OL: Recruiting & Coaching

[IndyIUFan66]

In last week I've seen two IU targeted OL recruits instead sign with Ole Miss and Mich St. I can't argue, those are two good FB schools, so in some ways good IU making good company at the end of recruiting, but that's only a moral victory. When will the real victories start happening?

This is a big year for the OL to help the offense in general hum this year. Last year was not good, but everyone wants to believe a year of growth, the new S/C program and everyone returning (more depth) means it should be better year for the IU Oline and hence, the offense in general.

I do admit since his hire, I've been perhaps "underwhelmed" by O-line coach Hiller. First, he was following big shoes in Frey, who had back to back years of NFL drafted O-lineman. Even his bio seems unclear to me: "Coached 20 players who went on to the NFL, including tackle Kofi Amichia, a sixth round selection by the Green Bay Packers in the 2017 NFL Draft." So does that mean guys who got camp invites? Not sure I'd call that (6th round pick) a stellar OL development record.

I don't know how well he's connecting with recruits or doing on the recruiting front, but thus far I haven't seen anything off the charts that he's responsible for landing. We'll soon see how he does in season #2 with a more veteran OL and solid new S/C program behind them terms of performance.

Hiring people you know, as Allen has done with a few of his coaches on staff, does provide a comfort level in terms of culture & personality, but can cause a blind spot too when analyzing performance. To me the offense year two is where the focus should be as I feel like the Defense, even with the graduations, is more of a well oiled machine now, especially if they can get help from the offense...

Which starts with the play of the O-Line. We're watching!

 

[Indianaftw]

I'm with you here...Not sure who he has put in the league but he does have a terrific resume. Personally I don't hire resume's, I hire people so I have no clue what this guy is like. Everyone got a pass year one but you can't just keep giving passes out. This year is very important IMO on OL recruiting. Last year we took 2 OL and 1 grad transfer. Honestly every year you should bring in at least 4 OL thats jmo so hopefully the staff grabs a bunch this year and they fit the mold of the defensive recruiting which look like violent physical players. Plenty of time BUT they need to get on IT and soon.

 

[crossfire74]

I'm with you here...Not sure who he has put in the league but he does have a terrific resume. Personally I don't hire resume's, I hire people so I have no clue what this guy is like. Everyone got a pass year one but you can't just keep giving passes out. This year is very important IMO on OL recruiting. Last year we took 2 OL and 1 grad transfer. Honestly every year you should bring in at least 4 OL thats jmo so hopefully the staff grabs a bunch this year and they fit the mold of the defensive recruiting which look like violent physical players. Plenty of time BUT they need to get on IT and soon.

My personal thoughts are the OL would have struggled if Frey would have stayed. A lot of last year was a product of Wilson/Frey taking no OL in one class and only have a couple pan out from the next. So only getting 2 out of 8 OL in a two year span killed us. So that's why I think we struggle regardless of who is coaching them.

Frey and Hiller are similar in they like athletic linemen with good knee bend. They like to pull a lot so they want athletes. The biggest difference that I have seen in the recruiting aspects is Frey was more content on getting kids that were undersized and letting them grown into being an OL, but Hiller seems to like guys more "body-ready", and by that I mean they are bigger guys and closer to 300. Each lineman has to work on technique and for those bigger have to turn mass into strength and leverage or simply grown into it, but it seems more coaches do try to bring in those body ready types rather than having them grow into something.

According to his bio he's put 20 players in the NFL throughout his career. Frey's bio states 20 as well, so pretty even there.

As for this season, we did lose Becher to Ole Miss, Kaylor to MSU, and a couple kids to Michigan. Becher popped quickly to Ole Miss, and while I don't know, I have a feeling it was a get it or lose it pitch. Kaylor per TOS was simply fed up with the recruiting process. MSU had offered long ago and we just had, so there you go. And Michigan is Michigan. The thing about recruiting is there are plenty of good players out there that fit what we need, so we will get what we need to. I'm sure we will sign 3 or 4 and they will be solid prospects for us. I wouldn't lose any sleep over recruiting in June. Still lots of time.

