Top 3 Things the Razorbacks Hopefully Improved on During the BYE Week
By Cory Thone
Off weeks are a great thing for a football team, and the Arkansas Razorbacks couldn’t have gotten one at a better time. The Hogs get 2 full weeks of rest and practice before having to host an equally beleaguered Auburn Tigers team that is coming off a big win on the road in Kentucky.
The SEC in general has been wackadoo this year. The only team that has somewhat lived up to preseason projections has been Alabama, and they lost at home to an Ole Miss team that has now dropped 2 of their last 3 games. The Arkansas Razorbacks started off the season ranked #18, and the Auburn Tigers were the pick to win the SEC at media days this year.
Wackadoo, indeed. Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn needs another road win to keep the hounds in the plains at bay, and Razorbacks head coach Bret Bielema needs to win out at home to make a bowl game, which would somewhat salvage this season. The Hogs have shown vast improvements since week 4 on the defensive side of the ball, and have shown flashes of offensive development in the wake of massive injuries. Auburn is struggling to get their offense going as well, and the Razorbacks defense is poised to have a breakout game against the Tigers.
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If the Hogs want to make a bowl game, and win on Saturday is basically a must have. Here are 3 things that the Razorbacks have hopefully focused on and improved in their extended practice period.
1) Passing Routes
Brandon Allen, on paper, has had an excellent year. He’s one of the premiere passers in the SEC this season, and is having his best year as a Hog, production wise. That is pretty impressive considering that he only has 2 of his 5 weapons that he started the season off with. Allen to Drew Morgan is a solid connection. Morgan was expected to start this year, and the reps he had in the summer with Allen show in the timing these two have. Also, Allen has done a good job finding his tight ends so far this year in Hunter Henry and Jeremy Sprinkle. (No comments necessary about the times he doesn’t find them.)
The problem with the passing game is that the other receivers, who have had to step into starting poistions, have not quite meshed with Allen yet. They don’t have each other’s timing down, and it shows on the field. Dominique Reed has 2 TD’s as a wideout, but only 6 receptions. JoJo Robinson and Kendrick Edwards have made some catches, but none of them for big yards. Allen and his new batch of pass catchers need to get on the same page, because the lack of a consistent passing threat is stifling the offense.
Yes, Morgan has played lights out, and Henry is an All-American. But that’s only 2 options. Alabama keyed in on those two options and took them away. Arkansas needs their slot receivers and other options to step up in the passing game.
Sep 26, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks running back Rawleigh Williams III (22) runs with the ball against Texas A&M Aggies defensive end Qualen Cunningham (9) at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
2) Adjust the Running Game
Johnathan Williams is gone. *punches the wall*
It sucks, but with the off week, maybe Dan Enos and Bielema will try and adjust the running game accordingly. Alex Collins is running the ball harder than he ever has as a Razorback, but this scheme was built upon the idea that Arkansas would have 2 running backs splitting time. The two best games for the Arkansas offense this season have been against Texas A&M and Tennessee. What made the difference in those games?
Rawleigh Williams. In the A&M game, Williams had almost 50 yards rushing and a score. Against Tennessee, RW3 racked up 100 yards on the ground. The ability to give Collins a break and not lose the running threat is huge for Arkansas, and a necessity for the offense to work.
The problem is that RW3 is a true freshman, and Collins is at his best running off tackle, not between the tackles. So during the Alabama game, you can imagine my frustration watching Collins run inside the guards, and Williams run it to the outside. The playcalling in that game wasn’t ideal. Now, a lot of that has to do with Alabama having the best front 7 maybe in all of college football. But still. Play to your strengths, Enos.
I’d like to see Arkansas add some variation to it’s running game, and remove some of the plays that were specifically designed to take advantage of Johnathan Williams. The Hogs need to scheme the running attack based off of Collins and RW3, not off what they were expecting to have before week 1.
3) Pass Coverage Over the Middle
I don’t want to sound like I’m picking on the offense, so I added something about the defense. In all honesty, I should probably have made this post about the offensive line doing better getting a push off the line, but we’ve been saying that all year. The O-Line just needs to block better. Period.
The Razorbacks defense has tightened up these past few weeks. They looked great all game against Tennessee, and played almost complete games against TAMU and Alabama. The biggest problem in both those games was how open the middle of the field was for the opposing offense, especially on first down.
Nov 22, 2014; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Ole Miss Rebels quarterback Bo Wallace (14) rushes as Arkansas Razorbacks linebacker Brooks Ellis (51) reaches for the ball during the first quarter at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Arkansas defeated Mississippi 30-0. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
The Razorbacks have moved Brooks Ellis back to MLB, and it’s payed off big time. The Hogs running game has stiffened up in a big way thanks to Ellis, who is playing great. Dre Greenlaw took over at weakside linebacker, and has shined as a true freshman.
But, Ellis and Greenlaw, along with whoever ends up playing the other linebacker position now that Williams is out, have been suspect in the passing game. Being out of position, biting on fakes, and taking poor angles to the flats. If the linebackers can reduce the yardage gained on slants across the middle, then the defensive line can apply even more pressure to opposing QBs.
There are obviously other things that the Razorbacks could stand to improve, but those three things are the most fixable, I supposed. If we see real progress in these areas against Auburn, then there’s no reason for Arkansas to not be expected to win out at home, and make a bowl game.