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Location: WholeHogSports > Story     |     TAGGED:

Passing game still 'big concern'

Published: Sunday, September 23, 2007 PRINT E-MAIL

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas offensive coordinator David Lee was baffled and had no problem admitting it.

Lee couldn’t begin to understand what the Razorbacks offense had just done. Posting 495 yards of total offense generally results in more than a single touchdown.

There was plenty of movement. Arkansas just had nothing to show for it in the aftermath of a 42-29 loss to No. 21 Kentucky.

“We were impotent,” Lee said. “The times we had to make plays, we couldn’t make plays. The times we had to have a passing game, we didn’t have a passing game. At the end when we had to run the ball, we couldn’t run the ball.”

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Arkansas (1-3 ) again was particularly bad in the passing game. Quarterback Casey Dick completed 13 of 28 passes for 157 yards and no touchdowns with 2 interceptions.

What made the Razorbacks ’ failure to score even more confounding was the production they got from the rushing game. Arkansas tailbacks Darren McFadden and Felix Jones combined for 306 yards rushing against a Kentucky defense that ranked among the league’s worst at defending on the ground.

“We didn’t execute,” Jones said. “It’s as plain as that.”

The lack of a threat from the passing game caught up with Arkansas in a big way.

Dick acknowledged the passing game’s struggles cost the team. His two interceptions didn’t result in Kentucky scores, but they killed momentum.

“You can put all that blame on me,” Dick said. “Put all that stuff on me if you want.”

Injuries certainly didn’t help.

Freshman Crosby Tuck caught 1 pass for 21 yards before leaving the game with a broken elbow. Senior Marcus Monk is continuing to rehab a knee injury and did not play, forcing little-used players into action.

Arkansas’ other receivers showed little consistency. There were plays where receivers ran into each other, dropped passes and ran poor routes.

Lee did not shy away from addressing the passing game as an issue. He felt better about things a week earlier against Alabama, but was disappointed in Saturday’s performance.

“The big concern is our passing game right now,” Lee said. “That’s the thing we’ve got to look at next week. Hard. We can run the football.”

Lack of a passing game was apparent in third-down situations. Arkansas converted 7 of 18 third-down opportunities. Those drives they didn’t extend typically resulted from failing to execute the passing game in obvious passing situations.

“We’ve got to be able to throw it when everybody knows you’re going to throw it,” Lee said. “I thought we were over that hurdle. Obviously we’re not.”

The direction things were headed became apparent in the first half.

By halftime the Razorbacks had piled up 373 yards of offense, including 255 on the ground. Kentucky held Arkansas to field goals on two possessions, putting the Wildcats within striking distance at halftime.

Kentucky trailed just 20-14 to start the third quarter. Arkansas was forced to punt on three drives and turned the ball over on two others.

Dick killed a drive with an interception. Running back Michael Smith fumbled with the Razorbacks moving the football late in the first half. Kentucky returned the fumble for a touchdown, pulling within six at halftime.

“It’s very frustrating,” fullback Peyton Hillis said. “We have to learn how to finish. We’re a good football team.”

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Baseball America Poll

Updated May 20

1. UC Irvine 40-12

2. LSU 41-14

3. Arizona St 41-11

4. CS Fullerton 38-14

5. Texas 38-12

6. North Carolina 41-14

7. Ole Miss 40-15

8. Oklahoma 40-16

9. Florida 38-18

10. TCU 35-15

11. Rice 35-15

12. Florida St 40-14

13. Clemson 39-17

14. Georgia Tech 34-15

15. East Carolina 41-15

16. Virginia 39-12

17. Kansas St 39-15

18. Alabama 37-17

19. Cal Poly 35-17

20. Louisville 40-14

21. Minnesota 35-15

22. Elon 37-14

23. Miami Fl 35-18

24. Missouri 32-23

25. South Carolina 37-19

Who is the best defensive lineman in Arkansas' history?


Dave "Hawg" Hanner

Wayne Martin

Jimmy Walker

Dan Hampton

Loyd Phillips

Vote

Arkansas Razorbacks' 2009 Baseball Schedule

Feb. 20

Washington St. (DH)

W 7-5

Feb. 20

Washington St. (DH)

W 4-2

Feb. 22

Washington St.

W 4-3

Feb. 24

Kansas

L 3-9

Feb. 25

Kansas

W 9-8

Feb. 27

Western Illinois

W 8-7

Feb. 28

Western Illinois

     6:00 pm

Mar. 1

Western Illinois

     6:00 pm

Mar. 3

Valparaiso

W 7-3

Mar. 4

Valparaiso

W 9-6

Mar. 6

California

W 5-4

Mar. 7

California

L 6-12

Mar. 8

California

W 13-3

Mar. 10

@ Centenary

L 3-8

Mar. 11

@ Centenary

     6:00 pm

Mar. 13

Florida

W 11-4

Mar. 14

Florida

W 8-4

Mar. 15

Florida

W 4-2

Mar. 17

Nebraska

W 7-3

Mar. 18

Nebraska

L 4-7

Mar. 20

@ Auburn

W 3-2

Mar. 21

@ Auburn

W 10-6

Mar. 22

@ Auburn

W 12-6

Mar. 25

Missouri St.

W 10-0

Mar. 27

Mississippi St.

W 20-9

Mar. 28

Mississippi St.

W 5-1

Mar. 29

Mississippi St.

L 4-12

Mar. 31

@ Missouri St.

W 2-0

Apr. 3

@ South Carolina

W 6-4

Apr. 4

@ South Carolina

L 1-9

Apr. 5

@ South Carolina

W 7-4

Apr. 7

Arizona St.

W 7-3

Apr. 8

Arizona St.

W 8-7

Apr. 10

Vanderbilt

L 0-9

Apr. 11

Vanderbilt

L 6-13

Apr. 12

Vanderbilt

     1:05 pm

Apr. 14

La.-Monroe

L 2-3

Apr. 15

La.-Monroe

W 10-9

Apr. 17

@ Georgia

L 3-4

Apr. 18

@ Georgia

L 3-4

Apr. 19

@ Georgia

W 2-0

Apr. 21

@ Oral Roberts

W 9-6

Apr. 24

@ Tennessee

W 9-3

Apr. 25

@ Tennessee

L 4-5

Apr. 26

@ Tennessee

W 15-8

Apr. 28

Oklahoma

W 8-7

May. 1

LSU

W 11-4

May. 2

LSU

L 0-5

May. 3

LSU

L 3-4

May. 8

@ Alabama

L 1-2

May. 9

@ Alabama

L 6-8

May. 10

@ Alabama

L 5-6

May. 12

Oral Roberts

W 3-2

May. 14

Ole Miss

L 5-7

May. 15

Ole Miss

L 3-9

May. 16

Ole Miss

L 3-16