In The Zone

Dave and Terry recap another weekend of bad football for the Hoosiers and the Colts. After getting beaten by the Iowa, the Hoosiers look for their first conference win against Northwestern. And, after a 55-point loss to the Saints, the Colts will look for their first win of the season next Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

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In The Zone

Dave and Terry keep the conversation turned towards football on a rather soggy evening. IU travels to Iowa (and faces the wrath of the pink locker room), the Colts face an angry Saints team bent on avenging last week’s loss to the Bucs, and Sectionals start this weekend for the high school teams. Let’s hope for the best. We’ll even take 1 out of 3.

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In The Zone

Dave and Glass wrap up another fruitless weekend of football results from Indiana University and the Indianapolis Colts.

The Hoosiers went to Wisconsin to take on the #4 Badgers.

The good news?  They didn’t concede 83.

The bad news?  They didn’t score 20.

223 yards rushing was cancelled out by 2-14 on third down conversions (average yards to gain a first down:  9.9) and two Wright-Baker interceptions.

Oh, and the Badgers rushed for over 330 yards.  And scored a special teams TD.  And “blocked” a punt.  And threw a half back TD to their QB.

You get the idea.  Up next for Indiana is a trip to Iowa on Saturday before coming home in two Saturdays to face Northwestern.

Stay tuned.

The Colts ran their perfect season to 0-6 after a self-destructing loss at Cincinnati.

Now, the Colts veteran players are starting to starting to help the cause as well with key turnovers.

The defense did their job (alternate weeks, sadly) but it wasn’t enough.  What’s next for the Colts?

A trip to New Orleans and a date with Drew Brees on national TV next Sunday as the “easy” part of the schedule is now behind them.

Blimey.

 

In The Zone

Dave and Glass reunite on this October Monday evening.

Sadly, the lead story for the show was Indiana University basketball player Maurice Creek and another season-ending injury.  That’s three in 22 months if you’re scoring at home.  Can’t feel anything but awful for this kid and this is just plain unlucky.  How will this effect Indiana going forward?

The Hoosiers got off to a hot start against #19 Illinois last Saturday.  Sadly, they were undone by three huge plays from Illinois, yet couldn’t convert when Illinois gave them an opportunity.  Tre Roberson came on in the second half, but is it really a quarterback problem?

The Colts are 0-5.  They blew a 17 point lead to Kansas City at home.  They are bad.  All over.  And there is no relief in sight.  Not when the defense plays like this.  Not when the offense plays one half.

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11:40 – and on that note, it’s good night.  A little craziness, but largely the same themes – IU needs work that you simply can’t yell into kids, and my top 5 nationally stays the same – LSU, Bama, Clemson, Oklahoma, Boise St. 

11:25 – Congrats to the Huskers for their first Big Ten win.  It doesn’t change anything I typed earlier.  But we all hate Ohio St, so we’re pretty much all in your corner tonite. 

11:15 – it’s a tough place for Bauserman to be put in after losing all his playing time just last week, but he doesn’t look like he’s been reading up on the game plan this week. 

11:13 – on a slightly related note, because he’s doing the game – how does Matt Millen end up doing CFB games of this stature.  Did someone forget about how badly he managed the Lions, and really, how bad he was on TV before getting the Lions’ job? 

11:09 – and the comeback is complete, due completely to momentum.  Clearly Nebraska was at least talented enough, if of a smaller stature, to play with OSU, but they looked outclassed in the first half and it’s been the exact opposite in the last 15 minutes of play.  That play by David was a huge mental boost, as the entire stadium was stunned up until then. 

10:59 -read back a mere 42 minutes ago and you’ll see I had written Nebraska off.  Then a star makes a play, followed by another, plus an injury to the only threat OSU seems to have on O, and you have a tie ballgame.  I hoped the Huskers would come in with a little gusto and was afraid I have completely overestimated them.  They may not win this game, but they’re not gonna just rollover…….the sound of silence and even boos in Lincoln was a little unnerving earlier….

