Curt Cignetti spoke to the media after IU Football’s 38-13 win against Michigan State Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Check out his post-game reactions below:
A full transcript is available below via ASAP Sports:
CURTS CIGNETTI: Good win, after that big win last week. We are all aware of the potential issues you face, and I thought the team and staff did a good job of really focusing on this next opponent and the challenge it could bring.
I thought Michigan State played really hard, and they have some weapons offensively. Our attack was sharp. We were throwing the football. Fernando was right. The protection was good. Receivers split up and made plays.
The defense held them to a field goal there at the end of the second quarter, drive for the two-minute drive. I stopped them on the two-minute drive, and then we hit that first drive in the third quarter, which I felt like if we did that would be a real blow to them.
The defense really shut them out until the end when we cleared the bench a little bit, so to speak, but it’s a good win. Enjoy it. We’re going to enjoy it and get ready for the next one.
Q. You talked about Fernando, and I know every quarterback is always going to clean things up, but I don’t think he had a sack today, he was 24 of 28. When you watched film of him, was that what you thought he would be capable of if he cleaned up some of the things you talked about in the offseason, the timing, the comfort, the confidence in protection?
CURTS CIGNETTI: Well, I think it was a very good performance from him. Michigan State has given up some points this year; let’s be honest. He had time, and our guys separated, and he threw the ball to the rhythm.
In other games, like Oregon, you don’t have nearly as much time, and you’re not always separating as much. So it’s all relative sometimes.
But I’d say this is the sharpest we’ve seen him in a game yet. But he continues to improve. He continues to prepare like no one I’ve ever been to, and he keeps getting better.
Q. In terms of Omar Cooper and Elijah Sarratt, you know from an offensive coaching perspective the defense is going to try to plan their play and focus on them. They accounted for almost 60 percent of your goals. The difficulty for them as receivers to still get open, to counter those game plans, how difficult is what they’re doing right now?
CURTS CIGNETTI: Well, you can concentrate on one person, but it’s hard to concentrate on two, because when you’re three and one, that person could be number three, number two, number one on the field or on the bench. So you can concentrate on one man, but it’s very difficult to concentrate on two.
But there are other guys making plays, like Riley Nowakowski. How many big plays has he made in the passing game? And EJ Williams is clearly a threat.
Then some of the — Charlie Becker made plays. Hemby has made some big plays in the passing game. Then you have to deal with Fernando’s feet when he works in the pocket.
So you can’t really focus on one guy.
Ask. Assuming I do the math correctly, Mendoza 21 touchdowns, two interceptions. The man’s relationship is like this. The reason for that is what? And you know quarterbacks; you see that level of play and you think what?
CURTS CIGNETTI: Well, I think he did a good job. He’s smart. He understands how to play quarterback. Before you win a game, you have to make sure you don’t lose it, right? He protects the ball. He checks it if it’s not there. He knows when to take a sack and when not to take a sack, and he is accurate and reads well.
You know, that puts him just a little bit behind Cole Johnson, my second quarterback at JMU, who I think had 44 and 4 touchdowns interceptions, which would be 22 and 2. You said 21 and 2? But he continues, I think, to build on his previous performances, and I can’t say enough things about him.
Q. Coach, early in their offense, you guys were kind of on your heels. They got the ball, made those screen plays, got a few yards, but you kept them off the scoreboard. What did you like about the adjustments your defense made as the game progressed?
CURTS CIGNETTI: I thought we really tightened up towards the end of the second quarter, and then in the second half, except for that last drive, we started putting pressure on the quarterback.
I’ve always thought they have a good design offensively at Michigan State. They can protect with eight, seven, six, five. Out-of-pocket game, good screen play, great play-action game, and the quarterback is extremely talented, just like No. 6.
I’m sure our defense will put the tape on tomorrow and they’ll be unhappy with some things early in the game.
Q. The way Lou Moore has continued to play; Right now he leads you in tackles. Just the way he played.
CURTS CIGNETTI: Yes, played a lot of football, leading tackler, interceptions. Left us, came back. He’s a veteran, has a nose for the ball, instincts, and I think he’s having fun.
Q. When you say Fernando prepares like no other, what does that look like?
CURTS CIGNETTI: I think it’s time, organization and smart use of time, good preparation, smart use of time. He wants to become a great player. I’ve never seen anyone really jump into it like that.
Ask. In terms of mindset, at what point in the week were you confident your team was in the right place?
CURTS CIGNETTI: I think things started to change a little bit on Thursday after practice. I sent them a good message. I thought things would go our way on Friday.
Look, you can’t be a really nice guy if you have a job like mine; You know what I mean? Sometimes you know when they’re ready to play, and sometimes you know the entire organization – what did Mike Krzyzewski say when he retired? He said the toughest opponent he ever faced was human nature.
Well, human nature after winning Oregon is to be happy and relaxed, support staff, coaches, players, trainers. My job is to make sure they have the right mentality to play. It’s not always fun, but you gotta do what you gotta do.
Q. You’ve talked a lot about overcoming adversity. How do you think your team handled that and came out on top in the second half, given the unique nature of the slightly longer halftime and the weather?
CURTS CIGNETTI: I thought we handled it very well, and the staff had experience with it in Virginia when I was at JMU last year. With eight minutes to go we were ten minutes behind and that happened. We used it really well in the end, I thought, and came back and won the game.
Q. You talked about the defense maybe seeing some things on film, especially early in the game, that they didn’t like in this game, but I think it’s seven avenue touchdowns that you’ve allowed in eight games. What is it about that group that no matter what the challenge is, they simply outlast the opponents? Of course sometimes you get a lot of sacks, sometimes on a day like today it takes a little longer before you realize it, but what is it about that group that they constantly solve that problem?
CURTS CIGNETTI: I think first of all they are well coached and they attack people, and we have a lot of experienced players and we have great leadership and we have good players, and the leaders are really good players. We’ve had young guys develop for us. Look inside and watch the development of Isaiah Jones at linebacker and Hardy, next to Fisher.
I think the secondary is really – outside of Ponds, who is an All-American, you’ve really seen Sharpe step up and start making plays and safeties as well. There is a lot of pride and we have to get better from this last match because the challenges will become more and more difficult as time goes on.
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