ARKANSAS FOOTBALL

QB Allen asked to lead, not be a one-man show

Redshirt sophomore Brandon Allen is slated to be Arkansas' starting quarterback Saturday.

FAYETTEVILLE -Playmaking responsibility in the Arkanas offense of Bret Bielema and Jim Chaney is not nearly as reliant on the quarterback as it was in the Bobby Petrino-Paul Petrino system of the past five years.

The quarterback will still be required to make key checks at the line of scrimmage and be efficient at delivering the ball to runners and pass catchers for the current offensive system to be productive.

But the quarterback is just one cog in the offense.

“Everybody makes a lot out of the quarterback position, but ultimately they have onejob,” said Chaney, the coordinator and quarterbacks coach. “The job is to get the ball to the playmakers. That’s it. We can define it in many different ways.

“They either can hand it to the playmakers in the backfield or throw it to the playmakers outside, but ultimately that’s their job, and as long as they can do that effectively, we’ll be fine.”

Brandon Allen’s ability to adapt to the new offense was a critical factor in the redshirt sophomore’s surge ahead of senior Brandon Mitchell midway through spring, leadingto Mitchell’s transfer to North Carolina State, and it’s a big reason why the Hogs’ offensive coaches are optimistic about the offense’s progress.

Allen, who played at Fayetteville High School, completed 16 of 17 passes for 216 yards and a touchdown in the Razorbacks’ first camp scrimmage on Aug. 10. Allen said he wasn’t as efficient in the second scrimmage.

“It was all right,” he said. “Definitely a couple of mental errors I would like to have back. It was a learning experience, so I learn from the things I made mistakes on and get better.”

Allen, following in the record-breaking cleat marks of Ryan Mallett and Tyler Wilson, who put together four consecutive 3,000-yard passing seasons (two each), will have a different role in the new Arkansas offense.

Bielema said he wants the unit to work the clock, assert dominance with the ground game, and to strike more balance between passing and rushing.

Allen said he is on board with the changes, especially as injuries have taken their toll at wide receiver, with a knee injury knocking out Demetrious Wilson for theseason and a foot injury sidelining D’Arthur Cowan sidelines for 6 to 8 weeks.

“I’m pretty comfortable with this offense right now,” he said.

“If we do have people go down again, different people just have to step up and knowtheir role in the offense. I can do my part in telling them what they have to do, but it all comes down to them mentally preparing themselves and, as a team, getting on the same page.”

Bielema has made no secret of his desire for a ball-controlling ground game, but that doesn’t mean the pass will be forgotten.

“A lot of times in recruiting, people take shots at us, like it’s just going to be 4 yards and a cloud of dust,” he said on media day.

“If you look back at our history, we are one of the few teams that have averaged over 225 yards running and throwing the ball, which to me creates great balance and makes it a little easier for the quarterback to read defenses.”

Bielema said Allen has made more improvement at his position than any player on the roster since the coach’s arrival.

“Obviously he’s been raised from good stock,” Bielema said, praising Allen’s parents, Marcela and Bobby, the long-time Arkansas assistant and current director of high school and NFL relations.

“His mom and dad have raised him in all the right ways. I think he’s a football junkie, obviously, with his pops being around the game as long as he has.

“It’s important to him. He’s grown up a Razorback. I know that’s something that you can never put a price tag on. His composure in the huddle, I liked popping in there [recently]. It’s just so much different. I think the players have so much faith in him. And now you see those receivers - and I made a joke about it, but I mean it - those receivers, they’re going to maybe jump two inches higher to get that ball. They’re going to strain that much more.”

Top reserve AJ Derby has not led the No. 2 offense to a score against the defensive starters during major scrimmage work at camp, which might be a positive statement for the defense, but a cause for concern at quarterback.

Austin Allen, the starter’s freshman brother, has moved into the No. 3 role with walk on Brian Buehner moving to receiver to help fill out depth. And Damon “Duwop” Mitchell, a true freshman along with Austin Allen, has been performing scout team duties as Louisiana-Lafayette quarterback Terrance Broadway since the Razorbacks moved into their opening-week preparation.

Position Glance: Quarterbacks

RETURNING STARTERS None

KEY LOSSES Tyler Wilson, Brandon Mitchell

WHO’S BACK Brandon Allen

WHO’S NEW AJ Derby, Austin Allen, Damon Mitchell

WALK-ONS Derby

ANALYSIS A lot is riding on Brandon Allen’s shoulders, but the coaches say his key task will be getting the ball to the team’s playmakers. Allen was 16 of 17 in the opening scrimmage of camp, though it came against a vanilla defense with toned-down offensive schemes. Allen must adjust to the increased speed of game day quickly and adapt better than he did in relief duty of Tyler Wilson last season. The depth behind Allen is suspect: Derby has very little major-college experience; Austin Allen and Damon “Duwop” Mitchell are true freshmen.

NOTE Walk-on Brian Buehner worked with quarterbacks in the spring, but moved to receiver midway through camp.

Sports, Pages 13 on 08/26/2013