NOTEBOOK: For Cignetti, Only One Perspective Matters – Get Better
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Perspective matters, but sometimes truth matters more, when you’re Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti seeking performance to match talent, demanding execution meets the standard.
As the No. 20/19 Hoosiers (1-0) prepare for Saturday’s game against Kennesaw State (0-1) on Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium, as the final impression of IU’s 27-14 season-opening victory over Old Dominion clarifies, a win that was, in so many ways, totally dominating and totally unsatisfying, Cignetti’s message to the team is clear:
“The focus is what we put on tape and what we have to do to improve,” he said during Monday’s press conference inside the Don Croftcheck Team Room.
“I’m not pleased. I can’t imagine anybody on the team is pleased. We’ve got to get better.”
Cignetti said the Hoosiers could have scored 35 more points, but a dropped touchdown pass, an overthrown touchdown pass, and a fumble while driving for another TD, plus blown defensive assignments that allowed two long scoring runs, were the most glaring mistakes needing fixed ASAP.
“We’ve got to make the plays on offense,” Cignetti said. “We have to get better, period, all the way around. We should get much better this week.”
Last year, IU led the country in red zone touchdown percentage, at 93 percent, by converting 64-of-69 attempts. On Saturday, it was 4-for-7 (57.1 percent) with only two offensive touchdowns -- the third TD came on Jonathan Brady’s 91-yard punt return.
“It doesn’t matter what you did in the past,” Cignetti said. “We have to get better.”
Kennesaw State pushed Wake Forest hard in Saturday’s 10-9 loss. The Owls rushed for 158 yards and played punishing defense. A 29-yard field goal gave them a 9-7 third-quarter lead they couldn’t hold.
Former Indiana quarterback Dexter Williams II threw for 149 yards (the most ever by a Kennesaw State quarterback in his first start) and ran for 44 more.
As a Hooser from 2020-23, limited by multiple injuries, he played in four games with two starts. He threw for two touchdowns and ran for 165 yards and two more TDs. He also played a season at Georgia Southern, throwing for 248 yards and three touchdowns.
Cignetti calls Williams II an “athletic quarterback.”
Receiver Gabriel Benyard caught five passes for 103 yards, the third 100-yard game of his career. Running back Coleman Bennett ran for 66 yards and a touchdown.
Nine Owls had at least five tackles.
“They have a high-tempo offense,” Cignetti said. “They can go at warp speed, and they can slow it down. The biggest adjustment will be when they do go warp speed, getting the calls in, getting lined up and keeping the quarterback contained. On defense, their guys run around.
“They lost by one and missed an extra point and field goal. We've got to be ready to go.”
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza expects more from himself than the 18-for-31 for 193 yards performance in his Hoosier debut. He also ran six times for 33 yards and a 5-yard touchdown.
“The progression through the entire read is important, especially when you’re getting pressure and people are open,” he said. “I was playing more lackadaisical, which I can’t have. Our line was blocking so well.
“The timing of the routes, throwing late to the routes, it doesn’t time up very well. I have to stay attentive every play and hit those guys out of the breaks with anticipation like we’ve done all camp.”
As far as his touchdown run, he said, “It was great to get in the end zone as a Hoosier for the first time. Sometimes you have to get a little gritty and throw yourself in there to get it in. Whatever I can do to help us win and be an efficient offense, I’ll do that.”
Cignetti said Mendoza “did some good things,” but also “left some things out there.”
“The emphasis with him has been on his processing and decision making. You grade the quarterback based on his decision making and accuracy -- has he gone through the right reads, throwing the ball to the right guy and accurately? He's made progress since he's been here, but he's still got to get better.”
IU’s 309 rushing yards on Saturday made it the second time that has happened under Cignetti. Mendoza was one of the Hoosiers’ biggest fans.
“Whatever helps us win. If I have one passing attempt and we run 50 times and win, I’m happy with that. Our running backs and O-line were doing fantastic. When you establish the run, then you can establish the pass, can get nifty and be an explosive offense.”
Cignetti said senior defensive back Bryson Bonds suffered a season-ending knee injury. True freshman defensive back Bryon Baldwin Jr. is “more day-to-day” with an injury.