Just minutes into Arkansas’ 56-3 loss at Auburn last week, coach Bret Bielema felt something go wrong.

The Tigers scored on their first offensive play to kickstart a 21-point first quarter that helped them cruise past the Razorbacks in what was supposed to be a tightly contested SEC West showdown.

“The first three minutes of the game, we felt (our) confidence take a hit,” Bielema said Wednesday during the SEC coaches teleconference.

He said confidence is just one of three factors that has contributed to the defense’s struggles this year. The other two? Adjusting the “structure,” as Bielema put it, if things aren’t going well and having players that are capable of executing.

The Razorbacks’ are tied for 88th nationally in scoring defense, giving up 31.4 points per game. But Bielema hopes his players can put the past behind them and embrace the “chance to change things moving forward.”

Arkansas has a bye week to sort out its issues, which Bielema is thankful to have.

“It can’t come soon enough,” Bielema said. “To have a number of SEC teams in a row is difficult. The world can get negative quick. We understand that, but we have to block that out.”