Aggies’ defense causes Arkansas’ offense issues

By Jason Pattyson

FAYETTEVILLE — Despite a fast start, the Razorbacks had a hard time adjusting to the Aggies’ rush attack and fell 21-17 on Saturday in the final installment of the Southwest Classic in Arlington, Texas.

There were great things the offense did against possibly the best defensive front seven Arkansas will see the rest of the season. Then the Texas A&M coaches found some holes in the Hogs scheme and capitalized on it, especially on the final drive by the Razorback offense. 

An Isaac TeSlaa sighting on the first drive of the game

It was a sigh of relief for TeSlaa and a moment for fans to see where this guy had been before the game’s first series. He got separation from his defense, and quarterback Taylen Green dropped a dime behind the defender, and he outran three Aggie defenders on the third play of the game for a 75-yard score. 

Going into the game, he had hauled five catches for 85 yards. Saturday, he was a man possessed with four catches, 120 yards, and a score. Arkansas needs the production from the depth of the wide receiver room.

Ja’Quinden Jackson got lost in the Aggies scheme

Jackson entered the game leading the SEC in rushing with 472 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Texas A&M knew they could negate the run by putting pressure on Taylen Green. 

This was the best run defense the offense had faced, and Arkansas had its share of problems picking up the blitz. They held Jackson in check with 37 yards on ten attempts with a touchdown. He still leads the SEC in rushing with 509 yards and is second in touchdowns with nine.

Taylen Green and the Offensive line

There has been much discussion inside and outside the locker room regarding line protection and identifying it pre-snap. If it were an easy fix, it could be fixed by now between Bobby Petrino and Sam Pittman. The microphone inside the designated player’s helmet shuts off with 15 seconds on the play clock, and from there, Green is on his own. Some have said this might be a problem with helping him make the proper protection calls.

Multiple times you could see either tackles Keyshawn Blackstock or Fernando Carmona let a player from the second level run free play side and crash on the defensive end. Was this a missed call by Green at the line or a shift to the wrong side? 

That is a question that will be brought up in the film session this week. Many of the times the defensive player ran through untouched, the Hogs were in an empty backfield. This is quite the change from weeks past when the tight end released without chipping the end, the tackle ran to the second level, and two defenders ran right to the ball untouched. 

They have Tennessee coming to town, and they have not faced an athlete like Taylen Green, but the line calls in protection have to be better, or DC Tim Banks will have an easy day at the office in Fayetteville. 

The final and deciding drive by the Razorback offense

It really started on the previous drive when head coach Sam Pittman decided to punt late in the fourth quarter. He felt the defense had another stop in the tank after the fourteenth-best rushing defense in the nation had kept the Aggie offense in check most of the game. 

Arkansas punter Devin Bale pinned the Aggies at their one, and Pittman and crew had the decision working for them to this point. Pin the Aggies deep, flip the field, and get excellent field position with a chance to take the lead late in the fourth quarter. 

Arkansas’ starting field position had been bad all game; the average starting position was the ten-yard line, so they needed the ball to bounce their way on their final offensive possession. The gamble to punt didn’t work out and they were again on their own ten when they took possession on their final drive.

Isaiah Sategna was targeted on all but one pass thrown in the final drive with his go-to guy, Andrew Armstrong, on the field. Green got stripped and the Aggies recovered to put a final nail in the Hogs defeat. 

Up next with Tennessee coming to town

Tennessee had an off-week to rest up after a tough road win in Norman last Saturday. Arkansas didn’t have that luxury after getting beat up at Oklahoma St. in week two. The freshman phenom Nico Iamaleava had his jets cooled with the stout Sooner defense; the offense averaged 64 PPG and scored just 25 points in the narrow win. 

Arkansas’ offense averages 35.8 PPG, and Jackson, Green, and Armstrong all rank top three in their prospective categories in the SEC through week 5. If Arkansas can figure out the protection problems and expose the middle of the field, they have a great shot at beating Tennessee. The Volunteers have to be able to better protect the middle of the field, or Bobby Petrino and the offense will expose it where they have made their living this year. Kick-off will be at 6:30 p.m. on ABC.