FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ defense has been battered the past two weeks by two of the best offenses in the country.
Alabama, which is averaging a nation-best 53.6 points and 567 yards total offense per game, put up 65 points and 639 yards of total offense on the Razorbacks.
Ole Miss, which is sixth nationally with 550.9 yards per game and 22nd nationally in scoring at 35.8, recorded 611 total yards while rallying past Arkansas 37-33 last Saturday in Little Rock.
“We just have to shake back,” Arkansas sophomore safety Kamren Curl said after Tuesday’s practice. “We can’t go back to the game. We can’t dwell on it too much. We just have to get ready for Tulsa, really.”
When Arkansas (1-6) hosts Tulsa (1-5) at 11 a.m. in Fayetteville this Saturday, the Razorbacks won’t see the firepower of its previous two opponents, but the Golden Hurricane do have some playmakers of their own.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Seth Boomer (6-3, 205 pounds) has been the starter in the last two games and proven to be a dual threat while sophomore tailbacks Shamari Brooks (5-9, 193) and Corey Taylor (5-10, 208) have combined for 886 yards rushing.
“They are a pretty good team,” Curl said. “They are a spread out team, the quarterback’s good, they’ve got a new guy in there that’s pretty good and the running backs are good.”
Boomer, junior Chad President (6-3, 226), Luke Skipper (6-2, 211) have been splitting time at quarterback for Tulsa. Skipper started the first four games, but has been injured the past two games.
“All of them are mobile quarterbacks and another thing we look out for is just doing your job because they’ve got mobile quarterbacks,” Curl said.
Arkansas junior linebacker De’Jon “Scoota” Harris - who leads the SEC and 15th nationally in tackles with 77 - knows Tulsa looks better on tape than its record suggests.
The Golden Hurricane have lost close games at Texas (28-21) and at home last week against No. 23 South Florida, which rallied to win 25-24 on a late field goal.
“Yeah, and I even looked on their schedule and a lot of the games they lost were close games, probably within 10 points," Harris said. "So they’re a pretty good team over there despite their record."
Harris did not think the entire defensive unit was locked in last week when Arkansas gave up three touchdowns in the second half.
“Like I said last week, probably a couple of guys not locked into the moment,” Harris said of the problems against Ole Miss. “When you’re not locked in to big moments you know mental errors hurt everybody.”
Arkansas may be without senior Ryan Pulley - its top cover corner - in the first half on Saturday after his ejection in the final 30 seconds against Ole Miss.
While he was not suspended by the SEC, Pulley may be suspended by Arkansas coach Chad Morris.
Montaric “Buster” Brown would start in Pulley’s place if needed, opposite fellow redshirt freshman Jarques McClellion, who has been getting reps at both cornerback spots this week.
“Yes, they have been splitting,” Curl said. “They just want to get Buster in there a little bit more so he gets a little more experienced."
Curl believes the mistakes Arkansas has been making are all correctable.
“It was missed assignments,” Curl said. “Stuff you can correct. Like I said, the little stuff that we can correct.”
Curl does not think it is a matter of the Razorbacks getting tired.
“We go hard at practice so it’s like in the game, you are ready for that,” Curl said. “Because we go hard in practice. They coach us hard.”
Arkansas defensive coordinator John Chavis said Monday that he thought he was playing linebackers Harris and Dre Greenlaw too much.
But Harris insists his offseason has prepared for that while working with a nutritionist and strength and conditioning coach Trumain Carroll.
“The offseason, I took a big step into my diet and got with the nutritionist…and Coach (Trumain Carroll, the Razorbacks' strength and conditioning coach) and them came in and did a really good job with us,” Harris said. “Just giving us some smart detail things to keep our bodies up. So throughout the week we’re doing all the things just to stay fresh.”
Curl insists that Arkansas’ defensive secondary still has confidence.
“Our confidence is never going to be shaken,” Curl said. “We know we go out every practice and every game like we’re the best because we know we can play with the best. Our confidence is never going to be shaken.”