Mike Katic Discusses Offensive Line Development Under Coach Bob Bostad
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Offensive line play has been a glaring issue for Indiana football in recent years, which led to a coaching change midway through the 2022 season.
Indiana fired offensive line coach Darren Hiller and promoted Rod Carey to an interim role for the final six games, and on Dec. 2, Indiana hired new offensive line coach and run-game coordinator Bob Bostad. A 33-year coaching veteran, Bostad coached eight first-team All-Americans at Wisconsin and helped Taylor Lewan earn NFL All-Rookie honors in 2014.
"With coach Bostad, I love the drill work," Indiana coach Tom Allen said after spring practice on March 22. "I love the attention to detail. I love the intensity and toughness that he's created with our guys. He's a no nonsense guy, and I'm expecting improvement in that area."
Bostad is tasked with improving an Indiana offensive line allowed 38 sacks last season, tied for second most in the Big Ten. Indiana ran a pass-first offense last season, but it's run game managed just 110.8 yards per game, which ranked 111th out of 130 teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
In order for Indiana to improve on a 6-18 record over the last two seasons, it starts up front. And entering his redshirt senior season, Mike Katic is pushing himself and the offensive line to make a change.
"Obviously, the past two years have not been real good for the o-line," Katic, who's started 25 games since 2020, said Tuesday after spring practice. "So we really want prove to all the noise out there that we can play and we can protect and we can be dominant on the field. I think it's just everything surrounding the outside is what's giving us the motivation, because we know that we can do it. We know we can be a good group, but we just have to execute and put all the pieces together."
Indiana's Jaylin Lucas (12) celebrates with Mike Katic (56) after Lucas' touchdown during the first half of the Indiana versus Purdue football game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022.
Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK
Katic described Bostad as intelligent, saying he brings a lot of intensity to the field and in the film room with the offensive line. Katic has also noticed practice being more physical under Bostad's direction.
Through one-on-one drills against the defensive line, Katic said the offensive line gets a feel for what game situations will be like. He thinks this has made both position groups better as a result.
"Me and LD, LeDarrius Cox, we battle probably the most," Katic said. "Then PJ Lucas, we battle a lot. I think Nick James, who's a younger guy, he gives a great look. He's fast off the ball, he's fast-twitch, he comes off low. So I think those three guys, Andre Carter, one of the new transfers, he's a really good player. So I think all four of those guys give a tough battle in the trenches so far."
Operating as a unit is key for any offensive line, but due to injuries and productivity, Indiana lacked consistency on the offensive line and tried new combinations throughout the season. Redshirt senior Matthew Bedford is working his way back from an ACL tear in Week 1, but Katic feels the group is more cohesive after the experience it gained last season.
"I've played next to Zach Carpenter for going on three years now," Katic said. "When Bedford comes back, I've been with him for five years. Khalil [Benson] played a lot of football last year, Josh [Sales] played a lot of football last year. So 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 the cohesiveness and communication has been really good this spring ball."
Indiana offensive line coach and run game coordinator Bob Bostad speaks during his introductory press conference on Jan. 22 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind.
Indiana Athletics
A few younger players and incoming transfers to keep an eye on include redshirt freshmen Carter Smith and Bray Lynch, true freshman William Larkins and transfer Max Longman, who played for Indiana offensive coordinator Walt Bell at UMass.
Katic said he's seen Lynch, a former three-star recruit from Westlake High School, a powerhouse program in Austin, Tex., make a big jump throughout his first year on campus.
With the departure of starting left tackle Luke Haggard, Smith has been getting reps at left tackle next to Katic. This change has come with an adjustment period, but Katic has been impressed with Smith this spring.
"He plays mature I'd say," Katic said of Smith. "I think he got in a little bit in the Ohio State game last year, and I think that game matured him. I think he's bringing more of a mature style to his game, especially with the ones because he's rolling with the ones, but there's a lot of experience up front with the one group. So he needs to play mature, keep adding and keep learning more from everyone and he'll be in a good spot."
Related stories on Indiana football
- RUNNING BACKS TALK SPRING PRACTICE: Indiana running backs Jaylin Lucas and Josh Henderson return to the Hoosiers this season determined to up their physicality and clean up past mistakes in spring ball. Coach Tom Allen made moves to add more depth to the room with players like Christian Turner out of Wake Forest competing for a starting role. CLICK HERE
- SPRING FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: Following Indiana's spring football practice on Thursday, coach Tom Allen talked about a group of incoming transfers along the defensive line making an early impact and junior college transfer Tyrik McDaniel impressing early on. CLICK HERE
- SPRING FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: After spring football practice on Thursday, Indiana coach Tom Allen discussed the offensive line's development with new coach Bob Bostad, flexibility in the running back room and what he's seen from the wide receiver room. CLICK HERE
- PRO DAY Q&A: Indiana football players Cam Jones, Tiawan Mullen, Bryant Fitzgerald and Jaylin Williams met with the media following Tuesday's Pro Day at Mellencamp Pavilion. CLICK HERE
