Pool glad to be back playing after injury, lack of execution biggest issue in loss
Razorbacks linebacker Bumper Pool hated missing the Ole Miss game with rib injuries and said the defense didn’t execute against A&M.
Razorbacks fall to eighth-ranked Texas A&M on Saturday night, 42-31
Arkansas’ defense ran out of gas before Texas A&M tried a lot of running, but by early in the fourth quarter they were gashed by Kellen Mond in a 42-31 loss in College Station, Texas.
The game was played in front of the largest crowd of Covid-19 restrictions of over 27,000 but it appeared a few might have sneaked inside without being counted.
Razorbacks’ defensive coordinator Barry Odom was afraid the Aggies would just pound the ball running the ball on a defense that is vastly improved, but still short on numbers.
Instead, Mond simply carved up the defense throwing the ball as the Hogs’ front couldn’t get consistent pressure on the four-year starter as his experience showed through all night.
The loss dropped the Hogs to 2-3 on the season as they will host Tennessee next Saturday night at Razorback Stadium.
4Q :36: Rakeem Boyd reached the 100-yard mark with a 14-yard scamper by the time things were decided and out of reach to cap a six-play, 69-yard drive that showed as much about the Hogs not quitting in a game that was settled early in the fourth quarter.
Aggies 42, Hogs 31
4Q 13:09: No quit in Arkansas as they drive 75 yards in just eight plays as Feleipe Franks is keeping plays going with his running. Franks hits Treylon Burks on a crossing route from 16 yards out for Burks’ second score of the game. Without defensive stops, though, the gap is too big to catch up.
Aggies 42, Hogs 24
3Q :56: Texas A&M’s offense is completely wearing down the Hogs’ defense and now they are pulling away as Devon Achane breaks tackles for a 30-yard jaunt down the right sideline.
Aggies 42, Hogs 17
3Q 5:22: Kellen Mond’s have a career game against the Hogs, finding Jalen Wydermyer on a 15-yard scoring pass just ahead of the blitz package. Mond is 19-of-22 for 244 yards picking the Arkansas defense completely apart and not making any mistakes, just taking whatever he’s getting.
Aggies 35, Hogs 17
3Q 10:22: After missing a pair of field goals in the first half, kicker A.J. Reed nailed a 34-yarder after the Hogs took the second-half kickoff and drove inside the Red Zone before penalties and offensive mis-fires stalled the drive.
Aggies 28, Hogs 17
2Q 1:14: Texas A&M answers the Hogs’ score with a three-minute 74-yard march in seven plays as the Hogs’ defense is starting to wear thin. Isaiah Spiller ran it in from 6 yards out.
Aggies 28, Hogs 14
2Q 4:13: Feleipe Franks’ experience and Kendal Briles’ fast-paced offense combined to move 75 yards in eight plays, including converting a fourth-and-2 with a 36-yard completion from Franks to Treylon Burks and the Hogs answer the Aggies’ lead.
Aggies 21, Hogs 14
2Q 6:43: Kellen Mond completes a 6-yard pass to big tight end Jalen Wydermeyer and the Aggies open up the lead as the Texas A&M personnel advantage starting to show.
Aggies 21, Hogs 7
2Q 12:39: Interesting offensive approach as the Hogs are running the ball down the Aggies’ throats. A total of 96 yards on the ground so far against a defense that has been giving up just 75 a game.
1Q :34: Arkansas has a three-and-out, then the Aggies take advantage of Hogs’ Jalen Catalon getting disqualified for targeting (which will knock him out of the first half of the Tennessee game next week) and Ainias Smith scores on a 15-yard run after replay initially called him down a few inches away. Hogs’ offense is going to have to score and keep pace.
Aggies 14, Hogs 7
1Q 3:57: Aggies respond after Arkansas’ score to tie the game on Ainias Smith’s 35-yard catch and run, keeping his balance at the pylon, on a pass from Kellen Mond. This could turn into a track meet.
