Dwelling Discipline

Arkansas followers are flocking again to Fayetteville.

After years of low attendance resulting from poor on-field outcomes, the Razorbacks’ house stadium has been at or close to capability for many of the previous two seasons as Sam Pittman has constructed a gradual winner once more at Arkansas.

Because the final time Alabama got here to city to shut the 2020 common season, the Razorbacks have an 8-1 file inside Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Arkansas’ solely house loss throughout that point got here to Auburn final October when Pittman stated he made too many questionable teaching choices.

Half of the Razorbacks’ eight on-campus victories for the reason that begin of the 2021 season have been in opposition to Energy 5 opponents. Arkansas additionally beat Cincinnati, which can be part of the Massive 12 subsequent season.

From 2016-20, Arkansas gained 4 house video games in opposition to Energy 5 groups, half of which got here in Pittman’s inaugural season when the gang measurement was capped at 16,500 resulting from covid-19 pointers. By the point Texas got here to city final September, followers have been champing on the bit to look at their rejuvenated program, they usually have given the Razorbacks an excellent home-field benefit since.

Crowd noise performed an element as Arkansas beat Cincinnati, South Carolina and Missouri State on the primary three weekends of September. These groups mixed to commit 13 pre-snap penalties on offense — 10 false begins and three delays of recreation.

The fourth quarter of the Missouri State recreation felt like an SEC Saturday night time because the Razorbacks scored 21 unanswered factors to rally for a 38-27 victory. When Bryce Stephens returned a punt 82 yards for the go-ahead landing, the stadium press field shook from the roar of the gang.

Since Arkansas joined the SEC, a number of the loudest moments at house have come throughout Alabama video games. The house crowd roared all through a 42-6 thrashing of the Crimson Tide in 1998, and former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy nonetheless talks in regards to the crowd noise in the course of the Crimson Tide’s 24-20 come-from-behind victory in 2010.

Ben Cleveland, a former Arkansas tight finish, stated this week that the stadium was as loud as he has heard it after he caught the landing that arrange the game-winning additional level within the second time beyond regulation of the Razorbacks’ 24-23 victory in 2006.

It has been six years since Alabama has confronted a hostile crowd in Fayetteville. A disinterested Arkansas fan base largely stayed house for the Crimson Tide’s 65-31 victory right here in 2018, and lots of have been out the exits by halftime as Alabama rolled 52-3 on a frigid mid-December day in 2020.

Pittman is aware of he doesn’t must implore followers to be loud Saturday. The Razorbacks anticipate this week’s attendance might problem the 2010 Alabama recreation for the most important crowd in stadium historical past — not counting this yr’s Garth Brooks live performance.

Alabama appeared to battle some with crowd noise throughout its 20-19 victory at Texas in Week 2. Arkansas gained’t come near matching the 100,000-plus who have been in attendance for that recreation, however the crowd can have an impact.

An engaged crowd is the Razorbacks’ greatest benefit over the Crimson Tide and will probably be key if Arkansas can preserve the sport aggressive late.

Recreation Stress

Alabama has not performed a really troublesome schedule within the first 4 weeks of the season. The Crimson Tide have been examined at Texas, however Alabama has been dominant in opposition to lesser competitors, defeating Utah State by 55 factors, Louisiana-Monroe by 56 and Vanderbilt by 52 to open SEC play.

Three video games have been so lopsided that one might think about it’s troublesome for upcoming opponents like Arkansas to search out worthwhile recreation movie to guage.

The Crimson Tide’s outings since dealing with the Longhorns have been cakewalks, over by halftime and never fascinating or aggressive within the least. That ought to change Saturday.

Alabama will enter assured it may possibly seize the end result it needs, however so will Arkansas. It’s honest to query how the Crimson Tide will reply to their first actual recreation strain in weeks.

Alabama quarterback Bryce Younger stated this week that his workforce grew from having its again in opposition to the wall at Texas, however it’s troublesome to correctly simulate dealing with adversity in every day practices.

“We love making an attempt to place up as many factors on the board as we will and the offense is all the time making an attempt to attain factors, and the protection is all the time making an attempt to get a cease,” Younger stated. “However we perceive that’s not how soccer works, particularly whenever you play within the SEC in opposition to the very best of the very best. Once you’re in (hostile environments) you study so much about your self, your unit and your workforce.”

