Film Study: Hogs about to give 'Dawgs all they can handle

Does anyone remember when University of Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema was the laughing stock of the Southeastern Conference this past offseason?

The former University of Wisconsin coach was fodder for critics and pundits alike for everything from his appearance to his dislike of hurry-up no-huddle offenses.

His confidence in what he was building — despite a horrible first-season showing that included going totally defeated in SEC play — was mistaken for a boastful disposition.

Now, after scaring the bejesus out of Texas A&M (a 35-28 overtime loss), and having perennial powerhouse Alabama dead to rights (14-13 defeat), the tenor of the conversation surrounding the Hogs now centers around what major team will be their first victim.

The entire football landscape has finally caught up to what most of us rational people already understood: When you can run the ball like nobody’s business, limit turnovers and play physical defense, rapid turnarounds are certainly in your favor. 

And unfortunately, or fortunately (depending on your vantage point), the University of Georgia finds itself with the unenviable position of having to stop the inevitable.

Coming off its most convincing win of the season (38-0 defeat of the Missouri), and playing an extremely physical brand of football, too, the 5-1 Bulldogs are a force to reckoned with in their own right.

For fans with an insatiable desire for smash-mouth football, like your’s truly, this is the game for you.

Arkansas offense vs. UGA’s defense

“To become a good team, you must be able to run the football when everybody in the stadium knows you’re going to run the football,” Bielema said at SEC Media Days prior to his first season.

“You know, I knew I had a good team when we played Michigan [at Wisconsin], and we ran the ball 28 times in a row. That’s when I knew we had a good rushing football team.”

“A good rushing offense is when it’s fourth and one and they know I’m going to run over right tackle and that’s what we do,” Bielema finished.

Nothing has changed in his short time in Fayetteville; Arkansas has the premier pro-style run scheme — with Auburn University mixing in a ton of college-based principles — equipped with future stars along the offensive line and at the running back and tight end positions.

Georgia’s 3-4-based defensive scheme, which meshes a ton of even-front principles, better bring extra chinstraps for this tilt; Georgia has an extremely talented front seven that can flat get after it.

But Arkansas presents problems unlike Georgia has seen thus far: a supreme commitment to the run, versatility in its blocking scheme and multiple personnel groupings.

Arkansas’ offense is based predominantly out of a two-tight end set. It’s grouping of choice is usually “12 personnel,” but it runs a ton of “22” and even “23 personnel.”

While Arkansas does have a fantastic perimeter runner in Korliss Marshall, it usually employs its between-the-tackles studs Jonathan Williams (6’0″, 225 lbs) and Alex Collins (5’11”, 215 lbs) to soften up defenses.

The Hogs have a ton of ways to skin a cat in their run game: traps, draws, counters, whams, iso-runs and dives immediately come to mind. And it’s all designed at testing the will of their opposition.

On this off-tackle run, out of “23 personnel” no less, the Hogs proceeded to give the ball to Williams and complete domination ensued. The back side was sealed off cleanly; the play-side action was dominated by tight ends Hunter Henry and A.J. Derby; the left tackle, 6’10”, 320-pound Dan Skipper, got to the second-level and erased a linebacker from the play.

From there it was Williams making things happen as he’s usually apt to do. Williams may be the most underrated back in the entire conference. His power may only be superseded by his vision; despite being one of the most powerful backs in the country, he has the ability to make defenders whiff in short-area encounters.

While most would treat this personnel grouping as a goal-line set, Arkansas has been known to go to it between the 20’s as well.

Case in point: Collins took the same play for a 50-yard touchdown later in the tilt against the Aggies.

Georgia’s defensive line will have to battle Arkansas’ offensive front to at least a stalemate so its inside linebacker combination of Ramik Wilson (6’2″, 237 lbs) and Amarlo Herrera (6’2″, 231 lbs) can scrape their way to the ball-carrier.

Wilson is a run-and-chase linebacker with really good athleticism, while Herrera can apply the stack-and-shed technique on the way to a tackle.

Both are on the smaller side so they will need to be “covered up” against the biggest offensive line in all of football (NFL included).

