Linebackers carry load for Arkansas’ defense

FAYETTEVILLE — Linebackers Drew Sanders and Bumper Pool combining for 30 tackles throughout final Saturday’s 40-17 Arkansas SEC loss at Mississippi State defines the energy and a weak point of the Razorbacks’ protection.

Minus injured security Jalen Catalon, and with an more and more harm depleted secondary behind them, Sanders and Pool star on Arkansas’ protection going into Saturday’s non-conference recreation at BYU in Provo, Utah.

Every has been an SEC Participant of the Week. Sanders, the switch from reigning SEC champion Alabama, was even a Nationwide Defensive Participant of the Week.

Fifth-year senior Pool, taking the additional 12 months choice granted to all who performed through the covid-shortened 2020 marketing campaign, grew to become Arkansas’ profession main tackler. Pool’s 14 stops towards Mississippi State elevated his profession whole to 409, surpassing Tony Bua’s 408.

Their enjoying so lengthy in Starkville, Miss., to make 30 tackles, and consequently miss others exhausted towards a positive Mississippi State offense, epitomizes Arkansas’ present defensive plight.

The Bulldogs possessed the ball 35:11 of the sport’s 60 minutes.

“Each time you’ve got a number of snaps and also you get drained, you begin reverting again,” Pool stated postgame. “We’ve simply bought to proceed to lock in on our fundamentals late within the recreation.”

Given Pool ails (an injured hip amongst different maladies), it amazes Arkansas Coach Sam Pittman what Pool accomplishes.

“Guys, he’s harm on a regular basis,” Pittman advised media in Starkville. “Folks go, ‘Properly, he missed that deal with.’ Properly, hell, you’ll too should you felt like Bumper Pool. However he’s powerful, and he’s the very best we bought. He’s doing nice or he wouldn’t be on the market.”

Clearly it’s largely as much as the complete protection “to get them (the opposing offense) off the sphere,” Pittman stated.

Arkansas not corralling three could-have-been interceptions — one close to theft as an alternative grew to become a Bulldogs landing — clearly didn’t assist.

However the offense additionally should do its half.

With dual-threat quarterback KJ Jefferson and SEC dashing chief Raheim “Rocket” Sanders launched from an enormous, veteran offensive line, Arkansas opened the season showing to be a ball possession group. That look enhanced with Arkansas’ offense enjoying keep-away the ultimate 5:34 after Cincinnati trimmed a 31-17 deficit to 31-24 within the season opener. 

The Hogs possessed 34:38 beating South Carolina 44-30. They had been shocked down, 17-0 and needing huge performs together with a punt return landing with solely 24:09 possession time, to beat Missouri State 38-27.

Final Saturday, sand within the hour glass decidedly put time on Mississippi State’s facet.

Enjoying at Provo altitude (4,649 toes) vs. a formidable BYU Cougars group places Arkansas on the clock to get its protection off the clock.