2006 Statistics

The innovative spread Coach Hoeppner introduced will continue. That means new OC Matt Canada, who was and remains the passing game coordinator, makes an easy transition (Coach Lynch moves up from OC). More passes than runs will again be seen, and why not – Lynch and Canada coached up RS frosh Kellen Lewis to one of the school’s best freshman seasons ever, and his progress throughout spring indicates he has matured/progressed nicely. This guy is one of a handful of dual-threats who led his given team in both rushing and passing. Lewis gets everyone back but his center and tight end, so expect a HUGE sophomore season. As a matter of fact, all of the talent position starters who return were underclassmen last year, so the emergence of this offense is imminent. Lewis has one knock – he is a bit small (177lbs) to carry it 100+ times in the Big Ten. But at 6’1, he can see over his linemen and clearly purvey the Hoosiers’ receivers. Without his sack yardage, he is good for five yards a carry, and the way this offense spreads foes out, he will find many holes through which to run. So will Marcus Thigpen, a shifty runner who is surprisingly strong between the tackles. He and backup Demetrius McCray have decent hands in the flat, but they seem undersized as extra blockers for Lewis in their one-back schemes. Freshman Trea Burgess has the size-speed combination desired for a single back, and as the top rusher in the Cream-and-Crimson (spring) game, we think he will see lots of reps. Lynch’s other secret weapon is fullback Josiah Sears, a worthy runner who is money in the bank with only five lost yards on 40 carries (second on the team with four rushing TDs). The James & James Receiving Show – all-conference 6’7 Hardy and Detroit product Bailey – will keep getting open to help Lewis. Someone has to become the deep threat without Gilmore to do such. The depth at receiver is three deep for their three-receiver sets, truly, so finding role players won’t be a problem. Expect an expanded role from Ray Fisher, who should be more than a short-passing outlet, and look out for newbie Terrance Turner after his great final spring scrimmage. One thing that could really spice things up is if they started using the Hoosier tight ends (at all), for not a single pass was completed to one all of 2006…not one! That is a mistake with an offensive scheme that thrives on creating/exploiting matchup problems. The solution this spring was converted-QB Blake Powers, though, Nick Sexton gets the initial starting nod and is an even bigger target. Expect an expanded role in production from this unit. The line is set except, as stated, at center. Ben Wyss, a walk-on senior, was found with the first-team all spring, and he is prototypically athletic like the rest of his brethren on the line. The inside has girth with Saxon, Sandberg, Thomas and Love, but more has to be seen if IU is to avoid again finishing 89th in rushing (3.5 yards per carry is also not going to get this team over .500). But the key lineman is Rodger Saffold – as a true freshman last year, Saffold did better in run blocking than pass protection. He has bulked up a bit, but freshman James “Big Brew” Brewer really has the girth and footwork to supplant Saffold if he isn’t playing his best. The maturation of this offense due to better line play will be the key for all of the talent position players to excel to their potentials, too. We foresee this happening, and the easy early foes will allow the warm-up time needed before the tougher ones ensue.

The troubles that plagued this defense in its last campaign are what cost IU any chances at finishing in bowl contention. Only one foe last year was held under 20 points and only six were held under 30 (4-2 in those games). Then, starting with the Southern Illinois game, five out of six teams piled up 200+ rushing yards. The back seven allowed opponents to complete 61.6% of their pass attempt and attain 29 scores through the air, so returning 11 legitimate starters and the same co-coordinators seems a mixed blessing. The line loses top sack man Kendal (four); this area was so lacking that IU finished 111th with just 14 total sacks. Big tackle Greg Brown proved much in his sophomore season last year, and he will soon demand double-teams. Now 300+lbs, Joe Kremer has to step up in his final campaign after a pretty mundane career or Kevin Burrus will find himself starting next to twin brother Keith. DE Keith impressed as a RS frosh, but he will have to make more big plays (no TFLs or sacks) if this unit is to advance its results (and he is to hold off surging classmate Greg Middleton). Jammie Kirlew also stood out in many ways in his freshman year, and with senior backup Brian Faires also a proven contributor, the bodies are in place for this line to be better. Senior Adam McClurg has a stout build with the needed mobility to roam the middle effectively, but only 58 total tackles is a smallish number for an effective MLB. BUCK Will Patterson had a promising true freshman campaign and looks like the best Hoosier LB in coverage. Strongsider Geno Johnson is also decent against the run, but, like McClurg, he has to be more thorough in all facets. Two of the three sophs who serve as backups have worthy experience; Carrington bumping over from offense is merely a filler move until he proves he deserves the switch (from RB). The need for these starters to stay healthy is obvious for the corps to even have the chance to hit on all cylinders. The secondary boasts Tracy Porter, the best player on this side of the ball. Overall, the corners are the defense’s best unit, with Majors and Phillips also competent when left alone against the Big Ten’s best receivers. Of the three, only Porter is a true shot-down type. But what does it say about the safeties that possible starter Brandon Mosely had to be replaced by a wideout? He and starter Austin Thomas looked like the first-team pair, but Nick Polk was tapped in the late part of spring for his athleticism and the team’s needs in the deep middle. Kleinsmith is adequate depth, but this area looks like a liability unless massive progress is made by October. The entire defense is still suspect until they prove over the course of several games - against decent foes - that they have come together and can stop foes at critical times.