Game Preview: Three Keys to Victory for Arkansas against Texas Tech

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

SEC play has yet to begin for the Arkansas Razorbacks yet the formally ranked No. 18 team in the nation sits at the proverbial crossroads before a non-conference showdown against Texas Tech on Saturday.

Much has been made about the 16-12 Week 2 performance Arkansas (1-1) put up against Toledo, an unranked MAC member. Being in the SEC brings greater scrutiny for failure, especially when playing outside the conference, and rightfully so especially with a program that is supposed to be on the rise. The Razorbacks had several miscues against the Rockets, mainly two touchdowns called back due to penalties and a bad punt snap that resulted in Toledo’s first touchdown of the game, but not all is seemingly lost, at least the team, the coaching staff, the SEC, and Razorback Nation hopes.

If Arkansas can correct a few key issues, all should be right again in 2015 as seen throughout much of the year in 2014. If the Hogs cannot overcome some issues that made the team dangerous last year, not only is a win against Texas Tech going to be a struggle but so will the entire season.

Arkansas must find last year’s Rushing Attack

The Razorbacks may be without 1,100 rusher Jonathan Williams, but that should not stop this team from being special with their ground attack. Dan Enos, the Hogs first-year offensive coordinator, has done wonders with senior quarterback Brandon Allen but a meeting of the minds about the team’s identity had to be had behind closed doors with Enos, offensive line coach Sam Pittman, and head coach Bret Bielema trying to figure out how to get back on track on the ground.

Arkansas still has a talented back in junior Alex Collins. Collins may never fully live up to the 5-star hype generated coming out of high school, but he has rushed for over 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons meaning he must be doing somethings right or just well enough. The big question with Collins is, can he be a true feature back in the SEC able to rush for 1,500 yards or more showing bursts of speed through the hole to get to the next level for big gains and every now and again breaking away for a quick score? This is his year to answer the critics and questions NFL scouts may have about him before heading to the next level.

Aiding in Collins being that go-to Heisman Trophy candidate kind of back is help in the backfield. Depth at running back is threadbare with junior Kody Walker, although big and imposing, a constant health risk. The next man up is true freshman Rawleigh Williams. Williams got one carry for four yards in Week 2. If he’s not fully grasping the playbook at this point, hopefully student-body right and student-body left play calls are simple enough. Just let him run up the middle or off tackle, anything to give Collins a break for speed, strength, and endurance for the second half of a given game.

Find a Playmaker in the Passing Game and the Right Mix in the Red Zone

In Week 2 Brandon Allen threw for a career-high 412 yards spreading 32 completions around to eight different receivers. Of the eight, Drew Morgan had the longest gain at 28 yards. Keon Hatcher, who is now out in the neighborhood of six weeks due to a foot injury, had a 26-yard gain and Cody Hollister had a 22-yard gain. Long missing from Arkansas’ offense is the guy who can take a 5-yard slant from the 20 yard line 80 yards to the house. There is talent on the roster in guys like Jojo Robinson and Dominque Reed but getting them the ball to make plays has been the problem… one neither has seen the field much or at all this season.

The Razorbacks best receiver over the past two years and into the 2015 season has been tight end Hunter Henry. Henry was not really a force against Toledo until the fourth quarter padding his stats with eight catches for 117 yards. Despite 32 completions and 412 yards of offense, Allen was unable to hook up for a much needed touchdown toss in the fourth quarter against the Rockets. Working Henry into the offense earlier would not hurt, but everyone knows he is Arkansas’ go-to guy in the red zone.

Who can step up to be “uncommon” for the Hogs as a legitimate scoring threat at any point on the field?

Slowing down Texas Tech’s Offense

Any team running the Air Raid offense, no matter how good the team is top to bottom, always has a chance to upend any team they play with quick strike passes to speedy guys in space potentially leading to easy touchdowns. Red Raiders quarterback Patrick Mahomes has looked good thus far in 2015 albeit against Sam Houston State (59-45) and UTEP (69-20). Mahomes is second in the nation with 786 passing yards, Allen is No. 5 with 720, eyeing exploiting the Razorbacks young secondary.

The Hogs are loaded with physical talent along the defensive front but no true threat has emerged especially off the edges. In 86 pass attempts this season, Mahomes has yet to be sacked. Can Arkansas’ front four provide the necessary pressure on Texas Tech to create hurries and ill-timed passes to knock the Red Raiders off their rhythm? The Hogs’ picking up coverage sacks against Tech might be asking too much for this secondary at this point in the season.

Outcome

Bret Bielema has laid a strong foundation for the Hogs to work off of going forward; something that is needed to get back on track after a tough loss. Some lapses with a new offensive coordinator was to be expected but a loss to Toledo was not. When Arkansas traveled to Lubbock a year ago, the Hogs left town with a 49-28 win after posting 499 yards of total offense with a mind blowing 438 yards picked up in the run game. Collins rushed for 212 yards and two scores off 27 carries and Jonathan Williams added 22 carries for 145 yards with four additional scores.

Arkansas, as a team, looked like they finally started to believe what they were capable of after dismantling Texas Tech in 2014. Can they do it again building confidence for another tough run through a SEC schedule? Yes???

Tech’s defense might be just as bad, or as good, as last year when they finished with the No. 122 ranked unit in the nation. The Red Raiders are not a defensive unit but an offensive scoring machine wanting to get into a shootout with whoever they play. If Arkansas can control the line of scrimmage and avoid falling into Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury’s trap of run-and-gun, there is no reason Arkansas cannot walk out of Razorback Stadium with a lopsided win showing they are back and ready for Texas A&M in Week 4. If Enos tries to match passing wits with Kingsbury, this could be another tough day on the Hill for Arkansas.

Prediction

Arkansas 31, Texas Tech 21

Game Info

Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. ET

Location: Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium; Fayetteville, Arkansas

Coverage: ESPN2

Line: Arkansas -11.5

Photo credit: wreckemred.com; No. 3 Alex Collins against Texas Tech (2014).