Offense boasts four new players

No position on the football team might have benefited more from the Hoosiers' 11-day training camp in Marshall, Ind., than the offensive line. \nWhile sweltering away in the 90-degree heat, the inexperienced, but potentially talented offensive line started to click.\n"We are used to working together as a unit," said sophomore left tackle A.C. Myler, who will be starting his first game as an offensive lineman Saturday against North Carolina State. "I think Marshall helped us get used to working together as a unit. We\'re a close-knit group anyway and that helps us on the field."\nJunior quarterback Antwaan Randle El, whose effectiveness could hinge on the new-look offensive line's performance, agreed that his blockers returned from Marshall as an improved unit.\n"The most important thing is that they are a lot better than they were before we went to Marshall," Randle El said. "The only thing I can do is encourage them and let them know what I can do."\nFor Randle El and the offense to repeat its 1999 performance, the offensive line and its four new starters must improve on a continual basis. \n"We\'re all big guys, we\'re all strong guys and we\'re all athletic guys," Myler said. "We plan on being good this year. We understand it might take us a little longer to get better, but we plan on being good."\nSophomore right tackle Enoch DeMar is the only member of the offensive line starting Saturday with any collegiate experience at his position. The 6-foot-4, 320-pound DeMar started all 11 games in 1999.\nJoining DeMar on the offensive line at the guard positions are redshirt freshmen Anthony Oakley and Sione Ohuafi.\nProtecting Randle El\'s blind-side will be Myler, who played defensive tackle in 1999. The 6-foot-4, 327-pound Myler switched to the offensive line prior to the start of spring practice in March and has welcomed the move.\n"You have to be aggressive anywhere you play in football and defense is fun, but offense is what wins," Myler said. "You got to score points to win. The defensive line might be more aggressive from the onset, but on the offense and defensive line you have to be aggressive to be good."\n Junior Craig Osika will be IU\'s starting center after being selected as an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection as a tight end last season.\n"Craig is doing an excellent job, and he's a guy that is just going to get better every snap," coach Cam Cameron said.\nAlso new to the line is coach Hal Hunter, who replaces Mark Deal as offensive line coach prior to the start of spring practice. Hunter is also IU\'s offensive coordinator until Pete Schmidt returns from his battle with lymphoma in 2001.\n"He's brought a simple system and it\'s easy to learn," Myler said of Hunter. "He's got us ingrained in learning the fundamentals of it. It seems fluid and we\'re going to do a good job at it."\nWhile the line is improving, Cameron realizes the unit is still young.\n"We're not asking them to do too much too fast," Cameron said. "Everyone is getting better. I have been encouraged with what I\'ve seen from them, and they should get better and better"