TBH, IU's defense is more surprising to me

[Jaxcat]

IU is crushing opponents and just marching through the CFP (can't believe I typed that). I've watched several of their games - not so much last night, though. I mean, why keep watching a public execution?

Anyway, Mendoza is incredibly smart and accurate. His receivers make ridiculous catches routinely. The RBs run hard, pick up positive yardage, will make a big run here and there. But, it's their defense that really surprises me more. They do NOT have 4- and 5-star talent sprinkled across the roster. Offense can be very effective using schemes and no huddle and misdirection. Defense has to be extremely sound fundamentally, very disciplined, and very athletic to overcome the offense's inherent advantages. It just seems like IU knows what play is coming much of the time. They seem to blitz or jump a route or shoot a gap at exactly the right time a LOT. And, they don't seem to EVER miss a tackle. They're in the right place at the right time and they make the play.

Is it just coaching? Looking at their roster on defense and you're not seeing the studs and NFL-ready bodies like you'll see on Miami's team, for instance. But, just in the last few games, they've throttled OSU, Alabama and now Oregon (for a second time) and you know they don't have the athletes, on paper, that either of those 3 have. I don't know much about their defensive scheme, but I hope Stein was taking some notes to pass along to our DC. Whatever they're doing is working REALLY well.

[dencat]

Good coaching will get you farther than 4-5 stars. IU is an extremely well coached team. They are disciplined.

[Uncle Dave]

Cignetti is like some savant that came out of nowhere. His offense is high potent and his defense stops people regularly. His guys block and tackle and create turnovers. That's why they demolish everyone they play.

[Jaxcat]

Cignetti is like some savant that came out of nowhere. His offense is high potent and his defense stops people regularly. His guys block and tackle and create turnovers. That's why they demolish everyone they play.

Yep. And it makes me wonder: how did this guy fly under the radar for so long? He's obviously a GREAT coach (and his assistants, evidently, are also excellent). How was this good of a coach coaching at James Madison in his 60s without a shot at a much bigger program? Certainly makes me question all this 'good ole boy' network of coaching where every coach seems to hire retreads that they've coached with or are friends with rather than identifying the truly outstanding coaches that are flying under the radar (and I suspect there are MANY of such coaches). Certainly not just anyone, regardless of how good of a coach they are, could step into a P4 program and do what Cignetti has done (more donor influence, media responsibilities, more scrutiny, etc.). But, dang, if there's one Cignetti out there, I'm betting there are plenty of others who, if given the chance, could knock it out of the park, too.

IU doesn't seem to do much of anything to hurt themselves - minimal number of penalties, don't blow coverage assignments, don't try to do things outside their bread and butter, don't miss tackles, etc. As someone else said on this board, even the best of Saban teams didn't look any better coached than this IU team and they had the luxury of multiple studs playing all over the field. Very impressive what Cignetti has been able to do in just 2 years.

[Helix]

Yep. And it makes me wonder: how did this guy fly under the radar for so long? He's obviously a GREAT coach (and his assistants, evidently, are also excellent). How was this good of a coach coaching at James Madison in his 60s without a shot at a much bigger program? Certainly makes me question all this 'good ole boy' network of coaching where every coach seems to hire retreads that they've coached with or are friends with rather than identifying the truly outstanding coaches that are flying under the radar (and I suspect there are MANY of such coaches). Certainly not just anyone, regardless of how good of a coach they are, could step into a P4 program and do what Cignetti has done (more donor influence, media responsibilities, more scrutiny, etc.). But, dang, if there's one Cignetti out there, I'm betting there are plenty of others who, if given the chance, could knock it out of the park, too.

IU doesn't seem to do much of anything to hurt themselves - minimal number of penalties, don't blow coverage assignments, don't try to do things outside their bread and butter, don't miss tackles, etc. As someone else said on this board, even the best of Saban teams didn't look any better coached than this IU team and they had the luxury of multiple studs playing all over the field. Very impressive what Cignetti has been able to do in just 2 years.

On the assistant front, I think I heard the telecast say that he's had the same OC and DC since leaving Saban's side at Bama to start his head coaching career at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

And get this: his OC and DC made, if I heard correctly, $6k a year at IUP to start. Now they've just signed extensions to remain in those same positions at IU for about $3M annually. Talk about loyalty! Cignetti obviously has enormous faith in them, and for good reason. What a trio of coaches.

[Bereacat]

Yep. And it makes me wonder: how did this guy fly under the radar for so long? He's obviously a GREAT coach (and his assistants, evidently, are also excellent). How was this good of a coach coaching at James Madison in his 60s without a shot at a much bigger program? Certainly makes me question all this 'good ole boy' network of coaching where every coach seems to hire retreads that they've coached with or are friends with rather than identifying the truly outstanding coaches that are flying under the radar (and I suspect there are MANY of such coaches). Certainly not just anyone, regardless of how good of a coach they are, could step into a P4 program and do what Cignetti has done (more donor influence, media responsibilities, more scrutiny, etc.). But, dang, if there's one Cignetti out there, I'm betting there are plenty of others who, if given the chance, could knock it out of the park, too.

IU doesn't seem to do much of anything to hurt themselves - minimal number of penalties, don't blow coverage assignments, don't try to do things outside their bread and butter, don't miss tackles, etc. As someone else said on this board, even the best of Saban teams didn't look any better coached than this IU team and they had the luxury of multiple studs playing all over the field. Very impressive what Cignetti has been able to do in just 2 years.

Cignetti”’s dad was really good coach at IUP and their field is named after him. Cignetti was an assistant at Bama and wanted to be a head coach so he took the IUP job at 55 and worked his way up. One of the most impressive things is how they took 2 and low 3 star guys and built JMU into a really good team. Then had those guys transfer to IU. The D is anchored by those JMU transfers. Their sack leader was a low ranked recruit that went to the Navy. Not sure how he left and went to IU but he did a year at the Naval prep institute, then enrolled at IU as an unranked ‘24 recruit. Their DC is a great coach and now making 3m a year

[Pete Hogwallop]

I feel like the Championship could likely be an IU blowout over Miami. We'll see, though. That's why they play the games.

[The-Hack]

The easiest 20 bucks I ever made was taking IU straight up over Oregon.