Hogs 7, Aggies 7
1Q 8:09: Arkansas’ defense stops Texas A&M’s opening drive, then maybe the best offensive drive of the year so far going 87 yards in 12 plays and Feleipe Franks hits Treylon Burks with a 6-yard pass on an out route for the score and the Hogs grab the lead.
Hogs 7, Aggies 0
Hogs defensive end Dorian Gerald is dressed and went through warmups, according to Arkansas Democrat-Gazette writer Tom Murphy, a frequent guest on The Morning Rush on ESPN Arkansas.
Arkansas DE Dorian Gerald is dressed out and going through warmups now. He hasn’t played since the opener (ankle).
— Thomas Murphy (@TomMurphyADG) October 31, 2020
ANDY’S PICKS: Hogs pulling out win not as surprising as you think
For some reason, when Texas A&M got into the Southeastern Conference, Arkansas forgot how to win games against them.
Part of it was Bret Bielema wasn’t very good in close (or overtime games). The other part was the Aggies got a new coach in Kevin Sumlin, didn’t have to play Texas anymore and the Razorbacks could stay close, but never quite manage to pull out a win.
The Aggies are, well, the Aggies and their fans will never allow them simply slip up on anybody. Their formidable (in size, money and arrogance) fan base will never allow that to happen.
The Hogs have been able to compete very well with A&M for years, even dominating the series until the last eight years when just about everything in Fayetteville around football collapsed.
Now A&M has Jimbo Fisher, one of the most over-rated coaches in college football, with a giant contract and a group of boosters not happy because he didn’t get $75 million to lose to Alabama and LSU.
The Hogs-Aggies is usually close and has come down to overtime three times in the past eight seasons … and Arkansas lost every single one of them, often in creative ways.
Even Chad Morris managed to keep things close in this game. For whatever reason, the two teams always stay close.
Now the Aggies have Kellen Mond, who has been a pain to deal with since 2017. He’s not THAT good, but has always managed to make THE play against Arkansas to pull out a win.
It will be up to Barry Odom’s defense again. Fisher’s offense is actually not that complicated as they are going to try and establish Isaiah Spiller running the ball behind one of the more experienced lines in college football.
Can Odom create some run blitzes to throw off the blocking schemes enough to let the scrambling Hogs’ defenders to force Mond into throwing on third down?
That’s the secret to slowing down the Aggies’ offense. Mond isn’t very good under pressure. There are two ways to cause that, too, with either pressure from the defensive front or coverage pressure.
The guess here is Odom has something concocted and it won’t be surprising to see Kendal Briles’ offense use the passing game to set up a running attack.
Arkansas (+14) at Texas A&M
The Aggies had a week off, too, which may have gotten the Florida win out of their system and two weeks for the Aggies’ fans to pat ’em on the back and tell ’em how great they are. There has even been College Football Playoff talk. Nothing could be more Aggie than screwing up this game. Arkansas 31, Texas A&M 27
Georgia (-17) at Kentucky
It’s about time for the Bulldogs to stumble again, but that probably won’t happen against the Wildcats who have shown flashes of being able to do something, then not being able to make that work on the field. And Georgia won’t let it happen this week, either. Georgia 35, Kentucky 14
LSU at Auburn (-1)
It’s too easy to say the Tigers will win this one, but probably not the ones that are a slight favorite. I’m not a fan of the Gus Malzahn-Chad Morris team on offense for Auburn, although my prediction Bo Nix would be in the transfer portal by Halloween didn’t happen. Auburn fans are disgruntled and horrendous replay decisions have made their record (3-2) a little deceptive because they should be 1-4 and it could be argued they have been the recipient of some favorable calls in EVERY win. LSU can score. LSU 52, Auburn 28
Ole Miss (-17.5) at Vanderbilt
Historically, the game against the Commodores usually leaves the coaches, players and fans of the Rebels upset. They have had a habit of even losing to Vandy when they should have won the game by several touchdowns. That shouldn’t be the case this year as Lane Kiffin may finally get a chance to run up some big numbers. Ole Miss 48, Vanderbilt 17
Mississippi State at Alabama (-30.5)
Minus a coronavirus test wiping out the Crimson Tide this one should be over about midway through the second quarter. The Bulldogs have internal issues while Alabama is hoping to jump to No. 1 heading into November. Alabama 52, Mississippi State 10
Missouri at Florida (-14)
Let’s see now, Dan Mullen has survived Covid after a loss to Texas A&M where he encouraged the state to allow more fans for this game. The Tigers have been a surprise this season under first-year coach Eli Drinkwitz and if this game was in Columbia I might have a different viewpoint, but this may end up as a track meet. Florida 31, Missouri 30
The 10 things you need to know before the Hogs and Aggies play
After using its bye week to get healthy, Arkansas (2-2, 2-2 SEC) returns to the field by traveling to Texas A&M (3-1, 3-1 SEC) on Saturday, Oct. 31 at 6:30 p.m. on the ESPN SEC Network.
