– Arkansas Head Coach Sam Pittman has dismissed offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Dan Enos of his duties, and he is no longer part of the Razorbacks’ program, effective immediately. Kenny Guiton, the wide receivers coach and former Ohio State quarterback, will take over play calling duties for the Hogs for the rest of the season.
The Razorbacks are on a bye this week and will return to action on November 4 against Florida before closing with three consecutive home games beginning November 11 versus Auburn.
This was obvious for quite some time. After the email disaster following Arkansas’ 34-22 loss to Texas A&M, it was just a matter of time before the team moved on from Dan Enos.
Pittman appears to have chosen Enos because it was the easiest hire to make. They worked together on the Arkansas offensive staff in 2015, and the group was extremely successful. It didn’t work this time.
Every offensive player at Arkansas was recruited by previous offensive coordinator Kendal Briles, who is now at TCU. Consider how this offence would look if Briles called the plays for third-year starting quarterback KJ Jefferson.
Instead, in eight games, the Razorbacks ranked 119th in the nation in total offence (305.9), 114th in rushing offence (109.0), 102nd in passing offence (196.9), and 82nd in scoring offence (26.5). The players simply do not fit within the concept, and it appears that Enos did little to address this.
The offence has single-handedly cost the Razorbacks each of the previous three games. Travis Williams, the first-year defensive coordinator, has done all possible to limit opponents, most recently holding Mississippi State to seven points on Saturday.
Enos’ offence failed to score against a Bulldog defence that was ranked among the worst in the SEC. The three points came via an interception early in the first quarter, which put the offence in Mississippi State territory.
Pittman is a loyal person, and this commitment cost him with the Enos hire. The Hogs have lost six straight games and now enter a bye week with a new interim play-caller, receivers coach Kenny Guiton, who has never called a play.
Guiton will most likely operate an up-tempo offence similar to what we saw under Briles, given he has worked with Briles on several occasions. The extent to which the offence can change in less than two weeks remains to be determined.
Pittman will need to win at least one more game this season to keep his job, with Florida, Auburn, Florida International, and Missouri still on the schedule. The dismissal of Enos is a wonderful start, but there must be a positive outcome from this.
The Hogs will take a week off before travelling to Gainesville, Florida, to play the Gators on November 4.
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