LITTLE ROCK — Tyler Wilson has some simple advice for Arkansas quarterback Austin Allen: Study up.
Allen and the Hogs have the task of preparing for No. 1 Alabama and the vaunted Crimson Tide defense and mastermind Nick Saban this week. Saban has beaten Arkansas 11 straight times, including nine straight at Alabama.
Wilson was on the field or the sideline for five of those losses. He started the last time Arkansas and Alabama met as ranked teams in 2011 - a 38-14 Crimson Tide win.
“They are going to be real complex defensively,” Wilson said. “You are going to have to have your head in the game in terms of what they are trying to do on a down-to-down basis. The preparation has to be on a different scale this week knowing what Saban is trying to do. He has to be prepared because [Alabama] is going to be very complex.”
Wilson said the Razorbacks can't overcomplicate things and need to focus on what they do well.
“You can’t be overwhelmed by what [Alabama] is doing every play or you’ll be lost,” Wilson said. "You have to establish a good run game, and I think [Arkansas offensive coordinator Dan Enos] will do that. Offensive line-wise they will figure that out.”
Wilson was at the Little Rock Touchdown Club on Monday with former teammate Casey Dick, who was starting quarterback when Alabama began its nine-game win streak against the Razorbacks in 2007.
“To beat Alabama, you have to do three things,” said Dick, who is the offensive coordinator at Bentonville West High School. “You have to score and be efficient in the red zone, you can’t turn the ball over and you can’t let them have big plays on special teams.”
After playing behind Ryan Mallett, Wilson became the starter in 2011, and led the SEC in passing. However, he had to prepare for the SEC opener at Alabama after just three starts. Despite not recording any sacks, the Crimson Tide defensive front had pressure on Wilson the entire game and hit him hard on several dropbacks.
It was a similar display of toughness that Allen showed two weeks ago against Texas A&M in his first SEC start.
“The player Austin reminds me of most is [Wilson],” Dick said. “[Allen] is a spitting image of him. I tell people that all the time. [Allen] reminds me of [Wilson] so much. The qualities that each of them have. They are soft-spoken but lead by example. They will both stare down the barrel of a gun and take a hit and throw the ball.”
Allen has now started five games, and is the first Arkansas quarterback to throw multiple touchdowns in his first five games and has thrown 121 straight passes without an interception.
“I love [Allen’s] personality,” Wilson said. “You can tell a lot about the personality in a quarterback just based how he walks on and off the football field. I think most people’s perception of quarterback play is how they handle themselves on the field. Austin carries himself with confidence. Whether it is taking hits and standing tough in the pocket or if it is coming to the sideline and raising your voice and taking charge and having that type ‘A’ personality, I think Austin’s got that.”
Allen may be ahead of the curve playing in just one system and playing behind his big brother, Brandon, not only at Arkansas but at neighboring Fayetteville High School. It is apparent, that he has watched intently, and so far is adjusting.
“A lot of it is ‘Big Brother’ mentality,” Wilson said. “I had two of them. I had Casey for a year and [Ryan Mallett] for a year and a half. Austin has had that his whole life, especially the past three years with Brandon here. He is as mature and ready as he can be, and I wish the best for him Saturday.”
Wilson said Allen’s knack for engineering the big play is crucial.
“[Arkansas] has had some trouble in the red zone, so I think the key to the game are the chunk plays,” Wilson says. “Arkansas is going to need two or three chunk plays in this game, so you aren’t banging your head away at the goal line trying to win the football game because Alabama outweighs you.”
Wilson and Dick have won a lot of football games as starters. They agree that Allen has the ability to snap the streak against 'Bama and lead the Hogs to a better season than some predicted.
“There is nobody else in the organization that could do that better than Austin Allen,” Wilson said. “He has shown, no doubt, that he is head and shoulders from that personality standpoint and being the guy. If anybody is going to do it, it is him.”