You can hear the game here on HitThatLine.com, starting with Tye Richardson and Tommy Craft on Arkansas GameDay starting at 1:30 p.m.
The Razorback broadcast starts with the pregame show at 3:30 p.m., then the kickoff at 6:30 p.m. with Chuck Barrett and Quin Grovey.
Listen to the game at ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.
10 things to know before kickoff
1. The Razorbacks captured their first home SEC win since 2016, when they defeated Ole Miss 33-21 at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on Oct. 17.
Arkansas scored 24 points off seven turnovers, recording six interceptions in a game for the first time since 2003 against Mississippi State, and held the Rebels 21 points under their season average.
2. Versatile sophomore WR Treylon Burks set career-highs in receptions (11), receiving yards (137) and rushing yards (46) while also making a TD grab that was the No. 1 play on SportsCenter against the Rebels.
He became one of six Razorbacks since 1997 to make at least 10 catches for over 100 yards and a touchdown in the same game.
Interestingly, four of those six performances have come from Hogs that hail from Warren, Ark., including Burks, Greg Childs and Jarius Wright (who did it twice).
Burks became the first SEC player since Tennessee’s Alvin Kamara in 2016 to record at least 130 receiving yards and 40 rushing yards in the same game.
Ahem….@ESPNAssignDesk #SCtop10 pic.twitter.com/wEluRV51TQ
— Arkansas Razorback Football (@RazorbackFB) October 17, 2020
3. Veteran WR De’Vion Warren has jumped out to a fast start in his senior campaign, leading Arkansas with three receiving touchdowns while recording the second-most receiving yards (231).
A week after earning his first career 100-yard receiving game in the upset win at No. 16 Mississippi State, Warren made a career-high five catches for 95 yards and scored two touchdowns for the first time in his career at No. 13 Auburn.
The senior’s average of 21.0 yards per reception ranks fourth in the SEC and 15th nationally.
4. Despite playing one or two fewer games than most of the nation’s leaders, Arkansas’ defense ranks first in the country with 10 interceptions, which is the most through the school’s first four games since 2000, and is tied for first nationally registering three defensive touchdowns.
The Razorbacks lead the SEC in third down conversion defense (32.4%), red zone defense (61.1%), passing efficiency defense (109.16), turnovers gained (13) and turnover margin (1.50).
Defensive coordinator Barry Odom’s unit has made an exceptional improvement from last season on third downs, lowering the opponent’s conversion rate from 45.5% to 32.4%, the 17th best mark in America.
Opposing offenses are facing an average of 7.2 yards needed to reach the line to gain on third down.
Not 1 …
Not 2 …
Not 3 …
Not 4 …
Not 5 …@RazorbackFB racked up SIX interceptions against Ole Miss ?? pic.twitter.com/0kbknjulgP— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) October 18, 2020
5. Senior LB Grant Morgan played the game of his career against the Rebels, recording career-highs of 19 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss with an interception return for a TD and 1.0 sack.
