FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino couldn’t hide his feelings when he was asked about the big plays the Razorbacks have been giving up this season.

It wasn’t necessarily the Georgia game that was on his mind. Or even Alabama. Instead, Petrino was thinking about the big plays in the passing game, including a 77-yard touchdown, Eastern Michigan picked up in the second half of its 63-27 loss.

“That was disappointing,” Petrino said. “It really was. We just busted some coverages, major league.

“Some of it was a couple of inexperienced guys out there. But one was a vet, too.”

Arkansas has shown plenty of growth on defense throughout the 2009 season, but one area still haunting the Hogs has been the big plays.

The Eagles were the latest to capitalize on a blunder in Arkansas’ secondary last weekend. EMU’s score was the 11th of 40 yards or more against the Razorbacks this season. Even more, Arkansas has allowed a touchdown of 40 yards or more in seven of eight games.

It’s an obvious area of concern as the Razorbacks gear up for the final month ofthe season, which begins with Saturday’s game against South Carolina.

“It’s extremely frustrating,” Arkansas safety Matt Harris said. “Play-in, play-out we compete against anyone in the country. But then that one play happens, and it’s kind of the backbreaker and it sets the tone for the rest of the game.”

Cornerback Ramon Broadway, who missed last week’s game with a hamstring injury, said the big plays are the resultof busted coverages or blown assignments.

“It hasn’t been no team that came across us this year that beat us straight up,” Broadway said. “Every touchdown that we have given up like that, it has been because it’s a blown error, it’s a busted assignment.”

Either way, the impact has been obvious. Especially in Arkansas’ past losses. Two recent examples:

! Arkansas was in control at top-ranked Florida until Tim Tebow connected with Deonte Thompson for a 77-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter. It gave Florida its first lead - 13-10 - in its eventual win.

! A week later, Ole Miss’ Dexter McCluster slammed the door on Arkansas’ hopes by taking a screen pass and sprinting 64 yards for a touchdown. It boosted the Rebels’ lead to two touchdowns in its 30-17 win.

“That’s very frustrating as a defense,” Arkansas safety Elton Ford said. “We try to strive on not giving up the big play. That can hurt us in the long run, hurt us in big-time games. we don’t need to give up the big play. We need to keep working on that.”

Petrino dissected the problem in the Eastern Michigan game Monday. The Razorbacks, keying on the Eagles’ rushing attack, were fooled on play-action passes.

It’s not the first time it has happened this year.

“They’re working the clock down to one second, playing North Carolina basketball, and snapping the ball with one second left, running the ball,” Petrino said.

Sports, Pages 12 on 11/06/2009

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