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Our problems run at every level of our defense, including coaching. But we're thin both on the line and in the secondary.
Last week's game was a little bit of a mirage for Indiana I think. If Robinson doesn't fumble on the goal line early I think it's probably a blowout (would have been 21-7 at that point). But because he did, the game stayed within a TD the whole time, with Indiana always chasing and tying, and then Michigan scoring in a couple of plays.
I think Indiana's got a pretty decent QB in Chappell. His stats against Michigan were nuts, but silly as it may sound to say it, part of that was Michigan scoring so fast. I've never seen so many 50+ yard scores in one game in my life. Kid ended up with 64 pass attempts, and Indiana as a whole ran something like 95 plays. It was one of the most ridiculous games I've ever seen (well, I didn't actually get to see it, I was working...), Indiana had the ball for more than 40 minutes, had more than double the first downs and ran more than double the plays and Michigan still outgained them. But either way. Chappell looked good. Part of that is Michigan's D, as I understand it he was hardly touched the entire game, but looking at his stats, they line up with his play for the year. He's got a 12-1 TD/INT ratio for the season so far (3-1 Saturday) and completing around 70% of his passes. Now, do I think he'll do that against Ohio State? No. But I wouldn't be entirely surprised if he completed some passes. He certainly sounds like a better QB than the one I saw struggle in Ann Arbor in 2009.
I think the outcome of that game will be more of an issue of how Indiana's defense does against the Buckeye offense. If it's anything like it was last week against Michigan, it should be a blowout.
As far as Illinois goes, I didn't think they were any good going into the season, and nothing I've seen so far has changed my mind. Opening week Missouri basically handled them, despite not playing very well in the first half, and they had trouble with Northern Illinois the week before last. That's not a good team. I couldn't believe they were even in the game with you guys, much less close late. Scheelhaase is a Kansas City kid, by the way.
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