Indiana Game

[johnnyzip84]

Perhaps it's a little early in the week, but I wanted to get the discussion kicked off ASAP. This is obviously a huge game for the program. I suspected that the Zips would be slight favorites, and I see the line is Akron -4 to start in most places (link). The Hoosiers ran the ball MUCH better last week against Western than in their opener against EKU. They've adopted the Nevada "Pistol" formation on offense. Our revitalised defense will need to keep playing well to put us in a position to win this game IMO. Obviously our offensive line will need to step it up as well. We'll also need to convert 3 points when available. What are some other keys to the game?USA Today OddsEdit: Oh.... Woods and Jake Anderson will need to control IU DE Jammie Kirlew, who is capable of a wreaking havoc behind the line of scrimmage.

[cornbread]

I think we should feel confidant. Rasor made good points in his post yesterday.Offense...

• King Koopa Bowser is performing and our other wideouts with the return of Jones make for a formidable threat.
• The twin QB attack is working for now. Rodgers is very exciting.

Defense...

• 6 quarters of shutout football.
• They have looked good against the run and have created turnovers.

Speaking of our defense, how many drives (60-70 yards marches) have really been successful against them this year? I think Penn state had 1-2. Their field position was crazy and scored mostly on the short field right?

[tbozeglav]

Speaking of our defense, how many drives (60-70 yards marches) have really been successful against them this year? I think Penn state had 1-2. Their field position was crazy and scored mostly on the short field right?

I believe you are correct. Penn State used a very lopsided battle of field position to exploit our defense and put up big points early.it just goes to show how much the defense feeds off the offense.

[bUAkronG]

Those odds you posted are a little difficult to see. I use Yahoo Rivals odds:http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/oddsI couldn't believe my eyes when I saw that we are actually 4 point favorites!! I am super pumped for this one.

[johnnyzip84]

Those odds you posted are a little difficult to see. I use Yahoo Rivals odds:http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/oddsI couldn't believe my eyes when I saw that we are actually 4 point favorites!! I am super pumped for this one.

USA Today's read similarly, but I went a little too far down the menu (line history). You can back out of it by clicking "odds" at the far right of the College Football heading.

[cornbread]

Speaking of our defense, how many drives (60-70 yards marches) have really been successful against them this year? I think Penn state had 1-2. Their field position was crazy and scored mostly on the short field right?

I believe you are correct. Penn State used a very lopsided battle of field position to exploit our defense and put up big points early.it just goes to show how much the defense feeds off the offense.

As a new fan, I picked up on the sentiment our past defense's evoked. The trend is there 2 games in for a new direction. We are +3 in turnover margin I think

[WinZip]

King Koopa Bowser is performing and our other wideouts with the return of Jones make for a formidable threat.

Is he switching back to offense?

[GP1]

The Zips have covered the first two weeks of the season (wasn't the line in the 30s last week or something?). I look for them to cover again this week in The Big Phone Booth. Could the Zips be that team that quietly covers all year and makes some Zips fans happy? It's not whether you win or lose, it's whether you cover the spread...

[cornbread]

King Koopa Bowser is performing and our other wideouts with the return of Jones make for a formidable threat.

Is he switching back to offense?

i got it backwards. newb...

[ctmjbowes@sbcglobal.net]

I want to see more #5 at QB this week. I want to see more of the impressive D that we've been lucky enough to watch so far. I want the O-line to get their heads out of their posteriors and dominate. I want to see some more Dale Martin, only earlier in the game. I want to see kicking. I want to see a sellout crowd on another beautiful day for football. I want to watch the line play and say to myself "man, these Zips have the size, speed and intensity to hang with the big boys and to beat 'em." I want to see Bowser and his fro making it happen out there. I want to see a Zips victory. I don't care the margin, but will predict a fairly tight and low scoring game, which of course means a shootout that gets decided in the fourth quarter.I want to walk away from the Info, again, thinking how cool it is to have REAL D-1 football and an energized campus a few minutes from my front door.GO ZIPS! BEAT THE Big11!STZ

[Zipmeister]

I want to see more #5 at QB this week. I want to see more of the impressive D that we've been lucky enough to watch so far. I want the O-line to get their heads out of their posteriors and dominate. I want to see some more Dale Martin, only earlier in the game. I want to see kicking. I want to see a sellout crowd on another beautiful day for football. I want to watch the line play and say to myself "man, these Zips have the size, speed and intensity to hang with the big boys and to beat 'em." I want to see Bowser and his fro making it happen out there. I want to see a Zips victory. I don't care the margin, but will predict a fairly tight and low scoring game, which of course means a shootout that gets decided in the fourth quarter.I want to walk away from the Info, again, thinking how cool it is to have REAL D-1 football and an energized campus a few minutes from my front door.GO ZIPS! BEAT THE Big11!STZ

I need more cowbell.Looks like the line increased a bit to 4.5 or 5.

