FAYETTEVILLE -- Other than of course the ultimate bottom line of falling one point short in last Saturday's 51-50 loss to Mississippi State, Arkansas' offensive balance sheet balanced by offensive coordinator Dan Enos' accounting.
During Monday's news conference Enos was asked about the Razorbacks mustering just 73 yards rushing on 29 carries vs. senior quarterback Brandon Allen completing 30 of 43 passes for 406 yards with a Razorbacks-record 7 touchdown passes.
It's not new math but football logic that Enos views the offense balanced against Mississippi State. He also viewed the offense balanced in the previous game's 31-14 victory at LSU.
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Minus two quarterback sacks officially lowering the rushing to 40 carries for 299 yards, the Razorbacks ran 38 times for 318 yards in Baton Rouge. They attempted 16 passes that netted 141 yards.
The running achieved in Baton Rouge was enhanced by the passing threat established from Allen's 442 passing yards in the previous game's 53-52 overtime victory at Ole Miss, Enos said, noting Mississippi State's defense was affected by the Razorbacks running over LSU.
"They decided to put a lot of resources into stopping it [Arkansas' run game] so that creates seven touchdown passes," Enos said. "So, we'll take it. I just think that goes back to the ability to be able to run the ball and throw the ball."
The threat of balance can provide a more perfect balance than perfect statistical balance, Enos believes.
"Offensively I have said since the first day that I got here that creating balance on offense is not really every game having 40 rush attempts and 40 pass attempts, but more importantly being able to move the ball to help you win a game by throwing the ball or running the ball," Enos said. "Against LSU, we run the ball for 300 yards and we only have 16 pass attempts and we find a way to win. Against Ole Miss, we throw for 440 yards and we find a way to win.
"So there are a couple of examples of being able to do both effectively and helping you win a game. Unfortunately [against Mississippi State] we came up a little short."
Against Mississippi State, Enos was plotting for Coach Bret Bielema's Razorbacks against Mississippi State's defense while knowing that his offense faced a scoring duel against the brilliant Dak Prescott quarterbacking Mississippi State's offense.
It will be a different kind of matchup for Arkansas when it faces the Missouri Tigers on Friday in their SEC season finale at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Mizzou (5-6, 1-6 SEC) isn't nearly so offensively potent as Mississippi State, but the Tigers are stouter defensively.
The 31-13 loss to Mississippi State marks the most points that Mizzou has allowed. Mizzou linebacker Kentrell Brothers leads the nation with 140 tackles.
"He is a very instinctive player," Enos said. "He is quick. He is explosive. He really diagnoses things well. You can see he is very well-coached."
Sports on 11/25/2015