'I guess we got a lot of work to do,' Sam Pittman reacts to Arkansas' loss to Memphis

Sam Pittman’s Arkansas Razorbacks returned to Memphis’ Liberty Bowl on Saturday looking for light at the end of a dimly lit tunnel following another mostly self-induced loss at Ole Miss in their Southeastern Conference opener the week prior. The Razorbacks left Memphis instead with a dreadful sense of deja vu — when for the second-consecutive week they literally fumbled away a chance to win the game in the final minutes. 

The Razorbacks led 28-10 with 1:35 to play in the first half and seemed on their way to an easy win over the Tigers. However Memphis would outscore their cross-river neighbors 21-3 the rest of the way — starting with Brendon Lewis’ 38-yard touchdown pass just before halftime. 

Aided by three Razorback turnovers the Memphis defense found a way to Arkansas high-powered offense to three points in the second half, but it was the final turnover — a fumble by Mike Washington with Arkansas at the Memphis six yard line with 1:18 to play — which did the most damage. 

Harkening back to Jaylen Brown’s fumble at Ole Miss the week before, Arkansas literally dropped two opportunities to be unbeaten and ranked in the Top 25 nationally. Instead, that designation goes to the Rebels and Tigers while Arkansas limps back to Fayetteville 2-2 and prepares to host Notre Dame. 

Everything the Sam Pittman said after losing to Memphis

“Well, congratulations to Memphis, they played a very physical and good game,” Pittman said. “They out- rushed us. And obviously out-scored us, they had more yards than we did. I thought coming into the game that we could have an advantage there, but their defense did a nice job on us, and their offense — they did about whatever they wanted to in the run game with two guys over 100 and 290 yards.

“We just didn't tackle well. We weren't (run) fit well. A second week in a row we came down a chance to win and had a turnover not to. So it's disappointing for the guys that we didn't win either one of those games, but I'm going to give Memphis credit, they played a really, really good game — and well coached.”

No Future in Front Running

Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield and his Tigers emerged from Saturday’s action with the longest-current winning streak among the NCAA’s Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs. Even down by three scores late in the first half to one of college football’s most productive offenses so far this season, Silverfield said he told his team they had Arkansas just where they wanted them.

“I told our guys, listen, we got them exactly where we want them,” he said. “And I said that and it was funny because a couple of the guys said, you say we have them exactly where we want them? Absolutely. And even though we didn't. That first drive stalled out. There's a belief and a mindset approach that this game is ours and it's going to be a full quarter battle. And sure enough, down to the last second.”

Arkansas started off the scoring when senior quarterback Taylen Green found transfer tight end Rohan Jones for a 62-yard scoring strike. Memphis answered with 10 unanswered points to take their first lead thanks to a 38-yard field goal by Gianni Spetic and a four-yard touchdown run by Lewis. 

The Razorbacks responded with 21-straight points as sophomore halfback Braylen Russell found paydirt from 16 yards out, Jones ran one in from five yards away and Washington scored on a run yard run. Arkansas’ final score came on Scott Starzyk’s 45-yard field goal late in the third quarter, but when it came to a potential game-winner in the final seconds, Silverfield said he was betting against Starzyk’s ability to seal the win for Arkansas — if it came down to it. 

“When we played at East Carolina five years ago, that situation showed up and we did that,” Silverstein said about deciding whether to let Arkansas score in the final minutes in order to get the ball back and win the game with his offense against Arkansas’ struggling defense. “Well, tonight it was the same deal this afternoon okay. Do we let him score or do we try to get a stop? Obviously at that point, I said, ‘Hey, listen. They have a freshman kicker who obviously did a nice job in this game, but the previous week had missed two kicks (against Ole Miss).

“So I was going to bet on our field goal block team. And hopefully the little pressure in this game that he wouldn't be able to handle that. And sure enough. We didn't even get to that situation. I wish I could sit here and say, "I predicted that Chris Bracey would get that fumble recovery, but it all works out in the end and couldn't be more pleased.”

Who Wanted in More

The displeasure for Arkansas only seems to be ramping up however. For the second week in a row, Arkansas’ defense has proven to be inept against FBS competition. The Razorbacks surrendered 357 yards passing and another 118 on the ground to an Ole Miss team starting a backup quarterback from the Division II level in a 41-35 loss at Oxford, Miss. Saturday in Memphis, defensive coordinator Travis Williams’ unit allowed 489 yards to the Tigers — including nearly 300 yards rushing.