10:25 – well the complexion of this game has turned rather quickly.  Miller has been a huge spark on O, but that looks like a knee and not due to contact.  Ouch.  Couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch of……

10:17 – aaaaannnnnndddddd just like that, Martinez runs 25yds through the OSU D for a TD after a great strip tackle by Levonte David.  Nice to see Neb’s 2 stars make a couple plays, and fortuitous for the Husker’s that they happened back to back. 

10:15 – 2 quick items – OSU’s linemen and LBs are running down Taylor Martinez, and Northwestern’s WRs flop like Ronaldo.

10:08 – and tie your damn shoelaces already….

10:03 – we just saw an example of Robinson’s few limitations at QB, despite the actual success of the play:  he doesn’t have a big arm and that obviously costs him down the field – he’s floated a couple tonight deep down the field, and on that deep hook it took a while to get there.  He may not need to make all the throws in college because he is a faster though slighter than Barry Sanders out there, but if you can force him into those throws and bottle him up as best you can, you can beat them, but the latter is not easy. 

10:00 – Pat Fitzgerald just lost his mind – and lost his team 15 yds – after a horrendous call goes against the Cats on a 4th down play.  Persa’s helmet was yanked off, which ought to be a face mask penalty because he grabs the face mask to start the act of taking his helmet off, which then stops play.  Simple time, here.  Nope – not to a ref’s thinking.  Sheesh – take away his assignments, NOW. 

9:38 – Playing the timing game – Michagn

9:29 – boo birds out in Lincoln as the Huskers are starting to look downright silly – and just wait until Pelini starts getting into the game!  But to Husker fans – if you thought you were cakewalking into a lousy FB league, you’re sorely mistaken.  There are only 2 teams this year that couldn’t beat you (IU & MN), and you’re starting to look like the most one-dimensional of the other 10 teams and your vaunted D isn’t really that vaunted – athletic, but not more than most of those 10 either.  Welcome – we want you here, but don’t expect us all to fall over for you – we were already pretty good, and really popular.

9:20 – Ohio State appears to have better athletes than Nebraska at most every position.  You’d think the Huskers would have the advantage at least at QB, but even that isn’t the case.  Martinez is clearly limited throwing the ball and he doesn’t have better athletes to run past or through the OSU D. 

9:03 – This isn’t Kansas, or Iowa State, Toto.  Nebraska through 5 Big Ten quarters – granted, against 2 of the more talented Big Ten teams right now – are being outphysicalled.  Time was that the Huskers were the gold standard at physical football on both sides of the ball.  Instead, Wisconsin did and Ohio State is currently doing the pushing around. 

8:23 – There are some really bad offenses in the Big Ten this year, meaning defensive statistics should be taken with a LARGE grain of salt this year.  We know IU stinks, but also Penn St, Minnesota, Purdue, Ohio St and apparently Iowa all are struggling to score points this year.  The most balanced team is Wisconsin, the most explosive might be Illinois or Michigan, though Robinson is looking clueless tonight facing mostly minimum pressure and maximum zone coverage by NU.  Nebraska’s O is too one-dimensional for my taste, and Michigan State looks solid but always manages to come up small at some point.  Northwestern is always dangerous but I’m not convinced they’re great – Michigan’s D is vastly overrated thus far given the mediocre offenses they’ve played this year. 

7:46 – two horrible decisions by Denard Robinson is keeping NU in this game, as both interceptions were lobbed into coverage with deep safeties and easily picked off, each inside the NU 15.  Dan Persa has been productive, and NU leads 14-7 and is moving with the ball after the second INT.  NU going with all black jerseys – no idea why. 

7:06 – the second wave of games are done, and LSU still has the best resume in my opinion.  Impressive wins by Oklahoma & Oklahoma St, and Boise had a big win last night.  Wisconsin is idle and Bama plays tonite, but the team I still have up in my top 5 is Clemson – I’m looking at resumes right now, and they have an excellent resume.  Kansas State has also done good work thus far. 

