Arkansas football hosts Alabama on Saturday in Fayetteville. Here are your three keys to an Arkansas victory.
By Don Yates
1. Hang around
This Alabama team isn’t accustomed to playing in close games. If the Razorbacks can just hang around within a score of the Tide until the fourth quarter there’s a chance this Bama team may become apprehensive and beat itself trying to force things. The hogs have been in several close games and are familiar with those types of situations.
2. Keep drives going
Punting the ball should be avoided. Keep Alabama’s offensive possessions to as few as possible. Fake punts and on-side kicks are in effect as well as going for it on fourth down. Food for thought: Alabama scores at a rate of .710 points per play on offense. That’s the best rate of all power conference teams and in the ballpark of a point a play. You let them get more possessions and they will score more points. What do you have to lose? If Alabama gets a short field because of a failed attempt to go for it on fourth down, at least the hog defense won’t be the field as long on the next Tide drive.
3. Terrorize Mac Jones
Mac Jones plays with the luxury of having one of the biggest if not the best offensive lines in college football. Other quarterbacks have to get by with less formidable protection. The hogs have a tough defense with three of the top tacklers in the conference in their defensive lineup. Arkansas’ defensive coordinator needs to try something new against Bama in an effort to bring the heat on the usually safe Jones. Maybe some different blitz packages than what has been used this season by the Razorbacks. Be creative.
Saturday‘s game kicks off at 11:00 AM CT (12:00 PM ET). You can watch this Arkansas football game on the ESPN Network.
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