The name you hear over and over, Curt Cignetti. In his introductory press conference as head coach, he announced with brashness and bravado, “All I’ve done is win. Google me.” He finished up the press conference by saying “Michigan sucks. Ohio State sucks, and Purdue sucks.”
A few weeks later at B1G media days he explained how he and his team were planning on returning to Indianapolis for the B1G championship game. Implying that the Hoosiers would be playing in that game. The man wrote some big checks with his mouth before the season started. So far, he’s cashed them without problem. However, the heavy lifting of Indiana’s schedule starts tomorrow with Nebraska.
The 6-0 Hoosiers are a 6.5-point favorite. Cignetti seems unfazed with his team’s success. But believe me, while full of conviction and confidence, he’s smart enough to know he is still a long way from winning the B1G conference.
Cignetti came to Indiana after a 52-9 run at James Madison University and is in his14th season as a head coach. His current record is125-35. He has never had a season worse than 6-5. He’s from a coaching family, with his father, Frank Cignetti Sr., having been the head coach at West Virgina and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. After learning what coaching was about from his father, he spent four years as a wide receiver coach on Nick Saban’s first staff at Alabama. It was there he learned to pay attention to detail and make sure the little things were addressed. It’s safe to say Curt Cignetti is the real deal.
Cignetti brought most of his staff with him from JMU and added over 30 players from the transfer portal. Cignetti said he looked for production over potential in the transfer portal as he attempted to build a new team in Bloomington.
He started with 6’5” 223lb sixth year senior Kurtis Rourke, a transfer from Ohio. In 33 career starts at Ohio he completed 66.2% of his passes for 7,651 yards and 50 touchdowns. He also rushed for 1,241 yards. He was initially recruited as an option quarterback at Ohio but has not been asked to run the ball at Indiana. However, he is a good runner when he needs to be. So far this season he has completed 118 of 160 passes, for 1,752 yards and a 73.8% completion rate. He’s thrown for 14 TD’s and 2 interceptions. Rourke has had time to throw and has received good protection from his offensive line, only being sacked 5 times. As Rourke goes, so goes the Hoosiers.
Cignetti improved the skill positions by bringing in four new running backs, four new wide receivers and a tight end. The majority followed him from JMU where they put up big yards and points. Running backs added were Justice Ellison (Wake Forest) 5’9” 210lbs. Ellison has 64 carries for 409 yards, a 6.4-yard average and 6 TD’s. Ty Son Lawton (JMU) 5’9” 208lbs, has 68 carries, 329 yards, a 4.8-yard average and 7 TD’s.
Rourke has been able to thrive with the help of talented wide receivers, four of which have 200 yards or more receiving. Its starts with 6’2” 210lb Elijah Sarratt. Saratt posted five 100-yard games and five multi-touchdown games for Cignetti at JMU last season. This season Sarratt has 29 receptions for 513 yards, a 17.3-yard average and 2 TD’s. Other names to watch are Omar Copper, Miles Cross, and Myles Price. Between the three, they have 55 catches for 849 yards, and 5 TD’s.
Much of Indiana’s success this season has been due to the offense, scoring 47.5 points a game, with a 3rd down efficiency of 53.97% (34/63). They are also efficient on 4Th down, going 6/11. They average 315 yards passing per game and 200 yards rushing per game for a total of 515 yards. The Hoosiers currently are +3 in turnovers.
Many people say this game will be between Indiana’s high scoring offense and Nebraska’s stingy defense. I won’t disagree. But from what I’ve seen, I like Nebraska’s Blackshirts in this one. I think Death Row has a record day racking up sacks. They’ll disrupt Indiana’s line while putting pressure on Rourke. He’ll get a few yards scrambling, but not enough to hurt. Tony’ White’s scheme confuses the QB just enough for him to pause and allow the D-line to get to him. The linebackers stay home and plug the running lanes and cover the middle. Bullock will once again be a wrecking machine. The defensive backs will cover tight enough to deflect passes or get picks.
And yes, Indiana has put up some impressive stats, but they have not been against top quality opponents. And don’t sweep Nebraska’s stats under the rug, they’ve only allowed 14.3 points per game, 83.8 yards rushing per game, at a 3-yard average, and 171.83 yards passing per game for a 5.70-yard average. They have a B1G leading 20 sacks and 42 tackles for losses. Look for them to add to those numbers in this game. The Blackshirts will rattle this team. We’ve yet to see how Indiana responds when shut down, they haven’t trailed this season. How will they respond when frustrated?
For Indiana defensively, depth has been a concern. The defensive line may very well be the weakest spot in defensive coordinator Bryant Haines defense. Still, this defensive line will be a good test for Nebraska as they like to run stunts and twists. Part of this is due to being undersized. They are a smaller group but twitchy. 6’1” 255lb defensive lineman Mikai Kamara has had a good season thus far with 20 total tackles, 10 solo, 5 sacks, and 1 forced fumble.
The Hoosiers rely heavily on linebackers Aiden Fisher and Jailin Walker. The 6’1” 230lb Fisher came with Cignetti from JMU where last year he had 108 tackles, 6 TFL’s, and 1.5 sacks. This season Fischer has 55 total tackles, 21 solo, and 1.5 sacks. Walker 6’1” 218lbs, has 34 total tackles, 16 solo, and a ½ sack.
Defensively Indiana allows an average of 28 points a game, 255.7 yards per game, for a 4.4-yard average. They’ve registered 19 sacks, 4 interceptions, 5 forced fumbles, and 3 fumble recoveries.
Nebraska’s offense will need to have one of their better games of the season to win. The offensive line will need to open holes in the running game and protect Raiola long enough to complete passes down field. However, this needs to be a coming out party for Jahmal Banks and Isaiah Neyor. The big, experienced receivers need to show up. They were brought here for a reason. It’s time they showed that. It’s also time Raiola found Fidone or someone from the tight end position down the seam. Let the pass set up the run. This cannot be a game of first team to forty points. Nebraska wins this one with 28 to 31 points. If they find themselves needing to score more than that, a win will more than likely escape them.
Nebraska’s special teams have been the real concern the last few weeks. But I’m told Rhule has taken things over. If true, I fully expect them to look better in this game. The punt blocking gets figured out and Nebraska wins the kicking game.
They’ll need to, because kicking hasn’t been a problem for the Hoosiers with kicker Nicolas Radicic going 39/39 on extra points and 4/4 on field goals with the longest being 37 yards.
This is Nebraska’s first trip to Bloomington since 2016. Nebraska has been getting a ton of attention since the beginning of the season, but right now, Indiana is all the rage. Everybody’s talking about them, and Cignetti, wondering if they can keep the undefeated season going. That talk is good for Nebraska. It’s good they are the underdogs on the road.
Good things are about to happen.
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