Arkansas’ defense had rough day on Saturday

By Jason Pattyson

FAYETTEVILLE — The Arkansas Razorbacks found themselves in a familiar spot Saturday with another subpar performance at home in a 63-31 loss to the Ole Miss Rebels.

Coming into the game, the numbers didn’t lie with both teams committing to the pass because the Rebels and the Razorbacks have given up many yards through the air this season. Arkansas had given up 1,834 yards and Ole Miss 1,742 through the air, 959 rushing for the Hogs, and 613 for the Rebels on Defense. With both teams sporting the top two offenses in the league, it was due for a track meet, and it looked like which team possessing the ball last would have the best shot to win. 

Well, it was a track meet, and the Razorback defense ran out of wind quickly. They gave up 49 points in the second and third quarters combined and 28 points in the second quarter, which is what this defense is. If it turns out to be a track meet, you have to keep up, and that just wasn’t the case Saturday. 

4th and Stuffed 

The Razorback defense inside the five-yard line has been stellar the last two games, shutting down Mississippi State and Ole Miss when the ball is inside the five. They stuffed Stae twice on fourth down, which ultimately deflated the Bulldogs’ momentum last week. Arkansas had another chance against the Rebels, stopping them on a fourth and one from the one-yard line. Even though it was deep in Arkansas territory and gave the Hogs bad field position, the stops gave the team momentum. 

The Defense didn’t have its best day.

When the Razorback defense can get home and create turnovers they are one of the best teams in college football. Some people will dispute that claim, but there are instances of this being true, just not on Saturday. Linebacker Xavian Sorey led the team with 13 total tackles with six solo tackles and two of the teams three tackles for loss. Larry Worth lll and Steven Dix Jr. chipped in with 9 and 8 tackles, respectively. The linebackers produced and netted 30 tackles; 11 were solo tackles. Senior defensive lineman Landon Jackson recorded the team’s only sack. 

Home is not where the heart is 

When it comes to the Razorbacks playing at home in the SEC, Arkansas has been less than stellar. Bad losses from the last two seasons at home make fans wonder what the heck is going on. Fans look at the matchups and know the Hogs were outmanned for the better part of last season. Fast forward 8 months and a revamped offensive staff with a proven play caller, and it is still the same old problem: the Hogs play better on the road. Concession prices went up this weekend, ticket sales are on average, and poor play at home in some of the biggest games in the last two seasons makes it hard. Hard for fans to spend the money to show up, and the home team sometimes doesn’t. No consistency at home is mindblowing and baffling. It is a conundrum, and the staff have two more games to get an understanding of this before the 2024 season is a wrap. 

Short, big play strikes doomed the Hogs

Ole Miss knew going into Saturday’s game that the Hogs had given up 1,834 yards through the air. You pair that with the Rebel’s conference-leading offense and Ole Miss quarterback Jaxon Dart leading the league in passing, which was a mix for disaster. Ole Miss had eight plays that gained over 20 yards. Three plays of 62 yards, 65 yards, and 58 yards resulted in scores that deflated the Defense. Lane Kiffen exploited the vulnerability of the Razorback secondary. The defensive backs played soft coverage because they had to due to a lack of raw speed in the backfield.  Their speed is comparable to that of the majority of the teams they have faced, but not the top-tier teams this year. That is an area the coaching staff will have to look at this offseason. 

The weather could have been a factor due to the forecast calling for rain most of the day in Fayetteville, but the rain stayed away, and the air strikes came in waves from the Rebels. When the Defense had a second to catch their breath, Dart let it fly all over the field, and the Razorbacks had no answers for him. Despite Kentucky and Oklahoma limiting Dart’s effectiveness, Arkansas couldn’t extrapolate the film they watched during the week to the field. 

Where is Jordan Watkins? 

Ole Miss wide receiver Jordan Watkins had a career day on Saturday against Arkansas. Rebel receiver Tre Harris, who leads the conference in receptions and yards, was a game-time decision heading into the contest Saturday with a lower-body injury. That guy was all over the field, and the secondary couldn’t find him, but when they did, he was either behind the secondary or outrunning them. He finished his career day with eight catches for 254 yards and five, yes five, touchdowns. How does a guy like that get so open so often? That will be a question for fans and the coaching staff alike for the rest of this weekend. 

November to remember?

The Razorbacks have three chances after Saturday’s loss to Ole Miss to become bowl-eligible. Texas, Louisiana Tech, and Missouri await Arkansas to round out the ’24 slate. Texas is the one that fans won’t want to concede as a loss but could, and that leaves the last two to win one. Tech could get the Hogs bowl-bound for the first time in two years. Missouri could help Arkansas after the up-and-down season they have had. The Defense does match up well against the Tigers; they have average quarterback play and a decent running game on the road. Arkansas will be bowling outside of an absolute catastrophic meltdown of epic proportions.