A certain individual — who will stay unnamed — once cheated on their sophomore year high school chemistry test by writing various chemical compounds in fine print on their left palm. It worked. That person — who will stay unnamed — passed an otherwise daunting quiz.
I cannot confirm that Indiana football’s players wrote chemical compounds on their left palms ahead of their lopsided 63-10 win over then-No. 9 Illinois Saturday night, but for lack of a better explanation I’ll run with that theory.
In short — Indiana passed. In full — I present to you this week’s edition of Richards’ Report Card.
Quarterbacks
Grade: A+
Explanation: Redshirt junior quarterback Fernando Mendoza leapt into Heisman Trophy conversations by completing 21 of his 23 passes for 267 yards and five scores against the Fighting Illini. The University of California, Berkeley, transfer got the ball out quickly and dissected Illinois’ defense with correct reads in various run-pass options. Mendoza leads the country with 14 passing touchdowns — despite hardly playing any minutes in the fourth quarter — and ranks second in the nation with a 76.8% completion rate.
Running Backs
Grade: A
Explanation: The consistency of Indiana’s ground attack is somewhat unbelievable. The Hoosiers have landed between 301 and 313 total rushing yards in each of their four games this season. It’s the first time in program history the Cream and Crimson have eclipsed the 300-yard mark in four-straight games. Redshirt freshman Khobie Martin led the way with 12 carries for 107 yards and two touchdowns. The young back shined in an expanded role with redshirt junior Lee Beebe Jr. out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury.
Receivers
Grade: A+
Explanation: Only three Indiana wide receivers caught passes against Illinois — senior Elijah Sarratt, redshirt junior Omar Cooper Jr. and redshirt sixth-year senior E.J. Williams Jr. Each of them found the end zone. The Hoosiers’ wideouts diced up the Fighting Illini’s injury-ridden core of defensive backs that were oftentimes stranded in one-on-one coverage. Beyond the route running, Indiana’s trio of receivers were committed to blocking downfield which allowed for gashing runs to the second level.
Offensive Line
Grade: A-
Explanation: I know what you’re thinking, how does an offensive line that paved the way for 579 total yards and 63 points against a top-10 team not receive an A+? For one, I’m a tough grader. Also, I can’t help but point out the missed assignment from redshirt junior left guard Drew Evans that allowed a sack early in the first quarter. An offensive line’s job first and foremost is to protect the quarterback, and Mendoza took a substantial hit because of a blatant error. It was still a great performance overall, but that play alone keeps the offensive line from a perfect score.
Defensive Line
Grade: A+
Explanation: Indiana held Illinois to 2 rushing yards — need I say more? If you’re not convinced, I would be more than happy to direct you to the Fighting Illini’s redshirt senior quarterback Luke Altmyer who would surely provide any additional information needed regarding the Hoosiers’ defensive line. He was sacked seven times.
Linebackers
Grade: A+
Explanation: Senior linebacker Aiden Fisher summed up this position group’s performance in his postgame press conference.
“They (the defensive line) were phenomenal, they made my job really easy tonight,” he said. “I didn’t really get to see the ball a lot.”
While the veteran Fisher didn’t have to get involved too often in the Hoosiers’ defense, redshirt junior Isaiah Jones and sophomore Rolijah Hardy were beneficiaries of defensive coordinator Bryant Haines’ blitz heavy scheme. The two combined for three tackles for loss in a stellar showing.
Secondary
Grade: B+
Explanation: The lowest grade of this week goes to the Hoosiers’ defensive backs. Similar to the offensive line, an otherwise elite performance was stunted by a single play. Early in the first quarter junior cornerback D’Angelo Ponds and junior safety Amare Ferrell had a miscommunication in the secondary that allowed Altmyer to connect with redshirt sophomore wide receiver Collin Dixon for a 59-yard touchdown pass. Ponds rather candidly said the mistake was on the shoulders of Ferrell in his postgame press conference. Regardless of whose fault it was, the play gave up a free touchdown.
Special Teams
Grade: A+
Explanation: Not all A+’s are made equal. If I was only allowed to give one perfect score it would go to the Hoosiers’ special teams unit. Ponds’ blocked punt turned scoop and score touchdown jolted Indiana to life early in the first quarter. Redshirt sophomore kicker Nico Radicic successfully converted all nine of his extra points and sophomore punter Quinn Warren booted both of his two punts for 52 yards.
Follow reporters Conor Banks (@Conorbanks06 and conbanks@iu.edu) and Dalton James (@DaltonMJames and jamesdm@iu.edu) and columnist Quinn Richards (@Quinn_richa and qmrichar@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana football season.
