The Indiana Hoosiers cruised to a 52-16 victory over North Texas in Week 1, and are now looking to roll to another big win in Week 2 against Howard. The Bison hail from the FCS ranks, and the Hoosiers should have little trouble creating a big gap on the scoreboard on Saturday afternoon in Bloomington.
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There was plenty to like about Indiana’s season-opening win last week. The offense was clicking, special teams made an impact, and the Hoosiers’ biggest stars delivered strong performances. But as impressive as the first showing was, Indiana still has a few things to clean up in Week 2.
Generate more QB pressure
The Hoosier defense put forth a relatively underwhelming performance in Week 1. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't quite what Indiana fans have become accustomed to in the Curt Cignetti era. The Hoosiers didn't get much of a push up front, which in turn, led to IU collecting just a single sack on the day. Indiana has a vast amount of talent and experience on the defensive front, so that was a bit surprising to see. Howard QB Ja'Shawn Scroggins is a dual-threat QB, and he currently leads the Bison with 88 rushing yards through 2 games. Getting pressure on Scroggins and limiting his escapability should be a point of emphasis for IU defensive coordinator Bryant Haines. Getting a few more sacks would be good to see as well.
Get the defense off the field
The Indiana defense couldn't seem to get off the field in Week 1 against North Texas. The Mean Green weren't putting up huge offensive numbers, but they were able to control and clock and keep the Hoosier defense on the field. In total, UNT ran 67 offensive plays compared to Indiana's 46, and dominated time of possession 37:22-22:38. In what as a very hot and humid day in Bloomington, the IU defense looked gassed on several occasions. Coming up with key stops on 3rd down and preventing the Bison from extending drives should be top of mind for the Hoosiers in this one.
Get Lee Beebe Jr. going early and often
With Khobie Martin out for multiple weeks with a broken forearm, the Hoosier backfield will depend on Turbo Richard and Lee Beebe Jr for the foreseeable future. Richard, a Boston College transfer, put forth a strong Hoosier debut last week, as he ran for 58 yards and 3.9 yards per carry to go along with a pair of touchdowns. Beebe made some big plays on special teams, but he struggled to find momentum in the running game. He accumulated just 33 yards on 14 carries, which equated to a less-than-ideal 2.4 yards per rush. With Martin sidelined, Indiana needs to know it can depend on Beebe. This matchup against Howard is a great chance for Beebe to see significant opportunities in order to prove he can be a dependable threat on the ground.
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