WholeHogSports
KNOCK ON WOOD : Alabama tough task for Hogs to tackle
Posted on Thursday, September 18, 2008
URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/nwat/69240/
We thought it would be last week, but thanks to Hurricane Ike and the postponement of the Arkansas-Texas game until Sept. 27, we have had to wait another week to find out just what kind of team the Arkansas Razorbacks are.
Some wrote 2008 off as a three- or four-win season before the Hogs ever reported to camp. After the Razorbacks struggled more than anyone expected against Western Illinois (28-24 ) and Louisiana-Monroe (28-27 ), others moved into that camp.
More than a few believe the Razorbacks will drop their next four games.
No doubt the schedule is intimidating with No. 9 Alabama visiting Saturday, the Hogs meeting No. 7 Texas at Austin on Sept. 27, facing No. 4 Florida in Fayetteville Oct. 4 and then heading to No. 10 Auburn on Oct. 11.
To some the season looks even more bleak. They can’t see how the Hogs will win a football game the rest of the season.
Conversely, there are those residing in a more optimistic camp who believe the Razorbacks are working through the fits and starts that come with the implementation of a new offense and a new defense.
They will point out that the Razorbacks dominated ULM and WIU statistically and argue that silly, and more importantly correctable, mistakes kept the Hogs from posting routs in both games.
Some have even opined that these Razorbacks may be one of those squads that tends to play down or up to its competition. Inexperienced and young football teams sometimes have that frustrating tendency.
But, truth be told, we just don’t know what type of team the Razorbacks can or will be this year. That has to be played out on the field during the next 11 weeks. And as of this moment, Arkansas’ coaching staff and players are conceding nothing.
If the Hogs can correct their mistakes, then they have a chance to improve, but if they do not clean up their act significantly then I certainly understand those who can’t find another win on the schedule.
Even if the Hogs eliminate their careless mistakes this
, may be good against the Crimson Tide. Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino said he would like a better balance between the run and the pass, but I’m not so sure he’ll be able to achieve that against Alabama and stay in the ballgame. Alabama is playing defense like old times, holding opponents to just 47. 2 yards per game, which leads the nation. But throwing the football against the Tide isn’t an easy task either. Bama boasts one of the better secondaries in the SEC and while Casey Dick has shredded opponents thus far, neither Western Illinois nor Louisiana-Monroe deploy the size and speed that Alabama routinely puts on the field. Offensively, the Tide has the type of balance that Petrino would like to achieve with a strong ground game serviced by a committee of running backs and a passing game engineered by a poised and talented quarterback in senior John Parker Wilson. Personally, I don’t think Alabama is ranked high enough at No. 9. There are offenses that are more explosive than Alabama in the Top 10, but there’s very few teams that are as stout as the Tide on defense. For the Razorbacks to have a chance on Saturday, they must play opportunistic football. Every time the Hogs sniff the red zone, they need to cash in. Arkansas can’t afford missed field goals, much less the kicking-game mistakes that surrender field position. If there is an interception in their hands, the Hogs need to come down with it. A ball on the ground needs to end up in Arkansas’ possession. The Ra zorbacks have to make the most of every opportunity instead of wasting them as they have done in their first two games. If Arkansas can do that, then they could have a chance to be in the football game. If not, things could get ugly. Terry J. Wood is the sports editor of the Northwest Arkansas Times.