1. Arkansas was able to hold their own with UGA defensively early on in the game last weekend, before giving up 32 points in the second half, including 22 in the 3rd quarter alone. What changed between the first and second half of the game last week? How have the coaches been able to use that as a learning experience going into a matchup with an offense with the firepower of the one in Starkville?
There were a lot of things that contributed to Arkansas’s good first half and poor second half. First off, Dwan Mathis was pretty ineffective for Georgia and the Bulldogs racked up 11 first half penalties which helped bail Arkansas out on offense and defense several times.
Kirby Smart swapped in Stetson Bennett late in the first half and he immediately started connecting on passes. Arkansas got a takeaway to start the second half but things just went downhill as the defense got tired and worn down. The Hogs were lacking defensive line depth already and then Dorian Gerald went out with an ankle injury. His backup was already out for quarantine protocols so they inserted a third string end.
Arkansas’s secondary players, the corners in particular, played almost ever defensive snap so they got worn down as well. Pittman wants a lot more rotation and that was probably the biggest takeaway from their performance Saturday.
2. How would you assess the Feleipe Franks experience one week in? Is there any chance that Bulldogs fans will see MS native K.J. Jefferson in action if Franks struggles to show consistency?
Unless Franks gets hurt, I don’t see them trying to swap in KJ Jefferson. He’s much less experienced and much more raw. He’s a more aggressive runner than Franks but if things aren’t going well for them with Franks, I don’t think a running QB is going to save them against the air raid.
Franks made a few mistakes Saturday but his receivers need to pick it up for him. He was doing too much on-field coaching pre-snap for him to be able to focus on beating the defense and I think that’s something they can clean up this week.
3. How has the Arkansas fan base perceived Sam Pittman thus far? What were their expectations for this season, if any? What were your expectations for this team going into last week? Have those expectations changed?
Arkansas fans are mostly feeling really refreshed by Sam Pittman and his genuine personality. They’d had it *up to here* with Chad Morris and his cliche coach speak and Pittman talks straight from the heart.
Expectations weren’t very high but after he made some very good coordinator hires with Kendal Briles and Barry Odom, naturally the expectations rose a bit further. More than anything, fans want to see the Razorbacks competing and fighting in games again.
They did that for about 3/4 on Saturday but there’s still a lot to be desired. I expect the Hogs to compete better this season but I’ve only predicted them to win a game, maybe two, and that didn’t change after seeing them against Georgia.
4. The numbers for Treylon Burks last week speak for themself , and it is clear that containing him will be a primary part of the gameplan for Mississippi State this week. Who else do Mississippi State fans need to be aware of for the Razorbacks on the offensive side of the ball?
Well Treylon Burks will need to have another great game, without a doubt, but Arkansas really needs to get their run game going. Briles’ offense is supposed to be a blend and if the offensive line has as much trouble moving defenders around as they did last week, the offense will be too one dimensional and predictable.
Rakeem Boyd and Trelon Smith are running backs to know, as well as receivers Mike Woods, Trey Knox and Tyson Morris.
5. 5. What do you see as the X-Factor for the Razorbacks? How do you see the game playing out?
Arkansas’s defensive line getting pressure on KJ Costello is going to be the major X factor in this game. We saw Costello make mistakes under pressure against LSU but he managed to throw his way out of it.
I don’t see Arkansas giving up as many sacks as LSU did, especially with Franks’ ability to work outside the pocket. However, I’m not going to put trust in this offense until I see them complete more than a single drive with a touchdown so I see the Bulldogs winning this one and in my SEC Bets piece this week, I think you’ll see me picking the Bulldogs to cover as well.
