Thought Experiment: How I’d Gameplan for the Hoosiers’ Defense

We’ve written ad nauseam about Indiana’s defense this season. So let’s flip the script. Let’s do a little exercise: how should the Hurricanes attack the Hoosiers? Or maybe more honestly, how I would try to attack them.

Look, this IU defense has played at an elite level. They’re stingy with explosive plays and tackle better than just about anybody. But even the best defenses have stress points. And I’ve seen a few things on tape that I’d be willing to test.

Disclaimer: I’m just a dipshit ex-football coach, so take all this with a grain of salt.

Run Gap Schemes!

Both of these defenses have shown some vulnerability to gap scheme runs, as we covered in our article about Ohio State abandoning the run. When the front seven plays aggressive and fast, gap schemes can help you use that speed against them. Pullers create extra gaps and force defenders to fit in space, which is where mistakes can happen. It’s a way to create clean run lanes without needing to move people off the ball every snap.

Here, Oregon runs QB G/T Counter with a bash action. The bash holds the defensive end and the interior linebacker just long enough to give Oregon five blockers for five fitters. That’s a win. They get hats on hats, and it leads to a solid gain. Now, I know Carson Beck probably isn’t running QB Counter anytime soon, but that’s not the point. The point is using gap schemes to get the numbers in your favor.

Oregon runs G/T Counter to the nub tight end. They don’t block it up perfectly, but the back finds a crease and turns it into a nice gain. Once again, they read it backside, which slows down the backside end just enough. This is something Beck could do, even if you’re not asking him to be a true dual-threat guy.

Here’s the big chunk play. You might not call it a true gap scheme, but it’s built off one. Oregon uses the structure of their gap run to get speed to the edge, and it’s well designed. It hits for a huge gain. That should be Miami’s goal: get your dudes in space. That’s exactly what the Ducks did here.

Beaters

Indiana runs some Cover 3, but you’re mostly going to see Cover 2 and its variations. So have your beaters ready. Oregon dialed up several and connected on a few. When you know what you’re getting on the back end, you’ve got to take advantage.

The Hoosiers lean heavily on a version of Cover 2 I call “2 Steal.” One safety drops into the hole as the pole runner, think Tampa 2, while the other safety and the backside corner take the deep halves. Oregon attacks the side where the corner is rotating deep. Since he has to come from outside leverage, the Ducks hit him with a “Nod” concept. It’s a perfect beater and ends in six points.

We used to call this a “Drive” concept. You get vertical routes with a slant underneath. The verts pull the hook defenders deep, and the slant hits fast underneath with space, usually with a flat defender chasing. Just imagine Toney catching the ball at full speed in that kind of space. Yeah, I know that’s a theme here, but if you had that guy, you’d feed him too.

Slot fade is your Cover 3 beater. Miami runs it, hell, everyone runs it. The Canes will probably take a few shots on it throughout the night. Oregon doesn’t run it clean here. The release is rough, but there’s still a window for a big throw.

Screen Game

The screen game hasn’t worked for everyone against Indiana, but not everyone has Malachi Toney. While the old-school running back slow screens can still hit, we already know getting Toney the ball on the edge is a problem for defenses. That’s a matchup Miami should lean into.

Here are two slow screens to the running back that go for big gains by the Ducks. I’d assume the Canes will have one or two of these in their back pocket. Maybe even sneak Toney into the backfield and toss one his way.

I think these are pretty self explanatory. Toney in space on the edge with a couple blockers will turn into big plays.

Boot Game

One thing I’ve noticed with both Ohio State and Oregon is how effective the boot game was against Indiana. They threw it with ease, capitalizing on the overreaction from an ultra aggressive front seven.

Here, the Hoosiers bite hard on split zone. That reaction lets the kick block sell it, then slip into the flat wide open. This is just one example, but the Ducks had two or three more easy completions off boot action.

Take What the Defense Gives You

Indiana is a stout defense, but they’ll bait you into bad decisions with all their different coverage rotations. It’s important for quarterbacks to stay patient and take what’s there. Here’s a good example of checking it down and getting a big reward for it.

Final Thoughts

Indiana’s defense is fast, disciplined, and well coached. They make you earn everything. But no defense is perfect, and there are clear ways to stress what they do. Whether it’s attacking with gap schemes, hitting beaters against their favorite coverages, or just getting your best player the ball in space, there is a blueprint here. Miami does not need to reinvent the wheel. They just need to execute, stay patient, and pick their spots. And if all else fails, give it to Toney and let him go make a play.