Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

News and notes from Wednesday's Arkansas football media availability ...

I. Poor Pass Defense

John L. Smith can pinpoint exactly what has gone wrong with the Arkansas defense so far.

“Our ability to defend the run and the pass,” Smith said during Wednesday’s SEC Coaches Teleconference.

Smith was quick to follow up that he thinks the run defense has been much improved this season. Where he’s alarmed is in the way the Razorbacks, ranked No. 111 In the country in passing yards allowed, have defended the pass.

Arkansas has played well enough up front, Smith said, that teams have to throw the football. It’s there that the Razorbacks run into problems.

“Forcing people to throw the ball, and then not being there to defend it, giving up a big play here, a big play there, has really hurt us,” Smith said. “Again, you can’t allow people just to run the football on you. You’ve got to take away something, and that’s where our defensive front comes in. They’ve been better at that as far as making them have to throw the football. Now it’s a matter of us becoming consistent enough on defending the throws.”

Arkansas allowed 397 yards and five touchdowns through the air in last week’s loss. The Razorbacks have allowed 1,249 passing yards this season, an average of 312.25 per game.

Slowing down opponents through the air is a must. Defensive coordinator Paul Haynes is urging the secondary to play more physically and thinks that could help solve some of the issues.

That doesn’t mean more man coverage. Haynes said he plans to continue to mix man and zone, but even in zone the defensive backs can be physical, he said.

“We still have young guys back there that are learning. You can’t go crazy with it back there,” Haynes said. “I think we have to get better at understanding our zone coverage and challenging receivers a little bit more even in zone.”

II. First Victory
Texas A&M has lost to in three consecutive seasons to the Razorbacks. Stopping that streak would be nice for the Aggies, but they want the victory for a different reason, Coach Kevin Sumlin said.

A victory on Saturday would mean the first conference victory as members of the SEC. A&M lost 20-17 to Florida in the season opener.