Hogs Offense Should Be Razor Sharp

Bobby Petrino's offense is not easy to learn. In fact, it is complicated.

It's not uncommon for a Petrino team to be able to run the same play out of as many 10 different formations, creating confusion for the defense. That's why Arkansas tailback Michael Smith, a 1,000-yard rusher in 2008, viewed spring drills as a blessing. Sure, Smith would rather have practiced but he was sidelined with a hamstring injury.

So Smith studied practice from a new vantage point.

"I was able to take things from the game from a completely different perspective," Smith told FanHouse. "I was able to watch why and when we called a certain play, what we were trying to get out of it and how it attacked a certain defense. I started to understand why we do what we do and why our offense is so complex. It was a helpful learning tool."

It's the second time around for Smith and the Razorbacks under Petrino, who arrived in Arkansas last year from the Atlanta Falcons to coach in the college ranks again.

The 2008 season was expected to be a transition year for the team and Petrino. It was.

The Razorbacks had just 11 returning starters, were switching offensive schemes from a run- to a pass-based attack and lost their amazing trio of running backs in Darren McFadden, Felix Jones and Peyton Hills. While eliminated from bowl contention, Petrino led the Hogs to a last-second victory over rival and defending national champions LSU to finish 5-7 with an SEC mark of 2-6.

Smith looks around and can't believe where time has gone.

Now a fifth-year senior -- and completely recovered from his hamstring injury -- Smith is determined to make sure Arkansas isn't tagged an afterthought in the SEC West. After getting just a taste of Petrino's offense last year, it appears that Petrino has the pieces in place to run his offense the way he wants to run it -- Arkansas returns players that accounted for 99 percent of its rushing yards and 97 percent of its receiving yards.

For starters, strong-armed quarterbacks Ryan Mallett, who sat out last season after transferring from Michigan and is recovering from a finger injury suffered while weight training, and Tyler Wilson give Arkansas' passing game a vertical component that fans have not seen in many years. Plus, the Razorbacks have plenty of playmakers in the huddle.

Sophomore receivers Jarius Wright, Joe Adams and Greg Childs will be better after playing as true freshmen in 2008. D.J. Williams is one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the nation. And, of course, there's Smith. At 5-feet-7 and 176 pounds, Smith might not be the big back Petrino talks about favoring, but there's no denying Smith's toughness.

Smith, who has played in 31 career games, led the SEC in rushing yards per game for five consecutive weeks last year, and ended the season ranked second in the conference and 22nd nationally with 107.2 yards per game. Smith led the conference in all-purpose yards (141 ypg) and averaged 5.2 yards per rush with eight touchdowns.

"Let's fact it -- I am undersized for my position but it's not a big deal because I've never been big," Smith said and laughed. "I am not worried about it because, in the SEC, most teams have more than one back anyway. Having another back in the game is not going to upset me. It gives me a breather and allows somebody else to get deserved reps and plays. So, when I get back in there I know I have to make plays with my reps. It's healthy competition and that's great.

"Everybody knows we have guys who can make plays, so it's just a matter of going out there and putting points on the board this season. We have the tools and superstars to carry that out. The depth at each position is deeper, so that means the competition becomes stronger and if one guy isn't getting it done, the coaches can move to the next guy who can get it done. That's how it should be and it's going to make our team that much better."

How better, of course, remains to be seen -- especially with the Hogs' schedule.

There's no such thing as an easy schedule in the SEC, but Arkansas' road is straight uphill. Arkansas is the only team in the SEC that has to play at Florida, Ole Miss, Alabama and LSU. The Hogs also face Georgia at home and Texas A&M at a neutral site.

Smith views the schedule as an opportunity, and not a challenge.

"I heard somebody say that we have one of the toughest schedules in the nation and that gets me pretty excited," Smith said.

"I am going to try my hardest to make sure our team doesn't get caught up in: 'Look, that's who we are playing and where.' I understand we are going to face quality competition, But by the time the season starts I want guys to understand we are going to be viewed as good competition for the teams that we are going to face as well."

While questions remain on defense -- Arkansas opened last season with three true freshmen and two redshirt freshmen in the starting lineup -- and special teams, Smith wants to make sure the offense doesn't struggle in its second at-bat under Petrino. That's why he thought the opportunity to watch Petrino's offense from the outside looking in during spring drills was beneficial.


"We had a set number of plays when I first got here that we may have run in a different couple formations," said Smith, who had five 100-yard rushing games, including four in a row, last season. That streak included a career-high 192 yards on 35 carries against Kentucky and 133 yards against Florida, which was the most allowed by the Gators' defense last year.

"Under coach Petrino, it's more of a pro-style offense," Smith continued.

"You have to understand what the plays do and when we are going to run them to fully execute them. It's more of a responsibility of knowing what's going on in order to get back on the field. Honestly, I thought it was a very productive spring for me. I had a chance to sit back and watch football from another view.

"I understand the game far better compared to my first few years."