Saturday’s loss at Alabama was simultaneously encouraging and tough to swallow for Arkansas, which led No. 8 Alabama at the half and played one its best defensive games of the season before the Crimson Tide eventually wore the Razorbacks down and were able to take advantage of second half mistakes. Arkansas looks like a much better team than it did a few weeks ago, but the end result was another loss to make the Razorbacks 2-4 and 1-2 in the SEC.

5 TAKEAWAYS

  • A loss is a loss: If the Razorbacks hadn’t had such a miserable non-conference stretch that included losses to Toledo and Texas Tech, it might be able to at least partially enjoy a moral victory in Tuscaloosa. But at this point, Arkansas needs to win games if it is going to avoid a losing record.
  • Young players have highs and lows: Santos Ramirez made what might have been the play of the game for Arkansas when he picked off Jake Coker to set up a first-half touchdown, but the redshirt freshman was also burned by Calvin Ridley in the second half for a game-changing touchdown.
  • Arkansas needs its running backs to thrive: Alex Collins and Rawleigh Williams combined for 36 rushing yards, and the Razorbacks couldn’t get anything else going.
  • Give the defense credit: Alabama came in with a lot of momentum on offense and struggled mightily in the first half. Field position became a big issue, but Arkansas more than held its own on the line of scrimmage.
  • A week off might do the Razorbacks some good: This team is banged up and possibly reeling mentally after so many tough losses. The bye week comes at a good time before facing another struggling team in Auburn.

REPORT CARD

Offense: D+ — Arkansas got a touchdown on a very short field in the first half and another off a long pass in what amounted to garbage time. The Razorbacks couldn’t run the ball, which is a cardinal sin for a Bret Bielema team, and they are still struggling to find a consistent receiving threat.

Defense: B+ — The defensive line gave Alabama’s offensive line all it wanted. They got consistent pressure on Jake Coker and limited Derrick Henry to 3.5 yards per carry. Alabama was eventually able to get some points, but the offense put the defense in some bad spots in the second half. Defensively, the Hogs were really one big play away from an A.

Special teams: C — There’s not a lot to comment on other than the fake punt that didn’t quite work out. Toby Baker was really good, punting 10 times for an average of 40.2 yards and putting five inside the 20, but he needed to read his blocks better on his one rush attempt.

Coaching: B- — Bielema and Co. certainly had the Razorbacks ready to play and unintimidated by Alabama but couldn’t come up with anything on offense to keep the Tide on its heels. The fake punt call will certainly be second-guessed, and in the end it was the wrong call simply because it didn’t work.

Overall: C — If the Arkansas defense plays this well the rest of the way, the Razorbacks have a shot to win a few more games and potentially get to a bowl, but it’s going to take a more consistent effort offensively and an ability to avoid giving up the big play that cost them so heavily this week.

GAME PLAN

Arkansas looked to stack the line and make it tough on Alabama’s running backs and were able to do that. What they might not have counted on was Tide quarterback Jake Coker handling the pressure so well, particularly in the second half. Whatever the game plan was on offense, Alabama’s smothering defense didn’t give the Razorbacks much of an opportunity to execute.

GAME BALLS

LB Brooks Ellis:  The Fayetteville native was the man for his hometown team on Saturday. He finished with 15 tackles, including 2.5 for a loss, and totally set the tone for an Arkansas defense that gave Alabama fits in the first half.

P Toby Baker:  He got a lot more work than you’d hope for from a punter, but his kicks helped Arkansas have a field position advantage for nearly three quarters.

WR Dominique Reed: His big play came too late to make a huge difference, but as Arkansas looks for a receiver to step up maybe it can be a catalyst. Reed finished with three catches for 77 yards and a touchdown.