 

[newIUfan]

Recruiting requires trade-offs and a whole team approach. You want more linebackers, it means fewer OL so lack of numbers is a team issue/choice for the most part. As for 2018 IU did not lose a OL member so the need was low and IU picked up two quality OL. Nick Marozas, the 19th ranked player out of Illinois with 12 other offers including Virginia, Minnesota, and N. Illinois. Aidan Rafferty was a highly recruited OLman with 23 offers including Arizona, BC, Louisville, Mich St, NCst, Maryland, UVA, Va. Tech, and about every Ivy League school. The Hoosiers are years away on passing judgement on the OL coaches ability to recruit and coach up players.

 

[IndyIUFan66]

Recruiting requires trade-offs and a whole team approach. You want more linebackers, it means fewer OL so lack of numbers is a team issue/choice for the most part. As for 2018 IU did not lose a OL member so the need was low and IU picked up two quality OL. Nick Marozas, the 19th ranked player out of Illinois with 12 other offers including Virginia, Minnesota, and N. Illinois. Aidan Rafferty was a highly recruited OLman with 23 offers including Arizona, BC, Louisville, Mich St, NCst, Maryland, UVA, Va. Tech, and about every Ivy League school. The Hoosiers are years away on passing judgement on the OL coaches ability to recruit and coach up players.

Not sure why have to set any kind of low bar as in can’t have an opinion on their abilities or results!

I want to be fair to Hiller and see how we do this season and next year’s recruits. I’m open!

 

[secondasky]

In last week I've seen two IU targeted OL recruits instead sign with Ole Miss and Mich St. I can't argue, those are two good FB schools, so in some ways good IU making good company at the end of recruiting, but that's only a moral victory. When will the real victories start happening?

This is a big year for the OL to help the offense in general hum this year. Last year was not good, but everyone wants to believe a year of growth, the new S/C program and everyone returning (more depth) means it should be better year for the IU Oline and hence, the offense in general.

I do admit since his hire, I've been perhaps "underwhelmed" by O-line coach Hiller. First, he was following big shoes in Frey, who had back to back years of NFL drafted O-lineman. Even his bio seems unclear to me: "Coached 20 players who went on to the NFL, including tackle Kofi Amichia, a sixth round selection by the Green Bay Packers in the 2017 NFL Draft." So does that mean guys who got camp invites? Not sure I'd call that (6th round pick) a stellar OL development record.

I don't know how well he's connecting with recruits or doing on the recruiting front, but thus far I haven't seen anything off the charts that he's responsible for landing. We'll soon see how he does in season #2 with a more veteran OL and solid new S/C program behind them terms of performance.

Hiring people you know, as Allen has done with a few of his coaches on staff, does provide a comfort level in terms of culture & personality, but can cause a blind spot too when analyzing performance. To me the offense year two is where the focus should be as I feel like the Defense, even with the graduations, is more of a well oiled machine now, especially if they can get help from the offense...

Which starts with the play of the O-Line. We're watching!

I almost posted the same thoughts on the OL and Hiller.

In last week I've seen two IU targeted OL recruits instead sign with Ole Miss and Mich St. I can't argue, those are two good FB schools, so in some ways good IU making good company at the end of recruiting, but that's only a moral victory. When will the real victories start happening?

This is a big year for the OL to help the offense in general hum this year. Last year was not good, but everyone wants to believe a year of growth, the new S/C program and everyone returning (more depth) means it should be better year for the IU Oline and hence, the offense in general.

I do admit since his hire, I've been perhaps "underwhelmed" by O-line coach Hiller. First, he was following big shoes in Frey, who had back to back years of NFL drafted O-lineman. Even his bio seems unclear to me: "Coached 20 players who went on to the NFL, including tackle Kofi Amichia, a sixth round selection by the Green Bay Packers in the 2017 NFL Draft." So does that mean guys who got camp invites? Not sure I'd call that (6th round pick) a stellar OL development record.

I don't know how well he's connecting with recruits or doing on the recruiting front, but thus far I haven't seen anything off the charts that he's responsible for landing. We'll soon see how he does in season #2 with a more veteran OL and solid new S/C program behind them terms of performance.

Hiring people you know, as Allen has done with a few of his coaches on staff, does provide a comfort level in terms of culture & personality, but can cause a blind spot too when analyzing performance. To me the offense year two is where the focus should be as I feel like the Defense, even with the graduations, is more of a well oiled machine now, especially if they can get help from the offense...

Which starts with the play of the O-Line. We're watching!

Thought about posting something similar yesterday. I was surprised the one recruit went to Ole Miss because of their probation restrictions. Also would like to know what Hiller's chemistry is with the OL players.