Indiana football’s offensive line has a chance to do something against Charlotte that the program hasn’t done in more than a decade — go three straight games without allowing a sack.
The Hoosiers (3-0; 1-0 Big Ten) allowed a pair of sacks in the opener, but they have kept the quarterbacks clean ever since.
Indiana hasn’t gone three straight games without giving up a sack since 2012-13. The Hoosiers didn’t give up a sack in the 2012 season-finale against Purdue and opened 2013 without allowing a sack in their first two games (Indiana State and Navy).
The last such streak within the same season came back in 2001 when they didn’t give up a sack in six straight games. They only gave up nine total sacks that year with Antwaan Randle El at quarterback.
Pocket has been a safe space for Indiana football quarterback Kurtis Rourke
Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke summed up the offensive line’s performance in a 42-13 win over UCLA in one word.
“Fantastic,” he said, with a smile.
UCLA lost some talent up front from last season including Laiatu Latu, but had 24 quarterback pressures in the season-opener against Hawaii with five sacks. The Bruins only had eight quarterback pressures against Indiana.
Whenever Rourke did feel some heat, he had no issues keeping his eyes down field and getting the ball out. He was 4 of 7 with 57 yards when under pressure and scrambled once for a 7-yard gain.
“I love the guys,” he said. “They work as hard as they can to get the run game going and to keep me safe. I owe it to the guys that I didn’t get sacked again this week, so I am very, very happy about it.”
According to Pro Football Focus, Rourke has only faced pressure on 19 of his 82 dropbacks this season. He’s 50 of 62 (80.6%) with 668 yards and seven touchdowns with an overall passer rating of 91.3 with a clean pocket.
Can Indiana’s offensive line extend its streak against Charlotte?
Cignetti has talked up Charlotte’s defensive front multiple times this week. He mentioned the line was big and athletic on Monday during his weekly press conference and reiterated the point during his coach’s radio show later in the week.
The 49ers have 40 quarterback pressures through three games with eight sacks.
They got some athletes and dudes, especially on the d-line,” Cignetti said. “They are two deep with dudes on the d-line.”
He later added.
“They are capable of creating havoc,” Cignetti said.
Charlotte’s starters up front are M. Kelly-Lawson and Stone Handy at defensive end and Charlie Jackson and Dez Morgan at defensive tackle. They have plenty of experience with 142 combined games played (68 starts). Handy, who is a former top 100 recruit, spent a season with Indiana in 2021.
Indiana has used the same starting five on the offensive line — Carter Smith at left tackle, Drew Evans at left guard, Mike Katic at center, Bray Lynch at right guard and Trey Wedig at right tackle — in all three games its played. Smith and Lynch have yet to allow a quarterback pressure on 91 pass-blocking snaps.
The only issue that’s popped up is some pre-snap penalties that Cignetti has sought to eliminate.