The Indiana Hoosiers are off to a strong start to the new college football season. Indiana defeated North Texas 52-16 on Saturday afternoon in Bloomington, giving them a solid 1-0 start to the new campaign.
When assessing Indiana's performance in Week 1, there are definitely more positives than negatives. The Hoosiers did what they were supposed to do and dominated an inferior opponent from start to finish. However, that doesn't mean there isn't room for improvements.
3 positives from Indiana's win over North Texas
Josh Hoover has arrived
Taking over for Fernando Mendoza is not an easy task. But Josh Hoover was up for it. The TCU transfer was in full command of the Hoosier offense all game long, and posted some dazzling numbers. In total, Hoover completed 13 of his 16 pass attempts (81.3% completion percentage) for 231 yards with 4 touchdowns and no interceptions. He was poised, made smart decisions, and took care of the ball.
Hoover also showed some great toughness and tenacity after getting bloodied up on a nasty facemask. He didn't miss a snap, and threw a touchdown pass on his first attempt following the penalty. That attitude and toughness is already making him a fan favorite in Bloomington. Moving forward, Indiana football fans have plenty of confidence in Hoover's ability to lead the Hoosier offense.
Charlie Becker picked up right where he left off
WR Charlie Becker didn't make his first start until Indiana's 8th game of the season last year. But from there on out, he was one of the best wideouts in all of college football and played a vital role in Indiana's National Championship run. Becker was his signature self against North Texas, as he hauled in 4 catches for 64 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He is a big-play threat on every snap, and his elite ability to bring down contested catches was on full display. Becker is garnering plenty of first round NFL draft hype, and is poised to post some monster number this season.
Special teams were a factor
Heading into the season opener, there were some question marks surrounding Indiana's kick return situation. However, Lee Beebe Jr. and Turbo Richard shined in that department on Saturday. Beebe took the opening kickoff 67 yards, and almost took it all the way. It was an electric way to start the new season, and led to a quick touchdown drive for IU. Richard reeled off a 41-yard return later in the game, which also gave the Hoosiers great field position. In total, Beebe and Richard returned four kicks for a total of 131 yards. If they can keep that up, special teams could prove to be a big advantage for Indiana this season.
2 concerns from Indiana's Week 1 performance
The defense needs some work
The Hoosier defense has some work to do. North Texas out-gained Indiana 367-365. To put that in perspective, the Hoosiers were out-gained just once last season, which came in the Peach Bowl against Oregon––a game IU won 56-22.
Indiana put forth a sloppy defensive effort that saw plenty of missed tackles, coverage confusion, and a struggle to win the line of scrimmage. Struggling in the trenches was surprising to see, as the Hoosiers have plenty of proven production on the defensive front with their top-five sack leaders from last year back. That group has plenty of proven talent and depth, and was considered by many to be IU's best position group heading into the season.
With that being said, Indiana has plenty of veteran players on the defensive side of the ball who have proven they can perform at a high level. Plus, defensive coordinator Bryant Haines is among the best in the business. He should be able to get this unit back on track.
Injury concerns could shake up the depth chart
Indiana saw three key playmakers go down with injuries against North Texas. On the defensive side, starting cornerbacks A.J. Harris and Jamari Sharpe were both forced to leave the game early on with undisclosed injuries. They did not play in the second half. Cignetti said their injuries aren't expected to be long-term, so it will be interesting to see how Indiana's CB room looks next week against Howard.
On the offensive side, redshirt sophomore running back Khobie Martin suffered a fractured forearm in the first quarter. He suffered the injury before even seeing a single carry, and did not return. Cignetti stated that Martin will "be out a little it" after the game. It's a tough break for Martin, who was primed for a breakout season in Bloomington.
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