6:21 – It’s time to retire some old broadcasters.  Brent Musberger can still build up any moment, but he’s losing his eyesight or his awareness or something.  He’s getting to only be good at the Michael Buffer “Let’s get ready to RUUUMMMBBBLLLLEEEE!!” type moments.  And Verne Lundquist has already lost his mind – everything is a golf shot to him, and he should go back to being a golf guy – leave him out of football, please. 

5:42 – and mericfully, it’s over – Illinois wins 41-20, and it should have been MUCH worse.  Tre Roberson got some time late and looked decent, but not great – bounced some throws, got pressure just like the rest, but he certainly has a speed the others don’t have, and that may be the skill most needed right now – gettng out of trouble the OL creates.  Defensively, this is what last week would have also looked like had Penn State been remotely competent at the QB position.  Ill has a good O, and as such put up more than enough points, and their D basically held IU to 7 pts, scored late in the 4th quarter.  Now maybe I can watch some good football the rest of the night….

5:21 – a nice 75 yard drive lead by Tre Roberson @ QB makes it 34-20.  That score makes this look like a decent game, but it’s been a whitewash.  IU hasn’t completely rolled over but the talent doesn’t compare out there right now.  That said, at least the students were able to get back out to the lots to resume drinking themselves even more stupid. 

4:52 – Illinois completely in control of this game since they stopped turning the ball over.  But why do I have to listen to the TV guys telling me how accurate Nathan Scheelhaase is – he’s an athletic QB with a good arm, but when you continually miss open receivers with bad passes, please don’t tell me he’s “accurate”.  He’s not. 

4:24 – it’s like water torture, Ill running the ball right down IU’s throat to start the second half.  But a blown blocking assignment on 3rd and 5 results in an IU sack.  The OL play in this game has been worse than last week’s combined QB play.  And that’s sayin’ something. 

3:58 – I’ve counted at least 7 Olinemen used in the first half, and there are no answers, especially pass blocking.  Someone remind me again which group is the most important in football??

3:49 – and as soon as I try to give the D credit, they blitz again and go man and get burned again.  I’ve been saying this for years – we haven’t been a blitz/man heavy team the last few years not because one staff or another are wimps – it’s because we don’t have the skill to play it, especially at CB.  If you try to do what you cannot, it’ll be a disaster…..kinda like what we keep watching. 

3:44 – IU has squandered all their good fortune early in the game with their play, now down 20-13.  Again up front their getting handled, though their D is fighting hard to keep ‘em in the game.  Unfortunately it’s going to have to outscore the Illini themselves as the O can’t get out of their own way. 

3:13 – LT Andrew McDonald comes out on the next set of drives after blocking air on that last blitz. 

3:07 – bad blocking on a 5 man rush (with 6 blockers) gets a man in free on Dusty Kiel, who continues to expose the ball in those situations, and this time it kills the Hoosiers as Illinois picks it up and goes 65 yards with it for a TD.  Dusty wasn’t playing ahead of EWB because of ball security, and we may not see Dusty again today after that carelessness.  Deservedly so, because turnovers gets you beat. 

2:57 – if I hear one more person say how they want IU’s defense to be more aggressive, I’m going to scream.  Chalk up a 70 yard TD and all the momentum to being more aggressive. 

2:47 – and just like that, Illinois is trying desperately to give this game to IU – opening KO return TD, now a fumble at midfield on a bad exchange – that’s mental stuff that had everyone wondering just how good the Illini were, given they’ve played all their games up to now at home. 

2:44 – a great start for IU with an opening KO return TD by Shane Wynn.  Followed immediately by a great D stand forcing a 3 and out.  Unfortunately the offense looks to be its same, inept self and gave it back to Illinois, who is looking to use its physical running game advantage.  And those orange pants hurt my eyes. 

2:17 – Texas showing the world why young QBs and a bad OL are a bad combination. 

