Bedford Embraces ‘Giant Offensive Line Responsibility’
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - It’s on Michael Bedford. He gets it. Offensive line leadership has to come from him. Indiana’s senior has basically played it all, seen it all, endured it all.
He’s played on a Cream & Crimson offensive juggernaut and on a struggling unit. He’s faced the Big Ten’s best, helped beat them, in fact, and it’s time to fully share, direct, and motivate.
Bedford will not replace offensive line coach Darren Hiller or head coach Tom Allen as the primary voice, but he will have his say -- as will other key IU veterans -- because it’s the only way to win.
And at 6-6 and 314 pounds, with 28 career games on his resume, Bedford’s words are big in every way.
“I am taking responsibility for my young guys,” he says. “When we mess up, it is not just Coach Hiller yelling at us. After he gets done, it’s making sure each guy knows what (Hiller is) talking about.”
Veterans can add context to coaching direction. They can provide insight that only comes from recent playing, from having been in the battles.
“When I first got here,” Bedford says, “it was a lot of Coach Hiller telling me what I was supposed to be doing and I did not fully understand what he was saying. Having the older guys come to me and put it in our words helped me understand the game in a different way.”
What those veterans did for Bedford, he wants to do for the younger linemen. It’s the player-led-team concept these Hoosiers embrace as perhaps they didn’t during last season’s struggles.
“That is the aspect of player-led that we lacked last year,” Bedford says. “We do not like to talk about last year a lot, but it was not there.
“Now that I am in this position where I am able to have more of an impact on the younger guys, I am able to help get the guys ready for game day. I need to take a giant responsibility in preparing them.”
That starts with the Sept. 2 season opener against Illinois at Memorial Stadium.
Four years in a college strength and conditioning program have elevated Bedford’s mental and physical edge.
“My body has changed,” he says. “At the time (I was a freshman), I was 310 pounds of fat. Now I have a lot more muscle.
“With that, my technique and stuff has developed a lot. My knowledge of the game, just the game experience over the years, has helped a lot.
“I have been able to see all kinds of defenses and all kinds of personnel. I have seen a lot of different pass rushers on the edge and interior guys up front.”
Adds Hiller: “He still brings (physicality), but the biggest thing has been a growth from a mental aspect of football.”
Bedford wasn’t supposed to start as a freshman in 2019. He was a promising backup with imposing size, major potential, and limited experience.
An injury to an offensive line veteran forced Bedford into a key role as the Hoosiers were set to play at Michigan State.
Hiller was on edge.
“I didn't sleep well the night before that game because he was going to be starting his first football game there,” Hiller says. “He really didn't know a whole lot about football in general, forget college football. He was very green.”
Bedford went on to start eight games, and played nine overall for one of the most prolific offenses in Hoosier history. IU tied the school record by scoring at least 30 points in nine-straight games, and averaged 31.8 points. Bedford was named the team’s offensive newcomer of the year.
In 2020, he started seven times at right tackle. Last season, he was in do-whatever-the-team-needed mode, starting eight times at right guard, three times at left guard, and one time at right tackle. That earned him honorable-mention all-conference recognition.
Overall, Bedford has 27 college starts -- eight each at right guard, left tackle and right tackle, and three times at left guard.
In case you’re wondering, Bedford isn’t set to start at (or even play) center this season (Zach Carpenter has that role), although don’t doubt him if it becomes necessary.
“Matt has got very good feet and great hip explosion,” Hiller says. “The biggest thing for Matt has been the learning curve from playing high school football to college football. That to me, has been the best part; watching his growth from 2019.”
Strong offensive line play is critical this season. Bedford, senior Luke Haggard (last year’s most outstanding offensive lineman) and junior Mike Katic are the veteran anchors, with Carpenter (a former Michigan transfer), Tim Weaver, Kahlil Benson, Vinny Fiacable, Cameron Knight and Joshua Sales Jr., plus junior college transfer Parker Hanna, set for big roles.
Hiller wants more physical and aggressive line play.
“I think last year we were a little soft,” he says. “We have to be physical, and not just in the run game. I tell these guys that pass protection, the word is passive, but the mentality can’t be.
Glory is rarely found on the offensive line, certainly not in the manner of quarterback or receiver. It is often punishing and relentless, and only those who play that way thrive.
As Hiller puts it, “Playing offensive line is a position that you have to embrace the boredom of consistency. It's repetitive and doing things over-and-over.
“From a year ago to now, I think we've made a lot of strides in that regard. Kids are working hard. It's been a great camp. We're just trying to grind every day.”
During Sunday’s practice, Hiller shouts when necessary, pulls a player off to the side for more personal instruction when appropriate. A ballcap and gray beard mask much of his face, but not his intention. He stands behind the quarterback when plays are run, analyzing blocking, foot work, hand position, effort and, in essence, everything.
Hiller preaches leverage, base and balance in run blocking, and set, punch and play basketball in pass blocking.
Yes, basketball.
Specifically, Hiller wants offensive linemen to mirror the foot work of pass rushers in the same way a basketball defender would.
“We're not playing basketball, we're defending in basketball,” Hiller says. “And we get unlimited fouls.”
Bedford wouldn’t want it any other way.
“You can smack (the defensive lineman); you can throw both hands at him; you can snatch him. You can do all kinds of things to defeat a defender.
“Playing basketball is mirroring the guy with your feet. It’s all about mirroring him. The fouling part is just being aggressive.”
Beyond that, good line play demands communication, team work and chemistry. It means having the vision and mentality to adjust to what the defense is doing.
“It's not about whether the defense is in a three-man front or four-man front,” Hiller says. “A lot of it is the post-snap. When the ball is snapped, and the bolts are flying, and people are moving and blitzing and doing different things, that's where the natural reactions about playing offensive line (come into play) and (you need to know) where to get your eyes and what you need to do with your feet.”
If the Hoosiers do that, if Bedford helps the Hoosiers do that, well, imagine the possibilities.