INSIDE SLANT

“What might have been” pretty much sums up the 2009 season, which came to an end with a 38-21 loss to in-state rival Purdue. That loss dropped IU to 4-8 overall and 1-7 in the Big Ten, landing the Hoosiers in the basement of the conference for the second straight year.

Head coach Bill Lynch isn’t expected to lose his job this offseason.

Lynch has two years left on his current contract, and Indiana believes the program has suffered from the coaching turnover during the past decade. Four coaches—Cam Cameron, Gerry DiNardo, Terry Hoeppner and Lynch—have led IU during that span, and another change wouldn’t be a sign the Hoosiers were righting the ship.

The job security of the assistant coaches, however, could become an issue. Lynch could go a number of ways to try to improve his squad. Co-defensive coordinators Brian George and Joe Palcic could be on the chopping block after seeing their defense land near the bottom of the Big Ten for the second straight year. Considering the Hoosiers boasted seniors at better than half the starting positions on “D,” George and Palcic didn’t exactly prove themselves as coaches who can develop stars.

On the offensive side, coordinator Matt Canada has felt some heat, but his job seems safe because IU did manage to put together a number of long drives this season and was effective in a number of games.

The Hoosiers were far more competitive this season than they were last year, and the team’s leadership was a big reason. Whether the seniors have passed on their leadership skills to the juniors who will take over the team captaincy is unknown, but that process will begin early in the offseason, and the coaching staff seems to believe it has the potential to build a solid foundation for the program.

The 2009 season could have been much different if a few more breaks had gone IU’s way. The Hoosiers’ average margin of defeat during the 2008 season was 26.2 points, and five losses came by 24 or more points. In ’09, IU lost games by an average of 14 points, but only one of those games was a true laugher (IU’s 47-7 loss to Virginia in October) and three of the games were decided by three points or less.

Success is a tough thing to quantify, but the Hoosiers do seem to believe they are on the right path. The seat under Lynch will continue to be toasty, especially if he doesn’t make changes during the offseason.

From a player standpoint, quarterback Ben Chappell will have to work to improve his accuracy or else redshirt-freshmen-to-be Edward Wright Baker and Dustin Kiel could challenge the for the starting job. Running back Darius Willis must avoid injuries, and Indiana’s young defensive ends, cornerbacks and safeties must take huge strides to shore up the “D” come next year.

Last offseason was marked by Indiana’ efforts to refocus the players to prepare for the season. This offseason is about polishing the rough edges and getting ready to take the next step. Whatever the result will be in 2010, this year’s offseason will be critical to the future of the program.

NOTES, QUOTES

Game Of The Year:   Michigan 36, Indiana 33—It might seem odd for a loss to be IU’s biggest game, but the Hoosiers really took a blow when they couldn’t hold on to beat the Wolverines in the Big House.

RB Darius Willis proved he could be a star by rushing for 152 yards and two touchdowns, and WR Tandon Doss enjoyed a breakout game with five catches for 104 yards. The loss also showed IU’s flaws—Michigan scored two long touchdowns, and IU’s offense repeatedly failed to score touchdowns in the red zone. Indiana battled all season, but the loss to Michigan took a lot of the wind out of the players’ sails. Every other close game brought up a feeling of, “Here we go again,” and IU’s inability to seal the deal in Ann Arbor set the program back.

Players Of The Year:  

WR Tandon Doss—Doss made 77 catches for 962 yards and five touchdowns, and he repeatedly turned short passes into quality gains. He finished two grabs shy of IU’s single-season receptions record, and Doss provided some flexibility in the offense by rushing for 129 yards on 14 carries. Doss proved he can be a go-to guy in the passing game, and he will take over more of a leadership role this offseason.

MLB Matt Mayberry—The senior linebacker not only led the Hoosiers with 108 tackles, but he added 11 tackles for loss and was second on the team with 5.5 sacks. He added three interceptions to his stat line as well. But Mayberry’s contributions went far beyond the numbers. He was a leader in the locker room, and he was one of the Hoosiers who played every game like it was his last. Mayberry will be missed on and off the field next year.

