Early Signing Period Provides Hope for IU Offense in 2022

Image: Zach Greene, Hoosier Huddle

Written by Zach Greene (@zachegreene)

The Indiana offense this past season was historically bad. It was hard to watch at times, with play calling being predicable and having little to no offensive weapons. No one was willing to be a leader and step up on the offensive side of the ball. While it was bad there were was bright spots to build off and Tom Allen and his staff know this. Most of the good parts on offensive were to start off games while the Hoosiers were able to drive the ball down the field 75 yards for a touchdown. Tom Allen wants to change and be more dynamic and explosive on offense.

“I'm looking for balance. I want us to be -- we've got to run the football but we've got to throw the football. You've got to be able to do both. You've got to be able to be explosive. That was the thing, explosive plays. Want to be able to create explosive plays, want to be able to not have to drive the football 85 yards in a 13-play drive and 14-play drive and try to be perfect and all that.”

This past season the offense averaged 3.2 yards per carry. At times, like there was no rhythm on offense from the first drive of the season. It was a dead and depleted offense since the Maryland game and hopefully with the additions of guys like RB Shaun Shivers and Jaylin Lucas, the Hoosier's offense won’t have to be one-sided. Shivers offers a leadership presence and explosiveness on the ground game.

“Has been playing at Auburn University, just graduated this past week, and he's going to be a Hoosier. So excited about Shaun. His nickname is "Worm" so that's what we're going to call him, and I got permission to call him that. He's been called that most of his life. Mom calls him that, so if mom calls him that I'm good with it, so that's what I'm going to call him.”

With the additions at RB, the Hoosiers will be adding playmakers on the outside led by returner D.J Matthews who was productive and able to cause damage this past season. He had 13 receptions for over 12 yards a catch, and a touchdown this past season. He suffered a torn ACL in the game against Western Kentucky, a massive blow for the offense. They never were able to come back from his absence.

New offensive coordinator Walt Bell offers a fresh start for the program. Bell from UMass did not have the best time in his tenure there. This past season the Minutemen finished 1-11. So yea, it could’ve been worse, IUFB fans. That said, the mentality this upcoming season will be one of “Bad New’s Bears” type.

All that said, It won’t matter if the offensive line can’t do its job with all these additions. Tom Allen expects DJ Moore to fill the tackle position. But other guys on the line will have to step-up.

“​​DJ Moore, offensive tackle, 6'5" 315 pounds, out of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Snider High School, one of our own in-state guys. Big, athletic. Just so excited about DJ's upside, his potential to be able to keep growing, maybe an inside guy, maybe an outside guy. We don't know. He's played both. Just a big man that excited to get him here and get him training with our football team. Really excited about just the energy he brings. He's had a chance to come down and watch several games and be a part of our program.”

Last year, the Hoosiers were getting ready to prepare for the Outback Bowl against Ole Miss. The hype and attention the program was getting were unlike anything they had ever experienced before. They were not ready for it, but now everyone has counted them out.

Don’t be surprised this season if the Hoosiers shock teams. I’ll end with Tom Allen's opening statement from this week's press conference.

“Most of these guys were committed to us for a long time and stayed the course, which I really appreciate, and it means a lot to us, and just shows you kind of what they feel about our program and where we're at.”