Well that certainly wasn't what we were expecting. Indiana played arguably its strongest, most complete game of the season while Ohio State played one of its sloppiest -- and the Buckeyes still won 49-26. Indiana, dare I say it, showed up in the first half and hung around from there. Sure, Ohio State let 'em to an extent, but the effort the Hoosiers showed on multiple fronts at least seems promising as IU moves into the second half of its season. A quick reaction from today's loss at the horseshoe:
Indiana Secondary Can't Keep Up
Let it be known, Dwayne Haskins is as dynamic as they come, despite not being quite like some of Ohio State's dual threat quarterbacks of the past. That said, Indiana's secondary helped make Haskins look better than he probably is this afternoon. Call it delayed play calling, the effect playing at the horseshoe had on the Hoosiers, or really anything else -- it just seemed today like roles weren't as clearly defined as they have been up until this point in the season. Linebackers were forced to drop into pass coverage situations (Raekwon Jones covering OSU's Perris Campbell is less than ideal), and Jonathan Crawford simply can't do it all himself. Ohio State's Haskins finished the day 33-of-44, throwing for 455 yards and six touchdowns. As far as the Hoosier defense goes as a whole, Dameon Willis led the way with 9 tackles, followed by Marcelino Ball and T.D. Roof, both with 8 apiece. Needless to say, Indiana fans should hope things get cleaned up in a hurry with Iowa visiting Bloomington next weekend.
Tom Allen Takeaways!
Tom Allen's defensive takeaways are back in a big way, and that's a big relief for the Hoosiers and their fans moving forward. People talk about the path to six wins for this Indiana program, but a huge part of the path to each and every one of those wins has to do with stout play up front. This said, Tom Allen will certainly still have some things to say about the way his defense handled the second half.
Two interceptions -- one from redshirt freshman Bryant Fitzgerald and another one coming unexpectedly from Devon Matthews -- as well as a fumble recovery, helped keep IU's hopes alive and frankly, kept the game within reach. You better believe it'll continue to be a big part of Indiana's success moving forward.
Ramsey Taking Shots
I was seriously impressed by the way Peyton Ramsey continued to improve after a really, really apathetic second half performance from the Hoosiers last Saturday in Piscataway. Right up until kickoff, no one could be sure about how Mike DeBord was going to approach the play calling in this game, and I think the majority of fans will come away pleasantly surprised. The Hoosiers didn't necessarily empty the playbook today like some initially thought they would, but seeing Ramsey take more shots downfield was encouraging, again, in terms of what's left on the schedule for Indiana. Ramsey finished his day in Columbus with a trio of touchdowns. The sophomore continues to look more and more assertive, confident, and possessed in the pocket with each passing week, and for me, it's really all positive going forward.
Additional Notes:
- Redshirt senior wideout J-Shun Harris reached a career high 8 receptions, going for 104 yards
- Peyton Ramsey also threw for a career high, finishing the day with 322 yards and going 26-of-49
- The Hoosiers ran the ball 21 times, compared to its 26 plays through the air
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