FAYETTEVILLE — There was a warning about what's going on with the Arkansas football team from Rick Neuheisel on Wednesday at the Northwest Arkansas Touchdown Club: Don't deviate from the general blueprint of smash-mouth running.
Neuheisel is an analyst at CBS Sports. The former head coach at Colorado, Washington and UCLA is fine with Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema sprinkling in more passing. In fact, it's needed in the SEC against what he calls the best defenses in college football.
It almost sounded odd coming from a former quarterback and NFL offensive coordinator with a penchant for solid passing offenses. But Neuheisel made solid points as he pointed to the 52 passes thrown in a loss to Toledo last season after new offensive coordinator Dan Enos retooled the offense.
Neuheisel threw around some telling numbers as he suggested that the right approach was to get back to a power running game that sets up play-action passes out of fakes from that power game.
“What Bret's trying to build here is going to take some time,” Neuheisel said. “The model he has is from what they did at Wisconsin. They had the biggest bullies on the block. They had a great number of fabulous backs.”
It's a good formula, except that the SEC “has the kryptonite” for that style. He said it's “the best defenses” in college football.
Still, Neuheisel said it's the right approach and encouraged fans to stay behind Bielema. He said it will work.
“They just have to get back to running the ball,” he said. “They have to do that to get their third down percentage lower. They are 81st (at 38.4) on offense and 124th (at 48.5) on defense.”
There was the right balance against Ole Miss in a win three weeks ago. The Hogs netted 200 yards rushing against the Rebels.
“They proved they can run it against Ole Miss,” Neuheisel said, “when you get it in a manageable situation.”
That means eliminating sacks from drop-back passing. Quarterback Austin Allen has “great moxie,” but Neuheisel said he's taking hits that aren't necessary.
“He does hold the ball too long,” he said. “If you get stuck in drop-back passing, you get 21 sacks and you go backward. They've played some great pass rushers in Texas A&M, Alabama and Auburn. And here comes Florida and LSU with some, too.
“You have to change the launch point. So you have to do some things with formations and get better at getting the ball out. He needs more help.”
After pointing to those bad third down numbers for Arkansas, Neuheisel pointed to Florida's great numbers. Florida is sixth in the nation with an offensive conversion rate of 50.4. The defense holds opponents to 27.8, fifth best nationally.
Neuheisel did offer some encouraging words about the Florida schedule. He said the SEC East isn't like the SEC West.
“Florida hasn't played anyone in the West,” he said. “I think it's a great matchup this week. I think Arkansas has the factor of pride this week, after what happened last week in a 56-3 loss. I think fans should be encouraged to be all-in.
“I do believe Bret is on the right path. I think he believes he's on the right path. He also believes this is where he wants to be the rest of his career. Why shouldn't he? He's been given all the tools from (athletics director) Jeff Long.
“It's just too early to make a change, although I don't think anyone believes it's time to make a change. It's too early in the process. Don't be impatient.”
Neuheisel referenced the tough teams in the SEC West several times. But he disagreed with first College Football Playoff rankings of the season that put Texas A&M ahead of Washington for the fourth spot.
“That will change,” he said. “A&M is a fine team, but Washington will take that spot if they win out. They have that extra game for the (Pac-12) conference championship. Washington is a complete team.”
Neuheisel pointed to the way Chris Petersen changed “the culture” at Washington. He said Bielema is going about it in the same way.
There was an interesting take about another top contender, especially the coach. Neuheisel coached against Michigan's Jim Harbaugh when they were both in the Pac-12. Neuheisel was at UCLA, Harbaugh at Stanford.
“We beat them in 2008 with 15 seconds left,” Neuheisel said. “He came to the middle of the field and I stuck out my hand. He slapped it and ran off without saying anything.”
Stanford won the next year, surviving a late scare from UCLA.
“He ran out again, slapped my hand, and yelled, 'What do you think about that Ricky!' He ran off again," Neuheisel said.
“I thought, 'Who is this guy?' We had a contentious relationship.”
Later, after explaining a confrontation in a Pac-12 spring coaches' meeting that Harbaugh had with Pete Carroll, Neuheisel said, “This guy wants to fight about anything.”
After detailing Michigan's marvelous turnaround under Harbaugh, Neuheisel said, “Give the devil his due, but he's crazy.”
As far as the frontrunner, Neuheisel said Alabama will be hard to beat.
“Alabama will have to help any team beat them,” he said. “But you know how it goes at the end of the season, crazy things happen and it's hard to go undefeated.
“But they have a great defense. They've scored nine defensive touchdowns. They are playing a unique brand of football. They've added something they didn't have in the past, a dual threat quarterback.
“(Offensive coordinator) Lane Kiffin doesn't have to worry a lot about third down. He can take a knee if he wants, and know that their defense is going to get the ball back in three plays.”
That's what's happening at Florida, too. Neuheisel saw the Gators against Georgia last week.
“They have two great cover corners,” he said. “They can put nine in the box and stop the run. They can have the safeties in the box. You do have some one-on-one opportunities on the outside against them, but they can rush the passer.”