2024 Fall Camp Notes - Offensive Line

I feel like Emmitt Johnson is being slept on here. He made some big plays last year and with more experience and the time he’s had in the weight room….i feel like he could be really good! 
He was also one of the few on Offense I didn't feel was going to fumble.

 
Serious comment: that static chin-up hold where he then holds the medicine ball between his legs is some pretty cool training. I know this strength & conditioning staff mixes in some less traditional methods alongside the traditional weightlifting methods and I think that makes a lot of sense for the skill players.

Excited to see how some of those things show up for year 2 as well.

 
If we have a decent line and he would win that, Raiola would be God in Nebraska. 
 

No, I’m not saying that’s going to happen. But, I’m expecting more improvement. 

 
We're in an interesting spot where I feel pretty good about the current Tackles, but the long term outlook there is pretty bleak unless we can land some top shelf talent like Sanders or Cantwell. Prochazka was solid and there is hope for improvement with a second mostly healthy year, and Benhart was actually good. But the depth are guys who either

  1. probably aren't Tackles (Corcoran, Knaak), or
  2. probably still aren't quite ready and may not have the ceiling we really want (Gottula, Knutson). Can probably throw Seagren in this group too.

And then for the incoming freshman, I like that we signed 6 guys. But 4 are IOL only (Taumua, Pyle, Davidson, Peters), Ruggeroli is a project, and while Brix is talented we appear to be just about the only team that believes he can play Tackle at this level. Maybe we're right

And then Guard is the opposite - I'm worried about this season, but feel pretty good about the long term potential with the past couple recruiting classes.

  • Mazzccua should be fine if he buys in
  • I am not convinced Corcoran will be better at Guard
  • Lutovsky seems to work his way into a rotation with great practices, then play his way right back out in game action
  • I love Evans at Center for the future, but I still think about that Purdue game where it felt like he and Lutovsky pulled 20 times and maybe got a piece of the edge defender on 3 of those. That was one game, we did win it, and Scourton/Jenkins was probably the best edge duo we faced (including Michigan). He's still a young guy, so quite possible I'm wrong and he'll be great.

But then looking forward, I feel good about at least 2 of Taumua, Pyle, Davidson, or Brix being dudes and I'm reasonably confident we can continue to pull good IOL recruits. 

 
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We're in an interesting spot where I feel pretty good about the current Tackles, but the long term outlook there is pretty bleak unless we can land some top shelf talent like Sanders or Cantwell. Prochazka was solid and there is hope for improvement with a second mostly healthy year, and Benhart was actually good. But the depth are guys who either

  1. probably aren't Tackles (Corcoran, Knaak), or
  2. probably still aren't quite ready and may not have the ceiling we really want (Gottula, Knutson). Can probably throw Seagren in this group too.

And then for the incoming freshman, I like that we signed 6 guys. But 4 are IOL only (Taumua, Pyle, Davidson, Peters), Ruggeroli is a project, and while Brix is talented we appear to be just about the only team that believes he can play Tackle at this level. Maybe we're right

And then Guard is the opposite - I'm worried about this season, but feel pretty good about the long term potential with the past couple recruiting classes.

  • Mazzccua should be fine if he buys in
  • I am not convinced Corcoran will be better at Guard
  • Lutovsky seems to work his way into a rotation with great practices, then play his way right back out in game action
  • I love Evans at Center for the future, but I still think about that Purdue game where it felt like he and Lutovsky pulled 20 times and maybe got a piece of the edge defender on 3 of those. That was one game, we did win it, and Scourton/Jenkins was probably the best edge duo we faced (including Michigan). He's still a young guy, so quite possible I'm wrong and he'll be great.

But then looking forward, I feel good about at least 2 of Taumua, Pyle, Davidson, or Brix being dudes and I'm reasonably confident we can continue to pull good IOL recruits. 


Sounds like Corcoran is still a Tackle for now.  Perhaps a combination of making sure he's all the way back and we seem to have more options at guard than we've had previously.  I actually think we're in pretty good shape at guard this year.

I think most people (coaches and media) are higher on Guttula than you are.  I think there is plenty of room for optimism with Guttula and Brix working their way up the depth chart at tackle.  But I would agree that after that there is plenty of question marks.  

 
Good to hear Donnie saying Mazzccua had bought in to the brotherhood after the rumblings in the spring that it wasn't going to work out.

 
If we have a decent line and he would win that, Raiola would be God in Nebraska. 
 

No, I’m not saying that’s going to happen. But, I’m expecting more improvement. 


I always love a good redemption story.  Benhart even appearing on that watch list would have been unthinkable 2 years ago.

 
Raiola says it's Corcoran vs Prochazka for the starting spot at LT

As @Red Five said, Mazzccua seems to have figured it out.  Could start at either guard spot.

 
I always love a good redemption story.  Benhart even appearing on that watch list would have been unthinkable 2 years ago.


Raiola says it's Corcoran vs Prochazka for the starting spot at LT

As @Red Five said, Mazzccua seems to have figured it out.  Could start at either guard spot.


Speaking of redemption stories, can you imagine if our 2024 starting tackles were Corcoran and Benhart and they were both solid? Unimaginable at the end of 2022.

I thought Teddy was decent last year, so if Corcoran can beat him out he will have earned it. And to his credit, sounds like he is a terrific locker room guy. Would love for him to have a good final year, but it would take a several good games before I stop getting nervous just seeing him on the field. Benhart made it happen though, so there's hope!

 
Speaking of redemption stories, can you imagine if our 2024 starting tackles were Corcoran and Benhart and they were both solid? Unimaginable at the end of 2022.

I thought Teddy was decent last year, so if Corcoran can beat him out he will have earned it. And to his credit, sounds like he is a terrific locker room guy. Would love for him to have a good final year, but it would take a several good games before I stop getting nervous just seeing him on the field. Benhart made it happen though, so there's hope!


So hard to know what the real story is.  But it seems plausible to me that all those guys were just asked to play before they were really ready.  OL is probably the spot where it takes the longest to mature and develop.  But the cupboard was so bare that we didn't have much choice to throw them out there.  Glad they were able to keep working and hopefully finish strong.

 
Sure sounds like it's going to be Prochazka or Corcoran at LT, Mazzccua at RG or LG with Evans-Jenkins or Lutovski at the other spot.  Regardless, they seem to have 7 they feel comfortable with, & versatility within that 7 to to provide 2/3 depth at every position except T.  Given what they do elsewhere, would not be surprised to see a rotation at a spot or 2 at least early.  I think it was mentioned they'd worked Lutovski at RT a little bit, but I don't know if they'd feel more comfortable with him there than Knaak & GG is probably the #3 LT.  Also sounds like Brix & Pyle are close & right behind this group Including Knaak & GG.

*Edit I would add the biggest concern for me with this fluidity are the double teams in the zone scheme.  I thought NU worked through them to fast last season and the G's are involved in every combination block.  More stability there, more chemistry, ect...

 
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