FAYETTEVILLE – The streets in this small college town in the foothills of the Ozarks are not teeming with citizens carrying pitchforks and torches.

Desperate for an identity, any identity that did not involve motorcycles, painting and smiling, Arkansas supporters, both monied and otherwise, bought what coach Bret Bielema was selling.

It made sense. Bielema created a literal powerhouse in seven seasons at Wisconsin. The Badgers made three Rose Bowls in Bielema’s tenure and never failed to land outside the top 40 in rushing offense. They were bruisers in the backfield. Eight times did a running back eclipse the 1,000-yard mark. Eight different offensive linemen were taken in the NFL draft.

Bielema brought that formula to Arkansas. Year One, while unsuccessful in record, cleaned up some of the leftover messes left by the previous two coaches, Bobby Petrino and John L. Smith. Year Two was a marked improvement. Arkansas finished top 30 in FBS in rushing, had a .500 regular-season record and a bowl win over old rival Texas.

The best defense, scoring-wise, in the nation over the final six games combined with a new offensive coordinator who would open up the scheming left pundits and fans giddy at the possibilities in 2015.

Now 2015 is here and Razorbacks sit with a 1-1 record, 90th in the nation in rushing. Frustration abounds across the state. It’s even anger in some places. Fear this year’s Arkansas team could turn into the 2012 Smith one is almost palpable.

Reasons can be listed left and right as to how Arkansas could have beaten Toledo. If quarterback Brandon Allen hits even one of his red-zone passes. If a pair of touchdowns are not called back because of holding. If the running game produces at a higher clip.

And while all are true, the first two only mask a larger curiosity. The crux of the fear, not the loss, seemingly is the philosophical change. The question is how far gone is that old way of thinking.

According to offensive line coach Sam Pittman, not far. The matter is simply memory recall. Offensive coordinator Dan Enos focused so much on improving the team’s passing – and it’s mightily improved – steps may have been missed on the team’s strength. Pittman was blunt when meeting with the media on Tuesday.

“You get what you emphasize,” the near 30-year veteran coach said.

The thinking is if Arkansas re-emphasizes the ground game, it will return. And it has the pieces. Even without Jonathan Williams, Alex Collins is still around. He ran for more than 1,000 yards last year behind the biggest offensive line in the country. Bielema sold whomever he could that Kody Walker and Rawleigh Williams III were capable of those type seasons, too.

Through the team’s first two games there have been running plays. They just haven’t been typical Arkansas-type running plays. One such call against Toledo saw 260-pound part-time fullback Kody Walker on a stretch or sweep. The play lost yardage.

A focus on being direct would likely help. Instead of being proactive with a game plan against UTEP and Toledo defenses, it appeared the Arkansas running game was reactive. Both teams brought pressure from odd angles and confused the Arkansas front line, Pittman said. The Rockets and Miners made Arkansas adjust to their style instead of the other way around.

Texas Tech is about the 100th-best rushing defense in the country. If Arkansas does the pushing around instead of the reacting, the ship can be righted and the season will remain afloat.

If not…