On one hand, the 50-plus-point margins have allowed Alabama’s starters and key reserves much-needed relaxation forward of a three-week stretch through which the Crimson Tide will face three ranked groups, together with two away from house. Alternatively, might that in any method result in a little bit of rust early on this weekend?

Alabama edge defender Will Anderson, who has performed 51 defensive snaps during the last two video games, added that taking part in in street environments is enjoyable for him. He considers himself a “hateful competitor.”

“We would like followers to go away their very own stadiums,” he stated. “I believe the message this week is we wish followers to go away their very own stadium and we need to preach that each one week. Go on the market, have enjoyable, do your job and ensure the followers are leaving in regards to the time halftime comes or by the top of the third quarter.”

Punch Again

It’s among the many extra inevitable issues in faculty soccer.

Alabama below Nick Saban has turn out to be infamous for delivering a blow on offense, protection or particular groups that may knock its opponent down. Some groups are unable to recuperate, they usually play out the rest of the sport with a deer-in-the-headlights look.

That’s how the Crimson Tide race away to comfy or blowout victories so often.

In the course of the Razorbacks’ recreation at Alabama final yr, the Crimson Tide swung with heavy arms all through their 42-35 victory. Younger threw for almost 600 yards and 5 touchdowns, finishing all however 9 of his 40 go makes an attempt, and Alabama additionally completed with a 100-yard rusher.

However, as the ultimate rating signifies, Arkansas didn’t go down with no combat.

4 occasions final season the Razorbacks answered an Alabama rating with a rating of their very own. Arkansas put up 468 yards of offense, averaged 6.4 yards per play and was 3 of three on fourth-down conversions.

“I believe what occurs whenever you play someone shut, you begin having some perception that, you understand, we’ve received a fairly good workforce,” Pittman stated. “If we will exit, not make errors, play effectively, play laborious, get some turnovers, issues of that nature, you’ve got an opportunity to win the sport.

“Actually that’s the place we’re at now with our soccer workforce.”

As Razorbacks males’s basketball coach Eric Musselman has famous quite a few occasions in his tenure, every recreation takes by itself form and id. No two video games are alike.

However Arkansas took away from its final assembly with the Crimson Tide that it may possibly dangle with the highest canines within the recreation if it executes.

“We have to strike as quick as we probably can,” Pittman stated. “Final yr, I felt prefer it was taking part in catch up the entire time. However we have to strike quick, and hopefully we’re in a position to try this. However it confirmed that we have been resilient.”

third Quarter

Arkansas’ greatest quarter in 2021 has been its worst by the primary month of this season.

The Razorbacks have been outscored 41-13 within the third quarter by Cincinnati, South Carolina, Missouri State and Texas A&M. Examine that to final yr when Arkansas outscored its opponents 122-68 within the third quarter.

Third-quarter woes have offset principally strong first-half play from the Razorbacks, who led each workforce however Missouri State at halftime. Arkansas by no means felt in peril of shedding to Cincinnati or South Carolina, however these video games have been tighter within the fourth quarter due to the lack to place the groups away within the third.

The third quarter was on Pittman’s thoughts early within the week when he stated a halftime interval could be constructed into the observe schedule.

“We’re simply going to cease, after which we’re going to return again and go good-on-good proper once we come off of halftime,” Pittman stated Monday of this week’s observe plan. “We’re going to vary the way in which we stretch popping out of the half. We’ve received to vary one thing. You already know what we’re making an attempt to do, we’re making an attempt to place it in our thoughts that we’ve received to get going.”

Alabama has outscored its opponents 38-3 within the third quarter.

Drew Sanders

How will Arkansas’ famous person linebacker deal with taking part in in opposition to his former teammates?

Pittman stated he hasn’t met with Sanders this week about it. He trusts Sanders is aware of the way to deal with the feelings of the sport.

“He’s performed in opposition to highschool teammates that he’s identified in Texas and issues, so I believe he’s going to be simply positive,” Pittman stated. “He’s a grown man now; grown man upstairs, too.”

Sanders has been key to the Arkansas go rush that leads faculty soccer with 20 sacks. Sanders is tied for the nationwide particular person lead with 5.5 sacks and has a minimum of one-half sack in every recreation.

When requested about Sanders earlier this season, Saban stated the linebacker doubtless would have began for the Crimson Tide had he not chosen to switch. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper lately rated Sanders the No. 1 inside linebacker prospect for subsequent spring’s NFL Draft.

