Daily News 19

Tag: Curt Cignetti

  • Curt Cignetti: Fernando Mendoza’s Raiders Success May Be Out of His Hands

    Curt Cignetti: Fernando Mendoza’s Raiders Success May Be Out of His Hands

    Expectations are sky-high for Fernando Mendoza after the Las Vegas Raiders selected the former Indiana quarterback with the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, Curt Cignetti, who coached Mendoza during his remarkable collegiate ascent, cautions that evaluating the rookie solely on his individual performances overlooks how dependent any quarterback is on the supporting cast around him.

    Cignetti Praises Mendoza’s Tools and Mentality

    Speaking to NFL on ESPN, Cignetti emphasized Mendoza’s physical and mental readiness for the professional level.

    “Well, I think he’s got the tools, and mentally, he’s extremely smart, dedicated, committed, does everything he can to be the best he can be, a great teammate, and a great leader,”

    “He’s a great competitor on the field. He’s got a quick arm; he’s got good arm strength, and he’s got good mobility. So, he’s got a body of work out there, and he’s going to be a really good pro.”

    Cignetti Highlights What Mendoza Needs from Raiders

    The bigger uncertainty for Cignetti isn’t whether Mendoza possesses NFL-caliber talent, but whether Las Vegas can create the conditions necessary for him to showcase it immediately.

    “People ask me, ‘How do you think he’s going to do this year?’ I said, ‘Well, I don’t know a whole lot about the Raiders, to be honest with you,’”

    “You know, you’ve got to have protection. You’ve got to have guys that can separate. You’ve got to have a run game. You’ve got to be able to play defense and special teams. It all goes hand in hand.”

    That supporting cast could become particularly important following an uneven start to Mendoza’s pro career.

    Preseason Struggles Raise Questions

    Across his first two preseason appearances, Mendoza completed 18 of 31 passes while taking two sacks and throwing one interception. His numbers when pressured have attracted particular scrutiny, with the rookie ranking near the bottom of preseason quarterbacks in both EPA per attempt and completion percentage under pressure.

    It marks a significant departure from the environment Mendoza enjoyed at Indiana, where strong protection, dependable offensive weapons, and an effective defense helped him flourish on his way to becoming college football’s standout player. Consequently, his early fortunes in Las Vegas could depend heavily on whether the Raiders can keep him protected and provide enough offensive support.

    Cignetti, though, remains convinced that even if success doesn’t arrive immediately, his former quarterback will eventually establish himself.

    “But he’s going to be a good pro if not this year, sometime soon,”

  • IU Football Score Today: Live Updates, Charlie Becker Throws 3 TDs

    No. 5 Indiana Dominates Howard 34-0 at Halftime Behind Hoover-Becker Connection

    BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Fifth-ranked Indiana built a commanding 34-0 halftime lead over Howard on Saturday at Memorial Stadium, showcasing offensive efficiency and defensive intensity that erased concerns from the season opener.

    Hoover and Becker Rewrite Record Book in First Half

    Quarterback Josh Hoover was surgical in the opening half, completing 3 of 5 passes — all for touchdowns — totaling 79 yards. His primary target, Charlie Becker, caught three touchdown passes for 81 yards, giving him four scores on the young season.

    The duo connected first on a 34-yard strike to cap Indiana’s opening drive at the 12:56 mark of the first quarter. Becker added a 41-yard catch-and-run touchdown at 6:07 of the second quarter, showcasing what beat writer Zach Osterman described as “easy acceleration, as he held his defender long enough to open his stride and just ran away.”

    Shazz Preston joined the party with a 39-yard touchdown reception at 1:34 remaining in the first quarter, wide open after two Howard defensive backs appeared to be “arguing about which of them was at fault for the blown coverage before Preston even reached the end zone,” according to Osterman.

    Special Teams and Defense Set the Tone

    Indiana’s special teams unit continued its strong start to the season. The first scoring drive began at the IU 44-yard line following an impressive kickoff return, and Osterman noted “another Josh Hoover-led drive, another touchdown for Indiana. Once again notable: That drive started at the IU 44, because of another impressive kickoff return. Special teams continues to deliver favorable field position for Indiana’s offense.”

    The defense got on the scoreboard when Rolijah Hardy grabbed a floater and returned it 19 yards for a touchdown with 4:39 left in the second quarter, making it 34-0.

    Indiana’s defensive performance answered coach Curt Cignetti’s pointed criticism after the North Texas opener. “I think probably the entire defense was sick at the end of the game,” Cignetti said earlier in the week. “I was sick. I’m sure (defensive coordinator Bryant) Haines was sick, too.” Cignetti pondered whether preseason hype — what he termed “rat poison” — had affected his unit’s focus.

    Personnel Notes and Injury Updates

    Cornerbacks A.J. Harris and Jamari Sharpe remained out with injuries suffered against North Texas. Kicker Nico Radicic was also unavailable, with Paddy McAteer handling placekicking duties. McAteer missed his second extra-point attempt of the game, hooking it wide left after Becker’s second touchdown.

    Michigan State transfer wide receiver Nick Marsh was in uniform but had not played a snap through the first half. “Bear in mind, if there is any kind of injury concern, this is exactly the sort of game you would sit a player,” Osterman observed. “We’ll ask Curt Cignetti postgame if Marsh doesn’t see the field.”

    Running back Khobie Martin (arm) is expected to miss several weeks, while Harris and Sharpe are considered day-to-day.

    Hoover Earns Locker Room Respect

    All-American offensive lineman Carter Smith offered insight into Hoover’s leadership after the quarterback played through a bloody facial injury in the opener. “It looked like he got hit in the face with a baseball bat,” Smith said. “He definitely earned the respect of his co-workers that day.”

    Pre-Game Expectations Met

    The result aligned with pre-game projections. IndyStar columnist Zach Osterman predicted a 65-7 Indiana victory, writing: “Week 2 has always shown a marked improvement under Curt Cignetti, and I’d expect the same here. Plenty of run game, plenty of line-of-scrimmage dominance. It’s hard to look at the last two years and expect anything other than a one-sided performance.”

    Indiana entered the game with more than 100 team rushing yards by the end of the first quarter, dominating the line of scrimmage as forecast.

    Game Details and Broadcast Information

    Kickoff was scheduled for noon ET on BTN, with streaming available via Fubo. Conditions at Memorial Stadium featured cloudy skies, a 40% chance of rain, and temperatures in the mid-70s.

    The Hoosiers improved to 2-0 on the season following a 52-16 season-opening win over North Texas on Sept. 5. Indiana’s 2026 schedule continues with Western Kentucky (Sept. 19, Peacock), Northwestern (Sept. 25, Fox), and a Big Ten slate featuring Ohio State (Oct. 17), Michigan (Oct. 24), and USC (Nov. 14).

    Tradition Grows at Memorial Stadium

    Saturday’s game continued Indiana’s new game-day towel tradition, which began last season with a 15,000-towel order for the student section and expanded to a full-stadium giveaway. The collectible towels, featuring player images, have become sought-after memorabilia fueled by NIL opportunities.

    Indiana captured its first football national championship in program history last January, completing a 16-0 season with a 27-21 victory over Miami on Jan. 19, 2026.