Indiana Football: Defensive line brings mixed bag of youth, experience to 2019

The Indiana football program looks to lean on a couple of the experienced lineman to set the tone for the abundance of youth.

Not only will the Indiana football program be dealing with a new defensive coordinator in Kane Wommack, but it will also be adjusting to many new and inexperienced faces along the defensive line.

The Hoosiers have one thing on their mind in 2019 and that is to pressure the quarterback at a much higher rate than in 2018. Last season Indiana ranked just 10th in total sacks (22.0) in the Big Ten and because of that lack of pressure, the defense gave up the 4th most passing yards per game (229.0) in the conference. Now with even more inexperience on the line, it becomes a major key to the defense heading into this season.

While getting pressure on the quarterback is a main concern, so is rushing defense. The Hoosiers gave up the 5th most yards per carry (4.6) as well as yards per game (183.2).

"“Rushing defense and red zone defense, those are things that have not been accomplished in a number of years here, and that is the goal for us.” Said Wommack at Indiana media day."

The name with the most experience on the line and someone that looks to build off of a good 2018 is redshirt junior Jerome Johnson. Johnson led the Hoosiers with 3.5 sacks and shared third on the team with 5.5 tackles for loss. His performance all season awarded him with the team’s Chris Dal Sasso Award (Outstanding Lineman).

The Mississippi native can play a few positions on the line as he has the athleticism and size to penetrate and disrupt the offensive flow.

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Juan Harris is another name that has Big Ten football experience at the defensive tackle position with the Hoosiers, but spent last year at Independence C.C. before returning back to the Indiana program for 2019. Injuries have plagued him so far in his young career, but if he can stay on the field, he and Johnson will be a dynamic force in the middle of the line.

On the defensive end side of the line, Michael Ziemba is someone who could have a breakout season in 2019. The junior started his career at IU as a strong-side defensive end before moving to weak-side defensive end. The former linebacker and tight end in high school has the versatility and athleticism that the Hoosiers need at the defensive end position.

Sophomore James Head is another name that impressed early in his IU career and someone who will be relied on and expected to take that next step in his production.

One youngster that could have an immediate impact is freshman Beau Robbins. The four-star talent will look to break into the rotation and help the line in a few ways. Because it is difficult to hold up in the Big Ten as a true freshman for the entire season, it will be good to have some depth on the defensive-end part of the d-line so Robbins can go through his growing pains.

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Because of the depth, Wommack and the defense will be able to have a steady rotation of fresh legs in the game, but needs to make sure that doesn’t bite them when it comes to being aggressive with some of the inexperience.

"“There’s a fine line there, but I do think we can take advantage of that in being aggressive, but at the same time you’ve got to make sure all those reps are being disseminated properly.” Wommack explained."

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