Indiana football’s identity becomes murkier with drastically different halves in 45-24 loss to Cincinnati – The Hoosier Network

For 3 weeks, Indiana soccer baffled followers with rocky begins and dazzling comebacks, working its technique to a 3-0 document. 

However towards three groups Indiana must be competing with, it was tough to inform what sort of crew the Hoosiers are. In Cincinnati on Saturday, enjoying its hardest competitors of the yr, Indiana didn’t do a greater job displaying its id. 

Indiana’s secondary was burned and its offense was stifled within the first half. Within the second half, the Hoosiers have been in management on each side of the ball, however they have been by no means capable of overcome its early errors in a 45-24 loss.

“We weren’t constant in our execution,” head coach Tom Allen stated in a postgame press convention. “It simply snowballed because the lead obtained additional and additional away from us within the first half.” 

Indiana’s continued potential to regulate at halftime has been a reassuring expertise via 4 weeks, however its lack of ability to carry that success into the primary half has been a frustration for Allen.

Indiana entered halftime down 38-10 and was outgained 323 to 168 within the first two quarters.

Indiana wanted to show in its cleanest and greatest efficiency of the season to maintain up with Cincinnati. It began promising, with the protection forcing a punt on the opening drive. Then it began unraveling.

Earlier than lengthy, Indiana was watching Cincinnati rating twice within the final minute of the primary half, together with a scoop-and-score after Connor Bazelak was sacked and Indiana didn’t see the unfastened ball. 

The Indiana secondary, sometimes one of many crew’s greatest models, made uncharacteristic errors all through the primary half. Defensive again Tiawan Mullen was beat in protection a number of instances. Cincinnati quarterback Ben Bryant threw 4 completions of over thirty yards. Practically all the Bearcats’ first half manufacturing got here via the air, together with 4 landing passes.

“Normally we don’t enable that,” Mullen stated. “That’s not our DNA. That’s unacceptable on my finish.”

On the opposite facet of the ball, Indiana’s offense was flat. Its solely landing got here on a possession that started at Cincinnati’s 39-yard line. 

“It’s regarding, there’s little doubt, as a result of you then begin creating a sample,” Allen stated. “At first you undergo it, you might have your rising pains with new guys, however now it is into week 4 and it must be behind us.”

Even with a greater second half efficiency, the Hoosiers have been far-off from ever placing all of it collectively. Indiana outgained Cincinnati, 180 yards to 71, however 4 of its final six drives stalled and resulted in turnovers on downs, together with one in Cincinnati’s crimson zone.

“I feel we’re shut, we simply obtained to search out methods to start out drives properly,” Bazelak stated. “I’ve stated it a bunch, simply getting in rhythm on offense. Profitable first down and getting 4 or 5 yards on first down.”

What doomed Indiana in its first loss, and almost value it extra in its first three video games, was the shortcoming to place collectively a full offensive efficiency.

“Now we have obtained to search out methods to attain touchdowns within the first quarter,” Bazelak stated. “Can’t put our protection behind and put ourselves behind in video games like this.”

The Hoosiers have been a mediocre crew, outclassed and outperformed within the first half, digging a gap too deep to ever climb out of. Their good begin might not have been an entire fluke, however their remaining convention schedule seems far more daunting.

But when Indiana desires to construct on the success of its first three wins heading into its recreation subsequent Saturday at Nebraska, Allen may need a brand new technique.

“Inform them it is halftime proper earlier than we begin,” he stated.

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