CLAY HENRY: Fix the little things … now

Four hours before kickoff on a pre-game radio broadcast Saturday, there was a statement from the host about how quickly Arkansas might get the reserves some playing time against Alabama-Birmingham.

There was a discussion on whether it would be a good game to take some of the workload off quarterback Taylen Green and running back Ja’Quinden Jackson. Both took a beating while playing four intense quarters and two overtime periods in a loss at Oklahoma State.

It made me uncomfortable although I joined in for part of that. I just have seen Arkansas fail to maintain intensity the next week after a high-octane effort too many times of late.

I knew it was the same sort of things this team had heard all week from fans and their classmates. It’s a dangerous line of thinking.

Heck, I saw Bobby Petrino’s best team in 2011 follow back-to-back high intensity victories over Texas A&M and Auburn with flat play the next two weeks.

They fell behind 17-0 against a struggling Ole Miss team before rallying to a 29-24 victory. The next week at Vanderbilt, they had a lackluster effort in a 31-28 victory that could have easily been a loss. Vandy was driving for a touchdown that would provide a two score lead when Jerry Franklin returned a fumble for a touchdown.

With those sort of things in mind, I told Tye Richardson that it’s not a given that Arkansas would roll to an easy victory. Every game is a unique matchup with different challenges. Could the Razorbacks rely on superior form to subdue UAB’s upset hope?

Despite losing at OSU, most suggested that Arkansas had turned the corner as far as talent. The Hogs had shut down OSU star runner Ollie Gordon. Green made highlight plays against the Cowboys.

Then there was a poor performance by UAB in a lopsided loss to Louisiana-Monroe also to consider. The Blazers could not pass protect.

Those two thoughts would lead most to believe the Blazers could not run against the Hogs and pass rushers would then have their way with the UAB offensive line. Surely, the UA pass rush would be as good as ULM?

So most expected Arkansas to follow up some encouraging performances in Stillwater with another step forward. Except I knew and verbalized these fears about the inconsistent intensity of the past. And some of the lack of intensity was obvious last year in home games. The Hogs played much better on the road last year. That is hard to comprehend.

There is a sliver lining; the Hogs still won. On a day when the forward pass was not a friend in a Petrino offense, the Hogs turned to Jackson’s inside power and Green’s scrambles. They found a way despite poor tackling fundamentals by the defense.

UAB lined up in power formations with bunch receivers providing extra blockers and ran right at the heart of the UA defense in the first half. The Hogs did not put the Blazers in the third-and-long situations that plagued them against ULM.

Arkansas didn’t punt in the game, but they forced only three UAB punts. Two of those came in the third quarter when the Hogs held the visitors to 24 yards on nine snaps. Obviously, the Hogs played with more effort in the second half.

It wasn’t just one problem area for the Hogs. They left receivers open when the Blazers protected on play-action calls. They dropped passes or missed badly on throws to open receivers.

Advertisement

It appeared UAB head coach Trent Dilfer and offensive coordinator Alex Mortensen came up with new wrinkles that confused the Hogs. There were some unbalanced looks that got some angles for blocking that hurt early in the game.

But it was also poor tackling. Jerking a helmet off with a grab of the facemask is poor tackling, too. The head coach said afterwards that injuries on defense kept the hitting light the previous week in practice. It caught up to the Hogs.

Three facemask penalties are three too many. That’s 45 yards.

It just seemed like a lot of little mistakes. A sack took the Hogs out of easy field goal range and ultimately kicker Kyle Ramsey missed a 45-yarder. Ramsey also converted from 28, 51 and 40 yards, perhaps winning the job.

There was a penalty for running into the kicker. It wasn’t a critical mistake, but it just speaks to one of the many things that have to be corrected before the Hogs go on the road to Auburn in the SEC opener.

Some might suggest it’s as easy as finding the intensity for an important game. That is likely to happen, but the little things will add up to a loss against a step up in talent.

Consistent effort is a hallmark of good coaching, although Frank Broyles always stated there would be two games each year (out of 10) with great effort. He said there would be two more with a lack of that sort of intensity altogether, then five or six somewhere in the middle.

The key is just to improve each week. That might be over simplifying the issue, but it’s always been about that in sports. You either get better or you get worse. Which will it be for the 2024 Hogs?

I suspect Green will play somewhat better. He must complete more than 11 of 26. Receivers must play a lot better, too. Green – or the play caller – must do a better job of utilizing tight end Luke Hasz, thought to be one of the team’s best players. He had one catch for zero yards against UAB.

One thing I know, executing a Petrino offense isn’t simple for a new quarterback. There is a learning curve. Not only do they have to throw well, but also they must get the checks right at the line of scrimmage.

It looked like the Hogs should have checked to a run against drop coverage on Green’s pass interception to start the game. UAB lined up with linebackers deep on the play.

Perhaps all of this was just a learning exercise for the coaches. After all they are trying to figure out the fresh nature of the roster. Almost 60 percent of the players on scholarship are new.

I left the stadium hearing complaints from fans. The common thought: there are good wins and bad wins. This was a bad one.

Well, there are no bad wins in college football, especially early in the season when no one really has a feel for the opposition. Most every team has a new roster. The details in player scouting reports are sometimes based on a tape from a previous school. They are sometimes playing different technique in a different scheme and that report is useless.

Some of my concerns from the summer will be answered in short fashion. The Hogs opened practice with a good group of first teamers, much improved over last year. But depth is only slightly better.

Advertisement

How will the Hogs handle injuries in the offensive line? Patrick Kutas, the expected starter at left guard, hasn’t played a snap. Center Austin Nichols limped off the field early in the game.

E’Marrion Harris has made some spectacular blocks as the replacement at left guard. He may keep that job even if Kutas gets over a back injury. Amaury Wiggins had an up-and-down game in relief of Nichols. Harris and Wiggins must step up their play when they see the SEC’s superior tackles and linebackers.

Take all of this as a dose of realism.

I’m still excited about the improved talent. Petrino will figure out ways to move the football. Remember, this team has only needed to punt three times on the season. That’s a good offense.

The defense has more speed; it just has to produce more consistent effort and execution.

Players said the right things in the post-game interviews. They knew they had a disappointing start to the game. They understand that won’t fly in the SEC.

There will probably be improved intensity this week. Heck, it’s a road game. That was the form last year; play better away from Fayetteville. Plus, the Hogs were whipped by Auburn last year. They should want some pay back.

I’m prepared for anything. I’ve seen this rollercoaster ride before; peaks and valleys. It’s sort of the norm in the SEC. Every week brings something new.

But don’t overlook the positives. Some recent Arkansas teams would have lost that game last week, not won by 10 points.

I just wished there had not been so many little things that went wrong. That can’t continue. They will be painfully big in the SEC.