FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas offensive coordinator Jim Chaney said there were a multitude of plays that could have made the difference for the Razorbacks in their 14-13 loss to Alabama on Saturday, but just one overriding theme.
"From my standpoint, I couldn't ever get the run-game established," Chaney said Sunday. "They were doing a heck of a job with that. We couldn't get anything rolling that way, so they kind of made us one-dimensional a little bit."
The Razorbacks were held to a season-low 89 rushing yards, chopping 38 yards off their average, down to 278.7 yards per game, which ranks 10th in the country.
The Razorbacks rushed for 49 yards on 21 first-down snaps, an average of 2.3 yards per carry. Take away Brandon Allen's 14-yard scramble on the first play of the Hogs' second series and they averaged 1.8 yards on their other 20 first-down runs.
"As the game went on, I just never felt comfortable getting behind the run game and that's tough on us when we find ourselves in that position," Chaney said.
"We just had trouble moving some of those guys," Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said Saturday. "We'd get 3 yards, but then we'd have a negative play. Going against good teams, you've got to adjust and adapt."
Arkansas rushed for 84 yards in the first half and 5 in the second half, including 19 yards in losses on four sacks of Brandon Allen.
Chaney said the coaching staff will probably reevaluate its short-yardage setup based on Alabama's stop of Jonathan Williams on a fourth-and-1 run late in the game.
No timeout
Bret Bielema desperately tried to signal timeout just before Alabama took the snap on its go-ahead touchdown 6-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.
Bielema ran about 9 yards onto the field before the snap frantically signaling for a timeout, but he was apparently unseen by the officials. As the play was unfolding, Bielema was halfway between the left hash marks and the printed numerals at the 15.
"I might try a cartwheel next time," Bielema said. "You guys probably don't want to see me attempt that, but very, very frustrating not to get it.
"I felt like I was in the middle of the play, you know. I was like within 20 yards of being in the backfield. I began to slow down because I thought for sure somebody would be able to see me."
Alabama quarterback Blame Sims ran a play-fake, rolled to his right and found unguarded DeAndrew White for a touchdown on the play.
Offsetting fouls
Arkansas tackle Dan Skipper was livid after the officiating crew huddled early in the third quarter and called offsetting personal-foul penalties on him and Alabama defensive lineman A'Shawn Robinson.
The replay showed Robinson giving Skipper a two-handed shove at the neck and helmet as a Brandon Allen pass was released, then Robinson struck again with a left-handed shove under the chin of Skipper, whose intensity is well known around the SEC. Skipper raised his hands in the air in obvious frustration, well away from the officials, after the penalties were announced, nullifying the play.
The Razorbacks were facing a second-and-8 at the Alabama 43, so a personal foul on Robinson would have put the ball at the Crimson Tide 28, possibly in field goal range. Arkansas wound up notching a first down to extend the 49-yard drive to the Alabama 34, but the Razorbacks lost a yard on the next three plays and punted.
Ellis out?
Middle linebacker Brooks Ellis had to come out of the game with a leg injury early in the fourth quarter, three plays before Alabama scored its go-ahead touchdown.
Coach Bret Bielema did not address Ellis' unspecified injury during his post-game remarks, but Ellis was on crutches with his right knee in a brace at the Smith Football Center on Sunday.
Defensive coordinator Robb Smith said Bret Bielema would address the full injury report today.
A little short
Alabama safety Landon Collins' leaping interception with 1:59 remaining might have been a game-saving play. Arkansas running back Jonathan Williams was a step behind him, and Brandon Allen's pass across the field after a long scramble hung up long enough for Collins to gain inside position.
Had the ball gotten over Collins' head, Williams looked to have about 50 yards of open field ahead of him.
"That's what my teammates told me, so I had to make a play," Collins said.
Said Allen, "I was scrambling. I thought Jonathan was past his guy, and I tried to throw it up there and let him make a play, and I didn't get enough on it."
Clock run
Bret Bielema said he got no explanation from the Penn Wagers officiating crew regarding the last minute of the game. The Crimson Tide were penalized for a false start on a third-and-2 with 1:01 remainin, but after the penalty, the game clock was restarted and Alabama was able to run one more play to reach the end of the game.
"I tried to get an answer on that and was unable to do that," Bielema said. "They got off the field pretty quick. Jeff, the boundary official there, said the clock was at 1:01. I wasn't able to follow up with the question. "
7 down
Arkansas has lost its last five games decided by seven points or less, dating back to a 19-15 victory over Tulsa on Nov. 3, 2012.
Bret Bielema's six victories at Arkansas have come by an average margin of 28.8 points per game. The Razorbacks' last five losses, all against SEC West opponents, have come by an average margin of 8.6 points per game, including overtime losses by a touchdown to Mississippi State and Texas A&M.
Sports on 10/13/2014