2011 Indiana Hoosiers Football Preview

New Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson waited a long time to become a head coach. After spending nine seasons on the offensive staff at Oklahoma, Wilson finally got his chance at Indiana, a school close to his childhood home and a school he feels can be more than a Big Ten cellar-dweller. Wilson is optimistic about the talent he is inheriting and his ability to recruit more of it to Bloomington. He was consistently one of the nation’s most aggressive and creative offensive minds at Oklahoma. He’ll need to harness all of his creativity to help Indiana get to just its second bowl since 1993. There aren’t many pieces on offense with significant experience, so this year will be a real transition season for all involved.

Ben Chappell was quietly the most productive quarterbacks in the Big Ten last season and he will not be easy to replace. The quarterback job in Wilson’s spread, pass-first attack will be sophomore Dusty Kiel. Kiel saw very little time last season as a freshman, attempting just 12 passes in relief of Chappell. He’ll be joined in the backfield by tailback Darius Willis. Willis was the team’s second leading rusher last year, but, his 278 yards rushing shows just how much Indiana struggled to move the ball on the ground in its pistol offense in 2010. This season the Hoosiers will utilize three and four receiver sets much more often than they did under Bill Lynch. That means new and inexperienced receivers will get a great deal of playing time. At least Damario Belcher returns. Belcher led the team with 78 receptions for 832 yards and four touchdowns in 2010. Beyond him, there are mostly unknowns at receiver. Duwyce Wilson caught 32 passes in 2010 as a reserve and slot receiver. He’ll be asked to step into a more prominent role in Wilson’s attack.

The offensive line will be a sore spot for the Hoosiers unless it improves greatly over 2010. The unit consistently failed to open running lanes or adequately protect Chappell. Now, with the change in offensive philosophy, they’ll all be asked to do things differently. Both tackles return from last year’s line and both are experienced seniors. Neither are particularly outstanding run blockers, but are adequate pass blockers and should be what the line is built around. Center Will Mate also returns from last years unit but is a bit undersized at 282 pounds. The play of the offensive line 9and quarterback, of course) will go a long way towards determining the fortunes of the Hoosiers offense in 2011.

Just six starters return from last year’s defense that was often on the field far too long. So the hope is that with any level of offensive improvement, the defense will also benefit from simply having to spend less time on the field. Five of the front seven from last year’s unit returns, led by defensive end Darius Johnson and defensive tackle Nick Mentzer. Mentzer and Adam Replogle are a big pair of tackles that simply wore down in games from being on the field too long. Linebackers Jeff Thomas and Leon Beckum were second and third on the team in tackles last season and quality Big Ten caliber linebackers. The Hoosiers should be optimistic about their front seven in 2011.

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The question for Wilson and his defensive staff is in the secondary where only one of last year’s starters is back. Free safety Greg Heban was thrown to the wolves as a freshman and played well. As a sophomore, he’s now the grizzles veteran of the unit. Lenyatta Kiles and Lawrence Barnett are brand new corners with little experience. Jarrell Drane is a senior that has played sparingly up to now. He will take over at strong safety. This is a very raw unit. Luckily, the Hoosiers have experience up front and will hope for a pass rush from the front four alone. It is unlikely that the secondary will be able to provide much help in man coverage.

The schedule has some readymade wins on it, but it might be tough for Wilson to match last year’s five wins, much less make a bowl trip in 2011. If the Hoosiers want to play in a bowl, they must win the opener in Indianapolis against MAC foe Ball State. They host Virginia and South Carolina State the following week before traveling to face North Texas. If the Hoosiers enter Big Ten play at 3-1 or miraculously at 4-0, then the Big Ten schedule might allow for a shot at six wins. They get Illinois, Northwestern and Purdue at home to close to the season. Road trips to Ohio State, Wisconsin, Michigan State and Iowa will be daunting.