Defense improves after slow start

By Jason Pattyson

Fayetteville - Arkansas continued its struggles at home with a 37-27 win over the UAB Blazers at Reynolds Razorback Stadium Saturday after some late-game heroics by sophomore safety TJ Metcalf in its home opener of the 2024 season. 

The Razorbacks’ defensive effort led to the Blazers of UAB making what was thought to be an easy “W” way more interesting than it should have been. Coach Sam Pittman said post-game that the defense had five guys in green jerseys, meaning they could not tackle or be tackled during the week of prep for UAB.

The defense looked beat up to a point, which was noticeable with missed tackles and blown assignments. Lets explore why and how much improvement Arkansas made in the week after a hard and physical loss on the road last week. 

Turnovers and TFLs are becoming harder each week.

If it weren’t for sophomore TJ Metcalf playing centerfield at the ten-yard line to make the game-clinching interception, this part of the story would be pretty lean. Through three weeks, the defense missed the bus on forcing turnovers and getting ”Home,” getting into the backfield and causing pressure, and at the point of exchange with the running back and quarterback.  In 2023, through three games, they had five interceptions; two were returned for touchdowns, and one recovered a fumble; through three games in 2024, the defense has forced just one fumble and one interception. 

The tackles for loss last week were as expected due to a scheme shutting down the 2023 leading rusher in college football. They limited Ollie Gordon to 59 yards and a score in the loss, so the game plan worked, but it didn’t produce stats. Against UAPB, they wrangled ten tackles for loss, three against Oklahoma State, and just two today against UAB. Today, the Blazers wore the front seven out with the read option, which forced many one-on-one plays. Arkansas had a terrible time wrapping up in space, and the gang tackling was not there today. This is something to keep an eye on as the season progresses. 

Quarterback pressure and Wrapping up 

Again, last week was more of a wash in terms of pressuring the quarterback due to the scheme, but the Blazers saw something in the tape that they felt they had an advantage. The Razorbacks didn’t get a crack in the backfield in the first half, which led to UAB taking a two-score lead in the first half. Arkansas battled back to even it up twice, but the defense couldn’t stay disciplined in gap coverage, allowing the Blazers room to cut back for extra yards all game.

Tackling has been an issue from game one. Pittman talked about holding a tackling clinic over the weekend they had after the weekday game in game one. Then, it was said that the problem was conditioning and fatigue against OSU. This week it was that they were beat up after the tough loss on the road. These are valid, but at the end of the day, they are excuses. There was a lot of body tacking and expecting the offensive player to fall. There was an example where a Blazer receiver thrashed out of the Hog defender’s arms to score late in the fourth quarter. The issues have to be addressed before they enter SEC play. 

Defensive mis-ques and penalties

One can definitively say last week didn’t carry over to this week. WWE-style takedowns and bad plays all but stayed away, and there was a lot of improvement in the demeanor on defense. The team only committed six penalties for 68 yards, and last week, seven for 71 yards, but three led to scores or gave the Pokes life and then scored. 

Looking ahead at Auburn 

In week two, California whipped Hugh Freeze and the Auburn Tigers with a 2-4-5 scheme that is really hard to prepare for. This week, they had to battle a torrential downpour, and next, they had to figure out their quarterback situation if Peyton Thorne was not the answer. 

There were some good signs of life for the Razorback defense, but the SEC season is so different, regardless of what might be happening on the other side of the field. Fans want to know which defense will show up on the Plains because Freeze and company seem to have Pittmans’ number in recent years.