O-Line Aims to be Best in the Big Ten
8/17/2015 3:21:00 PM | Football
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson takes a special liking to his offensive line.
Wilson can relate to the guys in the trenches. He earned a football scholarship at North Carolina after playing two seasons as a walk-on center and guard. He began his coaching career as an offensive line coach at Winston-Salem State and took off from there.
Between his time as a player and as a coach, Wilson has been working with offensive lines longer than anyone on staff. So when he says he likes the group he has, he means it.
It also makes offensive line coach Greg Frey's job that much tougher. He knows Wilson will always keep an eye on the big guys up front.
"I would say Coach Frey has the hardest job on the team just because coach Wilson's an O-line guy," senior tight end Anthony Corsaro said. "He's probably watching him harder than anyone else."
So far, Frey's offensive line has met Wilson's standards.
"This is a line of scrimmage league and game, and that is the strength of this team," Wilson said. "That's why we have a lot of confidence we can be a solid team."
Part of Wilson's confidence stems from his returning talent.
The Hoosiers welcomed back three starters—Jason Spriggs, Dan Feeney and Jake Reed—and have even more experience backing them up.
Wilson said at Big Ten media day in Chicago that he could envision going as far as eight, sometimes nine guys deep into his rotation to keep players fresh.
Frey took Wilson's sentiment one step further, saying he'll play any number of players if it means helping the Hoosiers win.
"The goal is to get every one of the guys that sits in my room ready," Frey said. "As many of those guys that are ready, I'll get on the field."
In a roomful of capable bodies, getting out onto the field may be one of the biggest challenges for Indiana's offensive linemen.
The closeness in talent level between first and second string has made every practice a challenge, fifth-year senior Jake Reed said. There are no days off when the second unit is pushing the starters as hard as they are.
"The competition is as good as it's been since I've gotten here," he said. "Every day, someone's pushing you harder. Every day, someone else is having the best day."
The guys who get out on the field will no doubt have size to go along with their experience.
The average measurements of a starting offensive lineman on Wilson's initial depth chart is 6-foot-5, 305 pounds. In all, eight tip the scales at more than 300 pounds.
Redshirt junior Dimitric Camiel is the biggest of the big men, lining up at 6-foot-7, 319 pounds. He stands alongside Spriggs, who at 6-foot-7, 305 pounds said he feels small when looking toward Camiel.
"Our size is a big advantage for us as a unit," Camiel said. "It's good for the pass block, the run block and just ranging out. It helps us in a lot of ways, and you can't teach it either. We've just got it."
Indiana's combination of size and depth allows the Hoosiers to be more versatile, Frey said.
The veterans remember being one of the nation's elite passing teams two years ago. Last season, the run game became the focal point thanks to All-American rusher Tevin Coleman.
The common denominator in both seasons was the offensive line. This year, Feeney said the Hoosiers will look to be somewhere in between.
"I think the whole team is better when we have balance," Feeney said. "Us as offensive line guys, we'll do whatever you need us to do. The touchdown is worth the same whether you throw it or run it."
Feeney was just one of a few linemen to bring up the pride among the offensive linemen. More than one of them has brought up the idea of being not only one of Wilson's best groups, but potentially being the best line in the conference.
The Hoosiers certainly think it's a possibility. Just ask Camiel.
"I don't think we could be the best," he said. "I know so."