“He’s definitely taking part in effectively for them,” Saban stated this week. “It’s good to see that he’s doing a very good job for them.”

Whereas Sanders has made greater than sufficient massive performs to make up for them, missed tackles have been a little bit of a priority. His missed-tackle fee is 32.4%, in keeping with Professional Soccer Focus.

Non-Offensive TDs

Within the Saban period, no workforce has been nearly as good as Alabama at scoring touchdowns on protection and particular groups.

The Crimson Tide have 89 non-offensive touchdowns in 212 video games for the reason that begin of the 2007 season — 39 interception returns, 12 fumble returns, 8 kickoff returns, 20 punt returns and 10 blocked punt returns. Alabama gamers observe scoring after forcing a turnover and their superb play-making capacity shines within the return recreation.

Eight of these touchdowns have come in opposition to Arkansas within the Saban period, together with two years in the past when Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith returned a punt 84 yards to interrupt a 3-3 tie late within the first quarter.

Alabama has scored a minimum of one non-offensive landing in its final three video games in Fayetteville. Shyheim Carter returned an interception 44 yards for a landing in 2018, and Tim Williams returned a fumble 23 yards and Minkah Fitzpatrick had a 100-yard interception return in the course of the Tide’s 49-30 victory in 2016.

Towards Louisiana-Monroe two weeks in the past, Alabama scored three touchdowns on protection and particular groups. Anderson had a 25-yard interception return, Malachi Moore returned a blocked punt 3 yards and Brian Department returned a punt 68 yards.

If the previous two weeks are any indication, Alabama may have a possibility for a return landing. Arkansas fumbled a mixed 9 occasions in video games in opposition to Missouri State and Texas A&M, and misplaced three.

Turnovers harm unhealthy sufficient in opposition to the Crimson Tide, and the Razorbacks noticed firsthand final week how rapidly a defensive landing can change a recreation. It’s crucial that Arkansas’ offensive gamers and specialists give the Razorbacks’ protection an opportunity to maintain Alabama out of the top zone.

Finding Anderson

Professional Soccer Focus analytics present Alabama’s Anderson has performed all 140 of his snaps on the Crimson Tide’s defensive position. However that doesn’t even start to inform the story of his utilization.

The 6-4, 243-pound edge is considered one of faculty soccer’s true game-wrecking gamers on protection, and Alabama’s defensive employees makes use of him as such. Anderson already has 20 tackles, 7.5 for misplaced yardage, and 4.5 sacks to his credit score regardless of sitting out a number of collection within the Tide’s blow-out victories.

He has additionally intercepted a go and blocked a kick. There are few performs on the sphere he can’t make.

“He’s proper the place he was final yr,” Pittman stated. “It’s important to have a plan for him. It’s important to look on the market and go, ‘OK, who can change the sport on either side of the ball?’ It’s important to attempt to remove them as a lot as you’ll be able to along with your schematics or double teaming him, no matter it could be.

“I imply, he’s taken over a few their video games defensively. They’ve received a bunch of excellent gamers on protection, their D-line too, however he stands proud nonetheless.”

Anderson’s defensive alignment modifications consistently. If he strains up throughout from the left or proper sort out, it doesn’t essentially imply he’s crashing the road of scrimmage from that facet.

Towards Arkansas final season, the Crimson Tide typically had Anderson loop round his personal defensive linemen on unique blitzes to create confusion for offensive fronts. Anticipate extra of that Saturday to benefit from his supreme athleticism and nostril for the soccer.

“It’s been enjoyable,” Anderson stated of shifting to numerous spots up entrance. “It’s important to give all of the credit score to the teaching employees for serving to me get lined up in other places to both assist others make performs or I could make performs myself. I’m trying to the remainder of the season to see what (the coaches) have in retailer.”

Get to Younger

Younger, final yr’s Heisman winner, is performing in addition to any quarterback within the nation this season when Alabama’s offensive line supplies a clear pocket.

In line with PFF, he has accomplished 72 of 95 (75.8%) passes in these cases. The end result? Eleven landing passes and 902 yards.

On almost three-fourths of his dropbacks, Younger has had ample time to scan the sphere and seek for a goal. However when opponents have been capable of apply strain and place him below duress, his numbers slide significantly — 11 of 26 (42.3%) for 126 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception.

