The last time Alex Wood called plays on a football field, he was offensive coordinator for the NFL Arizona Cardinals.

The last time Gus Malzahn called plays on a football field, it was at Springdale (Ark.) High School.

Two disparate pasts converge this fall on the coaching staff at Arkansas and the pecking order isn't what you'd think.

Malzahn will be the offensive coordinator and Wood the quarterbacks coach.

If that's not unusual enough, consider that Arkansas coach Houston Nutt has in the past served as his own offensive coordinator and play-caller.

"What those two guys will bring,'' said Nutt, "is tremendous imagination, great detail in the passing game.

"Hopefully, those guys will bring balance to our offense.''

Balance, maybe. What's for sure is that Malzahn brings four of his state-champion players from Springdale, which is just up the road from campus.

Chief among them is quarterback Mitch Mustain, the consensus national prep player of the year last season. Mustain picked Arkansas over Notre Dame. Three of his receivers at Springdale followed him.

Mustain might not be the opening-day starter against Southern California -- Casey Dick probably gets that designation -- but the job is his to win sooner rather than later.

"Jumping from Friday night to Saturday night, it's an awful big step in this league,'' Nutt said.

"That's going to be real interesting to see how all that plays out.''

Seeing how the Razorbacks' offense plays out in general is also going to be interesting.

From the days of Frank Broyles, Arkansas has traditionally been a run-oriented program. The Razorbacks have led the SEC in rushing three of the past four years and return sensational young tailback Darren McFadden. Even if McFadden misses time due to toe surgery, Felix Jones is more than adequate as a second option.

And yet, records of 5-6 and 4-7 the past two seasons indicate it's not enough.

"You want to keep people off balance,'' Nutt said.

Marcus Monk, a 6-foot-5 receiver, would be one weapon to do so.

"We understand that running works and we have great backs,'' said Monk, "but we also need to have balance and that includes the passing game.''

Arkansas was 11th in the SEC and 108th in the nation last year in passing offense.

Thus, some imagination would be welcome.

To think the Razorbacks are going to load the field with receivers and fill the Ozark air with footballs is a misconception. Balance is the key word.

Building a game plan will be a committee approach, but calling the plays on game day is Malzahn's turf, Nutt said.

"I'm going to let Gus go,'' Nutt said. "I'm going to turn him loose. I don't think you can mess with a play-caller and have (a) veto every play.

"I won't be shy if Gus needs my help. Alex Wood won't be shy because we have that experience to help.''

Speaking of experience, the Razorbacks have more of it than any team in the SEC. They return 19 of 22 starters, including 10 on offense.

"That's one thing that makes you feel good,'' Nutt said, "when you have some guys that been in the wars.

"The only negative thing is you didn't have a very good year last year.''

Aside from a 70-17 slaughter at USC, Arkansas wasn't far off. Four of the SEC losses were by a combined 13 points.

If Mustain gets up to speed quickly enough, there should be enough talent and experience around him to win more of the close ones this time.