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Football: Knowing the Enemy - Arkansas
Posted on Tuesday, November 24 @ 23:01:51 CST by bfollins |
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Game Twelve
by Bryan Follins
Arkansas
Record: 7-4
Wins:
Missouri State (48-10)
Texas A&M (47-19)
Auburn (44-23)
Eastern Michigan (63-27)
South Carolina (33-16)
Troy (56-20)
Mississippi State (42-21)
Losses:
Georgia (52-41)
Alabama (35-7)
Florida (23-20)
Ole Miss (30-17)
The Tigers end their regular season at home against Arkansas, a team that likes to put the ball in the air. Ryan Mallet, a transfer from Michigan, is the Razorback quarterback. Mallet has gaudy passing statistics. He is sixth in the nation in total passing yards (3195), third in the country in passing efficiency (165.18), and eighth nationally with 290 passing yards per game. Mallet threw for over 400 yards in a game earlier in the season against Georgia, but Arkansas lost the contest.
It is interesting to note, however, that Mallet has not done very well against solid defensive teams. In a loss to Alabama, he was 12 of 35 for 160 yards (one touchdown, one interception).
In a defeat to Ole Miss, Mallet was 12 of 34 with one touchdown. He did throw for 254 yards. In a loss to Florida, he was 12 of 27 for 224 yards and one touchdown. His completion percentage drops drastically against good defenses.
The disturbing note is that the Purple and Gold is eighth in the SEC in pass defense.
Mallet spreads the ball around. Six of Arkansas’ players are in the top 100 in the SEC in receptions per game. All six average in double figures per catch. Wide receiver Greg Childs is seventh in the league in receptions per game (3.65), as well as third in the SEC in receiving yards per game. Childs averages 18.45 yards per reception. Another wide receiver, Jarius Wright, averages three receptions per game. He averages 16.09 yards per reception. D.J. Williams, a good tight end, averages 2.82 receptions per game at 12.87 yards per catch. Arkansas’ receivers are dangerous catching the ball and dangerous running with it after they catch it.
Offensive tackles Ray Dominguez and DeMarcus Love anchor a solid Razorback offensive line.
In case anyone forgets about the rushing game, Dennis Johnson is a pretty good all purpose runner. He is ninth in the league, averaging 111 all-purpose yards per game. Broderick Green, a 6’2, 248 pound bruiser, averages 4.4 yards per run on the season. He has 10 touchdowns on the year.
Arkansas knows what to do when they get the ball in the opposing team’s red zone. They lead the nation with a .98 red zone efficiency rating.
The Hogs are not good defensively. They are last in the conference in total defense, last in the conference in pass efficiency defense, last in the SEC in pass defense, and eighth in the league in rushing defense.
Arkansas comes to Tiger Town bowl eligible. They have won four games in a row. However the teams they have beaten in that streak (Eastern Michigan, South Carolina, Troy, and Mississippi State), do not exactly strike fear into an opponent.
It is a big game, however. If the Purple and Gold can figure out that a football game runs by a clock, they could come away with The Boot.
Links:
http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com//pdf5/626744.pdf?SPSID=30726&SPID=2419&DB_OEM_ID=6100
http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/mainpage.jsp
http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=6100&KEY=&SPID=2419&SPSID=30726
http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/pdf5/657850.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=6100
Notable Arkansas Alumni
J William Fulbright
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Fulbright
George Howard, Jr
http://www.lincolnu.edu/Files/Alumni/Honorable%20George%20Howard%20Bio.pdf
Pat Summerall
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Summerall
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/18/sports/football/18sandomir.html?_r=1
http://www.nfl.com/players/patsummerall/profile?id=SUM191673
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