Arkansas tougher to run on

FAYETTEVILLE -- It was just more than one month ago when Arkansas served emphatic notice that it was no longer easy to run against.

Arkansas lost to then seventh-ranked Alabama 14-13 on Oct. 11, but the Hogs showed the Tide and the rest of the SEC they were a much different unit under first-year defensive coordinator Robb Smith.

Alabama found out the hard way.

The Crimson Tide, with much the same offensive line and returning tailbacks T.J. Yeldon and Derrick Henry, strutted into the game ranked 21st nationally with an average of 240 yards per game.

The same Alabama team that rushed 352 yards and 9.5-yard average in a 52-0 victory last season was held to 66 yards on 32 carries on a cold, rainy night at Razorback Stadium.

Arkansas, which has moved up from No. 110 after its season-opening loss to Auburn to No. 36, faces another tough test against LSU, which boasts one of the top running offenses.

The Razorbacks are allowing 136.8 rushing yards per game under Smith, an improvement of 42 yards per game over last year's 78th-ranked run defense.

"From Day 1, he came in with the attitude we're going to stop the run no matter what we do.," defensive end Trey Flowers said. "We're not going to get beat up.

"He said he can handle getting beat, but not getting beat up. That's just been the mentality of us being a physical defense."

The Razorbacks have come a long way since yielding 302 yards in their season-opening loss at Auburn. Arkansas has held every opponent to fewer rushing yards than their season average. The Razorbacks held three opponents -- Northern Illinois, Alabama and Mississippi State -- to more than 125 yards below their season average.

"It's just all 11 guys knowing what they're doing," senior safety Alan Turner said.

Smith boiled the improvement down to three areas: Taking pride in the schemes, tackling better and playing with great effort.

"We have limited yards after contact," Smith said. "We talk about getting 11 guys to the football. Our Smart Swarm has been a big part of it as well. The more guys you get to the football the more shots you have a chance at getting the ballcarrier on the ground and that has helped us from that standpoint."

Having more veterans who understand and execute their gap-control schemes has been crucial in Arkansas' improvement.

"Our run defense has improved a whole lot because everybody knows their keys and knows what we have to do," said defensive tackle Darius Philon.

Linebackers coach Randy Shannon pointed to improvement in one fundamental area.

"We're tackling a lot better," he said.

Linebackers like Martrell Spaight and Brooks Ellis have benefited from the physical play of Flowers and Philon, who have cleared the way for Spaight and Ellis and by carrying out their assignments.

Spaight ranks second in the SEC with 87 tackles.

"Coach Smith and the other coaches have brought in a great scheme and this summer we really focused hard on learning the scheme inside and out," said Spaight, one of the most improved defenders in the SEC.

Ellis was second in tackles before missing two games with a knee injury.

"Yes, yes, we're definitely more rugged," Ellis said. "That's how you stop the run: Physical toughness and mental toughness."

The Hogs will have to bring their hard hats against the Tigers, who are led by blue-chip freshman Leonard Fournette's 736 yards and 7 touchdowns. Terrence Magee, who scored two touchdowns on the Razorbacks last season, has 447 yards and 3 touchdowns, and Kenny Hilliard, who is questionable after injuring a shoulder last week, has 431 yards and 6 touchdowns.

The Tigers rank 27th with 221.4 rushing yards per game.

LSU Coach Les Miles knows his offense will have to execute at a high level for its run game to be productive against the Hogs.

"I think this is a run defense that is very capable, with quality tacklers and an athletic, big strong capable defensive line," Miles said.

Sports on 11/14/2014