Fast Forward:   Indiana will suffer major losses on the defensive side of the ball, with starting DEs Jammie Kirlew and Greg Middleton, FS Nick Polk, SS Austin Thomas, MLB Matt Mayberry, CB Ray Fisher and WLB Will Patterson all headed for the cap and gown. Offensively the Hoosiers lose four-year starters Pete Saxon and Rodger Saffold from the offensive line.

On the other hand, IU returns all of its top receivers, its starting quarterback and running back, and DTs Adam Replogle, Nick Sliger and Larry Black, Jr., all showed potential this season. If IU can plug in decent parts on defense without suffering too much of a setback, the Hoosiers should continue to stay competitive next season.

Recruiting Trail:   Indiana’s recruiting class is 21 strong, but it still ranks among the bottom teams in the Big Ten. That being said, IU will welcome more talent to Bloomington than it has in recent recruiting classes, and JUCO DB Andre Kates could be an immediate starter if he shows up at IU. The Hoosiers already lost highly-touted DE Jibreel Black, who de-committed after seeing Indiana’s poor start to the season, and there is a fear that Kates will take the same path out of town. Indiana could turn to more JUCO players to help bolster the team, especially on defense.

Quote To Note:   “The thing about this season is that we’ve basically been trying to put this team on the right track. It was pretty much in shambles last year, and we wanted to make sure everyone knew how relentless and tough we were, how we would fight to the very end. With this team, we don’t want (the returning players next year) to continue where we left off. We want them to exceed that. We want them to come to camp to be even better than they are now. Those guys like Mitch Evans, (Matt) Evans, Tandon Doss, Damarlo Belcher, and even the guys behind us (the younger offensive linemen), they do a great job as well. I have the utmost faith in them, and they will be able to lead the team.”—Senior OLT Rodger Saffold on how the Hoosiers will replace the leadership they have enjoyed from the upperclassmen this season.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Players To Watch In 2010:   RB Darius Willis—Willis ran for 607 yards in just nine games for the Hoosiers, and his combination of speed and power make him tough to stop when he’s healthy. Willis missed three full games with injuries and was slowed by aches and pains in other outings. The Hoosiers need a healthy Willis to inject the running game with a playmaker.

WR Tandon Doss—Doss’ hands and speed set him apart, and he will help stretch the field for the Hoosiers. The experience Doss picked up this season will be invaluable next year, and he gives IU’s quarterbacks a big target downfield.

DT Adam Replogle—Replogle was effective as a true freshman and will benefit from a winter in the weight room. He has a nice first step and is disruptive in the backfield, and his high motor will make him a star in Bloomington in the near future.

Pro Prospects:  

DE Greg Middleton—Middleton led the country in sacks as a sophomore with 16, but his production fell off drastically over the past two years. He recorded just three sacks this season and will have to change a lot of minds when it comes to his attitude during draft workouts.

OL Rodger Saffold—Saffold is smart and has a lot of tools, and his size will allow him to at least get a look from NFL teams. The Hoosiers only gave up 16 sacks all season, and he has proven to be a solid, durable protector for QB’s blindsides.

FS Nick Polk—Polk’s versatility will draw interest from NFL squads, as will his speed. Polk improved as the season progressed and his knee-which he injured during the 2008 campaign-got stronger. He’s a converted wide receiver who bulked up to play safety three years ago, and he could be an asset both on offense and on special teams at the next level.

CB Ray Fisher—Fisher’s game is all about speed, and he has played on both sides of the ball. He will get some invites from NFL teams thanks to his return skills, and he could catch on somewhere thanks to his high motor.

Roster Report:  

• CB Donnell Jones played the second half of the season with a dislocated elbow, but he is expected to be back at full strength in the spring.

• QB Edward Wright-Baker and PK Mitch Ewald redshirted this past season, but the Hoosier coaching staff would have turned to them in a pinch even late in the season. They both will get a fair shot at earning playing time starting in the spring.

• There has been speculation that WR Mitchell Evans could be moved back to safety in the spring due to the depth at wide receiver, but the Hoosier coaching staff hasn’t discussed that issue publically yet.