NOTEBOOK: Big Ten Opener Brings ‘Juice’ To defending Champion Hoosiers
By Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Curt Cignetti paces the Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium under a gun-metal gray cloudy sky, the temperature lingering in the middle 60s, a welcome break from the recent brutal heat.
Special teams work is underway, and Cignetti makes it clear that in this, as in every aspect of Indiana’s program, you play with an edge.
That’s especially true now that the non-conference season is over, a 145-16 demonstration of No. 5/4 Hoosier (3-0) power that will face a major competition upgrade, starting with Friday night’s Big Ten opener against Northwestern (2-0) at Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium.
This will be the first of nine Big Ten contests played over the next two months.
Receiver Charlie Becker says he’s “super pumped to be able to finally get into Big Ten play.”
“Going against these teams builds your confidence. Seeing all the different defenses helps prepare you week in and week out for all the great teams in the Big 10.”
Fifth-year linebacker Isaiah Jones shares the excitement.
“Obviously, every game is important,” he says from the Don Croftcheck Team Room at Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium, “but once you start playing Big Ten teams, you get maybe a little bit more juiced up during the week. You're trying to fly around a little bit more.
“You're going to play really good opponents every week. The Big Ten is good from top to bottom. You're going to get everyone's best shot every week.”
IU seeks to repeat as conference champion, which would be another first for a program that continues to redefine its college football tradition. For Jones, it means offense-wrecking defense in the manner of the previous two seasons.
“We have a standard we want to play to,” he says. “If we play that standard, there should be a shutout every game.”
It was the previous two weeks, when the Hoosiers beat Howard and Western Kentucky by a combined 93-0. It was their first consecutive shutouts since the 1993 season.
Still, IU wants more.
“We have a lot of corrections to make,” Jones says. “We're very critical of ourselves. We're excited to get back to the to the drawing board, get back in the film room, and try to put our best foot forward.”
If you attend tonight’s game, do not leave until it’s over. Don’t even think about leaving early.
Why?
Cignetti pays attention.
“We need to have a great crowd that stays the whole game,” he says. “We played our three sauna games in the afternoon. I can understand having to leave in the second half, particularly when the game is out of hand and it's 152 on the turf. It's hard to coach in these games, too.
“But this will be low 70 weather. It will be a nice cool football kind of night in Bloomington, and we need to have a great crowd.”
The crowd’s energy, Becker adds, can be a game changer.
“It means everything. I don't think (fans) realize how much of an impact they have on the game. They can they can really make the difference, like it did when we played Oregon last year (in the Peach Bowl playoff semifinals). Hoosier Nation is the best in the world. It brings the team morale up when we look out and see a sea of red.”
The fact that it’s a Friday night game generates a prime-time atmosphere usually reserved for high school.
“I love Friday night lights,” Becker says. “It takes me back to high school and that kind of the atmosphere.
“Hoosier Nation has the best fans in the world. I know they're all going to show out and stay for the whole game. I'm really pumped to see that.”
Adds Jones: “We're excited to play in front of a packed house. We know it's going to be a loud environment.
“It will be hard for (Northwestern’s offense) to audible with all the fans yelling. It’s like the 12th defender. It’s hard to communicate. You might get a little rattled. Maybe the bright lights get a little too bright. I don’t know if Northwestern has ever played in front of an Indiana crowd like this.
“For us, we’re comfortable with that. We're excited to get back to it.”
As for the Friday night element, Jones says, “Friday, Thursday, Saturday, whenever we play, just spot the ball, and it's our 11 against their 11 every play. It's us and them. It's whoever's executes better will be the winner.”
Chip Kelly has directed plenty of impressive offenses during his time coaching in college and the NFL. Now, he’s at Northwestern as the offensive coordinator, and the Wildcats are averaging 37.5 points a game behind quarterback Aiden Chiles (67.4 percent completion percentage, 514 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions) and receiver Griffin Wilde (23.6-yard-per-catch average).
“Number one, you’ve got to stop the run number one,” Cignetti says. “They’re about 66 percent run to pass. We're about 65 percent right now, so it always starts there. The quarterback can run it. When he drops back, he can still run it. You’ve got to contain him.
“They’ve got a receiver that averages (23) yards a catch. They spread the ball around really nicely between the receiver, tight end, and running back position. They rotate the backs in, too. The line does a nice job.
“You prepare for what they've shown on tape. You do what you do. We always create a few new things defensively. But it all starts within this particular game on defense. You’ve got to stop the run and contain that quarterback and then don't let him throw it over our head. Tackle in space. Swarm the ball. Dominate up front.”
Versatility is crucial in IU offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan’s balanced attack. Becker knows that from personal experience.
“Coach Shanahan likes to put everybody everywhere, which adds a layer of depth to yourself.
“As a player, being able to know every position on every play makes you more valuable and makes the team more dynamic. It makes defenses rethink who's going to be where.”
Northwestern’s defense can’t be underestimated. It allows just 12.5 points a game, which is better than Michigan (13.0), Washington (13.3) and USC (22.8) among Big Ten teams.
The Wildcats have intercepted three passes and recovered two fumbles. They’ve scored 17 points off opponent turnovers.
“They’re well coached and very disciplined,” Becker says. “They run a great defense. There are a lot of good players at every position.”
Besides emerging as one of the Big Ten’s best receivers (12 catches, 272 yards, a 22.7-yards-per-catch average, six touchdowns), Becker remains a special teams force of nature. He added punt returns to his duties last week against Western Kentucky with one return for 17 yards. He also has eight career special teams tackles.
“I love special teams,” he says. “That's where I started off. As a freshman, I really wanted to get on the field anywhere I could, and I found myself on special teams.
“When all three phases of our team are working, we’re a really good team. I just want to contribute in any way. I'm excited to be on the field at all times.
“With special teams, there's a level of grittiness. You’ve got to be willing to do everything that comes with it. Taking that to wide receiver, it just brings that grit to everything we do.”