Today at 4:42 p.m.
by Tom Murphy
FAYETTEVILLE — After a close game but losing effort in last week’s 24-17 setback to No. 15 Tennessee, the Arkansas football team gets back on the road, which has been a house of horrors for the Hogs early this season.
The Razorbacks (2-4, 0-3 SEC) will put their 14-game SEC losing streak on the line again on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Vanderbilt (3-3, 0-3 SEC), which had a 10-game home winning streak snapped in last week’s 52-17 loss to No. 9 Ole Miss.
The game features the SEC’s only winless conference teams.
Inefficiency on both sides of the ball has marred the Razorbacks’ early season, but the rate of mistakes and poor play has been much sharper in road losses at Utah and Texas A&M.
The Razorbacks have been outscored 77-17 In those games, trail 2-1 in the turnover department and have managed a paltry 259.5 total yards per game compared to 421 yards for their opponents.
Arkansas has 2 touchdowns and 1 field goal in those road games on 18 possessions, for an average of 0.94 points per possession, while Utah and Texas A&M combined to score on 63% of their possessions and average 4.05 points per possession.
“That’s one of those things we’ve got to get better at,” coach Ryan Silverfield said of the road performances. “We’re playing very good defenses, certainly, in every game, but on the road I don’t think it’s any different, the mindset and approach [a team needs]. I think it’s how do we get into sync, how do we get into rhythm?”
Quarterback KJ Jackson’s home and road splits reflect the team’s lack of efficiency on the road.
The sophomore is 27-of-59 (45.7%) passing for 250 yards, with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions in the two road games. In three home games against Power 4 competition, Jackson is 59 of 90 (65.5%) for 676 yards, with 3 touchdowns and 1 interception.
The Razorbacks have managed 132.5 rushing yards per game in their last two home games, a sight better than their season average of 99 yards per game, which ranks 15th in the SEC and 131st in the FBS.
Silverfield spoke broadly on Monday about the spate of offensive issues that have beset the Razorbacks, including penalties.
“A lot of our issues on offense are those self-inflicted wounds,” Silverfield said. “You look at Braylen [Russell’s] long run and we get called for holding. Another opportunity we get called for a chop block, where Cam Settles slips on the grass and they get called for a high low [block] on that. It’s just unique things.
“But on the road just staying ahead of it and finding ways to be efficient. That’s the whole deal with us offensively. Can you be consistent? And really establishing the run as we saw in the third quarter, it gives our offense an opportunity to look like it’s clicking with all cylinders.”
The Razorbacks had their most effective running quarter of the season in the third quarter against the Volunteers. In that period they churned for 113 rushing yards on 14 carries, an average of 8.1 yards per carry, out-scored Tennessee 14-3 and owned a time of possession advantage of 10:16 to 4:44.
“We said [at halftime], ‘OK, this is how they’re lining up. What are some effective runs and formations that we could have success with?’
“Most of the third quarter I thought we were able to run the ball relatively effectively with a variety of schemes. But in essence, the same three type of runs, just dressed up stretched out differently. And then in the fourth quarter they found ways to take it away.
“Then, any time we found ourselves behind the sticks, we just weren’t successful. On the night, as we found ourselves not being able to get those first downs on first and second down, it was rough sledding for us. We were 0 for 9 on third down and three yards or more.”
The Arkansas offense managed to get more pass catchers outside of ace wideout Chris Marshall involved earlier against Tennessee.
CJ Brown took a shallow crossing route for a 21-yard gain on the first snap of the game. Two plays later, Monte Harrison was wide open deep left and had a 29-yard catch and run to the Tennessee 19.
Marshall sill wound up with a team-high 7 catches on 9 targets for 56 yards, but others combined for 8 catches on 15 targets for 99 yards, including Jaden Platt’s 4-yard touchdown.
The Razorbacks’ scripted first series in recent games have led to quality ball movement, but subsequent series in the first half have not been as productive.
“Everybody sits there and says, ‘Well, if the first nine plays scripted are working, why wouldn’t you script the first 27?” Silverfield said. “Well, people go to the sideline, you look at iPads, we’re seeing different defenses than we’ve seen even in game planning.
“But it does show you that hey, there is a plan in place, that we did have the right ideas game planning on a Sunday and a Monday and throughout the week in order to have success.”
The Razorbacks will face a Vanderbilt defense that is last in the SEC with 29.5 points allowed per game, 11th with 353.5 yards allowed per game and 12th against the run with 139.5 yards allowed per game.
Steve Gregory is in his second season as defensive coordinator for the Commodores, but coach Clark Lea always has a hand in the defensive scheming and play calls.
“Coach Lea’s obviously been known as a defensive genius throughout his career and had high-level success, especially on the defensive side of the ball,” Silverfield said.
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