The Indiana Hoosiers are set to wrap up non-conference play with a matchup against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on Saturday afternoon. The contest gives QB Josh Hoover one last opportunity to fine tune some aspects of his game before Big Ten play begins.
Hoover has looked great through his first two games as a Hoosier, but like any good quarterback, he recognizes that there are opportunities to improve as better defenses loom on the upcoming schedule.
So far, Hoover has completed 19 of his 27 pass attempts (70.4%) for 376 yards and 8 touchdowns with zero interceptions. He didn't play much in the second half of the season opener against North Texas, and didn't play at all after halftime in Week 2 against Howard. Heading into Saturday's matchup against WKU, here are some things Hoosier football fans want to see from their gunslinger.
Josh Hoover can fine tune his game against Western Kentucky
Hoover's Week 2 performance against Howard was solid, but he still had some shaky moments. He missed some easy throws and struggled to find a groove early on. Finding consistent accuracy will be huge for Hoover this season, especially against tougher defenses in the Big Ten.
Indiana's RPO-heavy style relies on quick decision-making from Hoover, and being able to properly find quick answers when the first read isn't there will be pivotal. That hasn't been a glaring issue so far, but Big Ten defenses are going to do a better job of disguising coverages and generating pressure. Cignetti and offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan need Hoover to demonstrate that he get get to his checkdown, throw the ball away, or use his legs rather than forcing something into tight coverage.
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Hoover struggled with interceptions at TCU, and he even led the Big 12 with 13 picks last season. That's not a category any quarterback in the country wants to be leading. The Hoosiers rely on ball security and preventing turnovers, and so far, Hoover has done a solid job with that task. Moving forward against tougher competition, not forcing anything, avoiding risky throws, and prioritizing possession will be top of mind for Hoover.
It's no secret that Indiana's passing attack heavily relies on deep throws down the sideline. Fernando Mendoza and Charlie Becker perfected that craft last season, and Becker is already off to a sensational start with 5 of his 7 catches on the season going for touchdowns. Hoover and Becker seem to have a strong connection early on this season, but Hoover has underthrown some of his deeper throws. Becker has made great adjustments to come down with those catches, but Hoover has some room for improvements on those throws. Against better defenses, underthrowing those kinds of passes could lead to missed opportunities, or worse, dreaded interceptions.
Finally, it's worth mentioning that Hoover hasn't faced much adversity so far this season. Indiana has made light work of both North Texas and Howard, and should be in line for another lopsided win on Saturday against Western Kentucky. But seeing how Hoover responds when adversity strikes will be something to monitor moving forward.
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