[UA Fan]

http://indiana.scout.com/2/898869.html

[Z.I.P.]

I want to see more #5 at QB this week. I want to see more of the impressive D that we've been lucky enough to watch so far. I want the O-line to get their heads out of their posteriors and dominate. I want to see some more Dale Martin, only earlier in the game. I want to see kicking. I want to see a sellout crowd on another beautiful day for football. I want to watch the line play and say to myself "man, these Zips have the size, speed and intensity to hang with the big boys and to beat 'em." I want to see Bowser and his fro making it happen out there. I want to see a Zips victory. I don't care the margin, but will predict a fairly tight and low scoring game, which of course means a shootout that gets decided in the fourth quarter.I want to walk away from the Info, again, thinking how cool it is to have REAL D-1 football and an energized campus a few minutes from my front door.GO ZIPS! BEAT THE Big11!STZ

I need more cowbell.Looks like the line increased a bit to 4.5 or 5.

It's now up to 5-5.5! Holy cow, can you believe that! Whodathunkit!

[ZippyTuba11]

Here is where we finally get to judge how well the team has developed. If the Zips O line can push back Indiana's D line, Akron will win. Everything else seems to have fallen into place this year. The D is miles better, Jacq has improved (he is making better throws), Rodgers gives a good change of pace, the RBs have great talent and depth, and receivers have improved. The O line though is the key. They hit their blocks, give running room for our RBs and protection time for the QBs, Zips will win this.I see now why the NFL likes to take the football first when they win the coin toss. Set up that field position early.I never thought I'd see the day when the Zips were favored over a Big11 team. If the Zips deliver, this city should go nuts.

[tpsjugglerdude]

-Sagrin Rankings Akron-89 IU-82-IU is 112th out of 120 in penalties/game (21) (6 False starts hope the crowd can get them to jump a lot like we did Morgan)-We need to stop them running all over us like they did 2 years ago. (300+ yards on the ground)-We need to play like we have the last 6 Quarters on Defense-We need to play like we have the last 4 Quarters on Offense

[Lee Adams]

Perhaps it's a little early in the week, but I wanted to get the discussion kicked off ASAP. This is obviously a huge game for the program. I suspected that the Zips would be slight favorites, and I see the line is Akron -4 to start in most places (link). The Hoosiers ran the ball MUCH better last week against Western than in their opener against EKU. They've adopted the Nevada "Pistol" formation on offense. Our revitalised defense will need to keep playing well to put us in a position to win this game IMO. Obviously our offensive line will need to step it up as well. We'll also need to convert 3 points when available. What are some other keys to the game?USA Today OddsEdit: Oh.... Woods and Jake Anderson will need to control IU DE Jammie Kirlew, who is capable of a wreaking havoc behind the line of scrimmage.

with Alex looking shaky and Shuford looking well...like not much.. and Martin hurt.... Nate Burney needs to get carries..he is quick,can be a change of pace..Akron has no backfield speed w/o Nate..they MUST run..iu has enough on the d-line to huury CJ or Rodgers into bad decisions...

[UA Fan]

http://www.gozips.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_...TCLID=204794395For both Indiana contests, a sellout is expected so fans are encouraged to purchase tickets ahead of time and allow time for overflow crowds to enter campus.

[Zipsrifle]

Just reviewing the Game Tracker from the WMU game, sounds like the score is a bit deceiving. WMU played catch up late in the game and IU seemed to have several long drives. This is a hard one to judge. Comparing performances to the teams we've played doesn't give me much indication of how this one will tee up. WMU lost to a better than expected UofM, while we lost to what could be the Big 10 Champ. IU had a hard time in their first game so is WMU that much worse than everyone expected and is Morgan State worse than what everyone expected. Here are some considerations:1) Our D has been stout, I expect this to continue. If Bain is as advertised, IU won't be scoring much.2) We couldn't run up the middle against MORGAN STATE!!! 3) CJ didn't have time to pass against PSU. He locks into his receiver....I think he tosses a few INT's this weekend. 4) IU couldn't run against Eastern Kentucky, but had a balanced attack against WMU. I think we see our backfield get tested a LOT on Saturday.5) IU held WMU to 22 yards on the ground, EKU had 100.6) IU gave up 266 yards to WM through the air and 278 to EKU.Just looking at these stats, I think we will see a LOT of passing on Saturday. I'm hoping our running game finds some life. Don't know, should be a battle!

[Dr Z]

King Koopa Bowser is performing and our other wideouts with the return of Jones make for a formidable threat.

Is he switching back to offense?

Mike makes that suggestion in last week's morning after blog I think it might be an appropriate move now with Rodgers starting. I would like to have more experience around Matt and I like AJ's RAC potential. I also like his potential to stretch the field to open the underneath stuff up.