Steven Sipple: Former Husker fullback convinced Matt Rhule is serious about running the ball, and why we should forget Hugh Freeze’s awful idea
Things I know, and things I think I know: Tim Johnk, a former Nebraska fullback, is a believer. He believes Matt Rhule when the new Nebraska head coach says the Huskers plan to be serious about running the ball in 2023 and beyond.
Excuse my skepticism.
With Mark Whipple calling plays last season, Nebraska finished 100th nationally in rushing offense. Granted, the Huskers before last season were consistently a top-50 rushing team in the Scott Frost years, but quarterback Adrian Martinez carried a heavy load — too heavy much of the time. The running game wasn’t particularly reliable, as Frost’s record at NU (16-31 in five seasons) suggests.
The last time Nebraska was a top 25 rushing team was 2014 (let that sink in), when the Huskers finished 19th nationally behind tailback Ameer Abdullah’s 1,611 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns.
In the current Nebraska program, there’s a nice collection of running backs. In fact, it’s arguably the strongest position group on the team. Plus, Rhule expresses confidence in the offensive line. So, perhaps Husker fans will indeed see a conventional running game regain prominence in the program.
What a treat that would be for die-hard (and intelligent) Husker fans.
Johnk clearly isn’t among the skeptics.
“I just think schematically, you see it there now,” says the Omaha Creighton Prep head coach, who recently attended the Nebraska spring coaches’ clinic. “Plus, when you have every offensive coach talking that way — when you have Marcus Satterfield, the offensive coordinator, talking that way — it seems real.”
Johnk, who lettered at Nebraska from 1989 to 1991, believes there’s value in knowing exactly who’s in charge of the offense. In that regard, you sometimes wondered about Frost and Whipple, and then about Mickey Joseph and Whipple.
“They don’t have a conflict now,” Johnk says. “The head coach is not necessarily an offensive guy. With Scott in charge, you just didn’t always know who was calling the shots on offense. I think you know who’s doing that now.
“I’ve listened to Satterfield talk a couple times. The message was the same, and the passion was the same about running the ball.”
This is where a skeptic points out that South Carolina’s offense, with Satterfield as coordinator, finished 106th in rushing in 2022 and 93rd in 2021.
Satterfield, however, does sound convincing when he espouses the importance of running the ball well in the Big Ten.
“I’ve talked to Sam Sledge a couple times,” Johnk said of Nebraska’s 2023 offensive line signee from Creighton Prep. “He’s not an early-enroll guy, but he’s spent some days down there in Lincoln watching practice. His dad (former Husker offensive lineman Bob Sledge), who’s been my offensive line coach, has gone there, too.
“Both of them have said that man, there’s a huge emphasis in practice on running the football.”
I just want to see what it looks like come fall because, well, 2014 is a long time ago.
Matt Rhule may be taking note of Michigan’s style
It can be done. In fact, it’s being done. Michigan, the two-time defending Big Ten champion, hammers opponents with a strong running game that doesn’t rely on the quarterback. The Wolverines also make it a point to return punts, but that’s another column for another day.
“I just think in that league, the Big Ten, you’ve got to be able to run the football,” Johnk says. “I mean, you’ve got to be able to dominate the line of scrimmage. If you can’t win the line of scrimmage, and I mean at any level of football, it makes it tough on all parties.
“It makes it tough on your defense. It makes it tough to have consistency offensively. Bottom line, the teams that win championships can run the football.”
Rhule and his staff genuinely seem to believe it.
The new Husker coach even plans to have a camp dedicated to fullbacks in June.
“I’m a believer in playing a fullback in an offense,” Johnk says. “I don’t necessarily mean every down. But you often need a lead blocker. There are tough situations on the goal line and tough situations in a four-minute offense. When you’re trying to run the ball, and everybody knows you’re going to run the ball, you must have somebody lead blocking and pounding it up in there.
“Not everybody believes in that anymore, but I really believe that’s something they’re going to do.”
We’ll see for sure soon enough.
Just say “no” to playing other teams in spring games
New Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze tossed into the ether an idea that really isn’t new at all. It’s been talked about a lot in recent off seasons.
It’s an awful idea.
He would like Auburn to be able to scrimmage against an opponent in the spring. Invite fans and give the proceeds to a charity, he says. Maybe Auburn could play Troy or UAB or whoever.
Maybe Nebraska could play Oklahoma State or Iowa State or Pittsburg State.
Forget it. It’s a misguided idea because most media and fans wouldn’t treat it like a scrimmage. There would be a massive overreaction. If a Nebraska head coach were struggling after a few years in charge, a spring-game loss to another program — no matter the format — would only stoke the flames. Even if a Nebraska coach weren’t struggling, this is one way to change that in a hurry, at least in terms of public perception.
Yes, Freeze is right: Fans would turn out in force.
But that’s only one factor.
“I just think it would be great for the sport,” he says.
Oh, lord, I couldn’t disagree more.
More punt returns, please
The 12th annual Jet Award, which Derius Davis of TCU will receive Thursday night in Omaha, sparked memories of greatness.
Johnny Rodgers, who started the award, returned 33 punts for Nebraska in 1971 and 39 in 1972. He averaged 16.6 yards and 15.8 yards, respectively, with a total of five touchdowns in those two seasons.
He hardly ever called for fair catches.
Times have changed.
Punters nowadays have more tricks in their bag.
In 2022, only one punt returner among the nation’s top 45 recorded 30-plus returns. Adam Beale of Toledo, bless his heart, returned 31 punts for 252 yards (8.1 per return).
Anthony Gould led the nation with an 18.3-yard average on only 14 returns.
Davis returned 18 punts for 268 yards (14.9) and two touchdowns while returning 28 kickoffs for 572 yards (20.4).
Kim Mulkey worth listening to as he makes rounds
Kim Mulkey reminds me of Rick Pitino in that you could drop either of them at virtually any school in the country, and they would win big in a hurry. They’re rare breeds. They’re worth every penny.
Mulkey, who just guided LSU to the national crown, is making rounds on the talk-show circuit, and I’m listening to her closely.
She knows how to win. She’s a closer. She approaches every day like it’s fourth-and-1.
Sorry, stole that line from Bill Busch.
Johnk has strong words of praise for Sam Sledge
Johnk, by the way, envisions Sam Sledge becoming a stalwart center for Nebraska.
“He’s so athletic. So smart,” Johnk said. “Honestly, I think after Ben Scott — who’s their guy right now — Sam’s the heir apparent. I think he could start two or three years for them.”
His dad certainly was a stalwart in the 1980s.
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