By Harry King
FAYETTEVILLE — Don’t dote on Arkansas’ opener.
Do some cursory accounting — final score, Ryan Mallett’s stats, running back production, points allowed — and move on.
An in-depth analysis is meaningless considering that Tennessee Tech was every bit the overmatched opponent. The significant note in the 44-3 romp is that the most anticipated Razorback season in years is under way.
Before the game got out of hand, the Razorbacks made a variety of self-inflicted mistakes, all correctable.
There was a too-soon center snap, D.J. Williams’ flinch on the line of scrimmage, Isaac Madison’s decision to come up too quickly on a scrambling quarterback, fumbles by Knile Davis and Dennis Johnson, an interception off Mallett the first time he threw deep, and De’Anthony Curtis’ drop of a TD pass. All of that occurred in the first 19 minutes when Arkansas’ lead was only 9-3.
That collection of errors is not the worst thing that could have happened. This way, Arkansas starts 1-0 and coach Bobby Petrino has items of interest to discuss with his players.
Pluses while it still mattered included Mallett’s exemplary patience on his first eight throws, Alex Tejada’s kickoffs into the end zone on five of his first six, and Ramon Broadway’s sticky coverage on a third-down pass.
The Arkansas defense is supposed to be improved and I suppose it is. The truth is that Tennessee Tech could not run the ball because all of Arkansas’ defenders were quicker than the Golden Eagles’ running backs. That talent gap was underlined when Tennessee Tech had a first down at the Arkansas 1 and kicked a 27-yard field goal. The running back never got started on first down, Jake Bequette tracked down the quarterback from behind on second down, and new linebacker Anthony Leon sacked the quarterback on third down.
Officially, it was over when Mallett and Joe Adams combined on an 85-yard touchdown pass for 23-3 in the second quarter. On the play, the safety compounded a lack of speed by taking a bad angle.
At that point, Mallett was 15-of-17 for 251 yards. He finished 21-of-24 for 301 yards. On his final appearance, Mallett handed off a couple of times, risked injury on a scramble, and threw his third TD pass.
His numbers are a bit better than those compiled by other Heisman Trophy candidates against inferior competition on the first weekend of college football. For instance, Ohio State’s Terrelle Pryor completed 17-of-25 for 247 and USC’s Matt Barkley was 18-of-23 for 257.
It is somewhat disconcerting that the Razorbacks made only 51 yards rushing in the first half, but Petrino gave opponents something to think about when Mallett lined up in the offense that line coach Chris Klenakis brought from Nevada. From the abbreviated shotgun, Mallett handed to Ronnie Wingo Jr. directly behind him and Wingo scored from the 10.
Even more intriguing was a glimpse of the option possibilities from the formation with redshirt freshman Brandon Mitchell at quarterback.
Early on, Mallett disdained the deep ball for safe and open throws to running backs and tight ends. The second time he went long, Cobi Hamilton turned the cornerback every which way but loose, but Mallett led him too much and Hamilton had to lay out for a 37-yard gain to the 11.
The catch was exceptional; the opener was something less, but still quite acceptable.
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Harry King is sports columnist for Stephens Media’s Arkansas News Bureau. His e-mail address is hking@arkansasnews.com.
