‘Guys need to be flexible. They need to be versatile’: Indiana football offensive line coach Bob Bostad knows exactly what he wants from his linemen

When Indiana football hired Curt Cignetti as the program’s 30th head coach, there was plenty of turnover with the coaching staff as Cignetti brought a ton of coaches with him from James Madison. One coach whom Cignetti elected to keep from the previous staff was offensive line coach and run game coordinator Bob Bostad.

Bob Bostad appeared on the most recent episode of Under the Hood with Indiana football and shared his thoughts on the current offensive line unit and the importance of being versatile up front.

“Guys need to be flexible. They need to be versatile,” Bostad said. “They need to be able to move around.”

Bostad also emphasized how important it is to play the best five players up front and having the ability to play multiple positions will be extremely important. A part of that versatility will include snapping which Bostad said every member of the offensive line will practice during Spring ball.

Indiana football’s spring practice begins on March 21st and Bostad recognizes the importance it plays in developing young talent.

“It’s probably going to be your best window [for developing younger guys] right there,” Bostad said. “Once you get into the fall camp and things like that, things really start to reduce down and you’re not going to have the time, you’re not going to have the reps to experiment as much.”

This spring will be critical for Bostad and the rest of the offensive staff as they implement the new offensive scheme. Bostad also spoke about his relationship with some of the new faces on the coaching staff including offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan and quarterbacks coach Tino Sunseri.

“The relationship has been great. The working environment has been great,” Bostad said. “It just takes time because you really have to go through a lot of film to get on the same page.”

Indiana football was able to bring back a few key pieces from last year’s team including the entire left side of the offensive line with Carter Smith and Mike Katic returning. Smith and Katic started every game for the Hoosiers last season.

Smith was one of the most important Hoosiers to return to Bloomington after entering the portal at the end of the 2023 season.

“I expect big things from him,” Bostad said about Smith.

Smith has played on both the right and left side of the line, but likely found his spot at left tackle where he started every game for Indiana last season.

Bostad also had a ton of praise for Katic who was named a captain last season and started every game at left guard.

“We’re just really fortunate to have him back,” Bostad said about Katic. “I thought last year he did a lot of really good things, starting all the way back in the spring.”

Bostad also mentioned the importance of Katic’s versatility on the offensive line. While Katic has primarily played guard, he has started games at center for Indiana football. That experience could be crucial if injuries were to hit the Indiana offensive line.

Bostad also spoke about some of the additions including Trey Wedig, who Bostad previously coached when he was at Wisconsin.

“Having a really good idea of who he is and what he can do, he is definitely a guy we can plug in at tackle,” Bostad said about Wedig.

Wedig played in 12 games with Wisconsin at both left and right guard, but Bostad shared that they plan to start him at right tackle this year.

Indiana football targeted versatility this offseason and Bostad feels comfortable with the group they have assembled.

“Those guys are really hard to find,” Bostad said about versatile offensive linemen. “That’s where I think we hit a home run on that in getting guys that are versatile and can play multiple positions.”

Bostad will look to continue the momentum from last season where Indiana football’s offensive line improved a ton in his first season with the program.

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