During the offseason, Indiana’s defense went through a lot of roster turnover that left many wondering how the group would look by week one. The only things to go off were players’ 2023 stats and any noteworthy team performances Defensive Coordinator Bryant Haines and JMU delivered last season.
Fast forward to two weeks into the 2024 campaign, and Indiana’s defense looks like it could define the team’s performance for the rest of the season.
Since the hire of Curt Cignetti and Haines choosing to follow, Indiana has marketed its team as one that plays fast, physical, and relentless. This is nothing new for a Haines-led defense. He has instilled the mantra into his units with an eye toward gaining significant production from the defensive front seven.
Cignetti also offers players must do the simple things first, and the disruption will come as a result.
“It starts with recognition, communication, and then assignment,” Cignetti said on Monday. “Playing your assignment and doing your job.”
Although the quality of opponents to kick off the season did not give Indiana many problems in either contest, the disruption was certainly there for the Hoosiers, especially in the trenches. Indiana has already amassed 10 sacks as well as 16 tackles for loss. Through their first two games, Indiana’s five points against average is sixth best in the nation.
Irrespective of the opponents, having that level of production with a first-year head coach and a complete roster turnover is noteworthy. Indiana’s defense in recent years has been serviceable but has never been as explosive as the Hoosiers look in the first few games this season. In 2023, Indiana finished last in the Big Ten in sacks.
For someone like defensive end Mikail Kamara (3 sacks), who has played in the system under Haines, there was never a doubt that the explosiveness could translate.
“Coming from the JMU staff and what we did over there, it’s nothing really new,” Kamara said after Indiana’s win against Western Illinois. “We just have to come out there and show it in Big Ten play.”
The linebackers, especially Aiden Fisher—the “quarterback” of the defense—have served as the anchor to the chaos created by the defensive front.
Fisher flew all across the field in the Hoosiers’ opener, totaling 12 total tackles with two for a loss and a credited sack against FIU. He followed that up with nine tackles and half a TFL, all while seeing less than three quarters of action. As it currently stands, Fisher leads the Big Ten in total tackles.
Fisher has a good supporting cast with both Jailin Walker and Isiah Jones, who both saw time in Indiana’s first two games and split snaps next to Fisher. Walker had the second-most tackles in Indiana’s opener with eight, and Jones trailed not far behind with six.
“We’ve got pretty good speed at linebacker, where guys can fit the gaps and cover,” Cignetti said on Monday. “His (Haines’) defense keeps you off balance. He’s going to find ways to create TFLs and sacks and free guys up or get them good matchups.”
The lone area we haven’t been able to see much of, largely due to the lack of being tested, has been Indiana’s secondary. In terms of coverage, the group certainly has done their job in the passing game, allowing only a 119-passing yards allowed average in the first two contests.
Tackling hasn’t been a problem either for the Hoosiers even though they did not tackle throughout the spring or fall camp, apart from the Spring game. Indiana has the 34th best tackling grade in the nation according to PFF, out of 134 teams. They have also proven to be strong in the run game, allowing only 32.5 yards a game, good for third-best in the nation.
So, is there any weakness in this defense? It all sounds good right? Well, it’s still too early to tell.
Again, the quality of opponents can’t be overlooked when analyzing the first two games. Moreover, the two opponents’ scoring drives to end the first half in each game could be an issue to monitor in the future, especially if it continues into Big Ten play where games will become more competitive.
But one things seems certain — Cignetti’s attacking ideology will not change, and they hope to ride it into the Big Ten season.
“I think it’s a culture, a mindset, an identity, and a philosophy. The program culture and mindset that we’re an attacking type of team, relentless competitor, playing fast and physical, one play at a time. Our style of defense is we want to turn those guys loose up front and wreak havoc and disruption.”
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