Chris Marshall's injury had an unexpected silver lining for Arkansas

When leading receiver Chris Marshall left the halftime locker room in sweatpants on Saturday night, every Razorback fan held their breath.

Throughout the year, Marshall had been the only bright spot for the Hogs offense, leading the way with 42 receptions and over 600 yards. If he wasn’t open, a pass likely wasn’t being completed by quarterback K.J. Jackson. Add in a running game that, outside of one quarter against Tennessee, seemed stuck in the mud, and it appeared that the Razorback offense would struggle to find traction again.

Instead, they played their best game of the year.

The much-maligned rushing attack garnered 187 yards on 41 carries. Tailbacks Braylen Russell, Cam Settles, and Sutton Smith all made their presence felt, with Russell leading the way with 14 carries and Settles finding pay dirt twice. Even Smith, the most critcized of the three, provided a nice change of pace and had a team high 7.9 yards per carry.

However, when Vandy decided to stack the box and force the Hogs to throw, Jackson and Co. didn’t blink. 12 different Razorbacks caught a pass, with sophomore receiver Antonio Jordan identifying himself as the favorite target with 5 receptions for 75 yards. 

Jackson looked comfortable and patient, keeping his eyes downfield even when the pocket was collapsing. Not to be outdone by his partners in the backfield, he was a prominent part of the run game as well, scampering for 58 yards on 11 carries. He threw accurately and on time, giving his receivers sufficient chances on 50/50 balls, and trusted his arm to push the ball down the field. As the cherry on top, his jersey remained clean as the offensive line didn’t allow a single sack.

Was this performance a one-game anomaly? The pessimist’s perspective would say yes and note that Vanderbilt is the worst team in the SEC. However, if the Hogs truly did find something that will lead to more offensive success throughout the year, they might actually thank the football gods for forcing Marshall out of the game.

Chris Marshall’s injury helped the Hogs' offense discover bright spots

Going into Saturday’s game, the eventual leading receiver, Antonio Jordan, had only three catches for 25 yards. On the depth chart, he is listed as playing the same position as Marshall, which limited his playing time and the reps spent opposite Marshall on the field.

After a breakout game, there is no chance that offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey won’t find a way to scheme more plays with both of them lined up together. Same position or not, they are the two best receivers in the room. As the adage goes, playmakers make plays. If the Arkansas offense wants to continue to succeed, the staff needs to make sure the playmakers are on the field.

Is it an indictment of Cramsey that it took an injury to discover what they had in Jordan? Absolutely—but beggars can’t be choosers, and the offense will take success in whatever form it presents itself.

In previous games, Jackson’s eyes always seemed glued to Marshall. If he wasn’t open or was double-covered, he would wait a beat too long to look elsewhere, leading to sacks, errant throws, or interceptions.

But on Saturday night without Marshall, Jackson spread the wealth and threw with confidence. He patiently surveyed the field and went through his progressions. A rapport was developed with his other receivers. Later in the year, if Jordan or Jamari Hawkins only have a glimmer of space, he’ll be more willing to give them a chance and toss it up because of the trust they built.

Most importantly, if the passing team can continue to have a pulse, it will prevent defenses from loading the box and allow more opportunities for the Razorback rushing attack. For a team that requires balance to succeed, this is paramount.

Again, we might look back and realize this was all an anomaly. But as any good coach will tell you, practice reps aren’t the same as game reps. Players who might not pop during scrimmages can light it up on the field. They just need to be given a chance.

Thankfully for the Razorback offense, Marshall’s injury gave the guys a chance. Now it’s time to see if the coaching staff can learn the right lessons from here. 

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