This is part one of a two part breakdown of the Razorbacks. Coming later this week will be a breakdown of the Arkansas defense and special teams.
Today, we're breaking down the Arkansas offense in preparation of the Sugar Bowl match up. The Razorbacks will be a good test for the Buckeye defense, finishing the regular season 2nd in the SEC in both scoring and total offense, behind only Auburn. Whether or not Ohio State can slow down the Arkansas offense will be a big factor in the outcome of the game.
Quarterback: At quarterback for the Razorbacks is the former Michigan man, Ryan Mallett. Buckeye fans, you may remember him from the 2007 game when he went 1-3 for 8 yards as a short-term injury replacement for Chad Henne. Michigan hired RichRod after that season and Mallett left for Arkansas.
Mallett is one of the top quarterbacks in the country and he has shown why over the past two seasons at Arkansas. This season, Mallett has thrown for 3,592 yards with a 66.5 completion percentage and 30 touchdown passes. The major test for the Buckeye defense will be stopping Mallett, as only three times all season has a defense held him under 300 yards passing: once against Auburn when he was held to 95 yards, but he was knocked out in the first half of that 65-43 shootout with a concussion. The second time was the next week against Ole Miss, but that performance can be chalked up to him still feeling some effects from the concussion. The third and final time this season was against UTEP, when the Miners held Mallett to 215 yards, but he only played the first three quarters. In Arkansas’ other loss, a 24-20 defeat to Alabama, Mallett threw for 357 yards but also threw three interceptions.
The key to winning the Sugar Bowl for the Buckeye defense will be forcing Mallett into mistakes. If the Silver Bullets can force Mallett into at least two turnovers, Tresselball will take over and the Buckeyes should win.
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| Knile is a dangerous 1,000 yard rusher shadowed by Mallett |
Running Back: One player who flies a bit under the radar for Arkansas is running back Knile Davis. Davis has 1,183 yards this season but he has come on strong the last eight games after gaining just 121 yards in the first four. A bigger back at 220 pounds, Davis has the power to run over guys but still has speed and some shifty moves to make guys miss. It really should be no surprise that Arkansas has developed another solid running back, as they have produced NFL backs Darren McFadden, Peyton Hillis and Felix Jones in the past five years.
After Arkansas’ loss to Auburn, they started to establish their ground game more and it led to victories. In Arkansas’ last six games, Davis has averaged 22 carries, 148 yards and has scored 13 total touchdowns in those games.
The strength of the Buckeye defense is the run defense, and if they can shut Davis down early and force Arkansas into passing more than it wants to, it should be a good night in the Big Easy.
Receivers/Tight Ends: Arkansas is very deep at receiver this year, with six players with at least 27 catches. However, they will be without leading wide receiver Greg Childs, who is out for the year with a patella tendon injury. Tight end D.J. Williams is the leading receiver on the team with 49 receptions. Arkansas starts three wide receivers and they all have big-play capabilities. Jarius Wright, Cobi Hamilton and Joe Adams all average at least 50 yards per game and 17 yards per catch.
Ohio States’ nickel package will get tested in this game as Arkansas goes three-wide the majority of the time. Freshman Christian Bryant should be back to play alongside Chimdi Chekwa and Devon Torrence but he may not be able to go the whole game since he hasn’t played since October. If that’s the case, Travis Howard may get called into duty.
Linebackers Brian Rolle and Ross Homan will also get tested in their coverage skills of tight end D.J. Williams. Mallett likes to go to him but Homan and Rolle are both athletic enough to cover him.
Arkansas is going to pass the ball, there’s no doubt about that. Adams, Wright and Hamilton all have touchdown receptions of at least 85 yards. If Ohio State can limit the big plays, they should have some success.
| Veterans and youth alike, will test the Buckeye's front line |
