Nebraska football offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield has led his offense to much better turnover margins in 2024. But on Tuesday the Husker OC failed.

Satterfield was asked how concerned he was about a running game that wasn’t on track. This running game ranks 99th in the nation in total yards and in the same range in yards per rush.

“I have to commit to it,” Satterfield said, pointing out that despite the perimeter blocking issues, the offense did a good job of getting the ball to receivers with perimeter runs. “I have to make sure I realize that in order to win in this league, you have to establish the running game. During the bye week and this past week we will work to get back there.”

It’s concerning to have a 19-game tenure anywhere and not have the mindset of what it takes to win in a league. You would hope that at least that would be figured out and that you wouldn’t have to work to get back there after the first year. That concern wasn’t assuaged just a few minutes later when Satterfield was asked what he was aiming for in yards per play.

“Between four and six,” Satterfield said. “I honestly don’t even know what leads the country in yards per game.”

Four yards per play would be last in the nation. Six yards per game would be 57th nationally. Nebraska’s current 5.54 yards per game is 89th.

Satterfield played at East Tennessee State in the mid to late 1990s. In addition to a year as an assistant in the NFL, he has been involved in college football for around 30 years. It’s confusing to have no idea what your yardage goal per play is. Being responsible for the offensive side of the ball and having no idea what you are producing or even hoping to produce is simply irresponsible.

Against Indiana, in a game that Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule admitted became more of a passing game because of the growing deficit, the Huskers tried to establish pass first. NU ran Dante Dowdell for two yards. Then five consecutive passes before a punt.

In fact, in Nebraska’s first nine offensive plays, the Huskers threw the ball eight times. One of which was assisted by a pass interference call.

Nebraska is 0-5 in games that would ensure bowl eligibility under Rhule. With five games left in the regular season and one more win needed to reach a bowl for the first time since 2016, now is not the time for an identity crisis about what it takes to succeed in the Big Ten to be. At the very least, now would be a good time to learn what numbers make a successful offensive coordinator.

Watch the full press conference below.

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