Memphis ran to their victory when Sutton Smith capped a 95-yard drive by shedding pre-season All-SEC linebacker Xavien Sorey in the backfield before racing 65 yards for the go-ahead score with 4:51 left in the game. Then following Washington’s fumble with over a minute to play, Memphis backup quarterback Arrington Maiden carried massive Razorback defensive tackle Ian Geffard and several teammates to a game-clenching first down and make sure Arkansas wouldn’t get another chance at a game-winning field goal.

“Well, the whole plan was to hand the ball off and running back, put two hands on the football and go get three yards in a cloud of dust,” Silverfield said. “If you get a little more great. Next thing I know, Arrington keeps the ball and those legs keep turning.

“It was one of those like, ‘Oh, oh!’ and then get the first down. I think that speaks volumes to the young men, every single one of them. You think Arrington thought he was going to go in with 22 seconds left in the football game to go win this thing. Not at all, but his preparation, his mindset as well was phenomenal. And we talk about having focus for 60 minutes. Well, he needed it for 59 seconds and 59 minutes and 38 seconds. And I'm just so proud of him.”

Back to the Drawing Board

Meanwhile for Pittman’s Razorbacks, it’s back to the drawing board. 

“I guess we got a lot of work — a lot of work to do,” said a beleaguered Pittman “You know, we tried to fix some things defensively. We were trying to fix some things from a week ago. I don't know how much we got fixed, to be honest with you, with a 500-yard day on us. 

“We’ve got to get to work offensively. We were in field goal range on the second to last drive, and we got sacked. That took us out (of field goal range). I mean, we're going to go up eight, assuming he makes the field goal. So we wasted some points there where instead of them scoring, going for two and not making them score, we’re going for two and losing. But the bottom line, you can name it. There’s thousands of scenarios on there. We can't let a team go 95 to take a lead on it. We just can't. And they went by pretty easy. So we had to do a better job there.”

Official Scenario

The Razorbacks continue to prove themselves proficient at finding ways to come up on the wrong end of close games. They certainly don’t need any more help yet continue to get plenty from referees on the road. Pittman said he sent in several plays to the SEC offices which he felt unfairly went against his Razorbacks. 

For non-conference opponents no such appeals can be made but the evidence is just as clear. Memphis’ lone touchdown through the air came when Lewis connected with Cortez Braham from 38 yards away just before halftime. Braham clearly shoves Arkansas’ Julian Neal to the ground on the play — only to have officials call a penalty on Neal, who had an interception in the game along with Miguel Mitchell. 

“I mean, we were in pretty good coverage,” Pittman said. “I felt like we got pushed off on.  Whether we did or not, I don't know. But I felt like we did, and we'll look at it on tape. But I thought when they threw the flag, it was on them, not us. But evidently, it was what (the official) saw. What I saw was different, and that's why he's official.”

Similar to a week prior as well, the bad calls didn’t stop there. A long run by Green to put Arkansas inside the Memphis five yard line was nullified when a Memphis defender stopped mugging Arkansas receiver O’Mega Blake long enough to draw a flimsy holding call on Blake. 

Free from fear of being fined by the SEC offices for criticizing the officials, Pittman still declined to point a finger at the officiating when prompted by the media. 

“I appreciate the comment and all that, but to be honest with you, as bad as we played at times on offense and defense, if we just hang on to the ball there, we win. It's not as big a deal, but I appreciate the comment.”

Third Lane Conversions

What Pittman could point to was Arkansas uncharacteristic shortcoming on converting third downs in the game. The Razorback offense came into the contest with one of the highest third-down conversion rates in the country. At Memphis however, they only converted three of 10 third down opportunities. 

“They were pretty aggressive in the secondary,” Pittman said. “Taylen didn't take off as much this week as he had in prior weeks. For whatever reasons, we were in third and a little bit longer than probably what we've been in the past as well. We were number one in the country coming in, and we just didn't come far. I think we were three for whatever today.

“And on the first down, we were trying to run the ball, and we were making negative yardage. And I think that was probably the biggest thing. In the second half, we made a conscious effort because we were running it pretty good. In the first half we were going to try to run and play action a little bit more in the second half. It's hard to play action when the run's not doing very good. So we just started behind the chains, to be honest with you.”

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