Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

Indiana senior offensive lineman Mike Katic was blunt with his answer about what is pushing him and the rest of the offensive line so far this year. “We kind of really want to prove to all the noise out there that you know, we're we can play and we can protect.” Katic said.

The Hoosier offensive line has been the target of most of the noise and criticism over the last two seasons and rightfully so as the unit has failed to keep several quarterbacks healthy during a span in which they have gone 6-18.

IU has changed the way it practices it has become more physical under new offensive line coach Bob Bostad, including more work against the defensive line.

“It's definitely gotten a lot more physical.” Katic explained. “We do a lot of a lot of work with the D line whether that's one-on-one, pass rusher pods, or inside run. There's a lot of physicalness that goes on against the D-line and I think it's good, makes us both better. And it gives us more of a kind of a live feel of what a game is going to be like because you can only do so much when a lines kind of servicing the O-line. But when you get the defensive line against the O-line it kind of gives us that live feel.”

There basically is nowhere to go but up with this position group and adding a coach like Bostad should help accelerate the development this season.

The Hoosiers have not only changed routines on the field, but in the meeting room as well as Bostad brings his wealth of knowledge to film review.

“He's so intelligent with offensive line we kind of we watch every single part of practice whether that's drills one on ones team inside, and we break it down.” Katic said of Bostad. “He goes from left tackle the right tackle and breaks down what what, what do you think what do you think's you've done good lately things you can do better.”

Spring practice is unique in that it is 15 practices where you do not have to prepare for an opponent and a team can take an internal look at what they need to improve. For the offensive line, that has been working together as a unit and communicating protections.

“I think we're very comfortable with each other and that makes it easier to communicate and make calls and work double teams. So I think that cohesiveness and communication has been really good this spring ball so far.” Katic said.

There is only one way for the offensive line to go if the Hoosiers want to improve their win total from 2022 and IU’s offensive line is ready to prove their critics wrong in 2023.

The Huddle

IU's Offensive Line Out to Prove They Can Protect the Quarterback

Hoosier Huddle