Becoming Clear Petrino Having Influence on Pittman's Hires

First sign of learning curve in critical areas for new coordinator's offensive installation

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — If you had any doubts about how much Arkansas coach Sam Pittman is dumping into trust of Bobby Petrino, if Kolby Smith is the next running backs coach it will be a clear sign. Apparently a lot.

It was first reported by Brandon Marcello at 247Sports on Saturday and our Kent Smith followed up with a look at it. You can get all of the details there, but the connection with Petrino is clear, from playing for him at Louisville, then coaching under him. He knows what he's getting into with the job.

The key point of all this is the learning curve players have to learn to be in Petrino's offense. To put it simply and the thing just about every offensive player he's coached is you can't be a dummy and play for him. To get all of this in place before they get to the serious first matchup against Oklahoma State in the second week of the season he likely finds it a little smoother if guys he's familiar with are handling the positions.

Petrino Looks To Make Familiar Hire For Running Backs Coach

In his first coordinator's job at Texas A&M, Jimbo Fisher made it pretty clear from the beginning he was still in charge of things and it would remain his terminology and offense. Considering Fisher was fired before the last game of the year, he might have been a little better off to listen to his assistants.

Pittman has said from the beginning he wasn't making the same mistake and this was going to be Petrino's offense. The head coach is now the offensive line graduate assistant, which is what he's doing for fun ... and smart. That's what hasn't changed from his decades of experience coaching. Everything he prepared to do as a head coach change less than 90 days after he got the job.

In case you're wondering, it's not unusual for head coaches to take a grad assistant's role with their position of expertise. Nick Saban did the same thing, being the GA for Alabama's defensive backs. It gives them a chance to actually coach, which often gets lost trying to pay attention to everything.

Petrino's probably in a situation he prefers. He gets to put together offensive plans and have almost total control over it. Pittman will retain veto power. That should be his right as the head coach. Texas A&M likely would have been a great job if he'd had any control, but that didn't happen.

Arkansas Razorbacks offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino at practice Friday morning at the indoor football center in Fayetteville, Ark :: Andy Hodges / allHOGS Images

Now he's back in Arkansas, a place he really never wanted to leave when he kinda had to back in 2012. Now he's embraced by fans and the media. He probably would have preferred to have more experience in place, but he's taking what he can get and is confident he can work with it.

If Smith is indeed the choice, we may have one more clue how much Petrino has charge of the offense. That's a good thing, by the way.

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