New wrinkle energizes UA’s struggling offense
Posted on Sunday, November 18, 2007
LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Razorbacks were brandishing baseball bats Saturday at War Memorial Stadium after their 45-31 football win over Mississippi State.
Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt had the bats made to symbolize the resolve his team would need to continue its mastery of the Bulldogs, whom Arkansas has beaten nine straight times. The bats represented something that was lacking during last week’s 34-13 loss at Tennessee.
“ It’s an attitude, ” said Robert Felton, senior left offensive tackle. “ We had a much better attitude this week. I think that’s what we had that we didn’t have last week.
“ Coach told us we had to bring the wood. We knew [Mississippi State ] was going to bring theirs. Last week we didn’t bring our wood and we got embarrassed. You see what happens when you have an attitude adjustment. ”
Senior right tackle Nate Garner said the offensive line responded to Nutt’s challenge. By taking the bats, they obligated themselves to carry out the coach’s message.
“ He had those made for us, ” Garner said of the miniature bats. “ He said ‘ don’t take it if you’re not going to bring it. ’ So we had to bring the wood. The offensive line came ready to play. We talked about bringing the wood all week and we brought it. We came off the ball low and hard. ”
Complementing the improved attitude was a new wrinkle to Arkansas ’ WildHog and Racehorse formations. The “ 31 RoJo” personnel group featured star tailback Darren McFadden running the triple option from the quarterback position. Offensive coordinator David Lee said the package was added after the Tennessee loss.
Lee credited the addition for sparking the offense during Arkansas’ 24-point second quarter. It derives its name from having three running backs and receiver / former quarterback Robert Johnson calling the plays in the huddle.
Arkansas unveiled it on its third series, calling consecutive dive plays for fullback Peyton Hillis that netted 13 and 11 yards. When the Bulldogs stacked the middle to stop Hillis, McFadden bounced outside for his longest run of the day, 17 yards. The 41 yards in three plays set up Arkansas’ first touchdown, a 30-yard pass from quarterback Casey Dick to fullback Farod Jackson.
“ That’s when the game opened up, ” Lee said. “ That’s when they got on their heels. That’s when you saw Peyton just going right up the middle of the field. It was a different personnel group they hadn’t seen. ”
Lee said he called every play save one — McFadden’s 24-yard touchdown pass to Johnson that put Arkansas up 37-17 with 9: 44 to play. He attributed the play’s origins to Nutt.
“ The head football coach wanted that one, ” Lee said. “ I thought that was the biggest play of the game. ”
The play called “ crackgo, ” with Johnson feigning a block and then slipping behind the Bulldog secondary, was also run from the “ 31 RoJo” formation and resulted in McFadden’s sixth career touchdown pass.
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