FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas coach Bret Bielema can’t help but look back on last weekend’s 41-38 win at then-No. 15 TCU, but he also is looking straight ahead at his team’s next opponent.
The No. 24 Razorbacks (2-0) will face Texas State (1-0) this Saturday at 6:40 p.m. in a game that will be televised on the SEC Network’s alternate channel.
“I think first to have a chance last weekend to go to an environment at TCU there to have a crossover game in the Big 12 and play a four quarter game - and then some - was a lot of fun,” Bielema said. “I think our guys grew quite a bit. As a coach you always say you have great growth from Game One to Game Two. Plenty of guys did that, but we still have got to bring along some.”
Texas State had a bye last weekend after opening with a 56-54 triple-overtime road win at Ohio in head coach Everett Withers’ first game at the school.
Withers took over for former coach Dennis Franchione, who retired after going 20-28 at the school with his last team ending up 3-9.
Senior quarterback Tyler Jones (6-2, 197 pounds) completed 40 of 55 passed for a school-record 418 yards and accounted for six touchdowns, including a receiving score. The Bobcats had 546 yards total offense while giving up 630 to Ohio.
“We have a Texas State team that is very much improved from a year ago,” Bielema said. “They had a coaching change. Coach Withers has done a whale of a job everywhere he has been. We are excited about the opportunity. To be back here at home in front of our crowd will be a good thing so we are excited about the weekend.”
Arkansas, which will open SEC play next weekend with Texas A&M in Arlington, Texas, has been using a 3-4 defensive front some this season.
“Defensively, I think you always want to get your best players on the field and that is when that odd front started to develop for us, to get the personnel we want on the field and really kind of figure out what they do best,” Bielema said.
“Obviously anything you can do to confuse the offensive play caller or player personnel is a positive thing....I knew it grew a little bit more in game two than game one and then continue to grow, at least the successful part of it. It wasn’t all perfect, but the things we do well, hopefully we will continue to grow it.”
Bielema mentioned Monday that he would be taking a look at several offensive linemen this week – Jalen Merrick, Brian Wallace and Zach Rogers - in an effort to improve his offensive line’s overall effort.
But he was not certain of a change involving redshirt Colton Jackson at right tackle on Wednesday.
“I didn’t know there was a change at right tackle,” Bielema said. “I am very, very pumped about the way our offensive line has continued to grow from where we were in practice one last spring.
“I think to get to where we are today – we knew Frank (Ragnow) and (Dan Skipper) would play, but Hjalte (Froholdt) had a big jump, Jake Raulerson had a big jump, Colton had a couple of procedure penalties, but did some good things.
“We will continue to look at our personnel, but I brought (offensive line coach) Kurt Anderson in here for a reason. He’s been a great technician and players have really bought into him, but also to what we are trying to get done. I am looking forward to watching that group continue to grow.”
He expressed the same sentiment about redshirt senior wide receiver Keon Hatcher, who has eight catches for 108 yards and a touchdown and has also tossed a successful two-point conversion pass.
Hatcher had 13 catches for 198 yards and two touchdowns in Arkansas’ first two games last season before breaking his foot.
“One of the things, I got back to last year and he was playing as good a football as I have every seen him play and unfortunately broke his foot,” Bielema said. “One of his other best friends, Jonathan Williams, had broke his foot. It was kind of one of those scenarios where nothing seem to go right.
“So it took him while to get back on track and back in the spring he was beginning to show signs of it and unfortunately was a little bit sore in fall camp so we couldn’t utilize him.
“But about five days out, six days out from our opener, we got him back involved in the offense and he really did some good things, played well in our opener and got him involved and last week continued to move forward."
Hatcher caught a touchdown pass at TCU with 1:03 remaining that gave the Razorbacks the chance to tie the game with the two-point conversion.
“He is playing really good football in both of the things we are asking him to do – run routes and catch the football but also in block protection for our running backs and in our run game in which not all of the wide receivers did," Bielema said.
“He has continued to earn more and more respect from his teammates and his team overall, but more importantly when the NFL scouts come in here, they talk about him as well.
“I am very excited about Keon’s future here, but also the years ahead.”