He became the second FBS player since 2000 to have at least 15 tackles with 3.0 tackles for loss and an interception return for a touchdown.
Morgan took home SEC co-Defensive Player of the Week, Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of and Chuck Bednarik Award Player of the Week honors for his performance.
The former walk-on is fifth nationally averaging 13.0 tackles per game and his 53 total tackles are the most by a Hog in the season’s first four games (since 2000).
Bednarik Player of the Week ✔️
SEC Defensive Player of the Week ✔️
Terminator comparison ?What a week for @grantmorgan15 #WPS pic.twitter.com/FJNnSES2gk
— Arkansas Razorback Football (@RazorbackFB) October 20, 2020
6. Walk-on redshirt freshman DB Hudson Clark has taken Razorback nation by storm this season and accomplished something no other rookie has done before in school history.
He intercepted Ole Miss QB Matt Corral three times, becoming the first SEC freshman to pick off three passes in the same game since Mississippi State’s Darren Williams in 2003 against Troy and the first Hog to ever do it.
For his performance, he was named SEC Freshman of the Week and Jim Thorpe Award Player of the Week. The Dallas native is one of two FBS players to pick off three passes in a game this season.
Coincidentally, another freshman walk-on DB, Wake Forest’s Nick Andersen, had three against No. 19 Virginia Tech.
Clark possesses the eighth-highest PFF defensive grade (80.0) in the FBS among cornerbacks who have played at least 200 snaps. The Football Writers Association of America placed Clark on its Freshman All-American Watch List.
Good morning to Hudson Clark fans and Hudson Clark fans only. pic.twitter.com/8lolvyKj8G
— Arkansas Razorback Football (@RazorbackFB) October 18, 2020
7. Redshirt freshman DB Jalen Catalon has been a tackling machine, and his average of 11.3 tackles per game leads all FBS freshmen.
Against Ole Miss, he became the first SEC player since 2000 to post at least nine tackles with an interception return for a touchdown and a fumble recovery.
Since 2000, he is the only SEC freshman to record 45 or more tackles through the first four weeks of the season.
Along with Clark and OL Brady Latham, he was also named to the FWAA Freshman All-American Watch List.
? ???-???????? ????? ???? ?
More honors for these guys ‼️@jcatalon27, @hudclark3 & @BradyLatham62 have been named to @TheFWAA Freshman All-American Watch List ?
?: https://t.co/GcC8PuJBzQ pic.twitter.com/17re7KTSPw
— Arkansas Razorback Football (@RazorbackFB) October 20, 2020
8. The Arkansas and Texas A&M matchup is one of the most contested games in school history, as the two were Southwest Conference rivals from 1915-91 and played every year from 1927-91.
The Razorbacks have an all-time series lead of 41-32-3 and are playing in College Station for the first time since 2012, where they hold a 17-14-1 advantage.
The last six matchups have been played at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, with three of those games needing overtime to decide a winner.
Arkansas is in search of its first win at Kyle Field since a memorable Nov. 24, 1989 victory when the No. 9 Razorbacks took down the No. 14 Aggies, 23-22, locking up the Southwest Conference title and a Cotton Bowl berth.
Current Arkansas radio analyst, then-QB Quinn Grovey, rushed for a 25-yard score on the opening drive and engineered the game-winning drive, which was capped off by a Barry Foster two-yard plunge into the end zone, securing a 23-20 lead with 2:52 remaining.
9. The ghosts of Halloween have played nice to Arkansas through the years, as the Hogs are 11-6-1 and have not lost on the final day of spooky season since 1942.
Arkansas posted exactly 63 points in each of its last two games on Halloween, overmatching UT Martin 63-28 in 2015 and Eastern Michigan 63-27 in 2009.
The Aggies are the Hogs most common Halloween opponent with Arkansas holding a 5-2 advantage in Oct. 31 battles. Texas A&M handed Arkansas its last Halloween loss in 1942, 41-0, but Arkansas followed by winning the next four spooky meetings against the Aggies.
