Most uptempo offenses run a ton of screens as they are extended handoffs. Maybe with the offensive line injuries he felt we had a better chance of early down positive yardage with those plays than with traditional handoffs. I really don't know.
I do know its tough to judge on the first game with 2 o-line starters out and our starting dual threat QB ejected early in the game.
That being said, it's an FCS school and noone on the coaching staff showed an ability to adapt. Not Shafer, not McDonald and certainly not Bullough with his incessant ultra aggressive blitzing of a running QB, with zero discipline in regards to running lanes.