Steven M. Sipple: NU fans should hope Stepp’s comments indicate shift in offensive approach | Column

“This style of offense, they want to get that sh– running downhill.” 

Excuse the language, but that’s beautifully blunt. Delightfully direct. Stepp’s comments surely are music to the ears of a lot of Nebraska fans, especially old-school types who remember when the Huskers actually did play “gritty, hand-in-the-dirt, smash-mouth football.”  

They haven’t always played that way in recent years. The commitment has waned. If Nebraska really wanted to consistently get its backs running downhill last season, it would have beaten Minnesota, to name one example. It would have committed to running downhill — hammering away with basic handoffs and pitches — against a Gopher squad that was without 33 players because of COVID-19. It wouldn’t have allowed power back Dedrick Mills to go 17 plays between carries at one point. 

Nebraska ran the ball 36 times and threw it 29 that day. The ratio should’ve weighed more heavily toward the run. But Husker coach Scott Frost insisted on throwing, even into the wind, when basic run plays would’ve made much more sense, especially considering the Gophers entered the game allowing opponents to rush for nearly 7 yards per attempt. 

When I think of downhill running attacks, what doesn’t come to mind is an offense in which the leading rusher is a quarterback. Junior QB Adrian Martinez led Nebraska last season in carries (91) and rushing yards (521). Mills, now an undrafted free agent with the Detroit Lions, carried 84 times for 396 yards, and wispy quarterback Luke McCaffrey ranked third on the team in carries (65) and rushing yards (364).