Behind enemy lines: Indiana edition

Maryland football has a chance to reach 5-0 (2-0) against Indiana this weekend, a feat that would reset multiple program records. After moving to 4-0 following a 31-9 win vs. Michigan State, Maryland has a chance to move to 5-0 for the first time since 2001 and 2-0 in Big Ten play for the first time ever. Maryland also has a chance to move to 4-0 at home for the first time since 2010 in hopes of winning their seventh consecutive game for the first time since 2003-04. So what does Maryland need to do in order to pick up that win? To learn more about the Hoosiers, we go behind enemy lines with Jack Ankony from Hoosiers Now to learn more.

IBG: Indiana picked up a 4OT win over Akron to move to 2-2 on the season. What's the vibe coming out of the back-and-forth game? JA: This was probably Indiana's ugliest win since I started covering the team in 2019. Almost nothing worked offensively, outside of a few deep passes to Cam Camper. It was definitely a step back for quarterback Tayven Jackson, who had a very promising second half against Louisville despite the loss. Indiana's defense was mostly solid in this game, but really struggled to contain Akron quarterback DJ Irons' in designed runs and scramble situations. Indiana had chances to pull away, but failed on four separate goal-line plays throughout the game. The Hoosiers were inches away from losing, as Akron missed a 32-yard field goal at the end of regulation. It's about as pessimistic as you can feel about a win. It felt like a loss the way players and coaches have talked about the game. The only positive takeaway is that it still counts as a win, despite how poorly they played.

IBG: While Indiana sits near the bottom of the conference in multiple offensive categories, RB Jaylin Lucas enters the weekend second in the Big Ten in all-purpose yards. What makes him an impact player for the Hoosiers? Aside from Lucas and WR Cam Camper, who are the primary names Maryland fans should know? JA: Lucas is a threat to score almost every time he touches the ball. Though he's listed at just 5-foot-9, he has incredible speed, quickness and agility in the open field. He was a first-team All-American last year as a kick returner, and he's most dangerous when Indiana gets him the ball in space. Indiana uses Lucas as a slot receiver and running back. He had 10 catches against Louisville, but zero against Akron, which was a really puzzling decision from offensive coordinator Walt Bell. Aside from Lucas and Camper, Indiana's primary offensive skill players are wide receivers Donaven McCulley, DeQuece Carter and Omar Cooper Jr. McCulley is a big, athletic target at 6-foot-5, Carter operates mostly in the slot, and Cooper has been used both ways. Indiana is not at full strength, as running back Josh Henderson and wide receiver E.J. Williams Jr. didn't play against Akron. They were two go-to guys behind Lucas and Camper before injury. Indiana doesn't use tight ends much in the pass game, but Bradley Archer has been the top option.

IBG: LB Aaron Casey enters Saturday among the league leaders in tackles and TFLs, while Indiana’s defense sits 21st in the country in pass defense. What’s made Indiana’s secondary dominant? And what’s been the biggest concern for the Hoosiers’ defense through four weeks? JA: Casey is a sixth-year player who simply always seems to be around the ball. He's a reliable tackler and a team captain. Entering the season, the secondary had major question marks because it lost four four-year starters and hired a new defensive coordinator Matt Guerrieri, who Tom Allen handed over play-calling duties to. Returning safeties Louis Moore and Phillip Dunnam have five of Indiana's six interceptions, along with Stanford cornerback transfer Nic Toomer. The group has a lot of transfers, including cornerbacks Kobee Minor from Texas Tech and Jamier Johnson from Texas, who missed last game with an injury. The secondary has been much better than expected, mostly because a lot of the players were unknown commodities. They definitely deserve credit for coming down with interceptions, but Indiana really improved its front seven from last season through the transfer portal, which has allowed Indiana to rush only four or five players and drop the rest in coverage on most plays. Western Michigan transfer Andre Carter has been a beast at defensive end. In 2021 and 2022, Indiana had to blitz frequently to create any sort of pressure, which made its secondary play one-on-one far too often. Overall, the defense has done a lot of good things, and it even kept Indiana in the game against Ohio State deep into the second half. The biggest concern for Indiana's defense this year has been containing mobile quarterbacks. Akron's DJ Irons killed Indiana last week with 141 rushing yards, and a lot of that came on scrambles, not designed runs. Indiana will have to do a much better job containing Taulia Tagovailoa's mobility this week, or it'll be a long day.

IBG: For Indiana to pull off a win, the one thing they need to do is… JA: Move the ball consistently on offense. I know that sounds obvious and applies to every game, but Bell's offense has been way too up and down this season. It also wears down the defense when the offense can't stay on the field. They played extremely conservative against Ohio State, then physically outmatched Indiana State in Week 2. Indiana didn't score in the first half against Louisville, then had two drives of 90-plus yards in the second half to almost complete a 21-point comeback, before getting stuffed within the one-yard line. I think Tayven Jackson will eventually be an above-average Power 5 quarterback, but he's still young and learning a lot each week. To move the ball more consistently on offense, Indiana has to use Jaylin Lucas more in the pass game, and the offensive line has to pass protect at a much higher level. The offensive line, which has a new coach, Bob Bostad, looked much improved through three weeks, but had by far its worst game of the year against Akron. Indiana is one of the worst rushing teams in the country, so that's obviously a contributing factor to the offensive struggles, too. Media and fans have been very critical of Bell, who has had very little success in his first 16 games at Indiana since being hired. The defense is good enough to keep Indiana in most games, but the offense is a big-time concern. It has good skill players in Lucas and Camper, and Jackson had an awesome second half against Louisville, but it seems Bell and the offensive line are holding the group back as a whole.

JA's score prediction for this weekend: Maryland 28, Indiana 13. The defense will keep it close for a while, but I don't see Indiana having the offense required to win this game after its abysmal performance against Akron.

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