Razorbacks Report

UA must help out QB more

Arkansas quarterback Brandon Allen scrambles during a game against Alabama on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014 at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Quarterback Brandon Allen was on the ground 11 times during last Saturday's game against Georgia, a situation Arkansas must remedy with better pass protection and a stronger run game, players and coaches said.

Rattled by the Georgia pass rush and three second-quarter turnovers, the Razorbacks gave up three sacks and were outscored 31-0 in the second quarter in a 45-32 loss in Little Rock.

Tailback Jonathan Williams managed 108 rushing yards against Georgia, but the Hogs posted only 126 on the ground, far below their season average of 279 yards per game.

"He averaged 6.6 yards a carry and did a nice job running the ball," offensive line coach Sam Pittman noted. "But at the same time, if we are supposed to throw the football we can't let our quarterback get crushed back there and that's what we did."

Senior tackle Brey Cook said communication was an issue in pass protection.

"We could have come out there and did a lot better than we did," Cook said.

"You've got to give a lot of credit to some defenses, good schemes and good players," Allen said. "It's tough. I think the biggest thing is we weren't nearly as physical these past two games as we have been, and that's what we're working on this week."

Junior guard Sebastian Tretola said it's obvious something is missing on offense.

"We came out and we dominated people for the first five games and just beat them up left and right all four quarters," Tretola said. "It didn't matter what the play was. The last two weeks ... we've lacked in that department."

Tretola said keeping Allen clean in the pocket is imperative.

"That genuinely makes me angry when he gets hit," Tretola said. "That's like my little brother or my mom or somebody getting hit. That is our precious jewel, and he doesn't need to be touched."

Injury update

Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said linebacker Brooks Ellis has a "very, very good chance" of playing Saturday against Alabama-Birmingham.

"But his chances of being back with us the week after that are excellent," Bielema said Wednesday on the SEC coaches teleconference. "He should be ahead of schedule regardless of when that happens."

Bielema said Ellis ran without a knee brace Tuesday and was scheduled to simulate linebacker movements Wednesday in noncontact work.

Nice job

Sophomore Josh Williams posted 14 tackles against Georgia in his first start at middle linebacker and drew praise from linebackers coach Randy Shannon, who said Williams made all the defensive calls in the game.

"Josh chased the ball very, very hard," Shannon said. "Made a lot of plays, ran some plays down from behind, showed his speed and his burst. ... I'm excited about his progress."

Marshall plan

Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said Wednesday that running back Korliss Marshall's suspension is "in accordance with university policies that were set before I got here."

Marshall sat out last Saturday's game against Georgia and will be out three to four weeks, Bielema said.

"Korliss was very well aware of the situation he was involved in and unfortunately made some bad decisions," he said. "Our university structure is set up in a way that when these things happen, there's a protocol we have to go through, and that's what he's going through."

Bielema said Marshall is not practicing with the team but has made a "strong resurgence" academically.

"Like I told Korliss, this is a small chapter in the book of your life," Bielema said. "Let's make the ending something to be positive."

Second chance

Bret Bielema said senior Sam Irwin-Hill has responded after he reopened the punter's job for the second consecutive week.

Irwin-Hill averaged 33 yards on three punts against Georgia, prompting Bielema to say Toby Baker would punt against Alabama-Birmingham unless Irwin-Hill bounced back.

Bielema said Irwin-Hill punted five times Tuesday with a hang time of 5 seconds or better and a distance of 45 yards or more on each try.

"I think the message got across," Bielema said. "Now he needs to carry it into the game this Saturday, and hopefully we'll hit a happy spot."

Push back

Receiver Demetrius Wilson picked up an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in the third quarter against Georgia that could have proved costly.

"I just got frustrated from the calls ... and just a stupid penalty," Wilson said. "I was kind of getting hit in the helmet a lot. I pushed him at the end."

The penalty, which came after a third-down conversion run by Jonathan Williams, moved Arkansas from the Georgia 30 to the 45. A personal foul against Georgia one play later got Arkansas back to the 24, and Keon Hatcher caught an 8-yard slant pass touchdown four plays later.

13-0

Arkansas, which hosts Alabama-Birmingham for homecoming Saturday, has not lost a nonconference game in October since joining the SEC in 1992.

The Razorbacks are 13-0 in nonconference games in October in that span. This will mark Arkansas' first meeting with the Blazers.

Hogs nominated

Former Arkansas offensive lineman Brandon Burlsworth and former coach Danny Ford were among the 75 players and six coaches named to the 2015 ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame on Wednesday.

Burlsworth, a Harrison native, walked on at Arkansas and developed into a four-year letter winner and first-team All-American in 1998. The All-SEC choice was a fourth-round NFL Draft pick by the Indianapolis Colts but died in a car wreck. His No. 77 jersey is one of two retired by Arkansas and his name graces the Burlsworth Trophy, which is given each year to the best college player who began his career as a walk-on.

Ford led Clemson to the NCAA championship in 1981 and guided Arkansas to its first SEC Championship Game appearance in 1995. Ford's career coaching record is 121-60-5 with 9 bowl appearances in 17 seasons. He was 26-30-1 at Arkansas in 1993-1997.

Sports on 10/23/2014