Like it is : Reconditioned offense needs more TD flavor
Posted on Thursday, September 21, 2006
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Sports/167318/
It must be the points.
A year ago, the Arkansas Razorbacks were 1-2 at this stage of the still early season.
They had beat themselves (Vanderbilt ) and then were crushed by Southern Cal.
This year they are 2-1, and there is undeniably more unhappiness being spewed by callers to radio shows and written on message boards.
A year ago there was some griping, but the Hogs had scored a total of 90 points after three games: 49 on Missouri State, 24 on Vandy and 17 on USC.
This season there is almost a constant barrage of criticism and the Razorbacks have scored 55: 14 against USC, 20 on Utah State (the Aggies offense still hasn’t scored a touchdown this season, falling 48-0 Saturday ) and 21 on Vandy.
Each week they have improved their total yardage. The Hogs had 287 yards against USC, 355 against Utah State and 394 against Vanderbilt.
Yet the complaining is loud and clear, and it must have something to do with them not getting into the end zone.
It is as if the opposing team’s side of the field becomes the dead zone. Ten times in three games the Hogs have had drives stall on the opponent’s side of the field.
The reason could be something very simple.
The new offense has not meshed with the old offense as easily or as quickly as hoped.
It is obvious Darren McFadden is better and more productive out of the I formation.
It is equally obvious Mitch Mustain is more comfortable, especially on passing plays, out of the Shotgun.
Blending the Spread offense with the I formation may sound easy, but try telling that to the offensive line.
In years past the scheme called for massive blocking, which meant getting help from the tight end and sometimes a wide receiver as well as the fullback.
This year the tight end has been declared an eligible receiver again, and the Spread offense calls for all the wideouts to be wide out most of the time.
The upside to running both offenses is that the Razorbacks are anything but predictable.
Houston Nutt takes the blunt of the blame for being predictable the past five seasons, but a lot of that was because of Matt Jones.
Jones, arguably the most exciting quarterback in Razorbacks history, was a run-first guy.
He was a decent thrower, but that cannot be confused with being a passer. As everyone knows now, Jones is a natural receiver, which was the position he was drafted in the first round by the Jacksonville Jaguars to play.
The Hogs had little chance of recruiting a great passing quarterback while Jones was the quarterback because it was obvious everything was run first. Receivers were not calling and saying they were great blockers and could they be a Razorback.
(Which is why true freshmen Damian Williams and London Crawford have been on the field so much already. )
Opposing defenses used to stack the line and try to stuff the running backs.
Not now.
Not with Mustain’s arm and the hands of Marcus Monk, Williams and Crawford.
In fact, the passing game was what allowed the Hogs to beat Vanderbilt.
The Razorbacks must continue to improve in the blended offenses, and one way that could help would be to get Peyton Hillis more than one touch, which is all he had last Saturday.
Hillis knows the way to the end zone; he’s been there 15 times.
Hillis, McFadden, Felix Jones, Monk, Williams and Crawford are guys who are capable of getting you six on any given down.
So far, if memory serves, those six have not been on the field at the same time this season.
That could explain a little of why the Hogs are moving the ball but not into the end zone as much as folks would like.
Defense may win championships, but fans like to see touchdowns.