FAYETTEVILLE — When Arkansas defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads looked back on Saturday’s 38-37 comeback win at Ole Miss, he found a clear point at which his defense started played well.
It was at the 10:51 mark of the second quarter when Ole Miss scored to go ahead 31-7.
The Rebels had amassed 372 of their 566 yards total offense in their first five possessions, but only managed two field goals in their final nine possessions.
“I think it was a constant message about just continuing to play, continue to execute what their assignments were and do their jobs as we like to say,” Rhoads said. “On the sideline, because of that, they never wavered. I really marvel over how the kids responded. There was no friction, no getting after each other, no arguments which is something you would expect in the middle of a losing streak like we were and get down that fast.
“They were coachable, they were positive, they were encouraging each other. That was a huge factor in us being together and coming back playing some awfully good defense after the 10:51 mark of the second quarter.”
The defense “arrived” on the 27th Ole Miss play, Rhoads said.
“Through 26 plays we gave up a boat load of that yardage and 31 of the 37 points,” Rhoads said. “We analyzed why we gave it up. We showed the film and critiqued it as to why we gave it up.
“Then we looked at plays 27 through 59 and talked about how we met our objectives and goals. We showed the film and critiqued it and showed the reasons why. Then you set out to do the mental work cause we just met on Sunday changing those 26 plays.
“Tomorrow we will go back physically making sure we get that accomplished.”
The turnaround came after defensive end McTelvin Agim entered the game following a first-quarter suspension. But Rhoads did not want to make the turnaround that simple.
"I don't think it affected us from a scheme point," he said. "I can't look at any of those plays and say, 'Sosa would have made that play had he been in there.' You can't gauge necessarily the mental effect it has on a football team. I can't tell you exactly what that is.
“I think it's a plus to have your better players on the field. But I think you are right in saying there is no correlation between 21 (plays) without him and when he was back in the remainder of the game.
“But you want to have your best players on the field, anyone that is healthy, for whatever reason. The better players you have on the field the better defense you will play.”
Ole Miss helped Arkansas’ comeback with a pair of turnovers in the second quarter, including a fumble caused by Santos Ramirez (a team-high 10 tackles) and an interception hauled in by safety Josh Liddell.
Rhoads was not surprised that Ole Miss kept throwing the ball.
“Not at all,” Rhoads said. “We actually spent more time in two-minute conversations and preparation than we had in the previous seven games. In our opinion it had a good chance to come down to that.
“There was some things they like to do in a two-minute game that were different than most people how they use the run game as well as the pass game. So with that time left we took the field knowing we were gonna get a two-minute offense and they were gonna continue to gain on the momentum they had thus far in the first half if they could get another score. We had not been great on two-minute situations the best part of the year.”
Trailing 37-28, the Razorbacks scored when Kevin Richardson returned a fumble 22 yards for a touchdown. It was the second fumble for Ole Miss. All three Rebels turnovers resulted in touchdowns.
“There’s always a handful of plays that you can point to, but certainly Santos’ caused fumble and recovered fumble changed the momentum of our fortunes and it changed our energy as a defense,” Rhoads said. “I think it changed the energy of the offense, as well, as they went down and capitalized and scored on it. When we crept back and we knew we were in the game and the next thing you know, we’re down two scores and we were on defense. It probably wasn’t as high hopes at that point for us. To go out there and get that fumble, get that turnover and get that touchdown changed it right back again. We were playing at a higher level."
The better play came from some adjustments and better execution.
“They forced us into some adjustments which occur every game. Every game you have what they have done all year and they tweak to attack you. Certainly we had to adjust after the second play of the game and continuously throughout the half.
“We implemented some more things after halftime. The second play of the game (a 64-yard Ole Miss touchdown run) is the same play they run that Kevin Richardson scoops and scores on. It's the same play they run two plays later for a gain of two or three in their final offensive possession."
Rhoads was pleased with the play of linebacker Randy Ramsey, who had nine tackles. Ramsey was in on two tackles for lost yardage, a quarterback hurry and almost picked off a pass.
He said effort was a key component to Ramsey's performance.
“There was a lot of plays he made he was on the far side of the play that he made just out of shear hustle and determination to get there and finish the play off," Rhoads said.
“Technically, he had his best game. From a statistic standpoint, he had his best game. When that happens and you play hard and approach the game with the right mental aspect that is what happens.”