By Harry King
FAYETTEVILLE — Critiquing Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett, nitpicking is the only way to identify a negative.
His performance against South Carolina on Saturday is described in a hit song by Alabama called “Close Enough to Perfect for Me.” For the first time this year, he stood out against a pass defense of quality.
He might backslide later this month, but this was the Mallett that fans had been expecting since he transferred from Michigan. He was so much more poised and productive than the quarterback who completed 12 passes in each of three losses to Southeastern Conference opponents.
Oh, there was that moment in the first quarter when Mallett rolled left, turned down a gain of 10 yards or more, and threw incomplete. And, a pass into the end zone that Alonzo Winfield might have intercepted if it had been traveling less than 100 mph.
Other than that, the redshirt sophomore was very, very good against the Gamecocks.
His 23-of-27 for 329 yards, including 12-of-13 for 160 yards in the second half, was brilliant, but his afternoon was much more than cold, hard numbers. His contributions ran the gamut.
Mallett didn’t force any passes. He made fakes that paved the way to productive completions. He reached to hand the ball to a running back who was too wide. He was patient, checking to tight end D.J. Williams and others.
He threw with touch when needed and zip when necessary. His communication with the sideline was impeccable, a far cry from the Gamecocks, who once used consecutive timeouts before running a quarterback sneak.
It was, Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said, Mallett’s “best game as far as running the office and being calm the entire game.”
In brief, he did what leaders do.
All told, Mallett, a big interception by Jerell Norton in the end zone, a good open-field tackle by Jerry Franklin at the Arkansas 1, an effective pass rush, and an offense that was more running plays than passes added up to a 33-16 decision. It was the Razorbacks’ most impressive performance against an SEC opponent with solid credentials and put Arkansas in position to run off a mini-winning streak.
In the post-game, Petrino talked again about the need to be bowl eligible, how the postseason workouts are the equivalent of an additional spring practice.
The Razorbacks can reach six Ws against Troy of the Sun Belt Conference next week.
The game turned in Arkansas’ favor when South Carolina bought into a bait-and-switch in the third quarter. Moments after the Gamecocks had taken a 16-10 lead on an 80-yard pass play, the Razorbacks faced third-and-one at the South Carolina 35.
Petrino sent in four tight ends and put 248-pound Broderick Green behind Mallett. The quarterback played hide-and-seek with the ball and threw to Williams with just-right velocity. If “sucker” was uttered from the Arkansas sideline, it was inaudible, but the 26-yard play set up Mallett’s go-ahead touchdown.
South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia responded by twice negotiating stacked decks on third down before getting greedy. Spotting 6-foot-3 Alshon Jeffery three inches, Norton maintained inside position and intercepted. Seven plays later, Arkansas was in front 24-16.
Mallett led right to the end, crowding the outside edge of the coaches’ box to get a good view of Garcia’s fourth-down incompletion in the Arkansas end zone.
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Harry King is sports columnist for Stephens Media’s Arkansas News Bureau. His e-mail address is hking@arkansasnews.com.
