Gopher Football
Big Ten Preview ““ Indiana
Fall in Bloomington is often looked on as a dead time, at least for sports. It is months until the Hoosier basketball team will take the court, and the football team hasn’t had anything to celebrate in recent years. However, new head coach Terry Hoeppner from Miami (OH) looks to change the program from a side stage to a main attraction. With 19 starters returning and a difficult, but not impossible, schedule, Hoeppner’s Hoosiers could be looking at their first winning record since 1994. The offense, while non-existent at times last season, should improve and the defense, while still fresh, has almost nowhere to go but up (the Hoosiers finished 102nd in the nation in pass defense last season).
Offense
The Indiana offense will be looking for a new signal caller and a new workhorse running back in the backfield because of the losses of Matt LoVecchio and BenJarvus Green-Ellis. The transition is never easy when a team loses two important players, but Indiana should be able to ease the pain of breaking in new quarterback Blake Powers because of their veteran and skilled offensive line.
Quarterback
Blake Powers, 6’4″ 228 – Powers will more than likely be the starter on September 3rd, and luckily he won’t have a stiff test for at least a couple of weeks. Central Michigan and Nicholls State should be good warm-ups for Powers, who last season had just 9 completions on 22 attempts. Powers has the size to be a good quarterback, but needs to work on his accuracy if he wants to turn some heads this season. With Hoeppner, who helped coach current Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Indiana fans could see immediate improvement in Powers’ game.
Graeme McFarland, 6’1″ 204 – McFarland is a much smaller specimen than Powers, but if his play steps up in the summer and early fall, he could push Powers for some playing time. McFarland had a chance to shine in the Hoosier’s spring game but stumbled, going just 4 of 12 for 69 yards.
Mike Vlahogeorge, 6’3″ 225 – Vlahogeorge is young, but probably the best talent of the Indiana quarterbacks. He is likely not ready to start any games this season, but could see some clean-up time at the end of blowout games. Vlahogeorge, originally from Lafayette, Indiana, was somewhat of a disappointment in the spring game, throwing 2 interceptions on 4 of 11 passing.
Running Back
Chris Taylor, 6’0″ 220 – Taylor should take over the starting role from the departed Green-Ellis, who transferred to Ole Miss in the off season. Taylor was the second leading rusher on the team last season, rushing for 329 yards on 82 carries (a 4 yards-per-carry average). Taylor’s biggest asset is probably as a receiver out of the backfield, and he will have to showcase that talent in Hoeppner’s offense this season.
Yamar Washington, 5’9″ 205 – Washington is much smaller than Taylor, but also faster and more apt to break big runs. The senior from Houston has been plagued by injury throughout his career, but could get a chance to show his stuff should Taylor go down. He would be a lock for the back-up position if it weren’t for “¦
Demetrius McCray, 6’0″ 180 – An All-State selection from Florida last season, McCray brings blazing speed along with strength (he can bench over 325 pounds). If McCray is not redshirted and if he picks up on Hoeppner’s system early, he could challenge Washington for the second string spot and could be one of the surprise freshmen in the Big Ten this season.
Receivers
Jahkeen Gilmore, 6’0″ 214 – While not the biggest receiver, Gilmore can break open for the big play, as shown by his 80-yard touchdown against Illinois last season. He was second in receptions on the team last year, grabbing 23 for 308 yards. Gilmore could have a breakthrough year if he can prove to be consistent and if he gets a quarterback that can get him the ball consistently. He should be joined by “¦
Marcus Thigpen, 5’9″ 175 – Thigpen is the true definition of “œsmall and speedy”. A state champion in track, he will have to use his blazing speed to pull away from corners and safeties for big plays. Size is a concern, however, and Thigpen will likely not be thrown over the middle to be railed by a linebacker.
Tight End – Chris Rudanovic, 6’4″ 265 – Though he only registered 12 catches for 133 yards last year, Rudanovic should see the ball more this season. He has the skills to be a mid-range Tight End in the Big Ten, but his usefulness in Hoeppner’s system has yet to be determined.
Offensive Line
Isaac Sowells, 6’3″ 330 – After sitting out most of last year with a wrist injury, Sowells will likely set the tone for a much improved offensive line. He is a big and very skilled tackle, and could be the best player on the offense. Look for Sowells to haul in at least honorable mention All-Big Ten honors this year.
Adam Hines, 6’2″ 315 – Hines had to step in last season when some starters went down with injury, and did so admirably. He should be just fine at guard working next to Sowells and “¦
Chris Mangiero, 6’1″ 310 – An up-and-coming center from Brooklyn, Mangiero has to overcome the foot injury that sidelined him for the last half of the season in 2004. If he can come back with his pre-injury form, he could give the Hoosiers a great push up the middle.
Brandon Joyce, 6’5″ 310 – Joyce is the only projected starter on the line who didn’t see playing time last season, but his play in the spring has earned him a place on the early list. He could be the weakest link along the Indiana front.
Justin Frye, 6’5″ 310 – Frye has started for two seasons now, and should a good anchor for the right side of the Indiana line. He is big, experienced and talented and should battle for at least honorable mention All-Big Ten along with Sowells.
What this means for the Gophers
Indiana was a huge thorn in the Gophers side last season, dealing them a stunning 30-21 loss in Bloomington. The Gophers are in a better position this season, however, with inexperienced skill position players on offense for the Hoosiers and a new defensive mindset. One almost can’t help but think of the “˜Bloomington Curse’ that has plagued Minnesota for the last 2 decades, but this season could, and should, be a reversal of the trend. Of all the Big Ten teams Minnesota plays this season, Indiana should be the easiest to stop on offense.
On tap for Wednesday ““ A look at Indiana’s defense
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