Arkansas’ passing game won’t necessarily scare anyone, but when your secondary has been your achilles’ heel before — as has been the case with Georgia — you can’t afford to take anyone lightly.

Hogs’ QB Brandon Allen is a much-improved player who is capable of making clutch throws, at times. While the Razorbacks may not possess a premier receiver, the aforementioned Henry (6’6″, 255 lbs) is capable of dominating a secondary from his tight end post.

Henry has a future in the NFL as he’s one of the most complete tight ends you’ll run across. He’s a fantastic blocker — as is the case with most Bielema tight ends — and he can run routes like a receiver.

Georgia may be able to devote extra attention to the run game in the form of dropping a safety down in the box. It may be in its best interest to somehow have senior defensive back Damian Swann play on the inside to assist with Henry.

Neither Wilson nor Herrera can matchup with him in man coverage.

Georgia’s interior defensive line — specifically seniors Ray Drew and Mike Thornton — must establish itself against one of the most dominant offensive lines. Outside linebackers Leonard Floyd and Jordan Jenkins must set the edge for the times that Arkansas does bend it outside.

It will take a Herculean effort from the Dawgs; they have the talent to make it happen.

Razorbacks’ Surprising Defense

As is the case with virtually any team with a dominant offensive unit, the defense tends to get overlooked. While Arkansas certainly isn’t known for its defensive prowess, pretty soon it will be.

It all starts on the line where a couple of the SEC’s brightest stars reside: senior end Trey Flowers and sophomore defensive tackle Darius Philon.

The 6’4″, 267-pound Flowers is a classic 6-technique prospect in the mold of a Simeon Rice (Tampa Bay Buccaneers fame). He knows how to vary his rush techniques, and his length makes him an absolute nightmare for offensive linemen.

Fellow Alabama native Philon has some serious off-the-snap quickness that he uses in combination with devastating power moves. Arkansas’ 4-3-based alignment — coordinated by Robb Smith — is designed to press gaps and hurry QB decisions.

The aforementioned inside/out duo fits the scheme to absolute perfection.

Here we see a prime example of Philon’s quickness: Lined up at a 1-technique, he beat the down block by the guard and tackled the ball-carrier for a loss.

As good as Arkansas’ run game is, Georgia’s is not too far behind. If by chance the incomparable Todd Gurley is allowed to play — after being indefinitely suspended for allegedly accepting improper benefits — the run games should be considered equal.

But even if Gurley isn’t allowed to play, freshman Nick Chubb (5’10”, 228 lbs) looks as if he could be Georgia’s next superstar behind a 38-carry, 143-yard performance in the victory over Vanderbilt .

Georgia’s perimeter run game may be tops in conference, but it definitely likes to establish physicality in between the tackles — which coincides well with it’s play-action game.

Fifth-year QB Hutson Mason won’t scare Arkansas in any way, shape, form or fashion. While Mason has, at times, been very efficient, he hasn’t yet shown the ability to completely put his team on his shoulders.

So it will be imperative for Arkansas to render Georgia’s offensive attack one one-dimensional. If Georgia is forced to pass, Flowers may have a field day with his pass-rush skills.

Here we see Flowers dominating Aggies’ right tackle Germain Ifedi — who is pretty good player in his own right. Even at his height, Flowers is able to generate the necessary leverage to get under Ifedi.

Flowers is a powerful player; when you have the ability to vary your pass-rush you make yourself even more powerful due to the element of surprise. This initially looked like a speed rush, but once Flowers got full extension in his arms it was a done deal.

Arkansas’ secondary is full of cover guys: cornerbacks Henre’ Toliver and Tevin Mitchel immediately come to mind. Senior safety Alan Turner is a rangy player who can be used closer to the line of scrimmage as well.

An injury to middle linebacker Brooks Ellis could prove the be problematic in the run game, but Arkansas’ wonderful line could take the pressure off the second level.

For the Razorbacks to finally get off the snide in SEC play it will have to execute on all levels: stop the run, establish their own run game and limit turnovers. This is the first time in a few seasons we can say Arkansas has the ability to play with anyone in the country.

Georgia may have to find that out the hard way.