The problems with running the ball last game had to do with the skill of the Furman defense, sign stealing from what I am reading and a revamped o l i n e. That and pretending not to notice that the revamped o l i n e was struggling. Even the plus one run game was up the middle for the most part, though his long runs wound up going outside. Furman had free-running defenders all over the ball carriers, which indicates they weren't being blocked. The o l i n e had been playing very well until Brown and Walker went down. Worst thing that could happen to an offense that had some momentum. USD had what - sixty total yards rushing? They were daring the QB to beat them.
Running the inside zone every first down will leave them in second and long nearly every time, if they can't win up front. UNDSU isn't going to play them any differently and their D-line is every bit as good as Furman. There has to be some diversity of thought to keep them playing honestly. And getting McD in the groove early, can't possibly hurt anything.
