FAYETTEVILLE — The Monday following Arkansas’ implausible loss to Colorado State in Week 2, defensive coordinator John Chavis was irritable and ready to move on to North Texas.
He prefaced his opening comments with the Mean Green’s gaudy passing numbers through two weeks and his defense’s next test. Monday, his tone was different, almost somber, expressing his disappointment for Arkansas fans and his players.
He then pledged to get back to work. It's what he knows best, he said.
“We're certainly going to put that behind us,” Chavis said of Saturday’s 44-17 loss. “Been here before, done this and the only thing I know to do is get back in the saddle and go again.”
The Razorbacks have plenty to correct after its drubbing over the weekend. Seemingly with ease, North Texas quarterback Mason Fine beat Arkansas’ secondary for chunk plays. The Mean Green had five pass plays that gained at least 27 yards. The defense also allowed a 48-yard pass that would have resulted in another score had North Texas not been flagged for holding.
Arkansas was without a pair of Week 1 starters in cornerback Chevin Calloway, who Chad Morris said was out dealing with personal matters, and Dre Greenlaw, said to be day-to-day heading into Auburn, which complicated matters. Britto Tutt, making his first career start, and Bumper Pool filled those voids, but not completely. North Texas still hit its mark on offense.
Tackling in the open field was a struggle, too. Senior safety Santos Ramirez, in a moment that encapsulated Arkansas’ day, was bowled over by running back Loren Easly on a 24-yard run.
“We gave up seven explosive plays, and that’s seven too many,” Chavis said. “You’ve got to eliminate those explosive plays. But when you’re playing good offenses, sometimes they’re going to make plays. We don’t just give in and say ‘OK, they’re going to make a play.’ We’re going to compete on every play.”
Arkansas’ defense was done no favors in terms of North Texas’ average starting field position. In reviewing the loss, Morris said the Mean Green began drives, on average, from their own 43. Eleven of 20 drives required them to move the ball 60 or less yards to score.
The positives for Chavis’ group — three second-half points allowed, eight pass breakups, nine quarterback hurries — were there, and that has him eager to move forward. No, Arkansas, on either side of the ball, has not played its best football yet — far from it. What will help the defensive side of things, he added, is belief, focus and togetherness.
“You don’t get it done unless you (have) that,” Chavis said. “And certainly, I can guarantee you this: doubt has not creeped into my mind. It never will. It never will. I’m going to work, I’m going to get on the field, I’m going to do my job, we’re going to get the best 11 guys on the field to represent this Arkansas football team, and that’s what we’re about and that’s what we’re going to do.”
Not much is expected of Arkansas this weekend as it travels to top-10 Auburn. Oddsmakers made the Tigers, coming off a home loss to LSU, a sizable betting favorite on Sunday. Quarterback Jarrett Stidham, who totaled 267 yards and two scores in last season’s meeting, and a physical offense are a big reason why. Chavis said Stidham possesses an NFL-caliber arm.
“And it’s a shame that he runs so good, but he does,” Chavis said with a grin. “He can move around, he can make you miss, he can make plays. And you expect to see that in the SEC, you expect to see good quarterbacks.
“He's going to throw it downfield,” he added. “He's going to take his shots. You know that. It's going to happen and that's what you've got to be ready for. And you have to be ready for a host of trick plays as well.”
There’s no doubt in Chavis’ mind about what Auburn will throw his way this weekend. And there’s no doubt he’s going to continue chipping away in practice regardless of the result from days prior.
“We are looking toward the future and the future is today and tomorrow and the next day,” he said. “That's where the future lies. And we've got opportunities to help our football team get better and that's what our focus is. That's what we intend to do.”