Indiana University Athletics
Howard, Redding Excited For Ohio State
10/2/2015 3:54:00 PM | Football
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana's running backs have laid the foundation for IU's offensive attack over the better part of two seasons.
The Hoosiers have had a 100-yard rusher in 16 of their last 17 games and gone for more than 200 yards in 14 of their last 16. The running backs' reliability has opened up the field for the passing game while also managing to do a bulk of the damage itself.
Indiana (4-0) has passed nearly every test on the ground. But now comes No. 1 Ohio State (4-0) Saturday at 3:30 p.m. looking to slow the Hoosiers down. The Buckeyes haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher all season.
Not that junior running back Jordan Howard is worried.
"It's going to be a challenge, but everybody welcomes a challenge," Howard said. "We're just going to have to go out there and prove that we can still run the ball against anybody."
Howard leads the Big Ten in yards (675), averages 6.1 yards per carry and has rushed for more than 140 yards in each of his first four games at Indiana. Sophomore Devine Redding, the second half of IU's ground attack, has added 237 yards.
The IU running backs' reputation for being physical backs that are difficult to tackle on first contact has made its way across the Ohio border.
"We need to focus on tackling, getting down on the ground and limiting yards after contact," Ohio State sophomore linebacker Raekwon McMilan said Monday. "We know they will give us different looks than we've seen this season because they've had all year to scheme for us."
Ohio State's defense ranks No. 6 in total defense in the country. After allowing 24 points to Virginia Tech in week one, the Buckeyes have allowed 8.3 points per game in defeating Hawaii, Northern Illinois and Western Michigan.
Indiana's offensive players spoke highly of Ohio State's aggressiveness on defense. Stout play on the outside has allowed for the Buckeyes to send more players like senior linebacker Joshua Perry and sophomore linebacker Darron Lee on blitzes to clog up the middle.
"They have a physical defense and they get downfield," Howard said. "They're going to try to take everything away."
Indiana got a brief taste of that in last week's win against Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons entered last week's matchup 39th against the run, while Ohio State enters this week 36th against the run.
IU's running game might be the solution to its problem of slowing down past midfield. Head coach Kevin Wilson said his team is leaving too many potential points on the board with drives slowing down around the 50-yard line.
Against an opponent like Ohio State, Wilson said that can't happen.
"When you get into Big Ten play, you're going to get matched up against defenses that overpower people," he said. "I don't know if a lot of games are going to be 17-9 any more. So it comes down to points. I just think we keep leaving points."
Redding said the Hoosiers have been working at practice to keep momentum going and sustain drives. A team like Ohio State, he said, can end a drive on any given play.
But it's no cause for concern in the running backs room. They're just trying to do what they have done dating back to last season in giving Indiana another triple-digit rushing performance to build off of.
"They're a really talented defense," Howard said. "I'm excited for it."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana's running backs have laid the foundation for IU's offensive attack over the better part of two seasons.
The Hoosiers have had a 100-yard rusher in 16 of their last 17 games and gone for more than 200 yards in 14 of their last 16. The running backs' reliability has opened up the field for the passing game while also managing to do a bulk of the damage itself.
Indiana (4-0) has passed nearly every test on the ground. But now comes No. 1 Ohio State (4-0) Saturday at 3:30 p.m. looking to slow the Hoosiers down. The Buckeyes haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher all season.
Not that junior running back Jordan Howard is worried.
"It's going to be a challenge, but everybody welcomes a challenge," Howard said. "We're just going to have to go out there and prove that we can still run the ball against anybody."
Howard leads the Big Ten in yards (675), averages 6.1 yards per carry and has rushed for more than 140 yards in each of his first four games at Indiana. Sophomore Devine Redding, the second half of IU's ground attack, has added 237 yards.
The IU running backs' reputation for being physical backs that are difficult to tackle on first contact has made its way across the Ohio border.
"We need to focus on tackling, getting down on the ground and limiting yards after contact," Ohio State sophomore linebacker Raekwon McMilan said Monday. "We know they will give us different looks than we've seen this season because they've had all year to scheme for us."
Ohio State's defense ranks No. 6 in total defense in the country. After allowing 24 points to Virginia Tech in week one, the Buckeyes have allowed 8.3 points per game in defeating Hawaii, Northern Illinois and Western Michigan.
Indiana's offensive players spoke highly of Ohio State's aggressiveness on defense. Stout play on the outside has allowed for the Buckeyes to send more players like senior linebacker Joshua Perry and sophomore linebacker Darron Lee on blitzes to clog up the middle.
"They have a physical defense and they get downfield," Howard said. "They're going to try to take everything away."
Indiana got a brief taste of that in last week's win against Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons entered last week's matchup 39th against the run, while Ohio State enters this week 36th against the run.
IU's running game might be the solution to its problem of slowing down past midfield. Head coach Kevin Wilson said his team is leaving too many potential points on the board with drives slowing down around the 50-yard line.
Against an opponent like Ohio State, Wilson said that can't happen.
"When you get into Big Ten play, you're going to get matched up against defenses that overpower people," he said. "I don't know if a lot of games are going to be 17-9 any more. So it comes down to points. I just think we keep leaving points."
Redding said the Hoosiers have been working at practice to keep momentum going and sustain drives. A team like Ohio State, he said, can end a drive on any given play.
But it's no cause for concern in the running backs room. They're just trying to do what they have done dating back to last season in giving Indiana another triple-digit rushing performance to build off of.
"They're a really talented defense," Howard said. "I'm excited for it."
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