Below is an analysis of Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson’s seventh career start after a re-watch of the Georgia game:
KJ Jefferson vs. Georgia
At/Behind LOS: 3/3, 21 yards
1-5 yards: 1/2, 5 yards
6-10 yards: 4/5, 39 yards
11-15 yards: 0/1, 0 yards
16+ yards: 0/2, 0 yards
Cumulative Pro Football Focus grade: 78.5 (No. 50 among FBS quarterbacks and No. 7 in SEC)
Rushing: 8 carries, 5 yards, long of 14 yards
Best throw: KJ Jefferson’s final pass of the game was a showcase of one of the things he does really well: throw on the move. Jefferson rolled right on third-and-long and found tight end Blake Kern 7 yards downfield along the Razorbacks’ sideline. It isn’t an easy throw by any stretch, but it looked effortless. Kern turned the catch into an 18-yard gain, the team’s second-longest pass play of the day with Jefferson in charge.
Worst throw: Jefferson’s first throw. The nerves were in full effect and he stared Treylon Burks down on a short 2-yard slant deep in Arkansas territory. Even if Burks had caught the pass there was little chance of the receiver picking up yards after the catch.
Accurate passes: 8
• Completed pass to Burks 3 yards downfield for a gain of 5 yards
• Completed pass to Raheim Sanders 7 yards behind the line of scrimmage for a gain of 22 yards
• Completed pass to Burks 5 yards behind the line of scrimmage for a gain of 2 yards
• Completed pass to Warren Thompson 6 yards downfield for a gain of 6 yards
• Completed pass to AJ Green 6 yards behind the line of scrimmage for a loss of 3 yards
• Completed pass to Thompson 6 yards downfield for a gain of 6 yards
• Completed pass to Tyson Morris 9 yards downfield for a gain of 9 yards
• Completed pass to Kern 7 yards downfield for a gain of 18 yards
Inaccurate passes: 3
• Incomplete pass intended for Burks 17 yards downfield. Pass was wide and into the sideline.
• Incomplete pass intended for Burks 12 yards downfield. Pass was wide and into the sideline.
• Incomplete pass intended for Burks 25 yards downfield. Pass was high, forcing a one-handed catch attempt.
Interceptable passes: 0
• Jefferson has not thrown an interceptable pass since Week 2 against Texas.
Throwaways: 0
First-down throws on third down: 0
First-down runs on third down: 1
• On third-and-6, Jefferson gained 13 yards to the Georgia 25
Passes broken up: 1
• Incomplete pass intended for Burks 2 yards downfield
Drops: 1
• Incomplete pass intended for Kern 7 yards downfield
Analysis: Given Georgia’s defensive success in the opening month of the season, Arkansas likely knew it would be a challenge to gain traction offensively in Sanford Stadium last Saturday. The Bulldogs’ defense is elite and has been the most overwhelming thing in the sport so far this year. The Razorbacks' inability to find the end zone or get on the scoreboard is the latest example of that.
Arkansas passed and rushed for season-low yardage totals in its first loss. In terms of throwing the football, I thought Jefferson did about all he could to give the Razorbacks a chance to sustain drives. But there was little threat of a down-the-field passing game for two reasons. One, Georgia’s defensive line and linebackers crashed the backfield often and applied tremendous pressure. And secondly, when Jefferson did have just enough time to survey the field, the Bulldogs’ secondary largely blanketed his receivers.
A majority of Jefferson’s attempts came within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. He threw only three passes 11-plus yards downfield and each was inaccurate and fell incomplete. Another testament to Georgia’s defense is that the deepest ball Jefferson completed in the game was 9 yards downfield. And outside of a couple of nice catch-and-run moments from Sanders (29 YAC) and Kern (11), the Razorbacks had just 12 yards after the catch on his other six completions.
I charted Jefferson with 8 accurate passes in the game, a higher total than I anticipated prior to watching a second time. And, again, Jefferson did not put the ball in harm’s way, hanging a 0 in the interceptable pass column for a third consecutive game.
Aside from some jitters in the season opener, Jefferson, I believe, has done a great job taking what defenses are giving him through the air and also mixing in a few deep shots, which he’s been solid on through five games. The problem last Saturday was the Bulldogs didn’t give an inch defensively.
Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman said Monday during his weekly press conference that Jefferson is “absolutely 100%” ahead of Saturday’s game at Ole Miss. That is encouraging given the hits he absorbed against a physical defense just a week after injuring his left knee.
The matchup this weekend will be a homecoming of sorts for Jefferson, who grew up near Oxford, Miss., and it’s one he’s sure to be amped up for.
KJ Jefferson’s season passing totals
At/Behind LOS: 16/22, 226 yards, TD
1-5 yards: 13/19, 129 yards, TD, INT
6-10 yards: 10/23, 100 yards, TD, INT
11-15 yards: 3/8, 40 yards, TD
16+ yards: 12/19, 414 yards, 2 TD