LITTLE ROCK — What a waste, recording the TV broadcast of Alabama-Mississippi State to get a handle on the Bulldogs’ offense.
The Crimson Tide’s defense makes one and all appear inept. Last week, MSU started the game with first downs on a pass interference call against Alabama and an 18-yard run by Anthony Dixon. The next 29 minutes, the Bulldogs made two more first downs, one by penalty and one on a 24-yard pass, and the game was deleted from My Playlist.
Mostly, MSU tries to get the ball to 235-pound Anthony Dixon via handoffs, option pitches and swing passes. Through 10 games, he’s had the ball on almost one-third of the Bulldogs’ plays with 204 carries and 15 receptions.
Leading up to Alabama, there was an article detailing the Bulldogs’ offensive improvement under first-year coach Dan Mullen, how MSU was scoring almost 27 points per game and rushing for 219 yards per outing. Against the Crimson Tide, MSU’s only score was a fourth-quarter field goal and the rushing total was 114.
Although improved in recent weeks, Arkansas’ defense is not in the same league with Florida or Alabama, and that makes it difficult to guesstimate how the Bulldogs’ offense will do against the Razorbacks today in Little Rock.
The Razorbacks know that it all begins with Dixon, who carried 23 times for 179 yards when the Bulldogs beat Arkansas 31-28 last year.
To slow Dixon, Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said, the Razorbacks must get more people to the football. To that end, the return of middle linebacker Wendel Davis from an injury should help.
Other than Dixon, the Bulldogs are limited. Mullen can select any play from his diversified spread offense, but the prospects for success are not the same with quarterbacks Tyson Lee or Chris Relf as they were when he was calling plays for Alex Smith at Utah and Tim Tebow at Florida.
The only game this year in which Lee completed more than 15 passes was in an 11-point loss to Georgia Tech. In five games, he’s completed 10 or less. More runner than passer, Relf has not completed a pass since September.
On a tear the past three weeks, Ryan Mallett should fare well against the Bulldogs, who are 10th in the Southeastern Conference in pass defense.
Described by Sporting News as “possibly the country’s top pro quarterback prospect,” Mallett can choose from a variety of capable targets. Arkansas is last in the league in pass defense, but Lee does not have the skills to take advantage nor does he have a supporting cast comparable to D.J. Williams, Greg Childs, Joe Adams, and others.
When Mullen took the MSU job last December, he said, “I want to find a way to get our best players in a mismatch situation.” The theory is sound; his options are few.
In three of MSU’s four victories, the opponent has scored seven or less. In fact, Vanderbilt, Jackson State, and Middle Tennessee only totaled 16 points, a number that Arkansas will better by a touchdown or more.
The Bulldogs’ most notable victory was 31-24 at Kentucky, easily explained by the fact that Dixon ran for a school record 252 yards. “He wanted to do a lot and we let him,” Mullen explained.
Dixon will have many opportunities today at War Memorial Stadium. The Razorbacks know that and should be prepared. When it’s over, their bowl appeal will improve a tick or two.
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Harry King is sports columnist for Stephens Media’s Arkansas News Bureau. His e-mail address is hking@arkansasnews.com.
