The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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7 indiana • oct. 19 Indiana Is Determined To End Bowl Drought D By Ryan Tice espite losing starting quarterback Tre Roberson after a little more than five quarters of action last year, Indiana improved from a 1-11 debut under head coach Kevin Wilson to 4-8, which included a pair of Big Ten victories. This year, they will try to continue the climb to bowl eligibility, which would mark the program's first postseason appearance since 2007. Despite a rotating cast of three quarterbacks, the Hoosiers still managed to lead the Big Ten with an average of 311.2 passing yards per game, and they ranked 34th nationally with an average of 442 yards of offense an outing. In addition to the dual-threat Roberson, who enters his redshirt sophomore year of eligibility, junior Cameron Coffman and sophomore Nate Sudfeld also return at quarterback. Coffman completed 60.7 percent of his 407 attempts for 2,734 yards, 15 scores and 11 interceptions, while Sudfeld completed 51 of his 82 attempts (62.2 percent) for 632 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception. Players To Watch OFFENSE: Tre Roberson, R-So., QB — The youngster had a promising campaign derailed by a broken leg, suffered in the second game, and received a medical redshirt … Finished last year 33of-50 (66 percent) passing for 368 yards, two touchdowns and one interception; he also rushed for 133 yards and three scores … Started five games as a true freshman and threw for 937 yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions, while he also rushed for 426 yards and two scores. DEFENSE: Greg Heban, 5th-Sr., S — The former football walk-on and IU baseball pitcher played the first five games of 2012 at nickel back, where he started three times, before he moved to safety, where he opened the final seven contests … Paced the squad with 91 total tackles, 68 solo stops and three interceptions, and tied for first with eight pass breakups … In 36 career appearances, he has 26 starts with 193 tackles, including 12 tackles for loss and two sacks, and has posted six interceptions, 19 pass breakups and two forced fumbles. The only starter the offense must replace points given up per contest) and must be better from last year is center Will Matte. Each of last for the Hoosiers to have a chance. The good season's top six pass catchers, news is that nine starters return, who combined for 3,160 yards and the remaining four-star reand 23 touchdowns through the cruits project to the defense. air, will return, and the unit will Linebacker could be the be led by juniors Cody Latimer strength of the unit with four ex(805 receiving yards, six touchperienced upperclassmen back downs) and Shane Wynn (660 in fifth-year seniors Griffen yards, six scores). They'll also Dahlstrom (48 tackles, seven for add four-star wide receiver Taj loss) and Jacarri Alexander (30 Williams, who is one of five intackles, three for loss), as well coming four-star prospects. as redshirt juniors David Cooper All rushers who tallied at (86 tackles, nine for loss) and least two carries are also back, Junior Cody Latimer, who Chase Hoobler (26 tackles). had 805 receiving yards and the group that gained 1,570 last season, heads up one The secondary also returns yards and 21 touchdowns on the of the top wideout groups several experienced veterans, ground a year ago is led by fifth- in the Big Ten. but the returning starters need photo courtesy indiana to produce more game-changing year senior Stephen Houston. The 6-foot, 225-pounder paced the team with plays than the seven interceptions recorded 1,130 all-purpose yards, 749 of which came last year. While the lineup may feature new on the ground, and 16 scores, and ranked third faces, the one name written in ink on the depth in the Big Ten for scoring by a non-kicker. chart is fifth-year senior safety Greg Heban, With all of the promise that Indiana shows who paced the squad with 91 tackles, three on offense, the defense ranked last in the Big interceptions and eight pass breakups last year. Ten for both total defense (463.5 yards alFour other returning defensive backs who lowed per game) and scoring defense (35.2 opened games last year — junior safety Mark Murphy and cornerbacks Brian Williams, a redshirt junior, redshirt senior Antonio MarQuick Facts shall and junior Kenny Mullen — combined All-Time Series: U-M leads 52-9 for 35 starts, 199 tackles, nine tackle for loss, First Meeting: U-M 12, IU 0 (Nov. 3, 1900, at Ann 1.5 sacks, three interceptions and 15 pass Arbor) breakups in 2012. Last Meeting: U-M 42, IU 35 (Oct. 2, 2010, at BloomIndiana lost four games last year by a comington) Head Coach: Kevin Wilson, 5-19 at IU (3rd year) bined total of 10 points, and even just slight Off./Def. Systems: Multiple/4-3 improvements on defense could make the 2012 in Review: 4-8, 2-6 Big Ten (5th Leaders Divijump to bowl eligibility possible. sion) Final 2012 Ranking: Unranked Returning Starters: 21 (10 offense, 9 defense, 2 specialists) Last Bowl Appearance: 2007 (Insight, vs. Oklahoma State, L 49-33) Big Ten Conference Championships (last): 2 (1967) Returning Leaders Passing: Cameron Coffman (2,734 yards, 15 TD, 11 Int.) Rushing: Stephen Houston (749 yards, 12 TD) Receiving: Cody Latimer (805 yards, 6 TD) Tackles: Greg Heban (91) Sacks: David Cooper (3) Interceptions: Greg Heban (3) the wolverine Staff Prediction Why Michigan Could Win: The Maize and Blue last lost to Indiana in 1987, and perhaps has enjoyed no greater talent disparity over any other conference foe during the past 25 years. Now comes an IU team heavy on offense but almost completely devoid of a defense. When teams like Indiana meet a physical, fast defense, which Michigan threatens to be, their own shortcomings on that side of the ball lead to a lopsided defeat. Why Michigan Could Lose: With quarterback Tre Roberson back from a season-long injury, and the IU offense humming along with his replacement in 2012, the Hoosiers could feature one of the most productive attacks in the Big Ten. A year ago, offense alone put a fright into Ohio State (49 points), Northwestern (29 points), Michigan State (27 points) and Purdue (35 points). Indiana lost all four of those games, but with slightly better defense could turn each into wins. 182 ■ The Wolverine 2013 Football Preview Prediction: Coming off an emotional game with Penn State, and with another bye on the horizon, Michigan could find itself napping early in this one, and if Indiana could seize an early lead what should be a routine victory could emerge a back-and-forth bout. However, IU's defense will not be able to match the Wolverines for stops, and eventually U-M will pull away. Michigan 45, Indiana 28. Notes The Hoosiers have eight home games, but the road schedule is a bear — IU must travel to Michigan State and Michigan in back-to-back weeks, then play at Wisconsin and at Ohio State in a span of 14 days … Fifth-year Mitch Ewald ranks as the eighth-most accurate active kicker in the land with an 80 percent (44 of 55) success rate on field goals during his career … Athlon tabbed Indiana as having the No. 1 wide receiver and tight end group in the conference. ❏ Date Aug. 29 Sept. 7 Sept. 14 Sept. 21 Oct. 5 Oct. 12 Oct. 19 Nov. 2 Nov. 9 Nov. 16 Nov. 23 Nov. 30 2013 Schedule Opponent Indiana State Navy Bowling Green Missouri Penn State at Michigan State at Michigan Minnesota Illinois at Wisconsin at Ohio State Purdue 2012 Result W, 24-17 L, 31-30 — — L, 45-22 L, 31-27 — — W, 31-17 L, 62-14 L, 52-49 L, 56-35