Razorback offensive coordinator Enos presses right buttons during OTs

FAYETTEVILLE -- Dan Enos was in a groove with his play calling against Auburn.

The first-year Arkansas offensive coordinator said Monday the Razorbacks' efficiency in the closing stages of their 54-46, four-overtime victory against Auburn was really about players executing at a high level.

Coach Bret Bielema, who chalked up his first victory in four overtime games with the Razorbacks, said Enos' whip-smart decision making down the stretch set the players up for success.

"I thought Saturday truly defined how good Dan Enos could be, because he really had an answer for every situation," Bielema said. "He adapted, he adjusted.

"I gave my offensive staff kudos on Sunday, because as long as I've been in this business, that's the most communication and open dialogue that I've ever had with a staff in any variety."

Enos said ongoing communications with coaches on the field and in the press box and between-series dialogue with the players helped form the plan for the Arkansas offense.

"I've been on staffs where everybody tries to place blame, why it's not working," Enos said. "I say, 'Let's fix it. Let's don't make more problems.' That's really what Coach B's philosophy is, too -- is let's keep our composure. If we're composed, our players will keep their composure, whether it's going good or it's going bad."

Saturday went mostly good for Arkansas, which generated 357 yards and 24 points in regulation, then another 100 yards and 30 points in the overtimes.

The Razorbacks took 14 snaps in the overtime periods where a turnover or major penalty could have spelled disaster and they committed neither. Arkansas had two fourth-down plays and a two-point conversion snap in overtime that had to work or the game would be lost and Enos dialed up winning plays each time.

"Especially when you start going into a four-deep overtime, about what plays you can go to, with Dan there was no hesitation," Bielema said. "He knew exactly where he was going to go on every one of those calls, which I thought was pretty special."

Enos was happy to inherit a veteran offensive roster, led by the fifth-year senior Brandon Allen at quarterback. But as one key skill player after another -- Jonathan Williams, Keon Hatcher, Kody Walker, Cody Hollister, Jared Cornelius, and now Rawleigh Williams -- was lost for lengthy periods of time, Enos has had to constantly adapt the schemes to match the emerging talent throughout the year.

Bielema said Enos and the offensive coaches did a great job during the bye week of refocusing on ways to let their best playmakers touch the ball.

The staff delivered against Auburn.

Arkansas unleashed new wrinkles and spruced up other elements of their attack. Jet sweeps to Dominique Reed and Damon "Duwop" Mitchell were big gainers, and a play-action pass off a fake sweep yielded Allen's 23-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Sprinkle in the second quarter.

Allen running effectively on quarterback sweeps was a new element, as was Allen's 11-yard catch on a throwback pass from Mitchell in the second overtime.

Allen went 7 of 10 for 63 yards, with two touchdowns and a two-point conversion pass, in the overtime periods.

"Brandon Allen was really clutch and just played a super football game," Enos said. "The plays he made in critical times were just unbelievable to see.

The weak-side misdirection pitch play Alex Collins scored on against Toledo made a comeback for one of the biggest plays of the game, Allen's pitch to Kody Walker for a 4-yard touchdown on fourth and 2 in the third overtime.

Collins rushed for a tough 105 yards, but he also had his best day in the pass game, with well-executed screen plays, which netted 39 yards on three catches.

Tight end Hunter Henry re-emerged after a couple of light games with three catches for 52 yards on Arkansas' game-opening touchdown drive. Then he contributed a 10-yard catch on third and 8 in the first overtime and a 6-yard grab on the first play of the third overtime.

Allen threw to Drew Morgan over the middle for a 6-yard touchdown on fourth and 3 in the first overtime -- a play on which guard Frank Ragnow occupied two Auburn pass rushers and Collins caught a blitzing defensive back. And Allen bounced back from a shin bruise in the second overtime to go 3 of 4 for 18 yards in the third overtime, which he capped with his rollout two-point conversation pass to Sprinkle, his third option.

Morgan blocked two defenders on Walker's misdirection pitch touchdown. And Enos listened when Morgan said he could beat freshman cornerback Carlton Davis with a short out route. That communication produced the game-winning touchdown, when Morgan shirked off Davis on a 5-yard route and raced for a 25-yard touchdown to open the fourth overtime.

After that, Enos delivered another gem.

Morgan went in motion, right to left, on the two-point conversion play, then faked a sweep left as Walker slipped past him in the backfield. Henry was engaging linebacker Kris Frost on the right edge to free up Walker in the flats. Allen, now rolling right, had an easy flip to Walker for the two-point conversion.

Walker was asked Saturday about the breadth of Enos' playbook in overtime.

"Oh, for sure," Walker said. "Coach Enos is a great coach and a great OC. I love to have him here."

Auburn Coach Gus Malzahn said the two-point conversion was a new wrinkle.

"They did a good job executing their offense when they had to," Malzahn said. "And like I said, I think the big thing is they responded numerous times when they had to on fourth downs and two-point conversions."

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Sports on 10/27/2015