NFL
By: Randall Slifer
The Arkansas Razorbacks continue their season against Auburn this Saturday. In a chance to take down a top team in weather that leveled the playing field, the Arkansas Razorbacks lost the turnover margin by -3 and dropped the ball 5 times. On a chilly, rainy Halloween night, I personally saw only the offensive line wearing gloves.
There is not much to discuss about Arkansas Football for the rest of the season. The Arkansas Razorbacks have lost in almost every way, with everyone at fault. Tim Cramsey still has a job. Ryan Silverfield blew the Tennessee game. Arkansas’s defense ranks outside the top 90 in 6 major categories. The Arkansas Razorbacks do not have a talented quarterback who has played a snap this year. This is the potential downside for Ryan Silverfield.
If the State of Arkansas can eventually rally around the firing of Hunter Yurachek, why would the new athletic director keep Ryan Silverfield? First-year head coaches are not allergic to winning, but Silverfield seems to be. The only thing that could keep him with a new athletic director is his brand-new contract and the buyout it contains.
I am not a Ryan Silverfield hater, and I don’t think this season is majorly on him. He wasn’t given the resources to win, but college football has had upsets everywhere, while Arkansans are putting the bags over their heads. If Ryan Silverfield wants to get in any good graces with the State of Arkansas, he needs one more win. The next four games are Auburn, South Carolina, Texas, and LSU.
Realistically, Auburn and South Carolina are his best chances. Lanorris Sellers and Nyck Harbor are a tougher bout, so this week should be his target. Let’s take a quick look and see if the Arkansas Razorbacks and Ryan Silverfield can get a win this weekend:
Can the Arkansas Razorbacks win the turnover battle?
The Arkansas Razorbacks and Auburn Tigers have similar turnover margins. Both teams turn the ball over 1.5 times and take the ball away 1.5 times. The key to beating out Auburn here is Byrum Brown. Byrum Brown has thrown only 9 touchdown passes, thrown 7 interceptions, and fumbled the ball 3 times. Brown makes mistakes all over the field, but he has thrown only 1 touchdown and 3 interceptions under pressure. He panics when he is blitzed, and Roberts can dial up some defensive back blitzes to get Brown in quicksand.
The good news is that Ryan Silverfield will prioritize turnovers in practice this week. Chris Marshall came back last week but did not play many snaps because of the weather. Getting Chris Marshall back can limit the drops and stabilize the offense again. No turnovers this week means Arkansas has a shot at a win.
Can this offense score points?
Scoring points seems like pulling teeth in Arkansas. Arkansas is ranked outside the top 100:
-Points per game: 18 (124th)
-Yards per game: 324.9 (114th)
-Yards per play: 4.7 (119th)
-Rushing yards per game: 98.9 (124th)
Auburn’s defense is not great. Here are some defensive rankings:
-Points allowed per game: 26.8 (75th)
-Yards allowed per game: 408.1 (102nd)
-Rushing yards allowed per game: 155.8 (79th)
-Passing yards allowed per game: 252.4 (110th)
If Tim Cramsey wants to look competent, he should find ways to get Chris Marshall 1-on-1s and exploit Auburn’s defensive backs to open up the run game. Arkansas cannot run successfully in a traditional way, so forcing Auburn to play a shell defense in the backfield could help Arkansas succeed in both rushing and passing this weekend.
Auburn’s lowest-scoring opponent was Vanderbilt, which scored only 15 points. I do expect the Arkansas Razorbacks to score more than 15 points, but it may take 24 to beat Auburn. Vegas does favor Auburn in this matchup, but only by 10.5 points. I know what you’re thinking: 2 possessions?! If the Arkansas Razorbacks play their best football, they win this game. The question is: Can Silverfield, Cramsey, and Roberts actually call the game in unison to get it done? The past says they will not, but they are in desperate mode right now to show they’re competent. As always, Go Razorbacks.
