Indiana Football: Offensive line the key to IU’s success in 2019?

Players reported to fall camp on Thursday and that meant that it was time for the Indiana football coaches to face the mics again.

The 2019 Indiana football season has officially begun as players reported to fall camp on Thursday. With a lot of expectation for the season, there was a lot to talk about when the coaches took to the podium this morning.

While the quarterback battle was still the main topic, Coach Tom Allen had a lot to say when it came to the offensive line and what he called a “key concern”.

"“There’s no question. As we mentioned, it’s one of my key concerns slash areas of emphasis. So yeah, you really want seven or eight guys you feel are really good. Perfect scenario is you’ve got 10, you’ve got a number two behind everyone that’s the next guy in. It doesn’t always work like that. We always say we’re going to play our best five. So you kind of shuffle the deck sometimes when that happens.”"

Currently, four of the five projected starters on the offensive line are either seniors or juniors, with two of the seniors being fifth-year guys. Behind them however, are 13 other players with nine of them either freshmen or redshirt freshmen. With so much live game inexperience going around the line, the guys who will see the field this season will have to learn quickly.

Tom Allen will try to create as much experience as possible once practice starts on Friday in order to get the youngsters ready for Big Ten football.

"“….You’ll see different combinations of groups in there, not necessarily because of injuries but just because we’re trying to get more guys ready, because we know that a guy like Matt Bedford, even though he’s a true freshman, was here in the spring, so he has a different level of rep base and experience than a guy like Tim Weaver who just got here doesn’t have.”"

For that inexperience, it is important to have the returning guys take on a leadership role and take that group under their wing.

"“We kind of know what Coy can do, we know what Simon can do and Hunter Littlejohn, as well. I just think those three guys have really kind of established themselves as guys that are anchors there on that O-line, which is exciting and a good thing, but got to bring those other guys along.”"

There is no question Indiana has the most talent around the field, especially in their skill positions, in recent years, but if whoever is under center can’t get them the ball, there is no point in having them.

While the offensive line has been a big reason for the improved play for Indiana in recent years, they need to take another step in the right direction and play like they have years of experience in order to take this team back to a bowl game.