JONESBORO — Blake Anderson arrived at Arkansas State 20 months ago with the promise of installing a fast-paced offense that he described as “fast-paced basketball on grass.”
It was largely a success in the first year. The Red Wolves ranked second in the Sun Belt Conference in yards per game (476.5) and scoring (36.7) and set school records for plays, yards gained and points scored.
Explosive from start
Arkansas State’s offense ranked among the best in the Sun Belt Conference in several categories last season in Blake Anderson’s first season as coach. Ten players with starting experience return, and many are expecting even better results this year.
CATEGORY;STAT;SB RANK;FBS RANK
Plays;1,024;1st;14th
Total offense;476.5;2nd;20th
Scoring avg.;36.7;2nd;19th
Touchdowns;65;1st;13th
Passing avg.;260.1;4th;40th
Rushing avg. ;216.4;5th;27th
Ark. State schedule
DATE OPPONENT TIME
Sept. 5 at Southern Cal 10 p.m.
Sept. 12 Missouri 6 p.m.
Sept. 19 Missouri State 6 p.m.
Sept. 26 at Toledo TBA
Oct. 3 Idaho* TBA
Oct. 13 at South Alabama* 7 p.m.
Oct. 20 Louisiana-Lafayette* 7 p.m.
Oct. 31 Georgia State* TBA
Nov. 5 at Appalachian St.* 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 14 at Louisiana-Monroe* 2 p.m.
Nov. 28 at New Mexico State* TBA
Dec. 5 Texas State TBA
*Sun Belt Conference game
So what’s in store for an encore with 10 players with starting experience returning?
Whatever they want, if you ask players.
“The bar is being the best,” senior quarterback Fredi Knighten said. “If they score six, we score seven. If they score 50, we score 51.”
Anderson, who has run some type of fast-paced, Spread offense since 2002, didn’t put it as bluntly as his quarterback. But with Knighten returning, along with their top seven rushers and top six receivers, progress is expected.
Anderson said improvement will come if the Red Wolves limit turnovers — ASU committed 22 last year — and execute better in key running situations.
“They look at points and yards and all those things and it’s easy to say that we’re just going to be good,” Anderson said. “We cannot be complacent. We’ve got to expect more. We’ve got to hold ourselves to a higher standard of accountability on offense.”
That shouldn’t be a problem with offensive coordinator Walt Bell still around.
Bell spent most of last season discussing his disappointment in an offense that scored more touchdowns and gained more yards than any Sun Belt Conference team. When asked earlier this week if he considered last season a success, Bell rattled off several transgressions he’s been bothered by since January.
“We were an embarrassment on third down,” he said. “We weren’t near good enough in the red zone, we kicked way too many field goals, and that has just as much to do with me as it does with the kids.”
None of that will be addressed by slowing things down. ASU’s 1,024 plays ran set a school record, ranked 14th in the FBS and were the most for a Sun Belt team since at least 2008, according to cfbstats.com. Anderson said he believes the Red Wolves can play even faster this year considering the returning experience and the familiarity with the offense.
Anderson said that while watching film of last season he noticed delays between snaps as his players looked to the sideline and took an extra second or two deciphering hand signals.
“A lot of times we were standing still, processing and then moving,” Anderson said. “I thought we took some steps in the spring at being able to move and process at the same time. … I think we can improve that.”
If things play out the way Bell wants, Knighten will not have to carry as much of the burden.
Knighten gained 4,056 total yards, ninth-best in the FBS, while earning first-team All-Sun Belt honors in his first season as a starter. Often times it was done at times without key pieces. Running back Michael Gordon missed parts of four games because of rib injuries, and wide receiver J.D. McKissic, the school’s all-time leader in receptions, dealt with a variety of ailments.
Bell said Knighten’s decision making improved toward the end of last season as his turnovers decreased, but he needs to improve his accuracy on his long passes. Still, the aim for Knighten is getting the other pieces involved as much as possible.
“Letting those other 10 guys’ light shine,” Bell said. “It’s not about being any more special.”
Knighten said he likes that plan, because he doesn’t lack confidence in himself or his teammates.
“We can drop 50 every game,” Knighten said. “It’s minimizing mistakes, eliminating turnovers and making big plays. As long as you do that, you can go out and score every time.
“It really is that easy.”