1:48 – Oklahoma is completely dominating this game, with the exception of one KO return.  Texas’s Dline is holding their own, but OU’s WRs are winning the individual battles and Landry Jones is the real deal all around – quick decisions, quick release, rocket arm and accurate.  In the meantime, Minnesota is showing again why they won’t win another game – 3 first half turnovers, down 31-3 @ the break. 

12:56 – OU has a small team of cowboys that fire off guns all game long.  They’re clearly some sort of noise-maker gun, not high-powered rifles.  But what kind of gun modification is acceptable enough to allow them to be fired randomly in a stadium full of people??

12:53 – TD OU, 13-3, as the safety jumps the screen and gets beat to the corner.  That brings out one of the great team-specific, derisive actions in all sports – taunting Texas with the upside-down Hook ‘Em Horns handle signal.  It actually looks kinda silly, like you’re standing in front of someone flashing a thumbs down gesture, but I support derisive taunts to your enemy. 

12:50 – How unlucky is Kevin Wilson to not have Minnesota on the schedule this year – the Gophers would finish last in the Sun Belt this year. 

12:40 – Texas takes advantage of two trick play first downs and one good run to kick a FG, 6-3 Sooners.  In other CFB news, Maryland has a new set of extremely ugly uniforms – Under Armour trying to take CFB apparel to new lows – and Purdue is already creaming a dreadful Minnesota team……and the former Indianapolis product Marqueis Gray throws a pick 6 to make it 24-0 PuPu.  That’s what you get for leaving the state.

12:35 – Texas goes desperation early with a goofy fake reverse, inside handoff.  It’s a first down, but it was only cool enough to gain 3 yards.  Second one a little better – split out a couple blockers.  That trick formations and plays are all Texas has been productive with is NOT a good sign. 

12:30 – Oklahoma can only get a FG out of a forced fumble.  Texas D stiffening around the goalline.  OU not running the ball particularly well, but at least their O appears to have shown up.  On another note, Kirk Herbstreit is like a Hershey bar – sweet, nice, not offensive in any way, but doesn’t approach spectacular. 

12:23 – Scott Novak is the referee in the Cotton Bowl today.  This game is in good hands…..

12:17 – Oklahoma goes quickly down the field but stalls at the Texas 10 – the FG is good.  Another reason to love this game and CFB in general – livestock on the sidelines.  At some point they should unleash the livestock on the opponent. 

11:55 – someone needs to explain to me the interest in having “special guests” pick games on Gameday.  Silliness leading into the ultimate silliness…….

11:49 – OK, nearing early game kickoffs, and in particular the silliest 15 seconds in sport – Lee Corso’s headgear choice and general clowning around. 

Looking forward to Oklahoma vs Texas – this game is always full of top level talent.  And this game shows why college football is great – a neutral field, rivalry game, with tickets split 50/50. 

The Big Ten is getting their stinker out of the way early today – Minnesota at Purdue at noon.

 In my first attempt at posting my thoughts on the internet in blog form, I will fully admit to completely ripping off a well-known national sports..uh….I’ll call him a “personality” at this point, because much like how a percussionist plays a lot of different specific instruments, Bill Simmons is trying his hand at every media available right now.  But this weekend appears to be a great opportunity for me to hang out at the house and post my rambling observations throughout the weekend. 

So come on by Saturday (Oklahoma/Texas, Ill/IU, Fla/LSU, Aub/Ark, Ohio St/Neb) to follow along.

In The Zone

Dave and Terry are back with you in the zone tonight, and the focus once again centers around football.

It’s been a tough season so far for football fans in Southern Indiana, but there’s still a lot of season left. The Colts are coming off another disappointing loss, but Terry tells you why we may see their first win this Sunday against an equally underwhelming Kansas City team. Both guys are less optimistic about IU’s chances against Illinois, but that’s right when teams like to surprise people, isn’t it?

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In The Zone

Monday Night Football for the Colts means extended pregame from the In The Zone guys. Dave and Terry give you predictions and analysis from what may ultimately be known as “The Curtis Painter Game”, for better or for worse.

Before that, though, a look back at the Big Ten opener from IU.

