THE GOOD
- Quarterback Ben Chappell and the IU offense, after a slow start, put up huge numbers again... It looked like the unit might have been suffering from an Ohio State hangover early on, but Chappell still finished the game with 382 yards and four touchdowns.
- The defense kept IU in the game...While Chappell was struggling to find a rhythm with his receivers, Mitchell Evans and the defense made sure Arkansas State didn't run away with the game. Evans' two first-half interceptions turned into the Hoosiers' first six points.
- Mitch Ewald...I've been skeptical whenever fellow IDS writer Connor O'Gara refers to the freshman kicker as "the future," but Ewald certainly looked good Saturday afternoon. Ewald, who continues to fill in for the injured Nick Freeland, made all three of his field goal attempts, including one from 46 yards out. Plus, Ewald was forced to make multiple tackles on long kickoff returns.
THE BAD
- Kickoff coverage...I don't even know if "bad" does it justice. The coverage was atrocious at times and gave Arkansas State great starting field position time after time. Roderick Hall had a 71-yard runback and R.J. Fleming added a 62-yard return.
- Third-down conversions...An area where IU has been good this season, but the Hoosiers converted only 6-of-14 third-down attempts against the Red Wolves. I'm not trying to beat a dead horse, but if IU wants to beat a Big Ten opponent, it has to do better than that.
- Play calling...At times, it was bad. I couldn't understand why Zach Davis-Walker got the ball so often in the red zone. Does that make any sense?
THE UGLY
- Burgess fumbles...IU was actually winning the turnover battle by a wide margin, but running back Trea Burgess put the ball on the turf twice in the fourth quarter and gave the Red Wolves opportunities they shouldn't have had. Burgess played a good game overall filling in for the injured Darius Willis, but he can't turn it over if he expects to continue getting carries.
- Chappell running...Chappell tried on scramble several times when a play broke down. Each time, it was ugly. On one play, the fifth-year senior was pushed down like a kid being shoved by his older brother.
- The finish...Not exactly the way IU wanted to close a Homecoming game. When Chappell and the offense was trying to run out the clock, Burgess fumbled and Arkansas State scored to cut it to two. A win is a win, though.
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