FAYETTEVILLE — The Arkansas offense knows what's coming at 11 a.m. Saturday: the blitz.
Mississippi State defensive coordinator Todd Grantham blitzed what had been a good protection unit last week when the Bulldogs sacked Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts five times in Starkville. That's against a Crimson Tide offense with two All-America candidates up front.
That prompted a tip of the cap toward Grantham by UA wide receivers coach Michael Smith in Tuesday's interviews.
“He's done very well,” Smith said of Grantham's first year with the Mississippi State defense. “They run some really good things.”
Grantham's blitzes have been from various spots, but some of them can create some one-on-one chances for wide receivers.
“They blitz from the secondary,” Smith said. “They have a lot of length and guys who run to the ball.”
That means quarterbacks and wide receivers must see the blitz at the same time. Smith was asked about potential “hot routes,” when receivers break off their routes to make themselves available to the quarterback early.
“We just have to be on the same page,” Smith said. “We have to expedite our routes. If we execute, we are capable of moving the ball. That's been the story all year. When we've executed, we have moved it.
“It just hasn't been consistent. We have to do a good job on our routes and we also have to block for the running backs to spring them for big plays.”
The blitz can provide big plays. With maximum protections, perhaps that leads to some chances for the deep ball, too.
“We threw a bunch of them the last two weeks, against Coastal Carolina and LSU,” Smith said. “We haven't hit them. It goes back to getting on the same page.”
Smith said that's where practice began Tuesday. Offensive coordinator Dan Enos took the quarterbacks with Smith's wideout group for some extra time on the bomb.
“We have to make some plays,” Smith said. “That's the first thing Dan and I did today, work on the deep ball.
“What I'll also say is that it's not the only thing that we'll do Saturday. We will look at what the defense is doing and take advantage. If they bring a bunch, maybe the screen game is good. If they drop into coverage, the run might be good.”
It will be on quarterback Austin Allen, the lone senior scheduled to start Saturday.
“That was something Dan and I talked about today, that at times Austin is the only senior out there,” Smith said. “The good thing, he's our leader. He didn't play as well as he could Saturday, but you could say that about the whole offense. If you don't get the win, you didn't play well enough. We know that.”
Tight ends coach Barry Lunney mentioned Allen's play in practice. He said it's better every day.
“I will say that we all feel good to have Austin back,” Lunney said. “Cole Kelley did an admirable job, but Austin has been our guy and we missed him. He's been our guy and made a lot of plays the last two years.
“What we all want to do is finish well these last two games. We want to do that for our seniors, like Austin.”
Offensive guard Hjalte Froholdt said that's one of the goals. He is fond of Allen and said the rest of the team is as well.
“What you see about Austin is that he tries to know something about every guy,” Froholdt said. “He's able to bond with his teammates. He works at that.
“We know what kind of play Austin brings to our team. We know he's going to give it everything he can for us.”
The key is just keeping him upright. Yes, the blitz is coming.
“We know they blitz,” Froholdt said. “What you have to do is emphasize your technique and assignments.”
Froholdt also knows State's defense is like every other SEC defense he's seen the last two years. Nose tackle Jeffery Simmons (6-4, 301 pounds) and outside linebacker Montez Sweat (6-6, 240) both are two-time SEC defensive linemen of the week this season.
“It's like everything you see each week, 6-4 or better and 290 to 300 in the defensive line,” Froholdt said. “We know it's what it will be like and it's the same this week. They are big and very good. It's a bunch of big dudes.”
Froholdt has battled through injuries this season, but hasn't missed a game. He sustained an ankle sprain against LSU, but returned after an X-ray. Recalling Frank Ragnow playing the entire Auburn game with a torn ankle ligament drove him to come back.
“They X-rayed it and did some tests,” he said. “You just know that if you don't have anything torn or broken, you can't look at yourself in the mirror knowing that Frank played on a tear. So I was coming back. If I could play, I was going to play.
“Frank is our inspiration. We are going to fight to get back on the field.”
The job isn't just to get back on the field this week. It will be about picking up the blitz.