Indiana’s defense was the headline unit in their 31-7 week one win over Florida International.
The Hoosiers allowed just 182 total yards and posted eight tackles for loss and four sacks.
According to PFF, here’s how Indiana’s week one effort graded out compared to all 134 FBS teams:
- Overall Defense: 25th
- Run Defense: 20th
- Tackling: 23rd
- Pass Rush: 49th
- Coverage: 32nd
Here’s an overview of the week one snaps counts and PFF standouts on the defense. For the week one offensive results, GO HERE.
SAFETY
There was some uncertainty regarding who would see the majority of the snaps at safety, but in the end not a great deal of surprise as Shawn Asbury, Josh Sanguinetti and Amare Ferrell filled the three roles include rover. They played 59, 54, and 57 of the 62 defensive snaps, respectively.
Sanguinetti and Ferrell tied for the second-best run defense grades on the team, and Sanguinetti also had the best pass coverage grade on the team, giving the sixth-year redshirt senior the overall best defensive marks of any defensive back.
Cedarius Doss saw seven snaps at rover, and Nic Toomer and Bryson Bonds appear to be the second-stringers for the traditional safety roles. They each played just three snaps.
CORNERBACK
At cornerback, D’Angelo Ponds and Jamier Johnson were the expected starters and that went according to plan. They both 55 of 62 defensive snaps and posted solid grades, with Ponds especially good against the run. Jamari Sharpe, a starter for much of last season, was the only other corner to see the field.
INSIDE LINEBACKER
The linebacker roles were widely expected to be filled by JMU transfers Aiden Fisher and Jailin Walker, and that went largely according to plan. They led the way with 55 and 43 snaps, respectively. As defensive coordinator Bryant Haines hinted during fall camp, Isaiah Jones was next in line with 23 snaps. Terry Jones, Rolijah Hardy, Jeff Utzinger and Nahji Logan all saw the field at linebacker in limited roles.
PFF gave the best tackling grade on the entire team to Walker, and solid marks to Fisher in run defense. Among linebackers who played 40 snaps or more in week one, Walker ranked No. 14 in the nation for his tackling grade.
DEFENSIVE END/EDGE
A number of players saw snaps on the edge, led by JMU transfer Mikail Kamara with 49 snaps, while Lanell Carr (31), Andrew Turvy (16), Venson Sneed (11) and Jacob Mangum-Farrar (11) all saw the field as well. No one from that group earned exceptional grades, although Turvy was solid and the walk-on was the clear surprise player along the defensive line from a snaps perspective.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Along the interior of the defensive line, James Carpenter and Marcus Burris led the way with 39 and 36 snaps, respectively and both graded out respectably.
But it was the next duo in snaps — C.J. West and Tyrique Tucker, who posted some of the best overall defensive grades on the team and fared especially well in run defense.
Mario Landino, Robby Harrison and J’Mari Monette all saw a few snaps on the defensive line too.
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