CASE OF THE DROPS
IU's wide receivers struggled in last weekend's 35-28 loss to Southern Illinois University. The group dropped multiple passes as the sluggish IU offense struggled to maintain consistency throughout the game. \n"We didn't have a real rhythm offensively the whole game," interim head coach Bill Lynch, who is filling in for coach Terry Hoeppner while he recovers from brain surgery, said after the loss. \nIn response, the Hoosier receivers are taking steps in practice this week to make sure the same miscues don't happen as frequently this week as they did in Saturday's loss. \n"We can't make those little mistakes, those fundamental mistakes," senior receiver Jahkeen Gilmore said after practice Tuesday. "We're working on those right now, cleaning up our routes and stuff like that." \nAfter practice ended Tuesday evening, wide receivers coach Billy Lynch remained behind with his group of players to work on various catching drills. Included was one that put the player behind the goal post, so they could use only their hands to catch the ball.
RUNNING HUSKIES
On the other side of the ball, the defense struggled against the run in the loss to SIU. The Salukis rushed for 244 yards on 50 carries over the weekend, averaging 4.9 yards per attempt on the IU defense. \nIU will face a University of Connecticut team this weekend that is fourth in the nation in rushing, averaging 280 yards rushing per game and 5.6 yards per attempt. \nThe defense is trying to shore up the mistakes it made last week when it faces Connecticut and its potent rushing attack this weekend. \n"(We're) working on the things that we messed up last Saturday," junior linebacker Adam McClurg said after practice Tuesday. "We haven't had problems tackling, and last week we did ... this week in practice I think we'll get it corrected."
VERSATILE THIGPEN
The offensive bright spot for the Hoosiers against SIU was sophomore running back Marcus Thigpen, who ran for 32 yards and two touchdowns on seven attempts and caught four passes for 36 yards. \nThigpen, a converted wide receiver, is the first player since Duane Gunn in 1981 to score touchdowns rushing, receiving and on a kick return in a single season. \n"Wherever they need me, I'll play to the best of my ability," Thigpen said after practice Tuesday. "It was a shock to me to still be catching passes and all that, but I kind of expected it because we're a passing offense, and I still have the ability to catch passes." \nThigpen's kickoff return for a touchdown was a 100-yard return Sept. 9 against Ball State. It was only the third 100-yard return in IU football history and was the first kickoff return for a touchdown since then-sophomore return specialist Lance Bennett notched a 98-yard touchdown return in 2004 against Oregon. It was the second kickoff return of Thigpen's collegiate career.
