Why the Arkansas running back rotation now runs through Cam Settles

Arkansas coach Ryan Silverfield has a pretty good idea of what the Razorbacks want to do on the first drive of a game.

“The first few plays are scripted,” he said Monday “and we’ve had some success in opening drives.”

The trouble starts once the script runs out.

That was a problem when teams started doing about 50 years or so ago and it was a novelty then. It even seemed logical to a high school kid at the time in the 1970’s when a few coaches started doing it.

Through four games, the Hogs have had a hard time turning trips inside the 20 into touchdowns.

Silverfield’s fix isn’t complicated. Run the ball better, and the red zone gets easier.

“Now we’ve just got to find ways to capitalize,” he said.

That brings us to the backfield, where Arkansas has three names in the mix: Cam Settles, Braylen Russell and Sutton Smith.

Texas A&M plan could come in chunks

Texas A&M is up next, and Silverfield floated an idea for how he might use his backs.

“We may go in this game plan versus Texas A&M, and that, hey Sutton, these six plays in a row to start the game are the best situation to put us in,” Silverfield said. “Braylen Russell, hey, maybe it’s these five plays, what this looks like, because what you don’t want to do is sit there and then all of a sudden its like, ‘Hey, this guy’s in the game. These are the three plays they run, this guy’s in the game.'”

So, not one back per snap. More like a handful of plays for one guy before the next one checks in.

There’s a reason for that. When the same back always comes in for the same three plays, defensive coaches notice. They aren’t complete idiots and paid a lot of money these days to notice that.

Silverfield said figuring that out is part of the job as the season wears on.

“So, we’ve got to be smart with that. I think that’s part of as the season goes on, not just a self-scout, but like OK, you have a better understanding, what can you do? Let’s go play ball.”

Arkansas Razorbacks running back Cam Settles is brought down during game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark. | Nilsen Roman-allHOGS Images

Why Settles keeps getting the nod

Still, if you’re looking for the back the staff trusts most, he isn’t hard to spot.

Settles hasn’t been 100%. The Hogs started him anyway.

“He obviously was a little bit banged up, but we just felt like he gave us the best opportunity in the current game plan to have success.”

The coaches have been sold on him since spring ball wrapped up.

“But I told you guys all along, we had really high hopes for Settles leaving spring,” Silverfield said. “Like, he can do it all. He’s a first down, second down, third down back.”

A back who can play any down comes in handy for an offense trying not to be predictable. Defenses can’t read much into it when he’s always out there.

He’s got fans on special teams, too.

“The special teams coordinators are begging to have him do more stuff for them, and he gets it,” Silverfield said.

What changed last week

Settles got the start last week and handled most of the work.

Russell was the No. 2 back.

Smith was used even less.

According to Silverfield, the old approach of swapping backs nearly every snap kept the offense from settling in.

“It’s getting into the flow of the game,” Silverfield said. “That’s a part of it. Previous games, it was like, all right, this guy for this play, this guy for this play and we felt like we were never getting in the flow of the game right.”

If Settles ends up staying on the field for a long drive, Silverfield’s fine with that.

“Now, do you want a running back being out there for 12 straight plays? Well, if it’s a 12-play drive, cool. I think you find that rotation within it.”

Braylen Russell | Nilsen Roman-allHOGS Images

Russell’s role looks smaller

Add it up, and Settles looks like the lead back going forward.

Russell has gone from splitting snaps to backing up.

The plan for the Aggies might still carve out a series or two for him and Smith.

But the job appears to be Settles’ now.

Whether that fixes the red zone is another question. The Razorbacks get their next shot against Texas A&M.