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Nebraska Football: Matt Rhule not planning changes at left tackle

By Oliver Vandervoort

Offensive lineman Bryce Benhart #54 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers and offensive lineman Matt Sichterman #70 and offensive lineman Turner Corcoran #69 and offensive lineman Ethan Piper #57 and wide receiver Levi Falck #88 take the field (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
Offensive lineman Bryce Benhart #54 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers and offensive lineman Matt Sichterman #70 and offensive lineman Turner Corcoran #69 and offensive lineman Ethan Piper #57 and wide receiver Levi Falck #88 take the field (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /
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Nebraska football’s offensive line has struggled, and Turner Corcoran has struggled more than most, but he’s not losing his job just yet.

That news is likely going to annoy more than a few Nebraska football fans. However, Rhule has his reasons for sticking with Corcoran despite some truly ugly games this year.

Right at the top of the list for why Corcoran is remaining the starter and Teddy Prochazka will be coming in every now and then is because the coaches don’t believe Teddy P is quite ready to take 70 snaps a game.

Rhule made it clear that Prochazka is still “working his way back.” Considering Prochazka has been “working his way back” for a couple of years now, it’s not hard to see why the Nebraska football coaches are taking it nice and slow.

There’s the added wrinkle that when Prochazka plays, he plays extremely well, but mainly as a run blocker. In his 23 snaps this season so far, he’s had just two snaps that were pass plays.

When Rhule says “there’s a role” for Teddy, he means it. And at the moment, it’s mainly as a road grader for the running game.

How much time will Nebraska football give Turner Corcoran?

For now, the careful approach for Prochazka makes sense. The duo they currently have playing at left tackle right now is better than Corcoran being the only option.

But if Corcoran continues to struggle to block the pass rush the way he has this year, it’s going to be hard to keep him playing as much as he is at the moment.

Against Louisiana Tech, Corcoran scored a 0.0 pass blocking according to PFF. Against Colorado he scored a 3.9 grade. Minnesota he got a 25. His performance against Northern Illinois, where he got a grade of 84 has to be one reasons the Nebraska football coaching staff is holding out hope.

It’s true that Corcoran has technically improved against the pass rush over the last three years. He rated out at 0 for the season in 2021. He scored a 13 in 2022 and thanks in large part to NIU, he’s got a 21 rating this year.

Against Michigan, Nebraska football is going to face a tough pass rush. Having Turner Corcoran continue to start is going to make fans more than a little nervous.

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