Each week, Hoosier State of Mind will grade the Hoosiers on their performance as it relates to the “Keys to Victory” outlined prior to the game in the weekly game preview.

1. Take Away the Big Play

Maryland scored four touchdowns from the following distances: five, 29, 36 and 30. They couldn’t seem to get the Terrapins off the field and the results speak for themselves. Not. Good.

Grade: D

2. Shut Brown Down

Maryland QB C.J. Brown didn’t play the whole game as he left in a second quarter with a wrist injury, but while he was on the field, he diced up the Hoosiers. He had 29 yards on the ground and a rushing touchdown to go along with 163 through the air (10-of-15) and a passing TD. IU couldn’t figure out the option while Brown was in charge and gave him too much time to throw. Brown was ready for the IU defense, while the Hoosiers regressed from their performance a week prior.

Grade: D

3. Special Teams

In IU’s previous three games, this phase of the game had been an issue, but on Saturday the Hoosiers specialists were firing on all cylinders. New placekicker Griffin Oakes made a huge splash going 3-of-4, connecting from 38, 48 and a ridiculous 58 yards. His only miss was from a respectable 54 yards away. Finally, all three of his kickoffs were touchbacks.

Punter Erich Toth looked like what we expected him to, averaging 45.5 yards per punt (four attempts). His long was a 50-yarder and he placed one inside the 20. An overall great effort from the junior.

The only glaring mistake made by the Hoosiers was the first quarter block in the back which nullified Shane Wynn’s punt return touchdown. The penalty totally changed the complexion of the game. The Hoosiers would have been up 7-3 with all the momentum. In my opinion, a block in the back on a punt return is the most frustrating, silly penalty you can commit. The more I think about it the madder I get, and in the spirit of not wanting a broken laptop I have to stop writing about it.

Grade: B+

4. Motivation…go. go. go. go.

After all the talk about how the program had finally turned the corner, IU is basically right back to where it started. The Hoosiers are .500 and still face an uphill challenge to make a bowl game. Saturday was a pretty depressing outcome. After energizing the fan base and looking like the season was going to be different, I fear this season could be just like the past couple. Here’s to getting back on track against North Texas.

Grade: F