Running Back Room Begs Enos to Run Old Offense

If Arkansas OC breaks out his original Razorback offense, it could be absolute nightmare for SEC defenses

Author:
Kent Smith
Publish date:
Aug 16, 2023 1:00 PM EDT

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – When Arkansas coach Sam Pittman called up offensive coordinator Dan Enos at Maryland after tiring of Kendal Briles throwing himself at every OC job that came along, it's very possible he did so with his running back room in mind.

No team in the country may be as loaded as Arkansas at the position. The Razorbacks have two highly successful SEC starters in Raheim "Rocket" Sanders and Dominique Johnson, two backs who could start just about anywhere else in AJ Green and Rashod Dubinion, plus potential All-SEC talent waiting behind them. It's by far the strongest position on the team.

That's why bringing on Enos in the midst of the current state of the transfer portal is vital. Briles did a good job of rotating backs into the game, but seeing multiple backs in the backfield was about as rare as a cow being picked up by a dust devil.

However, while watching film from record-breaking running back Alex Collins' 2015 junior season, which was his most successful, one thing became very clear. Enos, who was in his first year as offensive coordinator under Bret Bielema, knows how to get multiple backs onto the field. He lined fullbacks up in front of Collins, relied on tight ends and still managed to create one of the most prolific offenses Arkansas has ever had.

A combination of quarterback KJ Jefferson, Sanders and any of the other backs immediately gives the Razorbacks the most dangerous backfield in the SEC. Former quarterback Brandon Allen was a good runner, as was his brother Austin. It's why the bootleg was always so effective under Enos. Yet, as good as they were, try picturing the difficulty a defense faces with Jefferson, Sanders and one of the other backs on the field when a bootleg is called. Respect has to be given to all three as runners, which requires everyone to hesitate, opening lanes for the tight end. If anyone tries to cheat, running lanes for the most dangerous runners in college football open up. It's a coordinator's nightmare.

Dubinion, Green and Johnson hit the hole so fast and with such power that good placement of the ball on hand-offs and fakes creates a high potential for mistakes. Assume they're coming to block and suddenly they're in the secondary with the ball going one-on-one at full speed with a defensive back who gives up 40-50 pounds. Assume they're running and get slammed into by a powerful back as he clears the way for Sanders or Jefferson.

Of course, the linebacker could always guess correctly that the fullback doesn't have the ball only to create a soft spot in the defense to slip into for Jefferson to dump it off. There's also the terrifying possibility of whoever's at fullback coming through hunting heads, followed by Sanders doing the same, as Jefferson follows behind thundering around and through whatever may be left behind.

Enos even has the option to do his back rotation in pairs, placing Sanders at tailback with Dubinion in front while having Green line up behind Johnson every third or fourth play to offer relief. Every one of those guys can take it to the house, making Arkansas effective while allowing a four-headed monster time on the field to shine. That's one of the greatest antidotes to the transfer portal Pittman can have.

The other thing it does is buy Jefferson time and extra protection. The thing that stood out most while watching film was immediately after delivering the play action fake, Allen was able to plant his feet and drive, delivering quick-hitting throws into the deep middle. The plays always looked bang-bang, eating up chunks of yards while taking advantage of the hesitation created by what the Arkansas backfield was capable of doing.

If this is the ultimate plan for the offense, it wouldn't be surprising to not see it against Western Carolina. There shouldn't be a reason to reveal that card. It can be better perfected in practice than wasting it on an FCS school. It's possible the Razorbacks could make it all the way to LSU without showing it on film. Suddenly breaking it out against the Tigers after not giving reason to prepare for it would be a powerful way to gain the upper hand. Catching a team off guard and punching them in the mouth at the same time is a strong ingredient in upsetting a Top 5 team on the road.

Enos may ultimately decide against a two-back system despite the depth and strength of his running back room. No one knows for sure outside of the players and coaches what the offense will look like because that's something that takes place after the media gets its short window into looking at a handful of drills each day. But, if he does, it could be a special year for the offense and a lot of fun to watch.
Just not for opposing defenses.