NOTEBOOK: Few Teams Match IU for Consistent Quarterback Excellence. Here’s Why:
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Consistent elite quarterback play is not easy, is not a given, is not something that just happens.
It is a mainstay of a Curt Cignetti-coached football team, a big reason why he is an unprecedented 18-2 as Indiana’s head coach, why he’s never had a losing record in 15 seasons running his own programs at the NCAA Division II, FCS, mid-major and Power 4 Conference levels, why the Hoosiers are ranked a program-best No. 2 in the Associated Press and coaches’ polls with a 7-0 record, 4-0 in the Big Ten, entering Saturday’s game against UCLA (3-4, 3-1) at Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium.
No matter the quarterback, whether it’s Fernando Mendoza this season, or Kurtis Rourke last year or former James Madison standouts such as Jordan McCloud, Todd Centeio and Cole Johnson; no matter the changes in offensive linemen or receivers or schools, elite quarterback play rules.
Why can Cignetti and his offensive staff, led by offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan and quarterbacks coach Chandler Whitmer, consistently do what so many other programs around the country cannot, at least not year after year after year?
“You got to have good people in your organization, coaches and players,” Cignetti said during Monday’s weekly press conference. “We've had good talent on offense, right? The quarterbacks have all been a little bit different. We've played with the true dual-threat guy. You design around the quarterback's strengths and the offensive strengths.
“I'm a big believer also that before you can win the game, you have to make sure you don't lose it. We've done a good job of protecting the ball, being balanced in the run and pass all those years. We've never been tilted heavily one way or the other.”
This season Mendoza leads the Big Ten with 21 touchdown passes and a 191 quarterback rating. He completes 73.5 percent of his passes (second in the conference to Ohio State’s Julian Sayin’s 80.0). He’s only thrown two interceptions. Those are far better numbers than he produced in two seasons at California, when he totaled 30 touchdowns and 16 interceptions on 66.5 percent accuracy.
“I think Coach Whitmer has done a tremendous job developing Fernando,” Cignetti says. “He wants to be a great player. He gets the most out of every day and every rep.”
In Cignetti’s world, UCLA is 3-0 including a win over Penn State. The 0-4 start didn’t happen, at least, not with current Bruins coaches.
Last Saturday’s come-from-behind 20-17 win over Maryland behind sophomore quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who overcame a knee injury to lead the winning drive, is the latest example of a turnaround that is making national headlines.
It was sparked by a coaching change that saw special assistant to the head coach Tim Skipper become the interim head coach (his changes include a clean locker room), Jerry Neuheisel switch from tight ends coach to offensive coordinator, and Kevin Coyle leave Syracuse for UCLA in late September to become the defensive coordinator.
In their last three games, the Bruins have beaten Penn State 42-37, Michigan State 38-13 and Maryland. In that stretch, they averaged 233 rushing yards and 33 points a game. They’ve possessed the ball an average of 37 minutes a game to opponents’ 23. They’ve successfully converted two fake punts and one onside kick and are successful 50 percent of the time on third downs and 70 percent on fourth downs.
“Since they have retooled their staff,” Cignetti said, “and now have their new defensive coordinator and offensive staff in place, they are a very impressive football team.
“They're keeping the ball away from the other team. They're starting fast, outscoring people in the first half, 58-17.”
Iamaleava completes 65.2 percent of his passes for 1,355 yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also is the Bruins’ leading rusher with 360 yards and four touchdowns.
Four running backs have rushed for at least 134 rushing yards. Jalen Berger has 232 and one touchdown; Jaivian Thomas has 226 yards and one touchdown; and Anthony Woods has run for 221 yards. Kwazi Gilmer is the leading receiver with 30 catches for 369 yards and two touchdowns.
“They are led by a talented quarterback who really has a quick body and a live arm,” Cignetti said. “He’s also made some big plays with his legs also. They have really good skill people. It’s a new offensive design.”
UCLA has two of the Big Ten’s leading tacklers with linebackers JonJon Vaughns (a conference-best 66 tackles) and Isaiah Chisom (57 tackles). The defense has allowed just one touchdown in the last two games.
“On defense, they have a lot of different personnel packages,” Cignetti said. “They try to keep you off balance. I’m really impressed with what they do. When you get outside of normal down-and-distance situations, you see a lot of stuff, a variety of blitzes, pre-snap looks with linebackers to try to confuse the quarterback.
38-13 win over Michigan State, the
“They're a rejuvenated football team. This is going to take tremendous preparation and effort on our part.”
IU remains an offensive juggernaut. Its 43.9-point scoring average ranks second in the Big Ten to Oregon’s 44.1. The Hoosiers are balanced, throwing for 271.3 yards a game and rushing for 226.
