Indiana Running Backs, Coaches Seeing Improvements to Offensive Line

Indiana hired coach Bob Bostad this offseason to improve the offensive line and run game, and so far, running back Josh Henderson and his position coach, Craig Johnson, have seen their blockers make strides this offseason.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Running back Josh Henderson says something feels different this year about the Indiana running game – and he's not talking about two-back formations or other running backs.

"I think the o-line has made such a big jump this year and this offseason," Henderson said Monday. "We put a big emphasis on them, and they've made the running – it's been better because of them.

"They've been physical. They've been working really hard in the offseason, and they showed up when we got pads on. They're getting better every day, really. The younger guys are stepping up, too, so there's competition in the o-line room, and I think that's just going to make them that much better."

Indiana's Josh Henderson (26) looks for an opening during Indiana football's Spring Football Saturday event at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 15, 2023 :: Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK

It's no secret that offensive line was a weak point during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, when Indiana posted a combined 6-18 record. Indiana allowed 38 sacks in 12 games last season, tied for second most in the Big Ten and 19th in FBS. The run game sputtered for most of the season, finishing 121st in rushing yards per game among 131 FBS programs.

Indiana fired offensive line coach Darren Hiller midway through the season and promoted Rod Carey to an interim role. The line showed moments of improvement late in the 2022 campaign, most notably in Indiana's 11th game at Michigan State on Nov. 19, when the Hoosiers rushed for 257 yards and four touchdowns. 

Knowing the importance offensive line play holds, Indiana head coach Tom Allen plucked veteran offensive line coach Bob Bostad from Wisconsin. Bostad has a track record of success across his 33-year coaching career, producing eight first-team All-Americans at Wisconsin and coaching NFL offensive linemen from 2012-15. 

Along with offensive line coaching responsibilities, Bostad is Indiana's run-game coordinator. And since his hiring in December, Henderson has noticed Bostad's emphasis on cohesion between the offensive line and running backs. 

"He just makes sure the backs understand it just as well as the o-line does, and I think that's really important," Henderson said. "We're going to make sure we're all on the same page in pass protection, run protection, whatever it is, just being on the same page with the o-line."

Indiana's Matthew Bedford (76) lunges toward the sled during the first day of fall camp for Indiana football at their practice facilities on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023 :: Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK

Indiana's scrimmage on Saturday provided a look at the Hoosiers in game-like situations and at how the offensive line might line up under Bostad. Indiana ran out a first-team offensive line of right tackle Matthew Bedford, right guard Kahlil Benson, center Zach Carpenter, left guard Mike Katic and left tackle Carter Smith. Bostad also said during fall camp that UMass transfer Max Longman is "right on the edge of being a starter."

Indiana running backs coach Craig Johnson works closely with Bostad. He also is intrigued by the progression the offensive line has shown while recognizing there's always room to grow.

"[Bostad] is very demanding for those guys," Johnson said. "He's tough on his players, but he's going to get the best out of those guys. I'm very much looking forward to seeing how much our line is going to continue to grow this year. There's a lot of good things that they're doing, and I'm sure if [Bostad] was speaking here, he'd say we still got a ways to go, as I would say, too. We have somewhat of a common history as far as the people we've had in our backgrounds, and so our run-game philosophy and pass-protection philosophy are very much in sync."

The Indiana offensive linemen have taken this challenge personally, knowing that their play will help determine the outcome of many games this season. The unit is eager to prove themselves and flip the narrative of offensive line play being the team's weakness.

"Every team has its faults in every aspect, but I think we had a huge wake-up call, knowing that we were kind of on the back end," Indiana offensive lineman Kahlil Benson said after fall camp on Aug. 2. "So we had a lot of people talking, letting us know, 'Hey, this is what it has to be. Y'all all are the leaders. Y'all lead the way.' So it's a culture thing, and we're going to defend it. That's it."

Related stories on Indiana football

• OFFENSIVE LINE POSITION PREVIEW: First up in our Indiana football position previews, the offensive line. This unit has struggled in the last two seasons, and is perhaps the most important position group heading in to 2023. On Wednesday, we talked with new offensive line coach Bob Bostad, as well as linemen Matt Bedford, Mike Katic, Kahlil Benson and Max Longman following the first day of fall camp. CLICK HERE
• FALL CAMP OBSERVATIONS: Indiana football wrapped up its second week of fall camp on Saturday with the first team scrimmage, offering more game-like reps for quarterbacks Tayven Jackson and Brendan Sorsby than any practice so far as they compete for the starting job. Here are five observations after two weeks of fall camp. CLICK HERE