only three quarterbacks in the nation to to eclipse 3,000 yards passing and 700 yards rushing (Florida's Tim Tebow and Central Michigan's Dan LeFevour were the others).
At media day, coach Lynch said Lewis has made great strides in terms of playing within the framework of the offense, but if needed, that extra dimension is always there.
"If things break down, that's where he's really effective," Lynch said. "He has such an ability to make plays when there's nothing because he's an outstanding athlete. Obviously, he had a lot to do with the success we had last year offensively."
Running back Marcus Thipgen ran for 568 yards (4.1 ypc) as a junior, but his only three touchdowns came on receptions. Lynch wants to find more ways to utilize the speed of Thigpen, a sprinter on the track team. There is depth behind him, including Bryan Payton, who finished with 381 yards (4.2 ypc) and four touchdowns.
Star wideout James Hardy decided not to come back for his senior season after putting up monster numbers as a junior. Junior Ray Fisher (52 catches, 482 yards, four TDs) will now step in as the go-to-guy and is good after the catch, while Andrew Means (48-559) will also play a larger role.
Coach Lynch loves the talent he's got on the offensive line, despite only two starters returning. The line is bigger than last year's unit, highlighted by mammoth left guard Pete Saxon (6-6, 320).
DEFENSE: The defensive line is anchored by junior end Greg Middleton (6-3, 275), who led the nation with 16 sacks last year, en route to First-Team All- Big Ten honors. The rest of the line is relatively young, but deep, including junior end Jammie Kirlew (57 tackles, 4.5 sacks).
The linebackers, highlighted by junior Will Patterson (104 tackles) look like a major strength. Patterson will be flanked by fifth-year senior Geno Johnson (6-2, 228) on the other side and junior Matt Mayberry (6-2, 236) in the middle.
Sophomore safety Jeremy Finch, a transfer from the University of Florida who registered seven tackles and an interception in three games as a linebacker before suffering a season-ending broken leg, began practicing with the Hoosiers in early-August. Coming out of high school, he was rated the No. 1 safety in the nation by some outlets. Even without Finch, the secondary is a strength, with both safeties returning and a pair of promising cornerbacks ready to step into the starting lineup. Junior strong safety Austin Thomas led the team in tackles in 2007, with 112 total stops. Fifth-year senior Chris Phillips (three INTs) will assume one of the cornerback slots, while redshirt freshman Donnell Jones is an exciting youngster on the other side.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Senior kicker Austin Starr (21-of-23) is as automatic as it gets at the college level. He went 11-of-12 from beyond 40 yards, and converted all 45 of his extra-point attempts. However, the punting duties will fall on someone new, with redshirt freshman Chris Hagerup the likely candidate. Prime-time punt returner Tracy Porter moved on to the NFL. The most likely candidate to fill his shoes is Fisher. There is no question who will return kicks, as Thigpen averaged 23 yards per return last year and 30 yards per return in 2006, with three touchdowns.
OUTLOOK: The Hoosiers must take advantage of four straight home games to start the season, considering they finish the schedule at Penn State and at Purdue. They do avoid Ohio State and Michigan and that has to be looked on as a scheduling plus.
Still, Lewis will need to put the suspension behind him and prove that he is ready to lead this team as he enters his junior season. The defense looks solid, as does the special teams. On the surface, losing talents such as Hardy and Porter seems like a major sting, but Indiana is a program on the rise, and quality players appear ready to step up and continue that progression.
