Indiana University Athletics
QUOTED: Spring Practice - Practice Three
3/26/2024 1:30:00 PM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana head football coach Curt Cignetti met with the media on Tuesday (March 26) to recap the third spring practice of 2024.
Below is a partial transcript of the press conference, while video of the media session can be found in the link above this story and at IUHoosiers.com/watch.
Curt Cignetti | Head Coach
Opening Statement:
CC: Ready to rock and roll?
First off, congratulate the Hoosiers women's basketball team on a big win last night. Coach [Teri] Moren making it to the Sweet 16 and wish them the best of luck Friday against South Carolina. You know, to be the best, you have to beat the best. I thought it was a great game to watch. I went and glad I did. Indiana is down seven in the second half, didn't flinch, just played their game, whittled away, took control and, when the game was on the line, they played with a lot of poise and the other team kind of made the mistakes that cost you a game. It's a real credit to coach and what she has built and their team attitude and resiliency. They're a gritty team and they were fun to watch.
Today was out first padded practice and once we went to the team periods, I thought there was good energy and competition. I think we probably took a little step forward, but when we put the tape on, we will see enough mistakes to cost you every game you are going to play. That is where we are in our first spring, day three, and we are throwing a lot at these guys.
With that, I will take questions.
On how much the practice plan moves over the first couple of weeks…
CC: Well, we hit all the situations. [Practice] One and two are pretty much the same, tomorrow we will work third-and-media, we will work all third downs the day after that, go to high red[zone] and low red[zone], two-minute drill, one-minute drill, get the ball back in the two-minute, score zone.
So, we hit all of the situations, and the rep count can change depending on the injury report, you know what I mean. So, we want to get the team through spring [healthy] so we can get the reps, so we can improve, so we can put our offense, defense and special teams [schemes] in, and guys can develop and get better. And we can assess who the players are, how best to utilize them, possibly utilize them, and what the needs are coming out of spring practice.
On tight end depth…
CC: I think it is too early to make an assessment on a lot of guys that we don't have a history with and see how they develop through spring ball. We have guys on the roster that have played and made some plays and are experienced, smart guys, and great team guys, too. We will see how the position develops.
On what he is seeing from the newcomers and transfers…
CC: I commend everybody on their effort up to this point. I think the whole team is trying really hard and a lot of guys, like you said, are getting opportunities right now, whether it is because of roster numbers or injuries, or we want to work three groups so that there are a lot of reps out there for guys.
I have watched the first two practices on tape, haven't watched [todays], and I am not disappointed in anybody, let's put it that way. Probably be unfair for me to single out one guy that has really jumped out.
On how the install process is coming along…
CC: I mean, you install in the meetings, and you take it out on the field and do a walk-through. There is a progression to it. And you do team run and 7-on-7 and blitz and team - 11-on - so, I mean, we are going to bang [pads]. It's a contact sport, right? But we do everything we can to monitor the rep count and keep guys healthy and try to emphasis practicing the correct way. There is a lot of times that a guy gets injured, if it is a non-contact injury - like to a knee or something - it is because somebody didn't quite do something right.
We have to make progress. We have a lot way to go. I did like the energy at the end of practice, and we'll get a little better every day.
Below is a partial transcript of the press conference, while video of the media session can be found in the link above this story and at IUHoosiers.com/watch.
Curt Cignetti | Head Coach
Opening Statement:
CC: Ready to rock and roll?
First off, congratulate the Hoosiers women's basketball team on a big win last night. Coach [Teri] Moren making it to the Sweet 16 and wish them the best of luck Friday against South Carolina. You know, to be the best, you have to beat the best. I thought it was a great game to watch. I went and glad I did. Indiana is down seven in the second half, didn't flinch, just played their game, whittled away, took control and, when the game was on the line, they played with a lot of poise and the other team kind of made the mistakes that cost you a game. It's a real credit to coach and what she has built and their team attitude and resiliency. They're a gritty team and they were fun to watch.
Today was out first padded practice and once we went to the team periods, I thought there was good energy and competition. I think we probably took a little step forward, but when we put the tape on, we will see enough mistakes to cost you every game you are going to play. That is where we are in our first spring, day three, and we are throwing a lot at these guys.
With that, I will take questions.
On how much the practice plan moves over the first couple of weeks…
CC: Well, we hit all the situations. [Practice] One and two are pretty much the same, tomorrow we will work third-and-media, we will work all third downs the day after that, go to high red[zone] and low red[zone], two-minute drill, one-minute drill, get the ball back in the two-minute, score zone.
So, we hit all of the situations, and the rep count can change depending on the injury report, you know what I mean. So, we want to get the team through spring [healthy] so we can get the reps, so we can improve, so we can put our offense, defense and special teams [schemes] in, and guys can develop and get better. And we can assess who the players are, how best to utilize them, possibly utilize them, and what the needs are coming out of spring practice.
On tight end depth…
CC: I think it is too early to make an assessment on a lot of guys that we don't have a history with and see how they develop through spring ball. We have guys on the roster that have played and made some plays and are experienced, smart guys, and great team guys, too. We will see how the position develops.
On what he is seeing from the newcomers and transfers…
CC: I commend everybody on their effort up to this point. I think the whole team is trying really hard and a lot of guys, like you said, are getting opportunities right now, whether it is because of roster numbers or injuries, or we want to work three groups so that there are a lot of reps out there for guys.
I have watched the first two practices on tape, haven't watched [todays], and I am not disappointed in anybody, let's put it that way. Probably be unfair for me to single out one guy that has really jumped out.
On how the install process is coming along…
CC: I mean, you install in the meetings, and you take it out on the field and do a walk-through. There is a progression to it. And you do team run and 7-on-7 and blitz and team - 11-on - so, I mean, we are going to bang [pads]. It's a contact sport, right? But we do everything we can to monitor the rep count and keep guys healthy and try to emphasis practicing the correct way. There is a lot of times that a guy gets injured, if it is a non-contact injury - like to a knee or something - it is because somebody didn't quite do something right.
We have to make progress. We have a lot way to go. I did like the energy at the end of practice, and we'll get a little better every day.
Thursday, August 13
Thursday, August 13
Tuesday, August 11
Tuesday, August 11