Jim Harris: Arkansas Isn't Ready for the Big Stage Yet, as 'Bama Proves

For two weeks in a row, perennial Southeastern Conference power programs have met Arkansas' fight head on, walloped back and whipped the Razorbacks.

Arkansas now has some young, exciting offensive weapons and the type of play-calling that seems to give the Hogs a competitive chance, even against the big boys. But just as they looked in the fourth quarter at Fayetteville in last week's 52-41 loss to Georgia, the Razorbacks didn't appear grown-up enough for this stage.

The Hogs' receivers hadn't dropped passes in August scrimmages or in two games, but they could not hold on to two handfuls of throws Saturday in Tuscaloosa, Ala. against No. 3-ranked Alabama. Sophomore quarterback Ryan Mallett wasn't as rattled by the big stage of the game or the 92,000 fans in the stadium, but rather the prowess and speed of the Alabama defense, and he was unable at times to keep his feet set, leading to misses as well. The Hogs running game, slightly more effective than last week against Georgia's talent, was nonetheless not a major factor.

Bobby Petrino, with his team lucky to be down just 14-0 at halftime, told CBS' Tracy Wolfson as much, that the Hogs receivers had to catch the ball better and run their routes better, and Mallett had to stay steady in the pocket and expect that he might get hit.

And Petrino obviously got his message across at the break, as the Razorbacks finally struck with a nice mix of running and passing, culminating with Mallett's 18-yard lob to Greg Childs for the touchdown early in the second half.

Who knew that would be the last time the Razorbacks would get points? It was probably a surer bet, though, after what we saw last week against Georgia, that Alabama would answer, and it happened in just one play when a little bit of Alabama luck and an Arkansas defensive back's misplay of a long pass resulted in an 76-yard score -- just like that.

Gene McIlroy's pass was not perfectly thrown. The receiver, Marquis Maze, had to turn back for it. It nearly went through Maze's hands, just as another had in the first quarter. But when junior college transfer cornerback Rudell Crim looked back to where he thought the ball should be, it was really behind his head. Then he fell down. Then Alabama was up 21-7.

As Verne Lundquist and his analyst, Gary Danielson, summed up the 35-7 Alabama win in the final moments, Danielson figured that quick turnaround, that big-play score after Arkansas had finally broken through, convinced these overmatched Hogs that they weren't going to win.

Danielson thought Arkansas was fortunate to only be down two scores at the half: the touchdowns coming on two big plays by the Tide. On the first, the Hogs' run defense had its first and only real breakdown of the day, missing two tackles in the backfield and four total on Trent Richardson's 52-yard run. It yet again, though, exposed the poor tackling we've seen from some of the Hogs' safeties and linebackers.