FAYETTEVILLE -- Georgia Coach Mark Richt seems to have drawn the same conclusion about Arkansas as many analysts.
"I'd put them in the category of an excellent football team," Richt said at his weekly news conference. "They're very well-coached, very tough, very physical. They're good in the specials, and they're as good as anybody."
Arkansas and the No. 10 Bulldogs play at 3 p.m. Saturday at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
Richt said seeing the Arkansas players on film showed the Razorbacks "had a great offseason" in terms of gaining physical strength and muscle mass.
" They're playing Texas A&M, up I think by 14 in the fourth, and it got away from them," Richt said. "But they also played a great game this past week. You can play great and be a really good team and not always win."
Gurley update
Georgia tailback Todd Gurley's status remains unclear for Saturday's game.
The Bulldogs are preparing as if freshman Nick Chubb will make his second consecutive start, but they continue to give practice reps to Gurley. Gurley was one of the Heisman Trophy front-runners when he was put on indefinite suspension last Thursday as the school examines potential NCAA violations regarding taking money for signed memorabilia.
"We don't have a lot of healthy backs, quite frankly, so he got some reps," Richt said. "As we get closer to the game, I'm not sure how that'll go, but it's kind of more day to day."
Slick ball
Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema expressed his frustration that the Razorbacks could not get a dry football during their second possession of last Saturday's game against Alabama, a five-play series that started at the Alabama 31 and ended with Kody Walker's fumble through the end zone just short of the goal line.
"I think that directly affected [Brandon Allen's] throw to Kody," Bielema said, saying the slick ball caused the pass to wobble over to Walker.
"We couldn't get a new ball in that whole drive," Allen said. "It was raining on it. I don't know what the confusion was with the refs or whatever was going on, but they never subbed in a new ball for us.
"It's not an excuse for a fumble or anything like that, but we couldn't get a dry ball in the game for some reason."
'Rock' debut
Georgia's first appearance in Little Rock on Saturday will leave only one other member of the current SEC lineup that has never played a game in Arkansas' capitol city.
Florida is 9-0 against Arkansas since the Razorbacks joined the SEC but have never played in Little Rock. The Gators won games in Fayetteville in 1996, 2003 and 2008.
Texas A&M last played in Little Rock in 1986 when both programs were in the Southwest Conference. Missouri's lone visit to Little Rock resulted in a 7-6 victory by the Tigers on Sept. 28, 1963.
Runner's world
Arkansas running backs coach Joel Thomas said tailback Alex Collins is ready to move after his worst college game.
Collins missed the first quarter against Alabama as part of a suspension, then rushed for 13 yards and lost a second-quarter fumble that led to Alabama's first touchdown.
"We talked on Sunday and I laid the facts out as far as what the game was about," Thomas said. "It's easy to point out the ball on the ground, but there were other things that weren't good enough for our standards."
Thomas said tailback Korliss Marshall (thigh) was still slowed a little Tuesday, but he expects the sophomore to improve during the week and be in position to contribute Saturday.
Philon fine?
Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said he saw Darius Philon in the weight room Sunday, and the defensive tackle assured him he'd be ready to play against Georgia.
Philon limped off the field on Alabama's final possession after turning his left ankle.
"His mom and dad were there at the game and that kid, I don't know if there's a young man that has grown as much in our program as he has since I've been here, from thinking about quitting one day to ... being where he is today," Bielema said. "The kind of player that he can be in this league is really, really kind of special.
"It was fun to see him play. I wish I could have given him that win."
Derby does it
AJ Derby's 54-yard touchdown catch against Alabama is still a popular topic around the program.
Derby broke a tackle attempt by linebacker Geno Smith at the Alabama 42, and cornerback Eddie Jackson's shot to Derby's left hip at the 35. Derby stayed ahead of Jackson down the right sideline, stiff-armed him at the 18, then dived in for the score from the 3.
"Brandon threw a great ball and I just went down the sideline from there," Derby said. "It was a DB, so I wasn't really sure if he was going to catch me. When I was running I kind of glanced and was like, let's make sure he doesn't [by using the stiff-arm]."
Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said Derby was not going to be denied on the play.
"He's outrunning Alabama DBs," Bielema said. "I mean, he probably made himself a nice little coin package on that play right there."
Only one
The SEC West has a 26-0 record against all teams outside the division, including a 4-0 mark against the SEC East.
ESPN.com reported Tuesday that only one SEC West team would be an underdog in a game outside the division over the rest of the season, and that's Arkansas in Saturday's game against Georgia in Little Rock.
Field position
Alabama punter JK Scott earned the Ray Guy Award last week for good reason.
The freshman averaged 44.2 yards on eight punts, put seven punts inside the Arkansas 20 and helped Alabama hold the Hogs to zero return yards.
The Razorbacks' average starting field position was their own 25 for the game and their own 22 in the second half. Alabama's average drive start was its own 37 in the game and its own 47 in the fourth quarter.
Sports on 10/15/2014