Katic Set to Lead Rejuvenated Offensive Line
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Collisions are coming.
Mike Katic is ready.
Full pads are not in play, but hard hitting is during a crisp Indiana spring football practice inside the Mellencamp Pavilion.
Head coach Tom Allen delivers a mini-scrimmage challenge. The offense has 60 yards to drive for a touchdown. The defense has to stop it.
“Competition!” Allen shouts.
As a 6-4, 309-pound fifth-year senior offensive linemen with 25 starts on his resume (21 at left tackle, 4 at center), Katic is positioned to do his part on this drive, and more importantly, for next season. So, too, is a previously struggling offensive line.
Each practice, each play, is a chance to build.
“Strain to finish!” Allen shouts via bullhorn enhancement.
The offense drives to the 50-yard line, to the 20, the 10, the 1, much of it by run, a huge point of Hoosier emphasis.
On fourth and one, the offense power runs it in for a touchdown. The offense celebrates. The defense agonizes.
It suggests potential change is coming to IU’s offensive line. Katic is convinced of that, has seen it during spring practices under new offensive line coach Bob Bostad.
“The past two years have not been good for the O-line,” Katic says. “We want to prove to all the noise that we can play and protect and be dominant on the field.”
All of the criticism, and there has been plenty, provides motivation.
“We know we can do it,” Katic says. “We know we can be a good group. We just have to execute and put all the pieces together.”
That spring practice touchdown drive is a snap shot for what might become fall season reality.
“The whole cohesiveness of the offensive has come together a lot,” Katic says. “I’ve played next to Zach Carpenter for three years. When (Matthew) Bedford comes back, I’ll have been with him for five years.
“I’ve played a lot of football with Khalil (Benson), Josh Sales and the others. We’re very comfortable with each other. That makes it easier to communicate, make calls, and work double teams. The cohesiveness and communication has been good this spring.”
Credit Bostad, who brings decades of coaching experience at the college and NFL levels.
“It’s been good,” Katic says of Bostad’s impact. “We first met him before winter break. We didn’t get good feel for what he’s like on the field, but got a feel for what he was like in the meeting room.
“He brings a lot of intensity. He knows what he’s doing. He’s coached in the NFL. He coached for a while at Wisconsin. He knows the ins and outs of the offensive line and coaching it.”
What has that meant for practice?
“It’s gotten a lot more physical,” Katic says. “We do a lot of work with the D-line, whether that’s one-on-one or pass rush or inside runs. There’s a lot more physicality.
“I think it’s good. It makes us both better. You can only do so much when O-line is servicing the O-line. When you get the defensive line against the offensive line, it gives us that live feel.”
Beyond that, Katic adds, “Because Coach is so intelligent about the offensive line, we watch every part of practice -- drills, one-on-ones, team (periods), inside.
“We break it down -- he goes from left tackle to right tackle and breaks it down and lets you know what he thinks you’ve done well, what he thinks you need to do better.”
Previous coaches did that, but Bostad bringing a different voice makes an impact.
“It’s been like that with previous O-line coaches,” Katic says. “Maybe the way they break down film is different, but it’s all kind of the same in the meeting rooms.”
In practice, Katic goes most frequently against defensive lineman LeDarrius Cox, but also battles Patrick Lucas Jr., Western Michigan transfer Andre Carter, and redshirt freshman Nick James
“Nick James is a younger guy who gives a great look,” Katic says. “He’s fast off the ball. He has fast twitch. He comes off low.
“All four of those guys give tough battles in the trenches.”
As far as new offensive line contributors, redshirt freshman Bray Lynch has made a big jump, Katic says. True freshman William Larkins is adjusting to college ball after enrolling for the second semester.
“That’s like any other early enrollee,” Katic says. “He needs more time to feel comfortable.”
Longman, who once played for offensive coordinator Walt Bell at Massachusetts, has blended in quickly.
“Being an older transfer, he brings experience,” Katic says. “It’s not that big of an adjustment for him because he’s worked with Coach Bell before.”
Carter Smith has made major progress as a potential replacement for graduated left tackle Luke Haggard. Smith’s limited action last season included the Ohio State game.
“(Haggard and I) played next to each other on that side of the ball for a couple of years,” Katic says. “You get in this weird transition phase when you play with a guy for so long and then a new guy comes in. I’m trying to use my experience to help get (Smith) up to speed on how I play. Get a feel for how he plays.
“He plays mature. He got in a little bit in Ohio State game. That matured him. He’s bringing a more mature style, especially with the ones because he’s rolling with the ones. There's a lot of experience up front with the one group, so he needs to play mature and keep adding and leaning. If he does, he’ll be in a good spot.”