Fhsu @ uindy

[EveryCatAWildman]

Re: Fhsu @ uindy

U Indy with an old school conservative coach. Folks around here (coaching colleagues) love the guy from Illinois to Ohio to Michigan MAC schools. Heard him call his overall approach "vanilla". They will run first and have a back they like to pound it with - Al McKeller. But they can also go fast with burners - WR Malik Higgins / WR Davon Bell / RB Toriano Clinton. Physical guys that make a difference for them are OLs Skylar Lacy / OL Clayton Hadley / WR Rayan Topper. QB Jake Purichia is a senior playmaker and can do a lot of different things really well. Weakness is the young line and improving DBs. Defensive game plan is also major conservative. Don't gamble much at all or even mix it up. Bend a lot thinking they won't break. Funny thing is it leaves the opponent OCs with nothing much to exploit. But gives you the whole game to figure out how to exploit the same 4-3 scheme. Without checking I'd say they give up points early and late. Defensive studs are on the DL. LBs don't make many mistakes and two that play sideline to sideline. I'd say their depth is the issue as always for D2 privates.

Sounds a lot like Kansas State style

[Ian Carlson]

Re: Fhsu @ uindy

After last years game, coach Brown openly admitted the team was under prepared. And the way they played against Ferris it really didn't feel like they had a cohesive plan to execute. So as a program I am sure they learned an awful lot from what happened last year.

But regardless of what happens I am very proud of the team going back to back in the playoffs and being repeat MIAA champions. It was only a few short years ago we thought going to the Mineral Bowl was the greatest thing to have happened in living memory.

[HookemHerd]

Re: Fhsu @ uindy

They were dealing with several injury's going into the playoffs. Probably referring to not having the backups ready for the next man up role. Online limped into the game, and they didn't have a strategy to get passed that

[BartonTiger]

[TigerGlen]

Re: Fhsu @ uindy

That was Chris Brown's explanation. I also think there was a real sense of stage fright as well. The crowd was massive. The place was technically a sell out an hour before kick off and they filled the running track at both ends of the ground. Speaking to one of the ticket people the plan was not refuse anybody trying to get in.

So the atmosphere was well beyond anything the kids had experienced in MIAA play.

And to be fair Ferris' defense played like a typical NW defense only on steroids.......They were seriously brutal.

[HookemHerd]

Re: Fhsu @ uindy

That was Chris Brown's explanation. I also think there was a real sense of stage fright as well. The crowd was massive. The place was technically a sell out an hour before kick off and they filled the running track at both ends of the ground. Speaking to one of the ticket people the plan was not refuse anybody trying to get in.

So the atmosphere was well beyond anything the kids had experienced in MIAA play.

And to be fair Ferris' defense played like a typical NW defense only on steroids.......They were seriously brutal.

I'd agree. the Ferris D line was a class above anything the MIAA fielded last year.

[EveryCatAWildman]

Re: Fhsu @ uindy

Said travel would actually be shorter than a couple of their road trips this year so wouldn't change the routine here either other than it's a flight out of Salina instead of a full bus trip.

Should be pointed out in consideration on how this game might go - FHSU didn't play particularly well on the road this year. with both losses on the road and scoring 6 points per game less than they did at home (27 avg on road vs 33 avg at home score) and giving up 10 points per game more road game vs home games (22 per road game vs 12 at home).

Indy on the other hand played better at home going 5-0 and scoring on average 10 points more per game at home than when they played on the road while giving up the same.

[BartonTiger]

Re: Fhsu @ uindy

Key for FHSU is turnovers. Those two losses can be totally attributed to a lot of turnovers offensively. Both games having a turnover(s) when going in to score. A cleaner play in the red zone and FHSU is 11-0 right now.

[Predatory Primates]

Re: Fhsu @ uindy

Is the starting QB going to play, or Spiccoli?

[GorillaBred]

Re: Fhsu @ uindy

One more drawback to the silo scheduling. Will be interested to see how this impacts the conference as long as we're in the silo. NW was able to overcome it for several years, but I think they were able to do so because the players (and especially the coaches) had so much more non-conference game prep experience from previous playoff games.

[GreenwoodBearcat]

Re: Fhsu @ uindy

Someone had to start this thread. Hopefully alot of tiger fans make the trip, them boys/men are gonna need it. And to be in the playoffs again, on the road - Maybe, just Maybe

If Fart Hayes plays the same defense that they played at NW, then they should come back from the Indy 500 with a checkered flag....

[Taxman]

Re: Fhsu @ uindy

After last years game, coach Brown openly admitted the team was under prepared. And the way they played against Ferris it really didn't feel like they had a cohesive plan to execute. So as a program I am sure they learned an awful lot from what happened last year.

But regardless of what happens I am very proud of the team going back to back in the playoffs and being repeat MIAA champions. It was only a few short years ago we thought going to the Mineral Bowl was the greatest thing to have happened in living memory.

Under prepared or over matched? FH wasn't favored/better team going in to that game anyway so it was much more the latter.

This year is a bit different. Not playing a quality opp from an inferior conference but on the road with an even less talented team. My mind still says MIAA>>>>GLVC in most any instance.

[Taxman]

Re: Fhsu @ uindy

I think the closest comparison FHSU played this year was Pitt (so that could be a good thing). Indy runs 2/3rd of the time versus 1/3rd passing plays; very similar to Pitt style. Adkins and Horak at Pitt put up similar type numbers as UIndy two backs. Although Purichia is a much more polished and accurate QB than Rodrique was/is.

The one big thing offensively UIndy does different than any team FHSU faced in the MIAA is very slow ball control style. They average just 60 plays a game and only 1 game had over 70 plays per game, versus S&T who arguably was the 2nd best team they faced. There is a handful of games UIndy didn't even attempt 10 passes the whole game. Contrast that style to every team in the MIAA averaged over 70 plays a game, FHSU themselves 74 per game. So this game might come down to which team can do their preferred approach best.

If UIndy controls the ball like they want, plodding along then FHSU will have to make the most of each of their possessions. If FHSU can get out to a quick two score lead, then they could force UIndy to speed up and get them uncomfortable.

Nonexplosive teams are the best to play in the POs. You know you are always going to be in the game. Ground and pound styles have to have an elite D to play in the playoffs.

[Predatory Primates]

Re: Fhsu @ uindy

I think Hays is better up front by quite a bit, but I only watched Indy once, so tifwiw.

[HookemHerd]

Re: Fhsu @ uindy

Under prepared or over matched? FH wasn't favored/better team going in to that game anyway so it was much more the latter.

This year is a bit different. Not playing a quality opp from an inferior conference but on the road with an even less talented team. My mind still says MIAA>>>>GLVC in most any instance.

Overmatched. I think a healthy Hays team last year does better, but in a losing effort. LT Pat was out and Oline was jumbled not in sync with a new front 5. And we just so happened to be playing the best Dline we had played all year. The One kid from Ferris was just an ass kicker.
Like others have said Silo scheduling gives a false sense of where you are at. Bully on the block ran into a group of bad dudes and we got pummeled.