FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas quarterback Ben Hicks spent a good bit of Saturday's loss to No. 11 Auburn on his backside thanks to a talent-rich Tigers front.
Auburn sacked Hicks three times in its 51-10 victory and hurried him three more times. Marlon Davidson was credited with two sacks and three tackles for loss, spearheading a dominant defensive performance from Gus Malzahn's team.
The Tigers' pass rush was so effective, in fact, Razorbacks offensive coordinator Joe Craddock said Monday that Hicks told him following the game he felt like he had been hit by a car. Starting center Ty Clary was unaware Hicks had shared that note with Craddock, and it didn't sit well with the Fayetteville native.
"I mean, it just makes us feel lousy," Clary said of his quarterback being injured. "I hate it a lot. I hate giving up hits more than anything else. I gave up one in the game, and I was kicking myself for it the whole game."
Hicks was hit on two of his first three pass attempts Saturday and Davidson forced a fumble on his first drop back, recovering the loose ball at the Arkansas 22 and setting up the Tigers' first score. An Auburn defender made contact with the senior at least six times.
And in the third quarter, Hicks began favoring his left shoulder after throwing his first interception of the season. He was taken to the ground by a host of Auburn players on the play.
Hicks walked into the interview room following the loss with ice on the shoulder.
"We have to do better as an O-line," Clary said Tuesday. "We gave up too many hits on the quarterback and it showed. Ben was grabbing his shoulder a little bit. It’s really frustrating as an O-line to see that. We have to pick it up. That’s on us."
Through four SEC games, the Razorbacks have allowed 11 sacks (2.75 per game). Only Mississippi State (13), South Carolina (13) and Texas A&M (16) have given up more in conference play.
Perhaps most troublesome in regards to Arkansas' protection of Hicks and Nick Starkel has been the offensive line's breakdowns in key moments in recent weeks. Hicks was knocked to the AT&T Stadium turf on the Razorbacks' final play against Texas A&M as he targeted tight end Cheyenne O'Grady on fourth down.
Two weeks later, at Kentucky, collapsed pockets in the red zone doomed Arkansas in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Left guard Austin Capps was beaten by his matchup on third down and freshman Ricky Stromberg allowed his assignment to hit Hicks on the ensuing play.
On Monday, Craddock and Morris were asked if offensive line play has been the root of the offense's underwhelming production this season. Neither singled out their starting line and noted it is a combination of things. Craddock also said one of Auburn's sacks of Hicks fell on a tight end.
"I think it’s the whole unit," said Craddock, who following the loss to San Jose State said he didn't have an answer for the group's poor play. "I don’t want to single out just one unit. At times we’ve got to get open quicker. We’ve got to do a better job of blocking at other positions - tight ends, running backs as well as the offensive line.
"I think it’s the whole unit. I don’t think it’s just one unit in particular. We’ve got to do a lot of things in the game to help us get the ball off, so we’ve got to continue to build on those things. Sprinting out, max protection, those are the things you have to do to help everybody be a good unit together. It can’t be just one unit strong to be a good offense."
A pair of Arkansas' regulars were banged up in the loss to the Tigers. Left tackle Colton Jackson left the game with a back injury and left guard Austin Capps exited with a concussion, Morris said. Their positions were filled by Myron Cunningham and Kirby Adcock, respectively, in the second half.
Jackson was present and active at Tuesday's practice while Capps was absent. Craddock said the staff will evaluate "a couple of different guys" at left guard ahead of this weekend's trip to No. 1 Alabama, which ranks third in the SEC with 12 sacks in four league games.
"We’ve got to get better," Morris said of the group. "We’ve got to get more consistent. I know that’s kind of been the theme, but it is. That’s what it is. We want to strive to be a balanced run/pass football team as much as we can. It’s on us to get better."