Turnover margin, victories slip away

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas' emphasis on ball security was paying dividends early this season.

The Razorbacks averaged 1 turnover per game through 5 games, losing 3 fumbles -- including 1 on special teams -- and throwing 2 interceptions.

The numbers haven't been nearly as good the past two weeks.

Arkansas committed seven turnovers against Alabama and Georgia, two more than it did in the first five weeks combined, while picking up two fumble recoveries -- both on special teams errors --against Alabama.

Subsequently, Arkansas has gone from a tie for 49th in turnover margin to a tie for 93rd.

"You look at the games where we haven't been so fortunate to win and it's all about ball security," offensive coordinator Jim Chaney said. "We've had issues in all those games."

Three of Arkansas' turnovers against Georgia came during a second-quarter meltdown, with two leading directly to Georgia scores and the third wiping away potential Arkansas points from the Bulldogs' 20.

"That's 17 points in a quarter that you can't spot," Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said.

The Razorbacks' only takeaways since the Texas A&M game came on botched punt returns by Alabama on which special team players Kody Walker and Alan D'Appollonio made recoveries.

"You have to get takeaways to change the momentum of the game, the field position in some way, form or fashion," linebackers coach Randy Shannon said. "We're concentrating on that heavily this week."

Defensive coordinator Robb Smith's ball-disruption directive paid off earlier in the season, but picking up takeaways from SEC heavyweights Alabama and Georgia hasn't come easy.

"There's no question, that's how you win football games," Smith said. "Take great care of the football, then you take it away. We've got to live up to our end of the bargain."

The most enduring images from Arkansas' recent losses have come on turnover plays:

• Walker's 6-yard catch, run and fumble at the Alabama goal line early in the game.

• Two Alex Collins fumbles deep in Arkansas territory that led to touchdowns for Alabama and Georgia.

• A sack, strip and score against quarterback Brandon Allen on a play that started at the Georgia 34 but turned into a Bulldogs touchdown.

"You've always got to give a little credit to the defenses, but part of it's on us," Allen said. "Or a lot of it's on us. Just silly mistakes, like hanging on to the ball or me making bad throws."

Two more frustrations from the 14-13 loss to Alabama were potential interceptions in the hands and chest of Arkansas defensive backs Tevin Mitchel and Alan Turner that fell to the turf.

"Those are real important because ... it gives our offense another chance to go down the field and score, so it's a big emphasis for us," Turner said.

Alabama cashed in a Collins fumble for a 23-yard touchdown drive, scoring two plays after Turner's dropped interception at the goal line.

Georgia's takeaways turned into 21 points.

Arkansas hasn't converted a takeaway into points since Darius Philon's 14-yard scoop-and-score on a fumble forced by Trey Flowers in the first half of a 52-14 victory over Northern Illinois on Sept. 20.

Arkansas is tied for 54th with five recovered fumbles. Only 17 teams have fewer than the Razorbacks' four interceptions, and their nine turnovers gained is tied for 87th in the country.

"I think last week, if we could have come away with at least one turnover, I think it would have changed the game," said cornerback Carroll Washington, whose interception of Texas A&M's Kenny Hill on Sept. 27 is Arkansas' last interception. "In the second quarter, that's when they switched the momentum and they just got away with it. To get a turnover, that's a big momentum swing."

Sports on 10/24/2014