Arkansas Razorbacks Continue To Map Plan for Alabama

FAYETTEVILLE - With a couple of extra days of preparation in its pockets, the Arkansas Razorbacks football team was back on the practice field on Tuesday evening continuing to prepare for its Saturday afternoon clash with the ninth-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

The Razorbacks were able to begin instituting their game plan last Thursday afternoon after learning that their game with Texas was postponed due to Hurricane Ike and the extra days of practice and film should give Arkansas a better understanding of what the Crimson Tide does defensively.

"(The extra days of practice) hopefully lets us understand what they do," Arkansas offensive coordinator Paul Petrino said.  "They do a lot on defense so I think that the extra days of practice will really help us.  If we can understand what they are doing maybe that can help us get some big plays when they bring the pressure."

One of the things that the Razorbacks can expect is a heavy blitz from the Crimson Tide and a strong defense against the run.  Alabama is one of the top teams in the nation against the run and while it usually starts with the front seven, the Crimson Tide gives Arkansas a different look.

"You really have to go against all 11 because they blitz," Petrino said. "They like to bring a bunch of different pressures.  They aren't going to line up in a base look very often.  They bring the safeties down and have them help on the run a lot and do a lot of different movement.  Really, it comes down to understanding what they are doing and why they are doing it and taking advantage of what they are doing."

"They definitely have down and distance groups that like to come out and blitz a lot," Petrino continued.  "They try to confuse you at times and bring different blitzes.  That is something that we need to see and understand and get to the right play that we want to run."