NFL
By: Randall Slifer
Arkansas Football played a close game against Texas A&M last week, very similar to what happened against Tennessee. The opposing teams hold the lead for most of the game. Arkansas makes its run to make it a close game, only to fall short with no time remaining.
When the season is a wash, I see it as a semi-positive. The defense was never going to turn it around in two weeks, and potentially this season. Now, the defense looks every bit as similar as when it was under Sam Pittman, but Bobby Petrino had a bigger hill to climb taking over the role, and the organization was quite a mess, at the fault of Hunter Yurachek.
Bobby Petrino certainly needs a win, and the only thing he can do is adjust every week and hope things come together. Let’s take a look at how Petrino can adjust against Auburn, and potentially try to come up with his first win as the interim head coach:
Turnovers, Turnovers, Turnovers
Arkansas Football has not gotten a turnover since September 20th against Memphis: no fumble, no interception, nothing. In the last three weeks, Arkansas has allowed a total of 135 points. It is safe to say that Arkansas Football will not be a defense that allows fewer than 20 points.
One thing Arkansas can do to shift the game from a 45-42 loss to a 45-42 win is to turn the ball over. Bobby Petrino has played a good style of zone coverage, using the “bend don’t break” defense to try to slow down offenses and hope for a punt or a turnover.
Petrino needs to keep that defense, but allow his players to be aggressive at times. If Petrino can identify certain plays in Auburn’s offensive scheme, he can let the defensive players take their chances. If there is a chance that a cornerback has an opportunity to jump a flat route for an interception, and the cost is giving up an explosive play or even a touchdown, is it worth it now, where they are at in the season?
Protect Taylen Green
Auburn’s defensive line may be the toughest Arkansas has faced this year. The combination of Keldric Faulk, Bobby Jamison-Travis, and Keyron Crawford is a trio that can wreck games. Keldric Faulk is my 2nd edge rusher in this upcoming draft class, and he can do it all.
Keldric Faulk is an edge rusher standing at 6’6 285lb, and he uses it to defend the run as well as pass rush. In 2024, he recorded 45 pressures, nine sacks, and 5 QB hits. His production has taken a dip this year, with only two sacks and one QB hit, but he is getting double-teamed a lot and taking on a lot of the defensive line. This opens up much more for the rest of the defensive line, resulting in 124 pressures, 19 sacks, and 21 QB hits for the year.
Taylen Green is still making his run for the NFL draft next year. He left dinged up in the last game, but played well and finished it. Arkansas’s offensive line is really solid, and they need to come through this game as well. Keldric Faulk should be doubled most of the game, and Andreas Paaske should be used as the blocking tight end to chip him. O’mega Blake, Raylen Sharpe, and Rohan Jones can get open downfield, as long as the offensive line keeps Taylen Green upright.
Split carries better with Braylen Russell and Mike Washington Jr.
Mike Washington Jr has been great this year, rushing for 671 yards and five touchdowns. Braylen Russell has been a great complementary piece, but he has half of the carries that Mike Washington Jr has this year.
Mike Washington Jr is averaging 7.0 yards per carry, while Braylen Russell is averaging 5.6 yards per carry. That is not a big enough drop off to give Mike Washington Jr double the carries.
At times, Mike Washington Jr.’s carries can be predictable, and it leads to more zero or negative yard gains. Braylen Russell would be ideal to run the ball on first or second down to gain short yardage and keep drives alive.
There are a lot of drives that become 3rd and 11 as a result of one incomplete pass and one negative yard gain. To avoid this, Braylen is the heavier set back who can take two to three hits and gain four yards every time. Give Taylen Green more 2nd and 6’s, opposed to 3rd and 11’s, and the offense can open up even more than it is right now.
Arkansas plays Auburn in Fayetteville this weekend at 12:45 EST/11:45 CST. Vegas has Arkansas as a 1-point favorite, which tells everyone this game is a complete toss-up, but Arkansas gets the 1 point at home.
The total points for the game are 55 ½ due to Auburn’s inability to put up big offensive numbers recently. In the last month, the highest score Auburn’s offense has put up is 17 points. I still would hammer the over as usual for Arkansas football because Auburn put up 38 points against Baylor, and I expect them to reach at least 28 points in this game.
Can Bobby Petrino get his first win as the interim Arkansas Football head coach? This game is as good as any, and it would be a great day to do it in front of Arkansas fans. As always, go Razorbacks.
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