-- Analysis by Graham Couch
Kalamazoo Gazette
1. WMU's running game. It's all but impossible to evaluate the Broncos' rushing attack one game into the season. West Virginia consistently brought an extra defender into the box and the score forced WMU to abandon the run in the second half. Still, the lackluster numbers -- 46 yards on 22 carries by Broncos running backs -- are noticeable, if not a bit alarming. Indiana is not West Virginia, but it's not Buffalo, either. WMU will have to establish a run game to win. It'll be a point of emphasis, and a big run -- or series of chain-movers -- early from Brandon West, Glenis Thompson or Mark Bonds (two carries last week) would go a long way toward putting the Indiana defense on its heels.
2. Keeping Kellen Lewis in check. For the second straight week, WMU faces a dual-threat quarterback. The Hoosiers' sophomore may not have the reputation of West Virginia's Pat White -- who carved up the Broncos for 192 yards passing, 97 yards rushing and three touchdowns (two passing) -- but he appears to have the skill set (And, remember, before last season White wasn't even the starter, so stardom can happen fast). In the 2006 opener, WMU primarily faced Hoosiers quarterback Blake Powers (now a tight end) in its 39-20 loss and didn't get a glimpse of Lewis, who's been compared to former IU great Antwaan Randle El. Randle El could single-handedly beat much better teams. WMU isn't a much better team than Indiana, so if the comparisons are accurate, Lewis could be trouble.
3. Battle of the receivers. Talk about a couple of college football giants -- at least for their position. Indiana junior James Hardy stands 6-foot-7, 220 pounds. The Broncos' Jamarko Simmons, also a junior, is 6-2, 234. These aren't a pair of stiffs here, either (think Wilt Chamberlain vs. Bill Russell, not Eric Montross vs. Chuck Nevitt). Simmons has 27 catches for 316 yards and three touchdowns in his last two games. Hardy caught 112 passes for more than 1,600 yards in his freshman and sophomore seasons, and made three grabs for 153 yards and two scores in Indiana's opener against Indiana State. At this point, it's almost a certainty Hardy will be a force in every game. Simmons appears to be on a similar -- perhaps even more spectacular -- path. We'll see if he can keep it up.
4. WMU's kicking game. Field goals, kickoffs -- the Broncos' Mike Jones makes both a little too exciting. Jones two missed extra points (on one touchdown) against West Virginia. He later made a 34-yard field goal, but nothing is certain when Jones lines up for an attempt. If his first couple of kickoffs don't reach the 10-yard line, look for walk-on Chris Kelly to take over the duties there. Broncos coach Bill Cubit is already sick of his defense defending a short field.
5. The atmosphere. It's unlikely to be a record-breaking crowd tonight at Waldo Stadium (36,362 would be needed for that), but the count could top 30,000, which, at night, would make for a raucous setting. There have been a few good crowds over the last couple years, but nothing approaching what the athletic department says could be on hand this evening.
Prediction
It's difficult to tell how dangerous Indiana is, if at all, after its win last week against an awful Indiana State program, but here's one man's educated guess the Hoosiers are much improved. So, too, are the Broncos, who were every bit the Hoosiers' equal last year physically. This time, WMU has the home edge. On a wild night, that's the difference.
Make it: WMU 34, Indiana 31.
Kalamazoo Gazette
1. WMU's running game. It's all but impossible to evaluate the Broncos' rushing attack one game into the season. West Virginia consistently brought an extra defender into the box and the score forced WMU to abandon the run in the second half. Still, the lackluster numbers -- 46 yards on 22 carries by Broncos running backs -- are noticeable, if not a bit alarming. Indiana is not West Virginia, but it's not Buffalo, either. WMU will have to establish a run game to win. It'll be a point of emphasis, and a big run -- or series of chain-movers -- early from Brandon West, Glenis Thompson or Mark Bonds (two carries last week) would go a long way toward putting the Indiana defense on its heels.
2. Keeping Kellen Lewis in check. For the second straight week, WMU faces a dual-threat quarterback. The Hoosiers' sophomore may not have the reputation of West Virginia's Pat White -- who carved up the Broncos for 192 yards passing, 97 yards rushing and three touchdowns (two passing) -- but he appears to have the skill set (And, remember, before last season White wasn't even the starter, so stardom can happen fast). In the 2006 opener, WMU primarily faced Hoosiers quarterback Blake Powers (now a tight end) in its 39-20 loss and didn't get a glimpse of Lewis, who's been compared to former IU great Antwaan Randle El. Randle El could single-handedly beat much better teams. WMU isn't a much better team than Indiana, so if the comparisons are accurate, Lewis could be trouble.
3. Battle of the receivers. Talk about a couple of college football giants -- at least for their position. Indiana junior James Hardy stands 6-foot-7, 220 pounds. The Broncos' Jamarko Simmons, also a junior, is 6-2, 234. These aren't a pair of stiffs here, either (think Wilt Chamberlain vs. Bill Russell, not Eric Montross vs. Chuck Nevitt). Simmons has 27 catches for 316 yards and three touchdowns in his last two games. Hardy caught 112 passes for more than 1,600 yards in his freshman and sophomore seasons, and made three grabs for 153 yards and two scores in Indiana's opener against Indiana State. At this point, it's almost a certainty Hardy will be a force in every game. Simmons appears to be on a similar -- perhaps even more spectacular -- path. We'll see if he can keep it up.
4. WMU's kicking game. Field goals, kickoffs -- the Broncos' Mike Jones makes both a little too exciting. Jones two missed extra points (on one touchdown) against West Virginia. He later made a 34-yard field goal, but nothing is certain when Jones lines up for an attempt. If his first couple of kickoffs don't reach the 10-yard line, look for walk-on Chris Kelly to take over the duties there. Broncos coach Bill Cubit is already sick of his defense defending a short field.
5. The atmosphere. It's unlikely to be a record-breaking crowd tonight at Waldo Stadium (36,362 would be needed for that), but the count could top 30,000, which, at night, would make for a raucous setting. There have been a few good crowds over the last couple years, but nothing approaching what the athletic department says could be on hand this evening.
Prediction
It's difficult to tell how dangerous Indiana is, if at all, after its win last week against an awful Indiana State program, but here's one man's educated guess the Hoosiers are much improved. So, too, are the Broncos, who were every bit the Hoosiers' equal last year physically. This time, WMU has the home edge. On a wild night, that's the difference.
Make it: WMU 34, Indiana 31.
