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.