Arkansas’ protection is way extra outfitted to knock Younger off his spot than final season, when he set Alabama’s single-game file for passing yards. The Razorbacks have 5 gamers, in keeping with PFF, with a minimum of 10 quarterback pressures.

Sanders, the previous Alabama linebacker, leads the way in which with 18, together with 11 hurries. Little Rock native Zach Williams is second with 15.

If Arkansas is unable to get to Younger, it might be in for a protracted afternoon, and he’ll doubtless exploit the center of the Razorbacks’ protection, which is what Younger prefers.

Per PFF knowledge, he has accomplished 37 of 46 passes to the center of the sphere, together with 19 of 20 on intermediate passes of 10 to 19 yards.

“It’s actually going to be a vital a part of the sport,” Arkansas defensive finish Jordan Domineck stated. “They’re extra of a throwing workforce now, particularly on first and second down. That’s what our aim is, to get to him, disrupt him and get in his face.”

Jadon Haselwood

Largely on account of the closeness of the sport within the fourth quarter and the truth that former Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino was again on a sideline in Fayetteville, the Oklahoma switch’s play in opposition to Missouri State was missed.

Haselwood completed with a career-best 86 receiving yards within the 38-27 victory and his second landing of the season on a 38-yard go from quarterback KJ Jefferson. He then adopted it up by main Arkansas in receiving within the slim loss to Texas A&M.

The redshirt junior has been constant the final three weeks, bringing in 5 passes every recreation. And he has been a security web of kinds for Jefferson, who has focused Haselwood a team-high 24 occasions.

The Razorbacks’ offense may benefit tremendously from one other productive efficiency. Haselwood, in his profession, has 16 grabs for 186 yards in opposition to AP-ranked opponents. Twice at Oklahoma he confronted AP top-5 groups and totaled 5 catches for 71 yards.

Arkansas might have that kind of play Saturday afternoon — with a landing or two — to stay aggressive in opposition to the nation’s No. 6 go protection.

“I believe he’s been fairly strong all yr,” Pittman stated. “You already know, perhaps his management might be just a little bit higher than what it was in the beginning, which was actually good anyway. I believe Haselwood’s been most likely essentially the most constant of these guys.

“However I’ll say this: He’s a pacesetter now. He’s powerful, and he’s a pacesetter. I really like the child.”

Now could be a perfect time for Haselwood to ascertain that he’s the Alpha at receiver.

Ending Drives

Arkansas’ offense ranks 102nd nationally in red-zone succes at 76.5%.

The Razorbacks have come away empty-handed inside their opponent’s 3-yard line twice previously two weeks. Operating again Raheim Sanders fumbled on the aim line in opposition to Missouri State and the Bears transformed the turnover right into a discipline aim. Final week’s recreation in opposition to Texas A&M modified when Jefferson was stripped as tried to leap over the road of scrimmage from the three and the Aggies returned the fumble for a landing.

Arkansas has scored in 13 of 17 in red-zone journeys this season, together with 11 touchdowns. Jefferson was stopped on a fourth-and-1 keeper in opposition to South Carolina and kicker Cam Little missed a discipline aim on the finish of the Texas A&M recreation.

Alabama ranks twentieth in red-zone offense and protection. Offensively, the Crimson Tide have a 95% success fee contained in the pink zone, with 16 touchdowns and kicked 3 discipline targets in 20 red-zone makes an attempt.

The protection has allowed 2 touchdowns and three discipline targets in 7 red-zone makes an attempt by the opposition. Alabama’s 28.6% fee of red-zone journeys with out permitting a landing is fifth-best nationally.

Kickers

The final two groups to beat Alabama within the common season — Auburn in 2019 and Texas A&M final yr — kicked a number of discipline targets and gained by three factors on their house discipline.

Little, a Freshman All-American final season, has the potential to be nearly as good as Auburn’s Anders Carlson and Texas A&M’s Seth Small, however has to shake any doubts which may stem from his 0-for-2 begin to SEC play. Little missed a 50-yard try in opposition to South Carolina and missed the potential recreation winner that bounced off the upright with 1:30 remaining final week in opposition to the Aggies.

Alabama’s Will Reichard silenced the massive Texas crowd with a 33-yard recreation winner with 10 seconds remaining. Reichard has made all six of his field-goal makes an attempt this season, with a protracted of 52 yards in opposition to the Longhorns.