Razorbacks Aim to Turn Tide Against 'Bama

In a span of just two weeks, the Arkansas Razorbacks have gone from a team with a stagnant offense to that of an improving, potent unit. Unfortunately, the club's defense has made an opposite transition, going from solid and energetic to slow and porous. It truly is amazing how much change and evolution this year's Arkansas football team has gone through in just three games. Let's not forget, even with all of the shuffling within the depth charts, the Razorbacks are still 2-1, regardless of what the Houston Nutt naysayers are hollering.

This weekend brings a challenge and a rival to Fayetteville when the Hogs host Alabama. The Crimson Tide were 10-2 a year ago for Mike Shula, winning the Cotton Bowl against Texas Tech. Of course, that was a a Tide team lead by NFLers Brodie Croyle and Demeco Ryans. Thus far though, Alabama has adjusted nicely to the lost of some key players, even with just 14 starters returning: at 3-0 overall, 1-0 in the conference, a lot of folks still like the Tide to be the surprise of the SEC this year.

I'm not buying it. Alabama hasn't really played anybody yet, with victories over the likes of Hawaii (25-17 at home), Vanderbilt (13-10 at home) and hapless Louisiana-Monroe. Senior running back Kenneth Darby is off to a slow start, averaging just 3.3 yards per carry. Sophomore QB John Parker Wilson has been steady, if unspectacular, but he's no Croyle. And the defense, the heart and soul of last year's Tide team, is vulnerable up the middle. Alabama will make a bowl game this year, for sure, but in my mind there's no way Shula matches last year's win total.

Arkansas should win this game at home. A five game losing streak in Fayetteville came to an end against Utah State, albeit in rather unspectacular fashion. But that doesn't cancel the fact that Arkansas hasn't beaten a good team at Razorback Stadium in over a year. For that to change, the Razorbacks need to use last week's offensive recipe against Vandy as a base. Give Darren McFadden 20 carries, give Felix Jones 10, give Michael Smith 5, and add the passing ingredients from there. Mitch Mustain is getting better in front of our eyes, folks, and make no mistake with a solid ground attack in place behind him, the Golden Child of Springdale is already a forced to be reckoned with when it comes to vertical passing. Expect Mustain to look deep for Marcus Monk, Damian Williams and London Crawford early against the Tide.

If Arkansas can continue to find balance offensively, it's going to be up to the defense to seal the deal on Saturday. After a strong start to the season, the front four of Keith Jackson, Marcus Harrison, Jamaal Anderson and Antowain Robinson has failed to generate much pressure on opposing backfields during the past two weeks. You couple that with a depleted linebacking corps that's already at a lack for speed, and it's no mystery as to why the Razorback defense is struggling so much against the run and in creating turnovers. (A startling stat: as of this weekend, Arkansas is the only Division I defense in the country without a turnover in its favor.) To counter the lack of speed, Houston Nutt and defensive coordinator Reggie Herring need to agree on some sort of a rhythmic blitzing scheme for this weekend. If Arkansas continues to sit back on 'D' and not send a defensive back every now and then to plug some holes up front, Darby will have a huge game for Alabama and the Razorbacks' run of poor performances at Razorback Stadium will continue with a loss against a rival.

-JAB