FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas completed 26 passes to its running backs last season, an average of exactly two per game.
That number is expected to rise this season under new coordinator Dan Enos.
The Razorbacks have shown an inclination this spring to check down pass plays and lift arcing balls over edge rushers to their running backs, and to set up heavily fortified screen plays.
"Yeah, I think we've run a few screens already and the defense hasn't seen us run screens like we're running them," quarterback Brandon Allen said last week.
The Razorbacks completed six passes to running backs, not all of them on screens, during their 82-play scrimmage last Saturday. That production did not feature senior tailback Jonathan Williams, who led all backs with 11 receptions for 65 yards last season but was held out of the scrimmage.
Williams said he and junior Alex Collins hope to provide more assistance in the passing game, particularly with screen passes, if called upon.
"I feel like that kind of throws a defense off," Williams said. "Definitely against the blitz, they can't send the whole house at you because you can dump it off, so with the blitz it definitely helps out."
By no means has Enos created a heavy dink and dunk passing game to complement what is expected to be a strong running attack. In fact, the Razorbacks hope to employ more multiple-receiver sets in 2015 and be more efficient with their downfield passing game.
But by throwing to running backs and getting quick hitters to receivers, Arkansas can further use some of its top play-makers and force defenses to think twice about deploying multiple blitzers.
"We want to get the real good players with their hands on the ball in space," Enos said. "Sometimes your screen game can get those guys out there in the open field and allow them to catch the ball with room to wiggle, and I think we've got some guys who can do something with it after the catch."
Offensive line coach Sam Pittman said he thinks the personnel on the Arkansas front should be suited to handle screen plays, which typically re-establish a set of blockers to one side or the other from where the ball was snapped.
"We have guys who can run, so you'd think we'd be pretty decent at screens," Pittman said. "And we have been so far."
Pittman said guards Sebastian Tretola and Frank Ragnow, in particular, have shown the ability to run effectively on pulling plays and screens.
"Those are guys that can get out and hit somebody in open spaces," he said.
Tunnel screens to wideouts and other quick-hitting throws to the edges also are part of Enos' philosophy that has shown up in the spring work.
"There's slow screens and then there's quick screens outside," Enos said. "We're going to have a variety of both of those. ... With the slow screens, to slow down pass rush and to attack blitzes are a couple of the common things you want to do with those. Then the quick screens outside are for blitzing teams, for different coverages we're trying to attack."
Collins, combo back Kody Walker and fullback John Tyson caught one pass each in last Saturday's scrimmage while fullback Tyler Colquitt caught three passes for 21 yards.
Arkansas did not abandon its backs in the passing game in 2014, but the screen game wasn't a huge factor.
Williams' production as a pass catcher has been significant throughout his career. As a freshman in 2012, he burst onto the SEC scene when he scored receiving touchdowns of 74 and 77 yards in the Hogs' 49-7 rout of Kentucky. One of the best individual highlights in his career came on a 19-yard, tackle-breaking catch-and-run touchdown in a 45-33 loss to Texas A&M in 2013. Last season Williams scored twice on receptions, including a 23-yard play to cap Arkansas' opening touchdown drive at Missouri.
Collins, who has shown good hands as a pass catcher, had only three receptions last season after amassing 11 as a freshman, including a team-high five in a loss at Florida.
By the look of things this spring, the backs will get a healthy dose of screen passes thrown to them under Enos.
"They were working really well for us in the beginning, and we're going to continue to keep that element of the screen game in our offense," Allen said. "I think we're going to do a great job with that."
Sports on 04/10/2015