Matte impressed with offensive line play
For the 2012 season, IU's offensive line will only have two upperclassmen on it's entire roster.
Leading the young core of linemen will be senior center Will Matte, who is one of the 51 players in the entire nation on the Rimington Trophy Watch List heading into this season, an award given annually to the country's best center.
Following Saturday's practice scrimmage, Matte had encouraging words to say about the younger players on IU's roster.
"I think just in the O-Line room, all of the freshmen are really pretty talented, smart kids," Matte said. "They understand the offense and are coming along, but they can improve as well."
One point of emphasis for improvement for the offensive line heading into this season was pass protection. During the 2011 campaign, IU allowed 31 sacks over their 12 game span, the fourth most in the Big Ten.
Matte said that from what he has seen, that statistic will improve in 2012.
"I think we're definitely improved on pass protection as well as the run game," Matte said. "I think it's just a matter of building each day and that's what we're aiming to do."
Despite that, there will be the challenge of grooming the eight freshmen into successful offensive linemen.
As of right now, Matte believes they are on the right track.
"I think for the younger guys, it's just understanding the offense more as far as what they do on each play," Matte said. "Technique wise, they've come along pretty nicely, but for the young guys it's just understanding the plays. We can't be comfortable but I think if we keep working and we continue to press ourselves, we'll be alright."
Wilson names tentative starting quarterback
Heading into this season, IU Coach Kevin Wilson said that every starting position on his football team would be an open competition.
As of Saturday, one of those jobs has been filled, as the second-year coach tabbed sophomore Tre Roberson as the tentative starting quarterback.
"Tre right now is our guy," Wilson said. "But those other two guys are on his heels and they're competing, and it's encouraging."
Roberson is the only returning quarterback from the 2011 roster, and started the final six games for the Hoosiers last season. In his nine games played, Roberson passed for 937 yards and three touchdowns, however recorded six interceptions on the year. He also rushed for 426 net yards on 109 attempts, averaging 47.3 rushing yards per game.
With the hiring of former Arizona offensive coordinator Seth Littrell, however, Wilson says Roberson is successfully transferring his talent towards a pass-first offense.
"Tre, for the athlete, is really throwing it better, and it's great to see," Wilson said. "He's embraced the idea that 'I need to be a good quarterback.'"
Wilson said that freshman quarterback Nate Sudfeld and sophomore Cam Coffman are not far behind Roberson as far as their progress is concerned. He specifically appaluded Sudfeld's ability to run the two-minute offense and to make creative plays when necessary.
"Right now all three quarterbacks are better than any three that played last year today," Wilson said. "Still, it's not as good as we want, but I like all three of them right now."
Other Notes:
- Junior offensive tackle Charlie Chapman has a concussion that has sidelined him for about "six or seven practices."
- Freshman running back Tevin Coleman has run sprints wide open in practice. Wilson said the last time he's seen that, it was when he was coaching Adrian Peterson at Oklahoma.
- Wilson said he is looking for defensive linemen seniors Adam Replogle and Larry Black Jr. to step up to be "upper-level Big Ten players."
- Saturday's practice was the first scrimmage of the Fall. The team will not be practicing next weekend, coinciding with the start of Fall Semester.
Next practice report: Monday, Aug. 13
