There are many layers to Curt Cignetti’s coaching style that make him one of, if not the best in the sport.
And at or near the top of his resume is Cignetti’s ability to develop quarterbacks.
We’ve documented extensively how each of his last six signal callers have improved dramatically while under his tutelage.
So it should come as no surprise Cignetti has a keen eye for what Josh Hoover needs to reach his potential this year.
Still, Hoover is a unique case even for Cignetti, as he’s the first of his quarterbacks to follow someone who reached the pinnacle of what’s possible as the college level, hitting the trifecta of Heisman Trophy winner, national champion and No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick.
It seems as though at least part of what Cignetti believes Hoover needs right now is a head coach who has his back publicly, and who offers a reality check to the outside world.
After all, following in the footsteps of Fernando Mendoza, it’s quite possible Hoover is being greeted by the irrationality of high expectations.
“I think there is too much scrutiny on Josh Hoover right now,” Cignetti said Monday at his regular media availability. “Unfair scrutiny. After watching the game tape he missed one throw (against Western Kentucky).”
After completing just 4 of 9 passes during a stretch of Saturday’s 38-0 win over the Hilltoppers, Hoover had a portion of the fan base in a panic. Four of his five incompletions in that span came on third or fourth down, and contributed to IU’s sluggish offensive start to the game.
But after watching the tape, Cignetti saw others who should shoulder some of the blame for those incompletions.
These are the levels of analysis often missed by fans and the media alike.
“The one he missed to (Charlie) Becker we did a bad job picking up the blitz at running back and he had a guy in his face,” Cignetti said. “One he overthrew early, missed (Nick) Marsh.
“The one to the right, it was the third progression. Didn’t run a good route to the field. Should have been open but wasn’t because of the route. Came back to No. 3, who didn’t run a great route either and the ball got overthrown.
“And the only other one would’ve been the one to Marsh maybe down the sideline, but really that read there should’ve taken him to the field, which was open.”
Hoover spent the better part of his postgame press conference discussing his six missed throws on a day when he completed 18.
“I know I can make those throws, and I’ll be better,” Hoover said. “I’ve got to be better for our team on third down and some of those situations.”
Part of playing any position at Indiana is the constant pursuit of improvement and never being satisfied. So of course Hoover is correct to say he has to be better.
But it’s also appropriate to point out the reality — Hoover has been pretty darn good thus far.
How good? It’s been a near carbon copy of Mendoza’s first three games a year ago.
Through three games, Hoover has completed 72.5% of his throws for 649 yards with 10 TDs and no INTs.
And through the first three games a year ago, Mendoza had completed 72.4% of his throws for 708 yards with nine TDs and no INTs.
It was the Big Ten opener against Illinois a year ago that Mendoza truly broke out and put the nation on notice.
So in that sense, we haven’t even hit the point where we know all that much about Hoover.
But Cignetti knows one thing.
“I’m glad he’s our quarterback.”
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