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In The Zone

Dave and Terry back in the zone tonight. Roster moves from the Colts and a Big Ten opener are both on the agenda.

Dan Orlovsky’s back on the team, Gary Brackett and Melvin Bullitt are out for the season. We’ve said it before, but these continue to be strange times.

Colts play Monday night. Predictions and analysis from ITZ immediately before the pregame.

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In The Zone

Dave and Terry wrap up the football weekend, trying to take positives away from a couple of losses.

The Colts were competitive last night, but hey, they always show up for Sunday night. Was that a Curtis Painter sighting?

Hard to find positives in the IU loss to North Texas though, except for maybe experience for the freshman. The good news is that the Big Ten schedule starts next week, and who knows what can happen?

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In The Zone

Lots of Colts talk today, not much of it good. Let the second guessing on the lack of a viable backup begin. Hopefully this kind of football isn’t something we have to get used to. 10.5 point home underdogs? This is a different world.

Also, a quick look ahead at IU’s non-conference finale at North Texas.

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In The Zone

Dave and Glass  talk about Indiana football’s first victory under Coach Kevin Wilson.  The Hoosiers took care of business against FCS opponent South Carolina State.  There were plenty of positives along with plenty of negatives as the guys discuss the early days of the Coach Wilson program.

The Colts “improved” this week?  Huh?  This is the NFL.  The league is measured in two columns, wins and losses.  Dave and Glass discuss why the Colts aren’t “improved” this week.  At least not enough to  beat the Browns.  Yes, those Cleveland Browns.

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In The Zone

Dave and Glass get you ready for a weekend of football as the Hoosiers and Colts both look for their first wins of the season.

Indiana takes on South Carolina State Saturday at Memorial Stadium.  We’ve saw some signs of life from the defense last week.  Can this carry over?  The Hoosier offense has been up and down as well.  Young team, new coaching staff equals more questions than answers.  We’ll see on Monday if the Hoosiers lived up to our predictions of victory, white helmets or not.

We also take a quick look at the Colts as they prepare for Cleveland.  It was one half of one game, folks.  Not exactly “sky is falling” stuff.  Just ask Pittsburgh…The defense and special teams have no choice other than to play better or this season is really shot.

In The Zone

Dave and Glass wrap up a sweet and sour, well, mainly sour, weekend of football.

The Hoosiers looked much better on Saturday against Virginia, coming back from 20 points down in the second half to lead late.  Sadly, the comeback was for naught as the Cavs rallied and won late.  The good news?  The comeback.  The bad news?  The result.

The Colts delivered the result that many of us expected, but it was the way it was delivered that is now cause for more concern.  Everyone figured the QB would struggle, and struggle he did.  The problems, though, were a healthy defense and special teams that didn’t hold up their end of the bargain in a 34-7 loss at Houston who didn’t have their best offensive player.

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In The Zone

It’s that time of the year again. Football is back at all three levels, so Dave and Terry walk you through this weekend’s slate of games.

Peyton will officially miss the first start of his pro career, and people have gone into panic mode. What does this mean for the season?

IU did not perform as expected last week, leading some to jump off the bandwagon. Do they stand a chance against Virginia, an ACC opponent?

Don’t forget, North and South divide the town this Friday. Tune in starting at 6:30 for Chalk Talk on WGCL or wgclradio.com.

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In The Zone

Dave and Terry dissect this weekend’s opener for the Hoosiers, and any enthusiasm will have to be tempered for the moment. There were some positives and negatives to take away, but anyone dreaming of an instant turnaround for the program will need to take a step back and realize that, just like the basketball team, this is a work in progress.

Wednesday they’ll look ahead to Virginia, which wont prove to be any easier an opponent.

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In The Zone

Dave and Terry with you this evening, talking IU football.

They look to the opener at Lucas Oil against Ball State, discuss the starting QB decision at hand, and break down the rest of the year for the Hoosiers. It’s the start of a new season, so hopes are allowed to run high, right?

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