Injuries, play shuffle offensive line

IU Coach Kevin Wilson remained positive about many aspects of Saturday’s loss against Ball State. The battle at the line was not one of them.

“We’ve got to run the ball and stop the run,” Wilson said. “If not, you’re going to die a slow death in college football. And so, if we have to put twelve people out there with butcher knives and run the wishbone, you’ve got to run the football, and you’ve got to stop the run.”

IU’s experienced offensive line struggled to defend sophomore quarterback Edward Wright-Baker, allowing four sacks.

But the Hoosiers’ attitude is that they are done dwelling and are considering the next task ­— a Virginia team that won its season opener against William & Mary, 40-3.

“We’re focused on Virginia right now and what they do,” Offensive Line Coach Greg Frey said. “They’re a great defense. They’ve got a couple of All-American candidates there, and they play real sound football and bring a lot of pressure.”

Cavalier senior defensive linemen Matt Conrath, Nick Jenkins and Cam Johnson will provide a difficult test for the IU offensive line. They combine for 87 starts, and Johnson is on the watch lists for the Ted Hendricks and Lombardi awards.

Wilson, who played on the offensive line at North Carolina from 1980-1983, said he understands success on the field usually stems from excitement and passion for the game.

“It’s a game, so you need to have some fun,” Wilson said. “It’s a passionate game. It’s a game of energy and enthusiasm, and we didn’t have it — and that starts with me. ”

IU’s mentality on protection will not be the only different aspect of the line — the starting lineup will change.

Senior Josh Hager, the starting right tackle, injured his knee against Ball State and will require surgery. The surgery could sideline Hager for the entire season, Wilson said.

The injury resulted in senior right guard Justin Pagan moving to right tackle and redshirt freshman right guard Cody Evers coming into the game.

Evers said he is excited to potentially start again. He described his entrance into the third quarter in Indianapolis as “a shock to the system” and said it will be easier to play from the start of Saturday’s game.

Pagan could also potentially start Saturday, as well as the rest of the offensive line since Frey and the other offensive coaches don’t have the players earning their positions each week. This includes players like junior center Will Matte, who has started 25 consecutive games, and senior left tackle Andrew McDonald, who started 11 games last season.

“As far as o-line, Coach really just picks whoever’s doing the best,” McDonald said. “He’ll move guys around and find the best five, really. My spot’s not even guaranteed.”

McDonald and other upperclassmen on the line are competing with freshmen like Peyton Eckert and Bernard Taylor. They didn’t play last week, but Wilson wants to see them get involved in the offense as soon as possible.

“We’ll look this week as we move to try and get Peyton Eckert and Bernard Taylor in the mix,” Wilson said. “They were two guys we didn’t play, and we’ve got to keep playing some of our young guys, keep developing our depth in that way and keep competition and all that deal.”

Even if Hager was healthy, he would still have to earn his starting spot again, McDonald said.

“Each week is the same thing,” Frey said. “You’ve got a group of guys who are working hard (and) you find the five best, ready to play on Saturday, and those five play. ”