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Dave Feit: Optimism on the O-Line
As I look through the different position groups on the 2023 Huskers, I can find things I like - and things that worry me - across the board.
I'm finding myself very optimistic on the offensive line. Heck, there is a chance they could be one of the strengths of this team.
I know… I'm surprised too.
And before you ask, I'm not drowning in Kool-Aid, nor have I been smoking anything. Instead, I'm seeing a handful of things that lead me to believe this is the year the offensive line shifts from liability to asset.
It’s Donovan Raiola’s second season.
I will freely acknowledge I was not a fan of the decision to retain Donovan Raiola. Of all of the guys on the previous staff, he was the only one who was kept? Didn't Matt Rhule say that he watched all of the 2022 season's games?
But let's dispel one message board myth: There's no way that Raiola was retained - either solely or partially - because he is related to a certain five-star quarterback recruit. That would be really stupid way to assemble a staff - especially at such an important spot.
Matt Rhule clearly sees something in "Donnie." Remember, Rhule is a former offensive line coach himself.
While it didn't show up on the field in 2022, I'm hopeful that a second season - leading a lot of the same guys (more on that in a second…) - will help Raiola's techniques and teachings become second nature.
It's tough to see - Raiola doesn't have as visible a presence as some of his colleagues - but he has gained the trust and loyalty of his players. A couple of examples from the leader of the OL room, guard Ethan Piper:
In March, Piper described Raiola to Hail Varsity: "If you don't do it right you're going to do it again. He is a very hard person. He'll drill you…. But when you start getting things right, he's going to support you and bring that good, dominant mindset."
At Big Ten Media Day, Rhule gave guard Ethan Piper a hypothetical scenario where Piper had to choose between saving Rhule's life or Raiola's. Rhule didn't even finish asking the question before Piper said "you already know the answer".
This week, Nebraska's Twitter account released a fun video where they asked players to do an impression of their position coach. There were a lot of humorous clips from a number of position groups. Six offensive linemen made the video - all of them declining to participate.
There is a ton of experience.
Let's look at the (presumptive) top seven guys: Bryce Benhart, Turner Corcoran, Henry Lutovsky, Nouredin Nouili, Ethan Piper, Teddy Prochazka, and Ben Scott. Collectively, this group has played in 156 college football games over the last four seasons, with 120 starts. With the exception of Nouili's eight games (and seven starts) for Colorado State in 2019, all of this experience is at the Power 5 level.
Here's a wild stat for you: In 133 seasons of Nebraska football, there have only been 17 offensive linemen to play as true freshmen. Six of those freshman debuts (in order: Benhart, Piper, Brant Banks, Corcoran, Prochazka, and Lutovsky) happened in the last four seasons.
Is this an example of Nebraska signing six high-level recruits with game-ready skillsets? Or was it a reflection of the lack of viable depth and poor upperclassmen development that plagued the offensive line room during the Scott Frost era? (I think "both" is the most likely answer).
Regardless, even the most talented high school prospect will see a jump in competition between high school and a Power Five conference. Nebraska's young linemen have all had growing pains and have taken their lumps. Now, it's time to turn those failures into successes.
Offensive line is a position where age matters. Experience matters. Having multiple seasons of strength and conditioning (more on that, too) matters. Cohesion and the ability to work together as a singular unit - because you've been playing together for 2+ seasons - matters.
The best part: The vast majority of this already experienced line can return for the 2024 season. Only Nouili is a senior.
There’s unity of purpose.
It is not a secret that Nebraska's offensive line struggled in 2022. The team averaged a measly 3.5 yards per rush (the worst since 2017's 3.5 yards). Their quarterback was sacked 33 times, the most since the 2012 line gave up 35 sacks.
Those are ugly numbers.
But that happened with a head coach who was fired after three games, an interim coach whose previous head coaching experience was at NAIA Langston (OK) University, a position coach whose previous experience running a line was at DIII Aurora (Illinois) University, and an offensive coordinator who was stubbornly determined to throw at every opportunity. It would be hard to find a worse recipe for success.
Nobody knows for sure what Marcus Satterfield's system will look like in 2023. It might be a pro style system. There's talk of a power run game and fullbacks. There likely will be some quarterback run too. We'll have to wait and see.
But - and this is the important part - it is a safe bet that the offensive line scheme will complement whatever the offense wants to accomplish.
There’s help.
Maybe you're still skeptical on Raiola's ability to be a good offensive line coach. Based on what we saw in 2022, I can understand. It's a valid concern.
Take comfort in knowing that Raiola is not alone on an island. Matt Rhule has previous been an offensive line coach. Assistant coaches Marcus Satterfield, Ed Foley, and E.J. Barthel have experience coaching offensive line in college or the NFL. Additionally, Nebraska employs a small army of analysts, graduate assistants, and quality control staffers who can help Raiola in a myriad of ways on and off the practice field.
But I'm really intrigued by the behind-the-scenes changes in the NU program: what took place over the winter and spring, and what will happen in between games this fall.
New Strength & Conditioning coach Corey Campbell has received praise for the work he has done transforming players' bodies and working on position-specific movements and strength. Line play is not sumo wrestling in shoulder pads. Line play is about explosion, agility, quickness, mobility, stamina, and - yes - brute strength. Campbell can have a real impact on the success of the offensive line.
Rhule brought in sports scientists, nutritionists, and physical therapists that he has worked with in his previous stops. Rhule is a believer in therapeutic recovery during the season: massage, chiropractic, and more to help keep players on the field. This Sports Illustrated deep-dive into NU's multi-facet approach to player development is fascinating.
When you put it all together, what do we get?
As is the case with most things in 2023, your guess is as good as mind. Across the roster there is a big gap between the floor and the ceiling. We saw the offensive line's floor (or maybe their unfinished basement) in 2022. What is their ceiling? And what does the season look like if they can reach it?
Let's be honest: Nebraska's next Outland Trophy winner is not going to start a game this season. Heck, getting an offensive lineman onto the All-Big Ten second or third team would be a notable accomplishment. Only four Huskers* have reached that status in the last decade.
*Third team: Cam Jurgens (2021) and Nick Gates (2016)
Second team: Alex Lewis (2015) and Cole Pensick (2013)
First team: none
But I feel optimistic that the offensive line will be one of the surprise bright spots of this team.
