I don’t know how much you can read into a coach’s comments during their radio show, but Cignetti seemed a lot less confident talking about the Iowa matchup compared to his demeanor last week. He did end on a positive note saying “Let’s go make it five” or something like that.

@iugradman I didn’t pick up on the lack of confidence that you apparently did. Coach seemed as confident as ever to me.  You might be projecting your own anxiety onto it.  Personally, I’m not confident at all but I recognize a large part of that is my PTSD from 2021 and probably not very rational.

Thanks for the post. Went and listened.

Not sure how coach sounds, just that he feels its a tough game.

He says he feels about this time of the season it becomes less about developing your play, but with this many games under your belt it becomes more about which team shows up to play.

He does sound a little concerned that way, with them having an extra day and at home, but says we have had a good week of practice, so he feels good about our attitude and character. Says its a big game for Iowa and their environment so he knows they will be ready to go. Feels good that we will be.

Yeah, by coach speak, he is ready for a tough game.

I think that means, if we do match their intensity, not a given, but if we do, coach expects to win.

He flat out said in another interview this game would be harder than Illinois.  

I'm going to go out on a limb and predict Cig is going to say at Oregon and at PSU are very difficult games.  Ahhh!!!!!!!!!!!!

My only concern his his detail on their offensive line wasn't as thorough as he often gives on team areas or players. It was more along the lines of 'They're supposed to be a really good line. But they always have a good line.'

I had never heard his definition of big plays or chunk plays. Says those are important. (Of course ... I guess)

So he wants some 'runs 12 yards or over' and 'passes over 14' .

Didn't go into why he tracks those distances but that's what he said we could use.

@openwheel The standard is runs over 10 yards and passes over 15

Coming off a huge win it's easy for kids to get big heads. I'm sure he's legitimately taking Iowa very seriously but also talking publicly and to the team in a way that tries to deflate any overblown self-image.

I'm having a hard time getting much work done today.  

@openwheel He said post-game he thought he could whip Illinois' OL, I think we can do it again this week. 

Iowa's RB room being banged up is also going to be a big deal in this one. Iowa's top 2 RBs (Jaz and Williams) are injured and out this week. 

For all of the hullabaloo of Iowa having the best OL in the country, the production certainly doesnt match it.

Against Albany:
1 sack allowed on 17 dropbacks
310 rush yards on 53 attempts (5.8 average).
Remove Jaz+Williams and it falls to 141 yards rushing on 35 attempts (4.02 average)

Against Iowa State:
3 sacks allowed on 27 dropbacks
131 rushing yards on 39 attempts (3.4 average)
Remove Jaz+Williams and its 45 yards on 21 attempts (2.14 average)

Against UMASS:
2 sacks allowed on 31 dropbacks
201 rushing yards on 40 carries (5.0 average)
Remove Jaz+Williams and it falls to 109 yards on 22 carries (4.95 average)

Against Rutgers:
2 sacks allowed on 20 dropbacks 
160 rushing yards on 38 carries (4.2 average)
Williams was injured this game, and Jaz got hurt during it. They had 123 yards on 32 carries without them (3.84 average)

Given the quality of competition, these are bad numbers. They are giving up a lot of sacks, and not getting many yards on the ground. I think Haines can squash this offense.

@iu-fan-1989 this is a great place to procrastinate…

@thehoosierhuddle My work productivity the past month has most definitely plummeted, its a good thing my boss is an Aggie who is just as absorbed with the season

I go into every game nervous and that isn’t a knock on Cig or a lack of faith in him. Just my experience as an IU football fan for a long time hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.  This is a must win game and I am more nervous here than I will be for PSU or Oregon because we are not expected by media perception to win those. So, all we have to do at a minimum is be competitive and if we win either or both games that’s a bonus. We have to continue winning games we are favored in though and that’s where I get nervous about having an off day. Especially on the road. 

@hoosierdaddy 

Precisely.  I boil it down to our DL performs better against their OL than their DL does against our OL.  IU rushing attack makes for well focused passing.  The battle at the LOS IU wins.