NOTEBOOK: Power or Pass, IU Has It Covered
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Curt Cignetti is never going to go old school with the three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust run offense.
The veteran coach has done that, won with that, but that was a different college football era.
But if Cignetti needs to do it at Indiana, say when things got tense during last Saturday’s third quarter against Washington, or if things get tense this Saturday when the No. 13 Hoosiers (8-0 overall, 5-0 in the Big Ten) play at Michigan State (4-4, 2-3), brace yourself.
“In my earlier days as a head coach,” he said on Monday, “I had one team, I think we had a 1,400-yard rusher, a 1,300-yard rusher, an 800-yard rusher, and a 600-yard rusher. There were times we’d win games and throw the ball eight to 10 times. That was a long time ago.”
Cignetti paused for a smile. He does, after all, have the Big Ten’s most potent offense at 46.8 points with its second-best passing attack at 287.0 yards.
“We don't do that anymore.”
The Hoosiers did wear Washington down with a heavy second-half rushing load anchored by a veteran offensive line and running back Justice Ellison.
“We hit the ground in the second half,” Cignetti said. “We had some key third-down conversions running the football. Ellison did a great job running. The line did a nice job. Tight ends, receivers with their down-field blocking.
“We pulled a ball or two at quarterback. That was good to see. We probably broke some tendencies on third down. Maybe got one or two looks on third down where they were expecting us to pass, and we ran. The backs really broke tackles and fell forward.
“It's a group effort. It's not just the line. It's the backs, the tight ends, the receivers, and the quarterback gets involved when he pulls the ball.”
IU also leads the Big Ten in rushing defense (allowing 86.1 yards) and margin of victory (32.4 points). It’s second in scoring defense, allowing 14.1 points to Ohio State’s 11.9. The Hoosiers are the only team in FBS to not allow a first-quarter point this season. They haven’t trailed all season.
“We're executing well to start the game,” Cignetti said about the fast starts. “We’ve got a lot of experienced, confident players. They're making plays early, so in the fourth quarter, we've been strong. Our strength and conditioning program has to play a role in that.
“It looked like we had the potential to fall behind in the first quarter (against Washington). (Cornerback) D’Angelo Ponds comes up with the big interception, runs it back for a touchdown.
“That day's coming. It doesn't last forever.”
Cignetti has tied James M. Sheldon for most Hoosier head coaching wins in a debut season with eight. Sheldon was 8-1-1 in 1905.
The Hoosiers’ eight-game winning streak ties the program record done in 1945 and ’67. The ’45 team finished 9-0-1. The ’67 team was 9-2.
Kicker Nicolas Radicic is 51-for-51 on extra points this season with four regular-season games left. Only Griffin Oakes (53 in 2015) and Mitch Ewald (56 in 2013) have more in a season.
Michigan State is coming off a 24-17 loss at rival Michigan. The Spartans have also lost at No. 1 Oregon 31-10, to No 4 Ohio State 38-7, and at Boston College 23-19. Its victories include a 32-20 win over Iowa and a 27-24 victory at Maryland.
Michigan State used six ball carriers to outrush Michigan, 163-119.
Running back Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams has a team-leading 459 rushing yards. Nate Carter has 412, including 118 against Michigan.
Quarterback Aidan Chiles completes 61.0 percent of his passes for 1,657 yards, seven touchdowns, and nine interceptions.
Four Spartans have caught at least 13 passes, led by Montorie Foster Jr.’s 31 for 418 yards and two touchdowns, and Nick Marsh’s 28 for 475 and two TDs.
Defensively, the Spartans have had at least three tackles for loss in three-straight games. Linebacker Jordan Turner has 7.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. Defensive back Charles Brantley has three interceptions, including one for a touchdown. Michigan State has eight interceptions overall.
Field goal kicker Jonathan Kim has made 16-of-18 attempts.
“They’re a very good team,” Cignetti said. “Very talented offensively in the skilled areas. They’ve got a very athletic quarterback. He can run it, throw it.
“They have a nice receiving crew. The tight ends, running backs are good.
“I like what they do on offense. They run the ball at you outside zone, can go downhill, good play-action game, out-of-pocket, some gizmos.
“Defensively, they are very aggressive. They’re a physical team. They have a good punter, a good kicker. They’ve played a tough schedule. It will be a big challenge.”
Ponds earned his first Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors after his two-interception effort against Washington. That included returning one 67-yards for his first pick-6. It was IU’s longest defensive touchdown since Jameel Cook Jr. had a 96-yard interception return against Florida International in 2015.
Pro Football Focus graded Ponds as the highest-graded defensive back among Power 4 conference teams for the week.
The transfer from James Madison did it while being matched up with Denzel Boston and Giles Jackson, two of the Big Ten’s best receivers.
“Those are the guys I want to go against,” Ponds said. “That’s the reason why I came to the Big Ten to play against the top competition. If I can do that, I can go to the next level.”
Discipline and ball security are big parts of IU’s success. It has six turnovers (four interceptions, two fumbles) and has forced 14 (nine interceptions five fumbles). It averages five penalties and 47 penalty yards per game. It’s not the best in the Big Ten (Iowa leads by averaging 2.8 and 28.8), but it’s a strong indicator of how much Cignetti and his staff emphasize it.
“You get what you demand,” he said. “We run a pretty structured, organized, disciplined program. We've got a lot of character on this team. We've had some success, so they're listening pretty well.
“We've always been really good in the turnover ratio. The last four or five years have been really low on penalties.
“Again, there are things we emphasize. It's all part of being successful. The guys buy into it. They have to buy into it. We spend a lot of time talking about it, working on it. It's as fundamental as lining up right, protecting the football.
“We want to be fast, physical, relentless, but also smart, disciplined, and poised. We’re always eliminating the pre-snap penalties, being smart with your hands. Good hand placement on offense when you're blocking. Blocking in front in the return game. Special teams. Pulling off the quarterback when it's time to pull off.”
IU’s share-the-load running attack ranks second in the Big Ten with 1,605 rushing yards, and first with 30 rushing touchdowns. Iowa leads with 1,672 rushing yards.
Ellison ranks seventh with 637 yards. He has nine rushing touchdowns. Ty Son Lawton ranks 16th with 434 yards. He has eight rushing touchdowns.
Center Mike Katic is a big fan.
“I love our backs,” he said. “We have such a talented room. We make the lanes, but they make the plays. They never get tackled on the first hit. It’s because of how hard they run and how well they’re coached.”
Ellison said it starts by having the right approach.
“You don’t get too high or too low. Stay in the middle and keep playing ball.
“Coach says play with emotion, but don’t get emotional. I play with emotion. I give everything I have to this program. I put in extra hours when no one is looking. Other guys do the same thing. We play for each other. If you do that, you’re able to make big plays.”