There’s good news and bad news for Arkansas as it comes off a nice victory at Tennessee and heads into a game at No. 8 Alabama. The good news: Arkansas got its running game going against the Volunteers. It looked more like some of Bret Bielema’s better teams and closer to the one that many envisioned when they were ranked in the Top 25 early in the season.
The bad news: That’s not how you beat Alabama.
You can bet folks in Arkansas were anticipating something different when they saw where the Alabama game landed on the schedule. This was supposed to be a rebound year for the Razorbacks, but they enter the game 2-3 and having narrowly avoided a four-game losing streak with the win over the Vols.
But Arkansas has played better as of late. The Tennessee win was preceded by an overtime loss to undefeated Texas A&M, and the offense is settling in after suffering some tough injuries early on. Running back Alex Collins belongs on the long list of top-notch backs in the SEC, racking up 656 yards on 113 carries so far. He’s also been in the end zone six times.
What’s been just as big for the Hogs the past two weeks is the development of true freshman Rawleigh Williams. Williams carried 8 times for 46 yards and his first career touchdown against Texas A&M, and then produced his first 100-yard game at Tennessee, reaching the century mark on 14 carries.
When looking at the long term and reaching the goal of making a bowl game after the rough start, these are important developments for the Razorbacks. But in terms of winning this week, lining up and trying to stuff it down the Crimson Tide’s throat with a power running game has proven to be a fool’s errand.
The past six teams to beat Alabama have done so using hurry-up spread offenses. The only team to really give Alabama any trouble in the Nick Saban era with a traditional run game has been LSU, but those Tigers teams also featured all-time great defenses capable of keeping the score down.
The bottom line heading into Saturday’s game in Tuscaloosa is that Arkansas likely won’t be able to move the ball enough against the Tide unless it gets something going in the passing game and can establish an up-tempo pace.
That’s asking a lot of quarterback Brandon Allen, who has been efficient with a 66 percent completion rate while throwing for 1,360 yards, 8 touchdowns and 3 interceptions this season. Allen has had a solid senior season so far, but he’s not necessarily the kind of quarterback who can guide a team to a huge upset with his arm. That’s especially true with his best receiver, Keon Hatcher, out with an injury.
Collins is the backbone of the Arkansas offense and he’s a fine player, but as was shown when Alabama went to Georgia last week, it takes more than one star running back to beat the Tide.
ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS CLOSER LOOK
Best offensive player: Alex Collins, Jr. RB — Collins isn’t a Leonard Fournette or Nick Chubb, but he belongs on the list of outstanding SEC running backs. The Florida native has rushed for more than 125 yards in all but one game this season, and the Razorbacks rely on him as heavily as any team leans on a player in the entire conference. There’s a good chance he’ll get his yardage against Alabama too, but will it be enough?
Best defensive player: Henre’ Toliver, So. DB — Toliver has done some of everything for the Razorbacks defense so far this season. He leads the team with four tackles for a loss and also has an interception. He’s also broken up three passes and is fifth on the team with 24 tackles.
Best special teams player: Toby Baker, Jr. P — Baker was thrust into the starting role right before the season began, but he’s done a good job, averaging 40 yards per kick. On 11 punts he hasn’t had one blocked, has three of 50 yards and five have settled inside the 20.
Shane Mettlen is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers Texas A&M, Missouri and Alabama.
