Arkansas football changing offensive philosophy under Dan Enos
The loss of former Arkansas offensive coordinator Kendal Briles to TCU over the offseason stung at first, but the addition of Dan Enos in Briles' place might have the Razorbacks in a better position offensively in 2023.
In his last two seasons, Briles led the Razorback offense to averaging 470.5 yards and 32.5 points per game in 2022 and 441.7 yards and 30.9 points per game in 2021. Those numbers are the best since 2015, when Enos was the offensive coordinator alongside then offensive line coach Sam Pittman.
Those numbers don't tell the entire story, however. In fourth down conversion percentage last season, the Razorbacks ranked 85th in the country. In goal line offense, Arkansas ranked 70th. These performances in short-yardage situations were unacceptable for an offense that finished No. 7 in the nation in rushing offense.
Enter, Enos, whose Maryland offense ranked No. 23 team in fourth down conversion percentage and No. 21 in red zone offense during the 2022 season. These numbers aren't surprising for Pittman, who spoke about Enos at SEC Media Days last Wednesday.
"I hired Dan Enos because I think he's a hell of a football coach," Pittman said. "I hired Dan Enos because I thought he was the best play-caller I've ever worked with, and I felt like that's what we need."
With Enos and Pittman on the sideline in 2015, Arkansas averaged 466.5 yards and 35.9 points per game. Quarterback Brandon Allen threw for 3,440 yards and 30 touchdowns while running back Alex Collins ran for 1,577 yards and 20 touchdowns.
That same Arkansas team finished 20th in fourth down conversion percentage and tied for 89th in red zone offense. But talking about statistics is one thing, getting a team ready for a new-look offense is another.
"We've made a big effort offensively on short yardage, goal line offense," Pittman said on The Morning Rush on Wednesday. "Instead of working on the second and third play, we've done a lot of third and fourth play."
With a powerful one-two punch in quarterback KJ Jefferson and running back Raheim "Rocket" Sanders, improving in short-yardage situations shouldn't be difficult. Using their talent to sustain drives next season will play a huge factor in the team's success, and Pittman knows it.
"Some of these games we lost, we're not only losing down on the goal line, we're losing on fourth down and one," Pittman said. "You know, game-changing moments."
A major factor behind some of the failures in short-yardage situations was the offensive line, something that will have to improve in 2023. Starters Beaux Limmer and Brady Latham return, as do bench pieces Devon Manuel, Ty'Kieast Crawford and E'Marion Harris.
"Well, we have talented tackles, we like those guys," Pittman noted. "We have Devon Manuel and Patrick Kutas. We like those guys. We like Ty'Kieast Crawford. We like Andrew Chamblee. E'Marion Harris could go out there and play."
"I've got one of the best o-line coaches out there in Cody Kennedy," Pittman said. "Those guys are really good players, but I think it's time they go out there and show what they are going to do, and I have no doubt we'll feel really good about that."
With an offensive line led by Pittman and Kennedy and talent littered all over the offensive backfield, Enos will have every opportunity to break the offensive records set by his 2015 team.
The immediate goal for Pittman and company is focusing on the little things, though. That's what wins football games. Becoming more consistent on fourth down and on the goal line is one of those little things.
With fall camp beginning next Friday, the team will have plenty of time to prepare for their Week 1 matchup with Western Carolina at 3 p.m. CT on Saturday, Sept. 2 at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.