Remember When Arkansas Offense Had Swag?

Missing self-confidence, bravado big part of why Razorbacks keep coming up short in close game and Pittman, Enos need to figure out how to restore it

Author:
Kent Smith
Publish date:
Oct 18, 2023 3:22 AM EDT

In this story:

Arkansas Razorbacks

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – It took an old school KJ Jefferson Herculean effort against Alabama to fully put it on display. This Razorback team has a swag issue on offense and it's the difference in all these close games.

Think about it. Outside of a handful of plays by tight ends and the Jefferson play in Tuscaloosa Saturday, when have you seen a player on the Razorback offense act like not only does he belong on the field, but no one else belongs on it with him?

Picture the great Arkansas offensive players of the past, including a few who are still on the roster, and run their confidence and bravado through your mind. Now cross reference that with anyone other than tight end Luke Hasz and convince yourself anything close to that confidence and aura has been seen at any point this year.

A massive portion of success in football is mental. Belief that you're the baddest man on the field, even if it isn't necessarily true, goes a long way in upping potential. Just look at Hudson Clark. His game has been 90% swag and 10% natural God given talent from the second he walked onto the field

Clark was a walk-on freshman from the least bad streets in America in the Park Cities just outside Dallas when he snagged three interceptions against Ole Miss star quarterback Matt Corral and had the area in his proximity dubbed Hud Island. Since then he's played with a swagger that's made him seem bigger than his game and it's allowed him to stay on the field Sam Pittman's entire tenure. He's often the energy that turns momentum.

Unfortunately for Arkansas, the offense has been so devoid of swag that it actually drained Jefferson's. He had drifted into a swagless shell of himself until the final quarter in Alabama when he suddenly remembered he's the feared beast who can't be take down by mortals because "he lifts weights" and is gifted the strength of 10 men by the power of Skittles. As soon as Jefferson remembered who he was, the swag he generated was enough to power the Razorback offense to 15 straight points.

Jefferson shouldn't be alone in bringing Tyson Fury level confidence to the football field on the offensive side of the ball. Receiver Isaiah Sategna should have so much swagger about him his cleats form puddles of swag with each step he takes. The second he lines up, he should be looking across the line at his next victim. He should be doubtless that he is about to blow past the defender into five yards of open space waiting for a touchdown pass on every play.

However, whether it's bad play design or simply mental mismanagement, that aura isn't present and it's.a shame. Someone has to be in charge of swag management on that side of the ball. It would inject confidence and better production in the line and would up the game of the receivers. The impact would be immediate and significant. For all the talk of mental health, there appears to be a great deal of overlooking swagger on this team and it's too big of a component not to address.

There's a good chance this season could have featured unlimited swag on the offensive side of the ball. Perhaps no player carries an aura of self-confidence on the field quite like sophomore defensive back Quincey McAdoo. As a freshman he hopped over to a struggling defense and immediately made it better simply through his mentality. He dripped with confidence and made sure everyone he faced took note. Even though he was new to the position it was impossible to take an eye off him because it was easy to tell he knew he was the baddest man on the field and his game followed suit.

This year likely would have been the inverse of last season had it not been for McAdoo's injury in a car wreck. With the defensive secondary much stronger, especially after being given time to develop with McAdoo setting the tone early in the season, it would have been safe to flip him over to the wide receiver room to inject a bit of energy and positively directed testosterone.

He's already shown he's got the speed and hands. Having played receiver made him a better defensive back and having played defensive back would have made him a better receiver. He not only would have found separation, both he and the defensive back would have known it was going to happen before the play started. And as soon as the catch was made and the play ended, he likely would have cut a glance at the DB to let him know it's coming again and he can't stop it.

Much of the fan base has doubt as to whether this team can pull off the wins needed to make a bowl game down the stretch. They may be right. If the offense from the line to the backfield to the farthest edges doesn't learn to find an inner spirit that won't allow them to believe the guy across from them can possibly be better, much less stop them from dominating over the next 60 minutes, the season's already over.

Either the offense finds its swag and plays its way into a memorable finish that shocks everyone or the Razorbacks continue plodding along their swagless path and half the team disappears into the portal to be forgotten.

It's up to the coaches to learn how to develop it. It's only their jobs and the happiness of an entire state on the line. Maybe they'll find a little swag too.