Steven Sipple: Satterfield’s focus for offensive improvement makes sense as Nebraska pushes into heart of spring drills
Give Marcus Satterfield points — he needs more points in 2024, by the way — for forthrightness.
Asked to identify where Nebraska’s offense needs to improve, the second-year Nebraska offensive coordinator didn’t hesitate.
“We’re going to throw the ball,” he said. “We have to be able to throw the ball.”
Don’t panic, Run The Ball Guy. You know you’re out there. You know Satterfield’s comments make you nervous. Have faith that Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule has your back. He knows what it takes to win in the Big Ten. At least he seems to know what it takes. Plus, remember, the Huskers ranked second in the Big Ten in rushing yards per game last season at 177.2, trailing only Penn State (185.2).
On the other hand, Nebraska ranked 129th nationally in passing offense — 13th in the Big Ten — and 123rd in scoring (18.0).
Points, my friends. Satterfield needs more points.
“I think we’re always going to find a way to run the ball,” the 47-year-old said. “As you saw last year, we can run the ball well. But there are going to come times when you have to win a game and you’re going to have to throw the ball.”
Last season’s Maryland game comes to mind, as does the Wisconsin game, and the Iowa game. You get the picture, right?
So, during Nebraska’s first six practices (out of 15) this spring, it’s eminently clear where Satterfield is focused.
“We’ve really been focusing on just our passing game, our pass protection, our route running — all the concepts of throwing the football,” he said.
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Quarterback play is going to look much different
OK, Nebraska fans, it makes sense if you’re a little nervous as you take all this in. After all, quarterback Heinrich Haarberg led the team in rushing last season. Haarberg went 5-3 as the starter, but he faces an uphill battle to regain starter status.
Perhaps you’ve heard of Dylan Raiola. The touted true freshman is already establishing himself as the clear favorite to claim the starting job. He’s got a powerful right arm and a keen mind for the game. But he’s not a runner. So, Nebraska is going to have to somehow make up for the yards it loses on quarterback running plays and broken plays where the QB takes off for big gains.
Mind you, Raiola is athletic, especially for someone his size (6-foot-3 and 220-plus pounds). He’ll be able to rumble up-field at times. But both he and fellow freshman Daniel Kaelin are pure pass-first QBs. Consequently, the offense will look different.
By the way, Satterfield likes what he sees from the young guns.
“It’s amazing,” he said. “We were watching them two days ago, practice four, completing a bunch of balls. You forget sometimes that that’s Dylan and Danny’s fourth practice in college going against these guys, and they’re still able to have the poise and the footwork and the timing in their brains — and the knowledge of the system already to get completions.
“It’s hard to do, especially against our defense moving around like it does. So, I think they’re ahead of schedule.”
That’s all well and good, but Nebraska needs to protect its quarterback with a strong running game. Again, have faith, Run The Ball Guy. I go back to Rhule. He said repeatedly last season he wants Nebraska’s offense to hammer opponents with body blows in the run game to set up play-action passes. That’s the core of what he wants. I hope that’s (still) the case.
Bottom line, balance is always a good thing, in both life and football, and Nebraska’s offense has a good chance to be more balanced in 2024 than it was in Rhule’s first season at the school.
Satterfield has more to work with at WR positions
Nebraska has a chance to be more balanced offensively because it strengthened its receiver corps with the additions of Jahmal Banks and Isaiah Neyor from the transfer portal. What’s more, the Huskers have some good young receiver talent in the system.
Banks and Neyor already have made their presence felt.
“That room’s got to take a step, and they’ve already taken a step this spring with just the depth we’ve added with our two older guys we brought in,” Satterfield said.
Rest assured, one of those transfers is going to start — the 6-4, 205-pound Banks seems almost a lock — but it wouldn’t surprise me if both are starters.
Then, there’s the emergence of Demitrius Bell, a 6-foot, 175-pound redshirt freshman from Nashville. He’s become a player to watch this spring.
“He’s shown it out there already,” Satterfield said. “He can catch the ball, and what he does after he catches it — he’s got a special trait.”
Tell me you’re not intrigued.
“He’s a very smart kid. He works very hard,” Satterfield continued. “He knows multiple positions, so he can go and get a lot of snaps that way. He’s just got to keep playing football. Stay healthy and keep playing and he’ll be fine.”
Rhule on Saturday singled out Jaylen Lloyd, who flashed last year as a true freshman with six catches for a whopping 237 yards and three touchdowns.
Satterfield’s offense has one obvious malady to address
You can’t talk about Nebraska’s offense without mentioning the need to cut down on turnovers. After all, the Huskers tied Georgia Southern for the nation’s lead last season with 31 of them, including 25 from the quarterback position.
Three Nebraska quarterbacks combined to throw 10 touchdown passes — and 16 interceptions.
Yeah, the passing game has to get better as does the running game, if we’re being real here. Nebraska wound up 117th in total offense, averaging only 312.8 yards per game.
The Husker defense had to carry too heavy of a load. Again, balance is key.
Of course, Nebraska did do some good things in the passing game last year on the way to finishing 5-7 overall.
“I think we threw the deep ball well at times off our play-action stuff,” Satterfield said. “We hit a couple of those deep shots in the middle and end of the year. But just the total aspect of throwing the ball — from the quick game to down-field shots to moving the pocket — it’s stuff we have to improve on.
“All facets of the game.”
Perhaps one element of the offense we’ll see more is quick passes to the perimeter. Banks and Neyor (6-3, 215) seem like the types who could do damage in the quick game as Nebraska looks for ways to move the chains other than the QB running for yards.
“It could be really effective,” Satterfield said. “We talk about just getting the ball in play. Just throw and catch and get the ball in play. Get the ball moving and not just have to rely on the run game all the time. Get it to guys in space and see if they can make a guy miss and create an explosive (play).”
The wheels in his mind are churning. After all, Nebraska has to get better offensively. Much better. I mean, the numbers in this case don’t lie. It would be hard for the offense to get much worse.
Satterfield has a plan — his candor is appreciated — and a clear plan is a good start.
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