Aug. 19, 2008

A year removed from fulfilling their late head coach's dream of "Playing 13," the Indiana Hoosiers return to the gridiron looking to continue the momentum they built last year and earn an invitation to their second straight bowl game. Last season Indiana did exactly what the late Terry Hoeppner wanted them to do: don't quit and play 13 games. Now IU head coach Bill Lynch is motivating his team to play smart, play consistent, and play to the whistle each down.

The Hoosiers are faced with a favorable schedule in 2008, as the Cream and Crimson will play eight of its 12 regular season games in Bloomington, including the first four. In fact, IU will play those eight contests in the first 10 games of the season before heading to Penn State and Purdue. Yes, two tough road games to end the season will be a tough task, but the Hoosiers are in their second and final year of not playing Michigan or Ohio State, so expectations are at a high level entering the season.

OFFENSE: Question marks do surround the Hoosiers' offense as the home opener approaches. How will the team respond with its new no-huddle scheme? Who will be the team's primary quarterback? Who will step up in the backfield and help IU build a dominant running game? And who will fill the void at wide receiver left by NFL second-round draft pick James Hardy and his 36 career touchdowns? The answer to the first question will be found in the answer to the second. Second-team All-Big Ten quarterback Kellen Lewis is back on the field for the Hoosiers, but missed the entire spring season due to a team violation. Last year Lewis threw for 3,043 yards and ran for a team-best 736 while racking up 37 total touchdowns. He is a versatile QB that reminds the Hoosier faithful of former All-American Antwaan Randle El. But Lynch and Co. proceeded without missing a beat last spring with Bloomington native and pocket passer Ben Chappell, who entered fall practice as "QB1." Both offer different styles, but both will be called upon to run the same new system. Senior Marcus Thigpen returns to the backfield after rushing for 568 yards last year, but one of the fastest speedsters in the conference failed to reach the end zone. Look for Bryan Payton, Demetrius McCray and highly-recruited freshman Darius Willis to challenge Thigpen for the spot. At wide receiver, juniors Ray Fisher and Andrew Means will step into the top role as playmakers this season, but at 5-9 and 6-0, respectively, the two are far from Hardy's 6-7 frame, which the Hoosiers used to their advantage last year. IU does find size in 6-3 sophomore wideout Terrance Turner. On the line is Hoeppner's recruited "Seven Blocks of Limestone," led by returning starters Rodger Saffold (LT) and Pete Saxon (LG). How will the new O-line starters perform? Yet another Hoosier question to be answered in the coming weeks.

BIG TEN TONIGHT in Bloomington Chatting with Lynch (7:01) | Hoosiers Scrimmage (15:18)

DEFENSE: The Hoosier defense is poised for improvement in 2008 and will be led by seven returning starters. Yes, IU will need to replace All-Big Ten first-teamer and NFL second-round draft pick Tracy Porter at cornerback, but strong safety Austin Thomas and his team-leading 112 stops from a year ago return. So does defensive end Greg Middleton, who led the nation with 16 sacks last year. Middleton also boasted 17 tackles for loss and has added both strength and speed over the summer to his already dominating ability. Most teams began double-teaming Middleton toward the end of the year and that is expected to be the case this year. Returning starters Jammie Kirlew (LE) and Greg Brown (RT) will need to help out Middleton on the line, while Will Patterson (104 tackles in 2007) and Geno Johnson are veteran linebackers. Thomas will be joined in the secondary once again by junior free safety Nick Polk. Christopher Phillips, who replaces Porter on the corner, picked off three passes last year and has quality game experience. The other corner will most likely be played by redshirt freshman Donnell Jones. As important as it is for the Hoosiers to strengthen their offensive rushing attack, it will be vital this year for the team to defend against the run. IU was 10th in the conference last year, allowing 200.2 rushing yards per game.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Despite losing All-Big Ten selections and NFL Draft picks Hardy and Porter, the Hoosier hero returns. Senior kicker Austin Starr gave Indiana fans quite the memory in the 2007 regular season finale with a game-winning 49-yard field goal to beat rival Purdue for the Old Oaken Bucket. But Starr was not just lauded for that one kick. His 91.7 percent accuracy on his 12 field goals last year earned him first-team All-Conference honors by the league media and second-team All-America accolades. While kickoff and field goal duties are no-brainers this year, Indiana finds itself with another question mark to answer in its punting game. Gone is Michael Hines, who ranked 10th in the conference last year but managed to find consistency late in the season. Redshirt freshman Chris Hagerup struggled to find that same consistency last year in practice, but has won the job this fall and does have an impressive resume. As a high school senior he was ranked by Scout.com as the seventh-best punter in the nation. Thigpen returns to kickoff return duties after ranking eight last season with 22.9 yards per return. He also scored on three kickoff returns in 2006. Wideout Fisher will handle punts.

MISCELLANEOUS: Indiana's bye will come in Week 3 this year on Sept. 13, which splits the team's four-game homestand to start the year. * Sophomore Mitchell Evans competed at safety last season, but has been working out with the quarterbacks and many feel will now be a threat at slot receiver when the season begins. Sophomore safety and Indianapolis native Jerimy Finch is still awaiting to hear his immediate eligibility request from the NCAA. Finch, who was the top rated safety in the nation by Rivals.com, enrolled at Florida and collected seven total tackles and an interception before breaking his leg against Tennessee in the fourth game of last year. Finch transferred to Indiana for family reasons and the Hoosiers are hoping to hear soon whether his request to play this year will be granted or he will be forced to sit out a year per NCAA transfer rules. * Last season marked the Hoosiers' first bowl appearance since 1993.