Matt Rhule addresses state of Nebraska's offensive line

To compete in the Big Ten — and really any conference — line play is critical and new Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule isn’t running from it. He thinks the Cornhuskers have a solid group at the position, one he’s always willing to add talent to.

“I like those players,” Rhule said. “But we also, you know, we’re going to continue to try to look. Because I’ll never, ever, ever not take a talented offensive or defensive lineman. That’s what wins games.”

Rhule was quick to speak highly of Nebraska’s current group of offensive linemen. It’s a group that struggled at times this season but one that Rhule sees plenty of talent in — and a position unit with plenty of room to grow.

Part of the problem as he sees it is that Nebraska struggled to have a clear-cut identity about what the offense wanted to do week in, week out.

“I’m kind of not bought into the narrative that I hear, hear on the team, hear from everywhere that the offensive line is the problem,” Rhule said. “We’re going to have a good offensive line next year. And I like the guys that are in that room, already. And I just think you have to have a commitment. We have to have an identity on offense of what we’re going to do.”

Eyes are also to the future for Rhule, too, as Nebraska signed a quintet along the offensive line during the early signing period so far.

It’s unlikely any of them will be expected to play right away. That’s just how Rhule prefers it.

“We’re going to try to, we tried to bring in some depth,” Rhule said. “And I wanted to bring in a great young group that we can develop and watch them grow.”