NOTEBOOK: Cignetti Prepares for Moments Present and Future
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - How do you explain Indiana’s record-setting 9-0 start?
It’s easy to start with the stats, such as having the Big Ten’s best offense (46.6 points a game) and second stingiest defense (13.7 points allowed).
But a deeper diver offers something more subtle and, perhaps, more substantive -- consider game management and sideline game positioning.
Curt Cignetti, you see, leaves nothing to chance, which is what you’d expect from a head coach who has never had a losing record.
During games, Cignetti doesn’t just wander the sidelines by whim. He said that he positions himself to not only see what’s happening at the moment, but on the moments to come -- offense, defense, special teams.
That could give the Hoosiers (9-0 overall, 6-0 in the Big Ten) another edge when they host Michigan (5-4, 3-3) on Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium.
“I like to stay on top of what's going on in the game, see what's going on in coverage defensively and also game situations,” Cignetti said. “I want to always be thinking a play or two ahead.
“If it's third down and our defense is on the field, I’m on the phone with (special teams coordinator) Grant Cain, ‘Grant, what are you thinking, are we going to return this (punt) or go for the block? I think we ought to go for the return here.’ Those kind of things.
“Then, I'm on with the offense. Then, I flip over with the defense, just to hear what's going on. I'm trying to manage the game, be on top of the game, and stay out of the way, too, (of his coaches). I've learned through the years that game management is a critical component of being successful, whether to go for it on fourth down, whether it’s a two-minute situation, when to call the timeouts. If it’s two minutes before the half, whether to push it down the field or not.
“To do the best job I can, that's where I feel like I'm the best, being a little bit removed, and let the coaches coach.”
Early in Saturday’s win at Michigan State, when the Hoosiers fell behind 10-0, the first time all season they had trailed, Cignetti took a more hands-on approach by meeting with the offense.
“I told them, ‘Look, there’s a lot of game left here, one play at a time, okay, nobody has to do anything special. That's the way I operate.”
The operation worked. IU scored the game’s final 47 points.
IU and Iowa lead the Big Ten in forcing turnovers. They each have 19.
In the last three games, the Hoosiers have forced nine turnovers while committing two. Against Michigan State, they intercepted two passes (both by defensive back Amare Ferrell), blocked two punts (by cornerback D’Angelo Ponds and defensive lineman Daniel Ndukwe), and pressured the Spartans into another muffed punt.
“We're normally pretty high in that turnover ratio,” Cignetti said. “We're doing a good job of protecting the ball on offense, which is where it all starts. Quarterbacks are making good decisions in the pass game, and the ball carriers and receivers are tucking it away nicely. On defense we're swarming the football.
“Our pass coverage has been tight. The first interception (against Michigan State, linebacker Aiden Fisher) was really good in underneath coverage, deflected the pass and Ferrell made the interception. On the second interception, Ferrell made a nice break on the ball and made a nice catch for the interception.
“When you fly around, good things happen on defense. And we're flying around, and a lot of good things are happening -- tackles for loss, sacks, and takeaways.”
IU has been effective the last couple of weeks in wearing out teams down the stretch, especially with its run game, despite unprecedented national attention.
The Hoosiers rank second in the Big Ten by averaging 191.0 rushing yards per game. Only Iowa, at 222.3, averages more.
“That’s what we preach,” Cignetti said. “It’s never being satisfied. They've responded. They've been able to compartmentalize and have an edge, a good competitive edge going into the game; and regardless of what the score is, the standard is the standard. We're doing a pretty good job of that first play to last play.”
The first official College Football Playoff rankings come out on Tuesday. With top-10 rankings in both major polls, IU figures to be in the 12-team mix.
In other words, the Hoosiers have positioned themselves for a possible national title run.
Cignetti’s approach remains as it always has -- focus on the immediate task, which this week is beating Michigan.
“The only thing that really matters is you get the result when you play,” he said, “and to do that you've got to keep the main thing the main thing and eliminate the noise and the clutter and stay focused on what's going to help you play your best on Saturday to give you the best chance to get the result.”
The top four teams in the final playoff rankings, which will come out on Dec. 8, get first-round byes. The remaining eight teams will play either Dec. 20 or 21 at the higher seed’s home stadium.
The Hoosiers aren’t focused on that.
“We've got to have a great meeting, a great walk-through and stack days, moments, hours, to put ourselves in a position to do that and not get sidetracked by all the other stuff,” Cignetti said.
“Every week presents its own new set of circumstances. There's a lot of that going on this week. I'm aware of it. But to get kind of caught up on that and lose your focus would be the kiss of death.”
Michigan has had significant coaching and roster turnover since last season’s national championship. That includes new head coach Sherrone Moore and new defensive coordinator Don Martindale, who previously was the defensive coordinator for the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens and New York Giants.
Michigan has lost to a pair of then No. 1-ranked teams -- Texas and Oregon. In the last four games, it has also lost to Illinois and Washington, and beaten Michigan State.
Michigan averages 21.0 points and allows 23.3. Wolverine quarterbacks have thrown for 10 touchdowns, 1,209 yards, and nine interceptions. Quarterback Davis Warren has taken over the starting job. He completes 64.9 percent of his passes for five touchdowns and six interceptions.
Michigan runs for 165.1 yards per game behind tailbacks Kalel Mullings (710 yards, seven touchdowns) and Donovan Edwards (467, three).
Colston Loveland is the top receiver with 49 catches for 523 yards and four touchdowns. Semaj Morgan has 21 catches for 126 yards and a touchdown. No other receiver has caught more than 12 passes.
“They have a lot of good players, a really stout defense, really good special teams,” Cignetti said. “They run well. They have a good tight end, good running backs. The offensive line functions well. They have settled in on a quarterback. He can spin it. And the receivers are more than capable. So, we'll have to have a great week of preparation and play our best to have a shot.”
Michigan’s blitz packages have produced 21 sacks and 53 tackles for loss. By comparison, IU leads the Big Ten with 31 and 69.
The Hoosiers will be prepared, Cignetti said.
“At this point in the season, you've seen most of what you're going to see. They do present a lot of looks, and they do a great job. (Martindale) does a great job. He's an excellent coordinator. He coordinated in the NFL a long time.
“When you put the tape on, you see a defense that's very multiple and tries to create problems for offenses. They have good players that fly around, play hard. It all starts up front with them. They're good inside and good on the edge. And they're an aggressive defense.