Ignore It – Hoosiers Keep Buzz in Perspective
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana football buzz has hit its national stride thanks to a 5-0 start, a defense-shredding offense (48.8 points and 513 total yards per game), a rock-your-world defense (13.0 points allowed, Big Ten leading 17.0 sacks, conference co-leading 35 tackles for loss) and a winning attitude that says, in so many words, why not us?
Yes, it has produced a top-25 ranking and a push from The Athletic’s David Ubben as the nation’s biggest surprise (the Hoosiers, picked 17th in the newly expanded 18-team Big Ten, are tied for first with Michigan at 2-0), but buzz hasn’t dented Hoosier perspective.
“We can’t get lost in that,” tight end Zach Horton says. “We have to keep playing our brand of ball.”
Distractions are everywhere, especially in this social media age when good and bad news are a click away.
Linebacker Aiden Fisher has the perfect counter.
“I block out all social media,” he says. “There's no point in reading anything. You can read something good, or you can read something bad. It has zero effect on you and how you play.
“I keep everything in-house. It’s listening to my coaches and teammates, and seeing what I need to improve on, instead of hearing other opinions on how good or bad I am on Twitter, Instagram, stuff like that.”
Still, there’s a lot of positive noise and only the most focused can ignore it.
“The biggest thing is to realize that the opinions outside of this building don't make any decisions inside the building,” Fisher says. “We don't let those opinions sink into us.”
Northwestern coach David Braun has an opinion given his 2-2 Wildcats will host the Hoosiers on Saturday afternoon.
“It’s a hot team,” he says during his weekly press conference. “There are no weaknesses. They’re playing really well in all three phases. High-level quarterback play. A well-coached offense. A well-rounded, balanced defense. It’s not a surprise to me that they’re having the success they’re having.”
Northwestern wins with defense, holding opponents to 15.8 points and 79.2 rushing yards per game.
The Wildcats’ 17.2-point scoring average is 17th in the Big Ten, ahead of only UCLA (14.8). They have struggled with quarterback consistency, ranking last in the conference in completion percentage (53.2) and passing touchdowns (two), and 16th in passing yards (634).
Still …
“They’re a good team,” Fisher says. “They’re physical. They like to get downhill in the run game. They have a good running back (Cam Porter has rushed for 234 yards while averaging 5.3 yards per carry) and a good O-line. They’re figuring it out on offense, so it’s a game we expect to be physical.”
Northwestern has played two quarterbacks -- Mike Wright (57.8 percent, 354 yards, no touchdowns, one interception) and Jack Lausch (48.3 percent, 280 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions).
“Both are good,” Fisher says. “They’re both settling in and figuring out their roles. They aren’t to be taken lightly even though their numbers might not be there.”
Fisher and the Hoosiers are well aware that taking anyone lightly is a good way to get beat.
“(Wright and Lausch) are not getting a lot of talk around the country,” he says, “but it doesn’t matter. We have to prepare for them like they’re the best quarterbacks in the country.”
As far as IU, Horton is part of a receiving group that continues to rock defenses with its versatility. He has eight catches for 85 yards and a touchdown. Five others have caught at least eight passes, with Elijah Sarratt leading with 22 catches for 378 yards and two touchdowns. Omar Cooper Jr. has 16 for 328 and three touchdowns.
It's directed by quarterback Kurtis Rourke, who completes 73.2 percent of his passes for 1,372 yard yards, 11 touchdowns, and two interceptions.
“They've done a good job of protecting him,” Braun says. “He's done a good job of getting the ball out on time.
“We've seen some good quarterback play this year, and he has clearly impressed me more than anyone I've watched on film. He's doing a great job, and the guys around him are doing a great job."