IU's coaches admitted Monday afternoon that there is no more denying it - deficient tackling has become the biggest issue on IU's defense.
After two straight wins over Illinois and Iowa, the Hoosiers' defense has given up two consecutive games of 500 yards and an average of 53.5 points scored.
For IU co-defensive coordinator Mike Ekeler, the defense's regression as shown against Wisconsin and most recently Penn State has been most concerning heading into its final challenge of the season on Saturday at Purdue.
"It sounds like a broken record but my god, we've been in position, we just have to tackle," Ekeler said. "Football's not rocket science, it's about making plays in space and tackling. If we just played okay, we would have had a chance to win that game. We rather just played like absolute crap."
One play that was referenced was a 4th-and-9 situation against Penn State in the third quarter, when the Hoosiers trailed by only six points. After the pass was completed short of the first-down marker, an IU defender attempted to tackle the wide receiver, however was unsuccessful in doing so, thus leading to a first down.
The Nittany Lions ended up scoring on that possession, and in turn it sealed IU's fate for the remainder of the game.
"It kills you, those are money-downs," Ekeler said. "You have a chance to get off the field, and we didn't execute. We got dragged for five yards and gave them the first down. We did everything we could to kill ourselves."
The Hoosiers do not have much time left to correct such a significant issue. The team travels to West Lafayette, Ind., this week to battle for the Old Oaken Bucket.
What it comes down to, however, is attitude, according to cornerbacks coach Brandon Shelby. The fundamentals are there he said. It is just a matter of converting on game day.
"You have to not assume that someone else is going to make the tackle," Shelby said. "At the point of attack, we have to be better. Anything can be resolved, it really is just more of a mental thing at this point."
Offense turns focus to passing game
Since the Hoosiers won at Illinois on Oct. 27, IU's rushing attack has faded.
In the team's past three games, the offense has averaged only 50.6 rushing yards per game, ranking third to last among all Football Bowl Subdivision teams.
Offensive coordinator Seth Littrell said it has come from a variety of factors, including that the performance from its backs have been poor. However, he made clear that part of it is also due to the game-planning he has enforced as the leader of the offense.
"Some of their struggles have been from what the defense gives you, but some of that is part of the system of what we do," Littrell said. "We do have to do a better job of running the football though. It's not where we need it to be."
Due to the running backs' struggles, IU has focused more on its passing game. In their game against Penn State last weekend, the Hoosiers had 59 passing attempts, compared to only 24 attempts on the ground.
In turn, that has created more pressure on sophomore quarterback Cam Coffman, who threw two interceptions against Penn State and has four in his past two games.Despite his two interceptions last Saturday, however, Coffman passed for a career-high 454 yards.
While the Hoosiers might not be gaining yards on the ground, it appears they have been able to find solace in their passing game.
"I don't care if we score from the run, I don't care if we score from the pass," Littrell said. "We just have to go with whatever will get us on the board. We've got to score points if we want to have a chance to win any game."
Seniors recall 2010 Purdue victory
IU's seniors tend to have fond memories of West Lafayette dating back to 2010.
In the Hoosiers' final game of the season, on the final play of overtime, then-freshman Mitch Ewald kicked a 31-yard field goal to clinch a 34-31 victory over the Boilermakers.
As IU prepares to return to West Lafayette for the first time since that day, that game remains fresh in the minds of the team's seniors as they prepare for their final game of their collegiate careers.
"That feeling you get in your stomach that you know you won the game is unbelievable," senior defensive tackle Nick Sliger said. "You run over to the other sideline, and you know that the bucket is in that steel case and rip it out. You run into the middle of the field with everyone around you, I mean it's a great feeling."
When IU beat Purdue in 2010, that exact sequence occurred. After the game, the players ran over to IU's fans and sang "Indiana, Our Indiana" on the grass of Ross-Ade Stadium and celebrated in the visiting locker room, taking pictures and enjoying their victory.
Defensive tackle Larry Black Jr. said the bus ride from West Lafayette that day was one he would always remember.
"It was a crazy bus ride home," Black said. "People were yelling and screaming nonstop. The ride felt like thirty minutes, because it was just everyone having fun."
Come Saturday, the seniors hope that feeling of elation will be emulated. Though they will not be playing in a postseason game, they hope to beat Purdue and in turn, share their 2010 experience with the younger players on this team.
"Our freshmen understand the atmosphere of the game," defensive tackle Adam Replogle said. "We've told them stories, and they're ready to go. It should be a great game"
