Confidence Biggest Issue for Razorbacks' Offense

KJ Jefferson says Arkansas' offense looking for comfort in The Swamp

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — What kills momentum more than anything in sports? Switching play-calling philosophies far and away from what current skill position players can actually do. Everything Arkansas had success doing over the past three seasons seemed to be blotted out. Call it insanity, doing the same thing over and over but receiving the same result. 

The Razorbacks' offense has been a shell of its old self being half as productive as it was last year. Take out the first three weeks and focus on just SEC play for a moment and it's very apparent changes were needed warranting the firing of Dan Enos as offensive coordinator.

Arkansas offense vs the SEC

19.6 points per game
ZERO rushing touchdowns
83.6 rushing yards/gm
177 passing yards/gm
9.4 first downs/gm
24 sacks

— Jacob Davis (@JacobScottDavis) October 22, 2023

The most glaring issue is the lack of rushing success compared to the previous two seasons. Even Hogs coach Sam Pittman acknowledges the need for getting the running game back on track. The heat wasn't only on Enos but also offensive line coach Cody Kennedy whose group is one of the worst in the conference. There is hope that a faster offensive pace and simplified scheme will help blocking concepts.

If someone would have said that by year four the Hogs would have one of the worst offensive lines in school history with a head coach that specializes in trench play, that person would have been laughed out of the room. However, that is exactly where the Razorbacks currently sit. Due to the struggles they sit 0-5 in conference play. Where do they turn? The offense hopes they return to similar success under a Briles guy, Kenny Guiton.

"It’s been great," KJ Jefferson said with the media Tuesday afternoon. "Everybody is excited to go out there and play for Coach Guiton. He is excited as well to be have an opportunity like he has coming up. So everybody decided they’re buying into the process of what he is trying to get done with the offensive side. It’s been a great environment."

Buying into the process means cutting out a lot of the playbook apparently. Pittman says they've scaled back at least 30% of plays. The hope is that by simplifying the offensive execution is eased and confidence is gained.

"It’s just being positive," Jefferson said. "I mean, guys don’t have to think as much. Guys can be confident in plays that we’re calling, knowing what we’re good at. Trying to get guys to play faster and play more confident rather than thinking a lot slower and scared of making a mistake."

Gaining confidence is the biggest key to success and that's what the offense was predicated on in the past under Briles leadership. There was a swagger, a desire to fight with each play. There was a time last Saturday that failure was expected by each play. Jefferson is looking forward to being able to play more freely this weekend.

"[Guiton] is more of a laid-back coach," Jefferson said. "He corrects us when we make mistakes but he’s not just really hard on us. He’s gonna try to let us so he know what to expect from the quarterback position. So, just lay back and let us do our own thing, but when he needs to coach us we are very coachable."

One of the biggest keys to Saturday's game will be making sure the offensive weapons will be utilized appropriately and comfortably. Not asking certain players to perform tasks they aren't able to fulfil. According to Jefferson, they're studying the Gators' defense hard to pull off something never before done by the Hogs - winning in Gainesville.

"Making sure that I’m comfortable with the game plan that’s building up," Jefferson said. "The main thing is making sure everybody else is comfortable with what we what we’ve been practicing on, building on and watching film in. Also it’s an all-around team effort, but whatever the game plan might be and the looks that they give us, we will take full advantage of."

The Hogs will kick off against Florida at 11 a.m. on Saturday morning. The game will be televised on ESPN2 and fuboTV.