MADISON, Wis. -- The good news for Indiana's football team
this season is that it's scoring points at an unprecedented pace in program
history, one of the few times ever the Hoosiers have been among the national
leaders.
The bad news is that every time they score, they have to
play defense. And if you ask Indiana coach Kevin Wilson, well, this is where
the team encounters problems.
"We've been not good at run defense or pass
defense," Wilson said this week.
That's putting it mildly.
And so, as Indiana (4-5, 2-3 in the Big Ten) prepares to
play No. 17 Wisconsin (7-2, 4-1) at Camp Randall Stadium at 11 a.m. Saturday,
the question isn't whether the Badgers will score. It's how many points they'll
put up and whether the Hoosiers can keep pace.
Indiana is No. 8 nationally in total offense (527.1 yards
per game) and No. 9 in scoring offense (43.1 points per game). But the Hoosiers
also happen to rank 111th in scoring defense (37.4 points per game) and 120th
in total defense (519.1 yards). Only three BCS teams are allowing more points.
This season, Indiana has surrendered 35 points to FCS foe
Indiana State and Illinois, 41 to Navy, 42 to Michigan State and Minnesota, 45
to Missouri and 63 to Michigan. And the Hoosiers have made Big Ten quarterbacks
look like the second coming of Joe Montana.
During a 52-35 victory against Illinois last week, Illini
quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase threw for 450 yards. In a 63-47 loss at
Michigan, Wolverines signal-caller Devin Gardner passed for 503 yards. Not
surprisingly, both marks represented career highs.
Wisconsin quarterback Joel Stave's best passing effort was
295 yards earlier this season against Ohio State. But if the Badgers are
willing to throw, he could be in line for a career day as well.
Then again, Wisconsin also has the most dynamic running back
combination in the country with James White and Melvin Gordon, so there may be
little need to attempt many passes. Gordon ranks No. 8 in the country in
rushing yards per game (128.9), and White ranks 21st (105.7).
"To me, any team that beats you running just
consistently runs," Wilson said. "It's demoralizing."
A year ago, Wisconsin pummeled Indiana 62-14 by running the
ball 64 times and passing on only seven occasions. That game marked the first
start for quarterback Curt Phillips, who filled in for Stave after he broke his
collarbone against Michigan State, so the play calling was especially
conservative.
"I think you could say that we've become more balanced
this year," Badgers tight end Jacob Pedersen said. "We've got a lot
of other guys stepping up, making plays for us who maybe weren’t last year,
myself included. Obviously we've got a great running back combo again and the
offensive line is working real well. I think it's just the whole picture on
offense is going a lot more smoothly this year."
That could spell doom for Indiana, which will rely on an
up-tempo spread offensive attack to create mismatches against Wisconsin's
defense. The Hoosiers have four players that have caught at least five touchdowns
passes. Wisconsin, meanwhile, has only one player with more than three
touchdown catches (wide receiver Jared Abbrederis has six).
Indiana is likely to be without top running back Tevin
Coleman, who sprained his ankle against Illinois. But his replacement, Stephen
Houston, rushed for 150 yards and a touchdown last week.
"They've had some tough losses and are in games all the
way through," Wisconsin coach Gary Andersen said. "They score at
least 28 points each week. (If) that doesn't make you stand up and grab your
attention as a defender, then nothing will."
Members of Wisconsin's defense said they are more adequately
prepared for Indiana's up-tempo style having just played BYU, which averages
close to 90 plays per game. The Hoosiers are averaging about 76 per game.
"I think they're explosive," Badgers linebacker
Chris Borland said. "I think they've had arguably the best skill over the
last few years, and that's true this year. They've got no shortage of
playmakers. Their line does a good enough job to execute what they want to do
and their backs are effective, so it's an explosive offense."
Whether Indiana's offense can be explosive enough to offset
a porous defense against Wisconsin's talented playmakers remains to be seen.
