New playbook not enough
The ‘Hounds are on track to have another losing season after a 1-5 start. Despite instating a new offensive formation, head coach Joe Polizzi and his team are tied for last in the GLIAC standings.
Micah McVicker | Staff Writer
Head coach Joe Polizzi changed the offensive formation in the spring, bringing a Pistol formation to the University of Indianapolis football team, abandoning a Pro I set in which a fullback and running back line up next to the quarterback.
According to Rivals.com, Nevada Wolf Pack head coach Chris Ault made popular the Pistol Offense when he switched from the I-formation, a formation in which the quarterback and running back form a straight line behind the center, in 2005. The Pistol formation features the quarterback in the shotgun, four yards behind the center, with the running back directly behind him. This type of offense allows the best of two worlds: employing the I-formation and the spread.
Thus far, the switch to the pistol has not benefitted the ‘Hounds. The Indianapolis offense has struggled, especially in conference play, tallying only 46 points. According to GLIAC.org, the ‘Hounds are 10th in the conference in scoring offense at 15.4 per game, ahead of only Ferris State (14.8 points per game) and Tiffin (9.8 points per game). Drives ending in field goals have exacerbated the ‘Hounds scoring issues. The team is currently ranked 11th of 12 in scoring, totaling merely nine touchdowns in five games.
Also contributing significantly to UIndy’s scoring issues is the inability to sustain drives, as the ‘Hounds rank last in the conference in first downs, with 13.2 per game. On the ground, the ‘Hounds average 2.4 yards per attempt, which good for last in the conference. The ‘Hounds are also last in rushing attempts, at 131, and yards per game, at 63.2. The result: Indianapolis and Tiffin are the only two teams in the GLIAC averaging less than 100 yards rushing per contest.
Despite the statistics, Polizzi advocated the switch in offensive scheme formation.
“We felt that the Pistol was an excellent way to utilize our speed and athletes. Also, [we are looking to] accomplish the ability to run the football and the play action pass,” he said. “This allows us to keep the throwing benefits both vertically and in the short game of the shotgun formation,” he said.
Although the Greyhound philosophy on the offensive side of the football has changed, the same cannot be said of who executes that playbook on Saturday. Struggles aren’t due to a lack of effort, according to quarterback Paul Corsaro.
“We’ve got a lot of good guys on the team. It’s about all 11[players]. There’s competition at every position,” Corsaro said. “Everybody goes out every day and works as hard as they can to make the team better and then the coaches decide who’s going to play.”
UIndy traveled to Oct. 2 to Northwood University to face the Timberwolves. The ‘Hounds lost 17-12, despite leading the game at halftime. Senior Stephen Geller and sophomore Joe Leach each had touchdowns for UIndy.
The ‘Hounds fell to No. 19 Saginaw Valley State with a score of 34-13 on Sept. 26 at Key Stadium. Seniors Geller and Cole Willis each scored on behalf of the ‘Hounds to put the team up by four going into the half. SVSU went on to outscore UIndy in the second half 17-0.
UIndy will finish out three of its remaining five games on the road.
