Surrendering an average of 8.4 yards per play, IU gave up 248 yards on the ground and 411 through the air.
They responded with 595 offensive yards of their own — 246 from rushes and 349 from passes — to edge the Division II opponent, 48-47.
“Very, very poor,” Wilson said about the defense. “Not acceptable.”
Chase Dutra and Rashard Fant
The story of the secondary has been the lack of experience and the required leadership of sophomore free safety Chase Dutra, who played in all 12 games last season.
However, when the Hoosier defense took the field Saturday, No. 30 was seen on the sidelines in a knee brace.
“It’s just a small injury,” Wilson said. “Nothing major. Something that happened last week, and we expect to have him back soon.”
Starting sophomore cornerback Rashard Fant also left the game when his head collided with the knee of an opposing player on an attempted tackle.
He was down on the field, but he walked off on his own.
“He looked good after the game,” Wilson said. “Right now he’s probably day-to-day, but it should be interesting to see where he’s going to be.”
Both starters are penned into week two’s depth chart in their original positions.
Third down efficiency
Other than surrendering so many yards to an FCS opponent, Wilson’s first point of emphasis at the press conference was third down efficiency.
Neither side of the ball were successful more than 50 percent of the time on third down, as the offense succeeded in five of 13 opportunities and the defense allowed SIU to convert 11 of 17 third downs.
“Two years ago, we were very good on third downs,” Wilson said. “Last year we were pretty poor on third downs. It’s in play-calling, execution and tackling, so we’ve got to tighten that down.”
Starters on special teams
Wilson also said there were too many starters on special teams plays, such as kickoffs and punts.
Pointing out linebackers junior TJ Simmons and sophomore Marcus Oliver on the kickoff team, Wilson explained the effects of playing both special teams and defense.
“When you play linebacker all game, and then you’re running the length of the field on kickoff, that really creates wear and tear on the kids’ bodies,” Wilson said. “We need the younger guys, the second and third stringers, to step up in practice and get out on the field.”
Not only does playing on special teams and defense create vulnerability on the defensive side, it also creates weaknesses on the special teams end, Wilson said. The Hoosiers surrendered nine points to an SIU field goal and also forfeited a blocked and recovered punt for a touchdown.
Players of the week
Wilson named senior defensive lineman Nick Mangieri and senior bandit Zack Shaw as the Hoosiers’ defensive players of the week.
Mangieri recorded the Hoosiers’ only sack of the game when he penetrated the right side of the SIU line in the third quarter. He also tallied 11 tackles, sharing the team lead with Simmons.
Shaw recorded just four tackles but was instrumental in rushing the quarterback out of the pocket and stopping SIU’s rushing attack later in the game.
Wilson added junior running back Jordan Howard and junior receiver Ricky Jones as offensive players of the week, as Howard punched out 145 rush yards and three touchdowns and Jones caught six balls for 186 yards and a touchdown.
