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Indiana football: Grade card after Hoosiers’ listless performance in Happy Valley
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Indiana didn’t come away with many positives to show from its trip to Happy Valley.
The Hoosiers were shut out, losing 24-0, in a game that wasn’t even as close as the final score might indicate.
Let’s take a look at the grades:
Passing offense
Through the first 5 games of the season, Indiana hasn’t found much it can rely on in passing the football.
Saturday was no different. And now, with Michael Penix Jr.’s shoulder injury headed into the bye, the Hoosiers have compounded their concern. But first things first, let’s take a look at the Hoosiers’ abysmal passing performance against the Nittany Lions. The final numbers — 16-of-34 for 195 yards and 2 interceptions — aren’t even as bad as the reality. Because for much of the first half, as PSU built a slight but seemingly mountainous lead, Penix couldn’t complete much of anything. The lefty started the game 1-of-10. His 11th throw was a completion, but for only a yard. He completed back-to-back passes for the first time with 11 minutes to go in the second quarter, but IU still was forced to punt after an incompletion moments later on a third-and-long.
Then, on the next drive, Penix made probably his best 2 passes of the evening, in hitting Peyton Hendershot for 18 yards, then Miles Marshall for 34. But Penix looked terrible on the next throw, his footwork and mechanics a total mess, when he was pressured and threw a weather balloon off his back leg. It was easily picked off.
For whatever reason, Tom Allen decided to stick with the ineffective QB to start the second half, but it didn’t last; Penix injured his throwing shoulder when he landed awkwardly when being sacked.
Backup Jack Tuttle came in and didn’t do much more to lead IU’s offense, throwing for 77 yards on 12 attempts with another interception. Each QB was sacked once.
Grade: F
Rushing offense
Stephen Carr has proven to be an effective runner between the tackles, particularly to pick up 3 or 4 yards, but he doesn’t — at least he hasn’t shown it — get into the second level of the defense frequently. His long run against a solid PSU defense was 11 yards.
IU has played safe with Penix, for obvious reasons, but it also needs the QB to be a running threat. He was on a long third down in the first quarter, during IU’s biggest scoring threat, but he rushed for only 9 yards when he needed 10, as his slide came up short of the sticks. On fourth-and-1, IU elected to go for it from the PSU 4-yard-line, but Carr was stuffed at the line.
In all, IU rushed for only 69 yards on 24 carries for a 2.9 average. Carr had 50 of the yards on 15 attempts.
Grade: D-
Offense overall
Not much to brag about.
IU was shut out, as it had only 264 total yards. It had a couple turnovers. It was only 3-of-14 on third down and 1-of-2 on fourth. It squandered its best scoring opportunity in the first half, when it got into the red zone only to be denied on fourth down. (Tuttle led a second-half drive also, which ended in a blocked FG.)
The Hoosiers have questions at QB, in their running game and on their offensive line.
Grade: F
Pass defense
Safety Raheem Layne made an excellent read on his first-quarter interception, when he drifted back in front of the intended receiver by reading the progression of the quarterback.
The turnover was reminiscent of the 2020 IU defense, in that it set up the offense with a short field deep in the opponent’s territory.
But it was the biggest play of the day for the defense, as Sean Clifford was otherwise efficient, throwing for 178 yards and 3 touchdowns. Receiver Jahan Dotson, who had 2 of the scores, also threw a 21-yard pass.
Indiana did not have a sack, although Micah McFadden was active in the Nittany Lions’ backfield, at least causing Clifford to be pressured at times. The Hoosiers were also playing without All-America corner Tiawan Mullen, who was out with an injury.
Grade: B-
Rush defense
The Nittany Lions finished with 5 rushers in double-figures, led by Keyvone Lee’s 74 yards on 8 carries; he had a long one — the biggest play of the game — with a 44-yarder that helped set up PSU’s second touchdown early in the second quarter.
The Hoosiers also struggled to contain Clifford, who had 58 yards rushing. And IU had 5 tackles for loss, but only for 11 yards, as the Hoosiers struggled to bring down the Lions behind the line of scrimmage.
PSU rushed for 209 yards on 42 carries.
Grade: D-
Defense overall
To Indiana’s credit, it did slow down Penn State on third down, stopping the Lions on 10-of-16 attempts. But PSU twice converted ensuing fourth downs. Had IU not forced the Nittany Lions to punt 6 times, this game, at least the score, could have gotten ugly.
Layne made a great play too, as he tried to set up IU’s offense for an easy early score.
Yet, PSU still finished with more than 400 yards.
Grade: C-
Special teams
Penn State preserved its shutout when Brandon Smith blocked Charles Campbell’s third-quarter field goal attempt.
Maybe Campbell’s 30-yard attempt was slightly low, but the bigger issue was the interior of IU’s line. Smith and others got way too much penetration.
Punter Evan James had too much work to do, with 8 attempts and a nearly-46-yard average. He was good when IU needed him to be, as the Hoosiers attempted to stay within striking distance.
Grade: D
Coaching
Tom Allen’s insistence on sticking with an obviously laboring Penix was maddening. It was even more frustrating that Allen was forced to take out his quarterback after yet another injury.
Allen needed to get him out sooner.
Maybe Tuttle isn’t the answer either — the backup QB is limited in his ability to get the ball down the field — but he also should have been given a chance earlier.
Also, IU needed points early. Going for it on fourth down in the first quarter, after Layne’s interception, seemed like a desperation move.
Grade: D+
Overall
Indiana is headed down a slippery slope, without any real answers to what has plagued it against top-flight opponents. And after the bye, there’s not much let-up for the next month.
But if the Hoosiers are to make their way back to the postseason, the next week is critical.
IU, as it showed Saturday, has multiple weaknesses in all phases right now.
Grade: D-
Kyle Charters, a familiar face at Gold & Black, covers Purdue, Indiana and college basketball for Saturday Tradition.