In last Saturday’s victory they never punted, the first time they’ve done that in a Big Ten game since at least 1990.
Mendoza credits Cignetti, Shanahan, Whitmer, receivers Elijah Sarratt, Omar Cooper Jr., and E.J. Williams Jr., plus the tight ends, running backs and offensive line for the success.
“It’s a perfect marriage,” he said, “and we’re seeing the results.”
Player chemistry, Mendoza added, is as important as scheme and game plan.
“Our relationship needs to be as tight as it can be with the receivers, the O-line, the running backs, the coaches,” he said. “Everyone needs to have full confidence in the plan, full confidence in the timing and the routes, so we can execute like we did (against Michigan State).”
Having three receivers with NFL ability, as IU does with Sarratt (43 catches, 603 yards, nine touchdowns), Cooper Jr. (37, 581, seven) and Williams Jr. (19, 212, three), is a big advantage.
“It shows the multiplicity of our offense and how we’re able to game plan and attack the defense,” Mendoza says. “We’re not a one-way street and can only do (run-pass options) or run or throw. With those receivers, we can do so many different things, which allows us to be successful.”
Add running backs Kaelon Black (439 yards, three touchdowns) and Roman Hemby (432, two), and tight end Riley Nowakowski (11 catches, 141 yards, one touchdown), and you have enough weapons to make a defensive coordinator want to change professions.
“You can focus in on one guy,” Cignetti said, “but it’s difficult to focus on two (or more).”
Indiana’s No. 2 ranking in the Associated Press and coaches’ polls is a big deal, Mendoza said, but more remains to be done.
“Although it’s great to have a super ranking, the rankings don’t matter until the playoff picture comes out. We’re focused on one game at a time, executing every play and every drive in every game. If we keep doing that, at the end, we’ll be in a good position.”
Mendoza continues to rate among the nation’s best quarterbacks. He’s thrown for 1,755 yards -- including a personal Hoosier best 332 passing yards against Michigan State -- with just two interceptions. He has a program-record four games with at least four passing TDs.
“He’s so smart,” linebacker Aiden Fisher said. “He can read a defense like the back of his hand. He’s able to get the ball out quick and knows where to go with the ball. He’s good at reading defensive shells, even when it’s disguised. His preparation sets him apart from everybody else in the country. He’s just phenomenal way he approaches the game.”
Receivers, including Hemby (nine catches for 120 yards), take full advantage.
“He puts the ball perfectly almost every time,” Sarratt said. “I’m glad I have two other receivers (Cooper Jr. and Williams Jr.) beside me who are very good. We click very well.”
The fact Mendoza has only thrown two interceptions, Cignetti said, is because Mendoza is “smart and understands how to play quarterback.”
“Before you win any game, you've got to make sure you don't lose it. He protects the ball. He checks it down when it's not there. He knows when he can take a sack and when he can't take a sack. He's accurate, and he's making good reads.”
Beyond that, Cignetti added, “(Mendoza) keeps building on his previous performances. It’s smart use of time, proper preparation. He wants to be a great player. I’ve never seen anybody really jump into it like this before. I can't say enough about things about him.”
Cooper Jr. is in the midst of a breakout season. The reason, Sarratt said, is that Cooper Jr. is “playing more ball and seeing more things.”
“He’s more explosive than me. He does some things and I’ll go, ‘Bro, how did you do that?’ He does it on a regular basis. He comes to play every day.
“He’s just scratching the surface of what he can be. I see him playing at the next level. If he continues to do what he’s doing, he will be great.”
IU’s success includes impressive discipline. It is tied for eighth nationally in fewest penalties, averaging just 4.0 for 28.6 yards per game.
“You want them to play fast,” Cignetti said. “You want them to play physical. You want to be relentless. But you’ve got to be smart. You’ve got to make (good) choices and decisions on the field.
“We've done a nice job of keeping the blocks in the front in the special teams game. Our defense does a nice job knowing when to pull off and still rally and get multiple hats to the ball.”
Cignetti credits the Hoosiers’ veteran leadership, character, and intelligence. Still, he’s not satisfied.
“We’ve still had a few too penalties. We can get better.”
Saturday’s game will be broadcast on FOX and its FOX Big Noon Kickoff show will be set up just outside of Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium.
IU and top-ranked Ohio State remain atop the Big Ten standings with 4-0 records. Sixth-ranked Oregon, No. 25 Michigan, USC, UCLA, Northwestern, Michigan, Minnesota and Iowa are right behind at 3-1. No. 23/23 Illinois is 2-2 along with Nebraska and Washington.