By Harry King
LITTLE ROCK — Despite whipping up on two unbeaten teams with gaudy stats, this Arkansas team is mostly a mystery.
Inept against Alabama and awesome against Auburn, the Razorbacks are an enigma and a substantive assessment is weeks away.
The enthusiasm for Arkansas scoring 91 points against Texas A&M and Auburn is tempered by the knowledge that the Aggies were 3-0 against bad teams and that the Tigers were probably over-rated. The Southeastern Conference commands so much respect that any league team that reaches 5-0, as Auburn did, is going to break into the Top 20.
What we do know is that Arkansas can score on anybody, even Florida, when quarterback Ryan Mallett is protected and the running game is productive. Averaging 112 yards per game rushing through the first four games, Arkansas netted 221 on 45 tries vs. Auburn and made another 274 on 37 pass attempts.
We also know that the defense has improved with the return of some players and the maturation of others. However, it is not in the same class as the unit at Florida or Alabama or LSU.
As productive as the offense was against Auburn, it is a curmudgeon’s duty to point out that the Tigers were cooperative:
—Chris Todd overthrew a receiver who was yards behind the Arkansas secondary.
—A fumbled kickoff left Arkansas 30 yards to cover for 20-0.
—Trailing 27-3 at half, Auburn zipped to the Arkansas 3 in four plays before Ben Tate fumbled and Jake Bequette recovered.
Failing to make plays and turnovers are part of each and every game, but what Auburn did or didn’t do has nothing to do with the next seven opponents.
At 3-2, with No. 1 and defending national champion Florida dead ahead, 3-3 is to be expected. But, the Razorbacks should beat winless Eastern Michigan and Sun Belt Conference leader Troy.
Before looking at Arkansas’ remaining conference opponents, know that league play is unpredictable. To affirm that, work backwards from the Razorbacks’ victory over Auburn and note Tennessee 45, Georgia 19; Auburn 26, Tennessee 22; Georgia 52, Arkansas 41.
At this point, Arkansas would be favored over Mississippi State and the game with South Carolina in Fayetteville would be a pick ‘em.
Based on the weekend, there is a tendency to question the offense of both Ole Miss and LSU. Neither the Rebels, rated high when the season began strictly because of a Cotton Bowl victory and the return of some skill players, nor the Tigers scored a touchdown. Their production of a field goal each goes to the defenses of their opponents.
Ole Miss made 212 yards and Jevan Snead threw four interceptions against Alabama while LSU netted 162 yards vs. Florida.
The Gators’ defense was so dominant that coach Urban Meyer refused to take any risks, asking Tim Tebow to throw only 16 passes. Mostly, Tebow ran the dive play with his running backs, particularly Jeff Demps.
Arkansas will see a great deal of Demps on Saturday and Tebow may be more of a factor than he was against LSU. Although the Gators are No. 1 in the SEC in virtually every conceivable defensive category, including pass defense efficiency, Arkansas will score more than LSU did on the Gators. Razorback fans can take heart in that and settle in for a six-week-long roller coaster ride.
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Harry King is sports columnist for Stephens Media’s Arkansas News Bureau. His e-mail address is hking@arkansasnews.com.
