Offensive Line Looking to Execute at High Level
3/28/2017 6:06:00 PM | Football
By: Charlie Duffy
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – It is no secret that Indiana's offensive line has been a huge factor in the team's success in recent years. This year's group will look different than one year ago, not just schematically, but also the personnel manning the trenches.
All-American Dan Feeney and starting tackle Dimitric Camiel have both graduated. The team will turn to young depth to fill the void left by the two senior departures.
"We have to have some younger guys step up," offensive lineman Wes Martin said. "Those are some big shoes to fill, but I think that we have some young guys really working toward that."
Martin, a redshirt junior, started all 13 games at right guard as a sophomore and will be a key piece as the season progresses. He, and the rest of the offensive line group, brings a workmanlike attitude to the film room and the field.
"It is a good group of guys, hard-working, blue collar kids," run game coordinator and offensive line coach Darren Hiller said. "They like the meeting time, they like practice, there is not a lack of effort."
Hiller enters his first season as the offensive line coach at IU following stints at South Florida, Cincinnati and Nevada. He represents one of the five new offensive coaches on the Hoosier staff.
With the new staff comes a new playbook, and more importantly new play-calling verbiage. The staff is utilizing spring ball to install the new scheme, slowly introducing the playbook. Hiller called the install the 'meat and potatoes' of the 2017 offensive blueprint.
"The biggest challenge has been learning a new language," Hiller said. "A lot of our plays are similar to what they have been running, but the techniques are a little bit different. The language has been the biggest change."
The change has not been lost on the players. Although it can be challenging to learn a new set of plays, especially at the tempo that Indiana plays with, Martin is up to the task. He is embracing the information overload and continuing to improve his game.
"There has been a lot of change, obviously, but I think that change can be a good thing," Martin stated. "We are getting used to the new offense, the new terminology, and I think we are coming along really well."
With the Spring Game just over two weeks away, the Hoosier line will look to continue to improve on the nuances of playing the position, sharpening skills and moving toward a higher level of execution.
"Fundamentally and technically we want to be sound with what we are trying to get accomplished," Hiller said. "By the time spring practice ends we want to be able to execute at a high level."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – It is no secret that Indiana's offensive line has been a huge factor in the team's success in recent years. This year's group will look different than one year ago, not just schematically, but also the personnel manning the trenches.
All-American Dan Feeney and starting tackle Dimitric Camiel have both graduated. The team will turn to young depth to fill the void left by the two senior departures.
"We have to have some younger guys step up," offensive lineman Wes Martin said. "Those are some big shoes to fill, but I think that we have some young guys really working toward that."
Martin, a redshirt junior, started all 13 games at right guard as a sophomore and will be a key piece as the season progresses. He, and the rest of the offensive line group, brings a workmanlike attitude to the film room and the field.
"It is a good group of guys, hard-working, blue collar kids," run game coordinator and offensive line coach Darren Hiller said. "They like the meeting time, they like practice, there is not a lack of effort."
Hiller enters his first season as the offensive line coach at IU following stints at South Florida, Cincinnati and Nevada. He represents one of the five new offensive coaches on the Hoosier staff.
With the new staff comes a new playbook, and more importantly new play-calling verbiage. The staff is utilizing spring ball to install the new scheme, slowly introducing the playbook. Hiller called the install the 'meat and potatoes' of the 2017 offensive blueprint.
"The biggest challenge has been learning a new language," Hiller said. "A lot of our plays are similar to what they have been running, but the techniques are a little bit different. The language has been the biggest change."
The change has not been lost on the players. Although it can be challenging to learn a new set of plays, especially at the tempo that Indiana plays with, Martin is up to the task. He is embracing the information overload and continuing to improve his game.
"There has been a lot of change, obviously, but I think that change can be a good thing," Martin stated. "We are getting used to the new offense, the new terminology, and I think we are coming along really well."
With the Spring Game just over two weeks away, the Hoosier line will look to continue to improve on the nuances of playing the position, sharpening skills and moving toward a higher level of execution.
"Fundamentally and technically we want to be sound with what we are trying to get accomplished," Hiller said. "By the time spring practice ends we want to be able to execute at a high level."
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