FAYETTEVILLE -- Playing keep-away on offense has always been a key principle in Bret Bielema's philosophy.
So far Arkansas has been markedly better at controlling the ball and the clock in its second year under Bielema and offensive coordinator Jim Chaney, but the Razorbacks might have to be near their best at it Saturday to hang in with high-scoring No. 6 Texas A&M in Arlington, Texas.
Holding on
Arkansas is No. 12 nationally with a third-down conversion rate of 53.5 percent and has a +2 turnover margin through four games, which has helped the Razorbacks control the ball and limit opposing offenses. A look at the Razorbacks’ game-by-game statistics in third-down conversions, time of possession (TOP), and turnover margin.
Opponent;3rd down (Pct.);TOP.;Turn. Marg.;Score
@Auburn;2-10 (.200);-5:26;0;21-45
Nicholls St.;3-6 (.500);-8:20;0;73-7
@Texas Tech;8-12 (.667);+21:18;+1;49-28
N. Illinois;10-14 (.714);+9:16;+1;52-14
The past two weeks have been a ball-hogging paradise for the Razorbacks.
Arkansas defeated up-tempo Texas Tech by more than doubling the Red Raiders in time of possession in a 49-28 road victory, then slowed Northern Illinois' spread attack by sustaining long drives and scoring touchdowns at the end of nearly all of them in a 52-14 rout in Fayetteville.
"They have two great running backs and the biggest offensive line in the country and they want to impose their will," Texas A&M Coach Kevin Sumlin said. "That's their philosophy, and they are excellent at it."
The Razorbacks had the same philosophy last year but weren't as successful because of various reasons, including the health of quarterback Brandon Allen, whose running was tamped down because of his ailing right shoulder, and the newness of the schemes.
Allen's knack for scrambling for positive yardage and improvements in third-down success and turnover margin have led to more success this season.
"It's all about staying on the field, keeping drives alive and keeping the ball in our hands, keeping our defense on the sidelines and resting them," said Allen, who has two touchdown runs and four other scrambled that have produced first downs.
"As a defensive coordinator, if you have a guy back there that you know is never going to leave the pocket, you have a whole different game plan for what you can do to attack him," Bielema said. "That's basically what was happening a little bit last year. It was mainly due to injury that we couldn't put him in that spot."
A stronger offensive front, a more mature stable of running backs, a more effective passing game and Allen's decision making have all played into Chaney's offense.
The Razorbacks are No. 12 nationally with a 53.5 percent conversion rate of third down. They are No. 43 with a plus-0.5 turnover margin, a big step up from No. 111 (minus-0.75 per game) last year. They are also No. 28 in average time of possession (32:06) despite losing that category by more than 8 minutes in a stat-skewing 73-7 victory over FCS member Nicholls State.
The third-down efficiency has been huge and has led to some marathon touchdown drives.
"That's what I'm proud of right now," Chaney said. "We're getting in the red area and we're scoring touchdowns, and on third down we're able to stay on the field."
Running backs coach Joel Thomas said getting into comfortable situations on second down, rather than facing second and long, has made a big difference.
"Obviously when [Allen] was injured that was a tough down to be in, and third and long as well," Thomas said. "We're in year two of a scheme and a philosophy and everyone is a little more comfortable with each other's idiosyncrasies as well."
The Razorbacks converted 10 of 14 third-down plays against Northern Illinois, including receptions of 6 yards by Cody Hollister, 9 yards by Hunter Henry, 8 yards by AJ Derby, 16 yards by Hollister, 14 yards by Keon Hatcher and 16 yards by Jeremy Sprinkle.
"For us to have those opportunities last week and for our kids to make those plays, that was very gratifying to see," receivers coach Michael Smith said.
Sumlin said Allen's efficiency has been one of the biggest factors he has noticed in the Razorbacks' offensive improvement.
"I think he's been extremely efficient throwing the football," Sumlin said. "When people have tried to load up and put the ninth, 10th and sometimes ... the 11th guy involved at the line of scrimmage, I think Brandon Allen has been extremely accurate, has hit the deep ball."
Allen ranks 18th in the country in pass efficiency, a statistic which incorporates yards per pass along with rates of touchdown passes and interceptions.
The Razorbacks were 8 of 12 on third downs, 2 of 2 on fourth downs and held the ball for 40:39 compared to Texas Tech's 19:21 two weeks ago.
The key to the ball-hogging style, offensive line coach Sam Pittman said, is to score touchdowns at the end of drives. The Razorbacks have done that with great efficiency the past three weeks after running into ball-control problems in the second half of a 45-21 loss at No. 6 Auburn in the season opener.
Arkansas has scored touchdowns on 16 of 20 drives inside their opponents' 20-yard line, an 80 percent rate that is tied for 11th in the country. The Razorbacks have two field goals in the red zone and have been rebuffed only twice -- once on Austin Allen's interception from the 4 against Nicholls State and the other on Alex Collins' muffed-pitch turnover from the 11 at Texas Tech.
"You get down there and you get 7 instead of 3, it's a big deal," Pittman said. "Any time anybody does well in the red zone, they're able to run the ball. We've been able to do that except for that one time last week against Northern Illinois."
Sports on 09/25/2014