Arkansas’ first-ever matchup against the Aggies was also it’s first on Halloween, a 6-0 setback in 1903, when the forward pass was illegal and both touchdowns and field goals were worth five points.
10. Just like the Razorbacks, Texas A&M is coming into this weekend’s game after a bye week, and before the break, defeated Mississippi State, 28-14.
The Aggies are led by senior QB Kellen Mond, who has the most passing yards in school history (8,363) and needs 267 yards of offense to supplant Johnny Manziel (9,986) as the school’s record holder.
Texas A&M’s offensive line has only surrendered two sacks, which is one of the top marks in the country among teams that have played four games.
The Aggies defense surrenders an average of 75.5 rushing yards per game, ranking seventh in the FBS and second in the SEC.
Clarksburg, W. Va., native Jimbo Fisher is in his third season as head coach and is 20-10 in College Station.
PETE’S PICKS: After bye week, Hogs hit road for tough matchup with Aggies
Bye. It’s a funny word, isn’t it? Related to sports it is said to derive from cricket when a runner scores on a ball missed by the wicket-keeper. Basically, you get to advance without actually doing anything.
As it pertains to saying farewell, it comes from the contraction of “Godbwye” meaning “God be with ye.” Sometimes such an anticipated dreadful word this “bye”.
Wait, why am I leading off with this? To show off my “Google” prowess?
No, it’s because I temporarily forgot Arkansas is coming off a bye week in their all-SEC season. So is Week Nine’s opponent and home team, the Texas A&M Aggies. Both sides feel as though they have ample time to prepare.
Arkansas coach Sam Pittman no doubt has been focusing on fundamentals and conditioning. Aggie quarterback Kellen Mond was quick to point out he is not scared by the Razorback defense.
And A&M’s head coach heaped praise unto Arkansas but also stated nothing has changed in their preparations for playing the Razorbacks.
Why should it? The Aggies are playing well coming off a convincing victory over a Top 10 Florida team prior to the A&M bye week.
Pittman was asked if the game against Texas A&M is a rivalry. Judging by his response, there seems to be a little more electricity around the practice fields on The Hill this week.
One has to wonder if the Aggies feel the same way, yet we all know you would never get a team out of Texas to admit they do not like the Razorbacks.
Okay, I am short of constructive thoughts this week, so let’s hit the obviously well thought out opinions of a man who was recently startled by a rose leaf and stem in the dark and will forever be deemed an October scaredy cat … It was very dark, and venomous snakes are known to run rampant in these parts.
Why Arkansas will win:
The defense will face a new type of challenge, but Barry Odom does not seem like a “one-scheme” for all situations kind of guy.
No doubt he, his staff, and defensive unit have sat through hours of game film in preparation for the trip to Kyle Field.
The offense is getting better, and they are playing with an extreme amount of confidence created by talent in the skill positions.
The receivers are getting open, quarterback Felipe Franks is progressing through his reads (although I sometimes wish he would not hold onto the ball nearly as long), and the running backs are presenting a valve for when the opposing coverage is fully doing its job.
Because they care. They have passion. They make winning a priority.
Who doesn’t want to be surrounded by people with those characteristics?
Why Texas A&M will win:
The Aggie offensive line protects the quarterback only giving up one sack all season, and, granted, a lot of that may have to do with quarterback Kellen Mond’s ability to get rid of the football.
Running back Isaiah Spiller is the second leading rusher per game in the SEC and first in yards per carry.
Outside of Georgia, the Aggies offense may be the first one Arkansas has faced all season with both a strong running and passing games.
A&M’s offense averages 250 passing yards per game along with 172 rushing. The aforementioned Bulldogs are slightly above and under those marks respectively.
Odom’s defense may not have the luxury of being as drop-back heavy as it has in previous weeks.
Final thoughts:
Give Pittman credit, this guy has some of the coolest lines ever from a head coach.
