Alabama Game That Rattled McElroy Reminder of What's in Store for Hogs' Running Backs

Current Razorback backfield will need to enhance skills if they want to be successful for Bobby Petrino, but will be deadly if they do

Author:
Kent Smith
Publish date:
Dec 4, 2023 9:31 PM EST

In this story:

Arkansas Razorbacks

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Monday was hectic as it always is when the transfer portal opens. That's why the noise in the background was precisely that. That is until a disembodied voice carried from the kitchen to the living room talking about how Greg McElroy once declared his game against Arkansas in 2010 the loudest environment in which he ever had to play.

Things seemed to have hit a lull as far as notable announcements, so it was as safe a time as any to throw the highlights on the television to not only see if the game was truly that loud, but what was causing all this talk. What unfolded was prime Bobby Petrino era.

Arkansas jumped out to a hot start and likely would have put the Crimson Tide away early had Ryan Mallett not gotten picked off in the end zone with Arkansas looking to go up 17-7 early in the second quarter. Even still, the Razorbacks eventually stretched the lead to 20-7 in the third quarter.

As everyone knows, Arkansas didn't win. Nick Saban rallied his team to pull it out, 24-20. The Razorbacks only lost two regular season games that year. The other was in a shootout against Auburn where back-up quarterback Tyler Wilson had to step in for Mallett and go toe-to-toe with Heisman winner Cam Newton and eventual national champion Auburn.

However, as much as everyone remembers Mallett carving up defenses with guys like Jarius Wright, Greg Childs, Joe Adams, DJ Williams and Chris Gragg, it was the running game that really jumped off the screen against Alabama. Petrino had what may have been one of the more underrated backfields in Razorback history.

Kniles Davis, Ronnie Wingo and Broderick Green feasted on the Alabama defense, but in a much more creative way than Arkansas fans are used to seeing these days. The rushing totals weren't jaw-dropping. Davis had 42 yards on six carries for an average of seven yards per touch. Green was a bull as he fought for the tough yards when the Razorbacks needed it most and Wingo didn't have a carry.

However, Petrino managed go coax out an efficient 141 yards of offense and a touchdown out of his backfield against the most feared defense in all of college football. All three had multiple catches out of the backfield. Davis had a long of nine, Green a long of 13 and Wingo broke a mid-range route down the left sideline for 43 yards to put Arkansas up 7-0 early on.

These guys weren't simply sliding off to the side as an easy dump-off behind the line of scrimmage. They were running legit routes that created havoc for Alabama. In turn, it added pressure in the secondary and created more spacing for everyone else. It also caused hesitation with defenders who didn't want to get blown by off a play fake for a passing touchdown by getting downhill too hard against the running game. This allowed for bigger running lanes against a defense that didn't allow running lanes.

The ah-ha moment from this flashback to better days for the Hogs is any running backs looking to stick around for next season had better get in great shape and increase flexibility. The days of slamming face first into the line over and over are likely behind them. They will need to soften their hands, develop the quickness needed to cut hard on routes and get used to running 10-30 yards a pop with precision because if they can't become a legitimate part of the passing game, their ability to smash into a crowded line for three yards isn't going to mean a whole lot.

For those up to the challenge, it will be fun. For those who aren't, it will be a nightmare. The portal will likely tell into which camp these backs fall.