Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers, Utes Tangle Saturday
9/6/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
September 6, 2002
Salt Lake City - Standing at 1-0 on the year after a win over William & Mary and ranking second in the nation in rush defense is the Indiana football team.
Standing at 1-0 on the year after a win over Utah State and ranking third in the nation in rush defense is Utah's.
So what does that mean for tomorrow's 6 p.m. meeting at Rice-Eccles Stadium?
It means that something's got to give.
The Utes have made a name for themselves the past few years as a team that will run the ball straight ahead and will suffocate opposing offenses.
"We haven't been tested the way Utah will challenge us in the run game," Indiana head coach Gerry DiNardo said. "Their defense has been nationally ranked the last several years, so it will be a big challenge for us."
The Utes come into tomorrow's contest riding the crest of a 23-3 win over Utah State in which running back Marty Johnson racked up 176 yards on the ground. His effort ranked as the fifth-best showing of any player in the nation this season.
The fact that Utah runs the ball straight ahead as well as it does makes tomorrow's game that much more interesting, considering the fact that the Hoosiers are not particularly big at the linebacker position.
Expected to make the start for Indiana at linebacker are Herana-Daze Jones, Martin Lapostolle and Kyle Killion. Jones stands 5-10 and weighs 208 pounds, Lapostolle is 6-1, 245, while the true freshman Killion is 6-0 and tips the scales at 208 pounds.
The biggest group of linebackers they are not.
Some of those size issues will be compounded by the fact that Utah's Johnson stands 5-11 and weighs 222 pounds.
However, if the Hoosiers get a performance from the defensive line similar to the effort turned in against William & Mary, that could ease some of the burden on the linebackers.
Senior co-captain Kris Dielman recorded 4.5 tackles for loss last week, had a sack and recovered a fumble en route to earning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors. He is joined by an effective pass rusher in defensive end Derek Barnett, and a pair of effective linemen in Jodie Clemons and Colin Christopher.
When Utah is forced to go to the air, they will encounter a secondary that saved its best performance for crunch time against William & Mary. Cornerback Antonio Watson broke up four passes down the stretch to seal Indiana's win, while fellow corner Damien Jones showed why he has such high expectations placed on him with a solid performance against the Tribe.
Safeties Joe Gonzalez and A.C. Carter each picked off a pass last week and help anchor the secondary.
As for the Hoosier offense, Indiana will be without the services of junior tailback Brian Lewis, who sprained his right shoulder in week one. As a result, DiNardo has a choice of two running backs in Yamar Washington and Chris Taylor...neither of which have recorded a carry in a collegiate game. Washington redshirted as a freshman last year and did not see action in last week's season opener, while Taylor is a true freshman in search of his first action.
Quarterback Tommy Jones threw three touchdown passes last week and will need to help pick up some of the slack with the loss of Lewis. Jones will be tested often by a talented Utah defense headlined by linebacker Josh Savage, tackle Garrett Smith, rover Sheldon Deckart and safety Antwoine Sanders.
"Garrett Smith is a great player," DiNardo said. "Sheldon Deckard is a legitimate big-time linebacker who can play anywhere in any scheme. Antwoine Sanders may be the best in the conference."
The Hoosiers and Utes met last year, with Utah claiming a 28-26 win at Memorial Stadium over an Indiana team that is drastically different from this year's group as far as offensive scheme is concerned.
It is the defense, however, that could be the biggest factor in deciding the outcome of Saturday's game.
"You have a chance to win every time you put a good defense on the field," DiNardo said. "You can go out and score 35 points and still lose, so you need a good defense."