We already loved his demand to turn up the jukebox, and his reply to a question regarding whether people had heard of Hudson Clark was priceless: “Well, they’ve heard of him now. Three times at least.”
Arkansas’s offense does not throw up big numbers in relation to the rest of the SEC. I do feel like Kendal Briles is by far going in the right direction.
I expect big things from him as this and future seasons progress.
Does anyone else have a love/hate relationship with Fisher? Sometimes I respect what the guy has accomplished. Other times I just want to see him fall flat on his face.
Arkansas has a strong tendency to lose to A&M by a single score. They do have momentum, enthusiasm, and confidence on their side. They flip the coin this weekend and say goodBYE to the losing streak against the Aggies.
Razorbacks by 10.
Be certain to listen to the game Saturday at 6:30 p.m. via HitThatLine.com, and on the air at ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.
The pregame shows start at 1:30 p.m. with Tye Richardson and Tommy Craft.
SEC Picks for Week 9
Andy doesn’t know it, but I gave him a few freebies just to keep it interesting. Plus it’s never a good idea to dominate the boss in any job-related competition.
Now the fun really begins.
(5) Georgia at Kentucky: Kentucky is like a bi-polar girlfriend – on again, off again – so you never fully know how to predict their performance. However, this week they play Georgia, and the Bulldogs are far too talented for even the Wildcats on a high. Georgia by 18.
LSU at Auburn [GAME OF THE WEEK]: This is another one of those scenarios we have encountered which few of us would have fully predicted. We all knew LSU would be down from last year, and we also knew Auburn was overrated; however, let those among us who forecasted both being out of the Top 25 cast the first bragging right. Granted, the entire nation knows Auburn has been gifted two victories by SEC officiating, so no doubt that weighs into the minds of voters. Furthermore, Auburn coach Gus Malzahn is allegedly wearing padded trousers to minimize the burning sensation coming from his chair, and the pressure this weekend may force him into bad decisions. This one is a toss-up, and I am going with LSU. Bengal Tigers by 3.
Ole Miss at Vanderbilt: Someone wins a game this weekend… Unfortunately for the Commodores it won’t be their first one of the season. Translate that however you like, but allow me to clarify: Vandy may not win a game all season, and I dislike this because I am actually a small fan for the Commodores. Rebels by 27.
Mississippi State at (2) Alabama: Mississippi State started the year off with a bang, and since the upset of LSU, it’s been all downhill. I almost hate it because it diminishes how well Arkansas did against them in Week 5. Alabama is the only undefeated SEC team, and there will be no change to that this weekend. Nick Saban calls the dogs off late in the third. Too cliché? Tide by 24.
Arkansas at (8) Texas A&M: I am afraid my homer pick will make me go “D’oh!” Hogs by 10.
Missouri at (10) Florida: Second and Third in the East square off with the Tigers enjoying a two-game winning streak, and Florida fresh off a postponed game with LSU preceded by a surprising loss at Texas A&M. Missouri is coming along, but not fast enough to defeat a better Florida team. Gators by 14.
My readers are the best. Happy Halloween (or whatever fall activities you enjoy). Here’s to never saying bye. God Bless you all.
Find me on ‘Twitter’: @PeterMorganWPS
Go HOGS!!!
The man… The myth… The LEGEND… Stugotz joined Fantasy Football Sunday
Tye Richardson & Evan Gentry talked everything under the sun with Stugotz… except fantasy football ?
Surprise media appearance by Musselman with Halloween costume
Razorbacks coach Eric Musselman made an unscheduled media appearance after the players Friday and showed off one of his looks for Halloween.
Vanover on working on hook shots after practice every day, adjusting his game
Connor Vanover talked with the media Friday afternoon about his weight and working on developing a couple of styles of hook shots every day after practice.
Notae on getting back to practice after breaking wrist while playing basketball
Arkansas’ J.D. Notae talked with the media Friday about coming back from broken wrist he sufferend in the offseason, but it still bothers him at times.
