The Hoosiers football coach talked about Maryland’s talent and missing on one of the Terps’ best players as a recruit.
Maryland quarterback Billy Edwards has gotten off to an impressive start, catching many by surprise, but Indiana coach Curt Cignetti is not one of them. Cignetti, in his first year with Indiana, almost recruited Edwards when he was coaching at James Madison and Edwards was excelling at Lake Braddock High School in Virginia.
“I’ve known Billy for quite some time. He was our main target at quarterback during my first year at JMU. He visited my office a few times with his dad. He started at Wake Forest before transferring to Maryland, and he can make every throw. He has plenty of experience,” Cignetti remarked, as his Hoosiers (4-0) prepare to face the Terps this weekend.
Edwards ranks fifth in the nation in completion percentage at 75% and leads the Big Ten with 1,155 passing yards. He has also rushed 23 times for 69 yards and two touchdowns.
“They use him in the running game as well, and he poses a real threat when he escapes the pocket. He’s a competitive player with a strong arm and good leadership skills, which is why they trust him,” Cignetti noted.
If Indiana wins, they will reach a 5-0 record for the first time since 1967. The Hoosiers are averaging 50.5 points per game, only behind four top-10 teams: Ole Miss, Tennessee, Ohio State, and Miami. This is the first time this season that Maryland is viewed as the underdog, and Cignetti is aware that they have faced a relatively easy schedule.
“I don’t think we’ve faced the toughest schedule so far. I’m not trying to downplay our opponents, but the challenges are going to increase each week,” he stated.
“This will be our first home game against a very strong Maryland team. They have a lot of talent, are well-coached, and feature many skilled players and athletes. Their quarterback is performing exceptionally, completing 75% of his passes, and they have a dynamic receiving corps including players like No. 10, Felton, Prather, and No. 5 [Octavian Smith], along with tight end zero [Dylan Wade]. They also have solid running backs and a young but talented offensive line. Their defensive line is quite formidable with a lot of depth, and they utilize many players. This presents a significant challenge. The linebackers and secondary feature a blend of youth and experience, giving them a lot of talent. Overall, they are a well-coached football team, and it will be a tough matchup.”
On Mike Locksley: “We have a bit of a mutual acquaintance, but we haven’t really spent much time together. Back at N.C. State, he was at Maryland and Florida, working with Doc Holliday, who I had a long history with at Florida for Urban Meyer. After my time at Alabama, he had great success there. He’s done an excellent job at Maryland. I believe they’re ranked second in the nation for red zone attempts and scores, or touchdowns specifically.”
On preparing for Maryland’s offense: “I make sure to analyze all three phases of the game. I’ve reviewed all of Maryland’s games and invested significant time in preparation during the offseason. Now that the week has started, I’ve stepped back and allowed [defensive coordinator] Bryant [Haynes] to take the lead. I used to watch defensive practices closely and take notes, but I’m trusting him completely this year. We did meet on Sunday to discuss some defensive strategies, but I have full confidence that he and the defensive staff will create a solid plan for our success.”
On the keys to the game: “Regardless of the opponent, it all begins with controlling the line of scrimmage and stopping the run while putting pressure on the quarterback. If we can pressure the quarterback, it reduces the time needed to cover in the secondary and with the linebackers. I don’t believe we performed at our best last week—the energy wasn’t where it needed to be, and we didn’t swarm the football like we usually do. We didn’t show that intensity until the fourth-and-one stop in the second half, so we know we can improve and will need to.”
On Maryland’s defensive line: “This will be the toughest defensive line we’ve faced. They are very large inside and have solid players on the outside. If they use two tight ends, they’ll bring in five defensive linemen, which makes them very aggressive. Their receiving corps is likely the best we’ve encountered so far, and their quarterback is proficient as well. Overall, they are the strongest team we’ll face up to this point, and considering our previous matchup, a 44-17 loss, I expect they’ll come in with confidence since many of their key players are back. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
On the need for improvement: “In football, you either improve or get worse. We strive to elevate our performance in every aspect without settling for where we are. No team can afford to take a step back in college football, so we must continually push ourselves. A very good team is coming here, and we’ll need to play at our best. I’d be surprised if our players don’t recognize that.”
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