Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

New and notes from Wednesday’s Arkansas football media availability …

I. Stop The Run
Arkansas has added defensive depth and playmakers on the interior defensive line the last two seasons. There’s been added emphasis on rotating bodies and keeping players fresh.

Fall camp — and small doses in games so far — included work on a five-man front the team calls its “Eagle” package.

It’s safe to say much of that has been geared for beating Alabama. Historically, the Crimson Tide have pounded opponents with their running game, then hit teams with big-play action plays. Keeping the run damage to a minimum has been a focal point for Arkansas coaches.

“This is where our size, our physical-ness, our ability to rotate guys in there and stay fresh has to help us,” Coach Bobby Petrino said. “... We’ve got to make plays, make stops in the fourth quarter on defense, stop their run and force them to throw the ball.”

Big, fast bodies on the interior should help eliminate plays like a 52-yard Trent Richardson run in 2009 or Mark Ingram’s 54-yard run in 2010. Richardson broke at least four tackles on his way to the end zone.

Defensive lineman D.D. Jones knows the challenge ahead. He’s aware of Alabama’s traditional strength in the running game and the fact the Crimson Tide had four runs of 40 or more yards last week in a 41-0 victory against North Texas.

“The challenge is up to us and how we come out and handle it,” Jones said. “We’re putting the weight on our shoulders, man, to go out and perform and help our team get the win.”

II. Bequette Update
Neither Bobby Petrino nor Willy Robinson would get specific on the status of defensive end Jake Bequette. Arkansas was without the senior last week against Troy as he recovered from a hamstring injury.

Bequette’s availability for Saturday’s game is still a mystery.

“We still don’t know that,” Petrino said. “He keeps getting better, though. He’s working hard and getting better every day.”

Bequette has four tackles and a sack this season.

III. Third Down And…
Third down has not been kind to the Razorbacks against Alabama. Bobby Petrino’s teams are 9 of 41 on third down in three meetings with the Crimson Tide. Not coincidentally, Arkansas has averaged just 13.6 points and 328 yards per game against Alabama. 

Getting better on third down is a focus, but it’s those plays early in a possession that are most crucial against Alabama. Keeping second and third down distance manageable is a must to move the football against a Nick Saban-coached team, Petrino said.

“We’ve got to be able to get to second-and-medium and second-and-short and be patient enough and keep moving forward,” Petrino said. “... Alabama’s always done such a great job of creating negative plays and putting you behind the sticks. Then they’re going to tee off with their third down package.”

Speaking Out
“He’s a big-time football player. Not to take anything away from Ingram, Ingram was a great football player, but we had such great admiration over the last two years for Richardson that we sometimes wondered if he wasn't really the better back. We feel like Richardson now, he's the bell cow for their team.”
— Arkansas defensive Coordinator Willy Robinson on Alabama tailback Trent Richardson, who is averaging 105 yards per game.