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he's a leader," Stephens said of Haselwood. "He speaks up a lot and continues to work no matter what — no matter what. He's feeling like he's going to continue to work, so he's a good guy (to have)." RUN GAME SUCCESS At least on paper, Arkansas' one clear advantage against BYU is evident. The Cougars this season have allowed opponents to rush for 200-plus yards three times. Each of those performances have come in the last four weeks. Utah State, a member of the Mountain West Conference, totaled 204 yards on the ground on an aggressive 49 attempts in its loss in Provo, Utah, and Oregon and Notre Dame finished with 212 and 234 yards rushing, respectively. According to CFBStats. com, only 12 FBS teams have faced more rush attempts than BYU. Opponents obviously see something on tape in game prep that they believe can be exploited, and Arkansas surely sees it, too. The Cougars are surrendering 172.2 yards per game on the ground. The Razorbacks come into the weekend with the country's 10th-best rushing attack. Raheim Sanders is the SEC's leading rusher. Pittman is well aware success in the run game begins with his offensive line, which is made up of five of the SEC's top seven run blockers, per Pro Football Focus. He believes the group has played well overall, but he wants this week for it to play more mistake-free football. "I'm not pleased with the details of what's going on," Pittman said. "In other words, I think they play well together as a unit, but obviously — and I talked to (offensive line coach) Cody (Kennedy) about it as well — the snaps, the false starts, they have to stop. And I get it. If you're going to have a false start on the road, I get that. "But right now, until we start playing a little bit better, we can't afford anything self inflicted, and we're doing way too much of that. I thought we had played pretty well. I didn't think we played well last Saturday as a unit there." In two non-conference matchups this season (Cincinnati and Missouri State), Arkansas has averaged 5.4 yards per carry and 218 yards per game. LIMIT EXPLOSIVE PLAYS It likely comes as little- to-no surprise that Arkansas' defense ranks last in the FBS in 30-plus yard plays from scrimmage allowed. The Razorbacks have given up 24 such plays through six weeks. Opponents have totaled 12 plays of 40-plus yards, and that figure places Arkansas 127th nationally, according to CFBStats.com. Simply put, the Razorbacks must find a way, through various injuries and depth concerns, to limit explosive plays at BYU. Big gains can not only provide but swing momentum and engage what is expected to be a large, loud crowd. In 3 homes games this season, the Cougars have passed for 900 yards and 9 touchdowns without an interception. Away from home, they have averaged 228.7 yards per game through the air. Like with most teams, there is an obvious comfortability playing at home. Overall, BYU, led by Hall, whose status for the game was up in the air earlier in the week, it has recorded 66 pass plays of 10-plus yards this season, and 22 have netted at least 20 yards. As a reference point, Alabama has 63 pass plays of 10 or more yards and 22 of 20-plus. "I know one thing: They can throw the football," Pittman said. "And we're certainly concerned about that." Keanu Hill, a sophomore receiver, leads BYU with 334 yards on 17 catches, and freshman wideout Kody Epps has 25 receptions for 298 yards and a team-best 5 touchdowns. Hill has come on strong in recent weeks, tallying five touchdowns in the Cougars' last four games. He finished the loss to Notre Dame with 4 catches for 100 yards and 2 touchdowns. Running the ball, BYU ranks 83rd nationally with 25 carries of 10-plus yards, but the Cougars have ripped off nine 20-plus yard runs — as many as Arkansas. Senior running back Christopher Brooks has rushed for 90 yards and a touchdown in back-to-back games. BYU this season has seven scoring drives of 60-plus yards in five or fewer plays. "We're not treating it any different than an SEC team," Arkansas defensive back Hudson Clark said. "They're fast, they're physical, their receivers catch mostly everything we've seen, and they finish blocks. "They're really a good opponent we're about to face." GENERATING PRESSURE If the Razorbacks hope to bother Hall or another BYU quarterback in the passing game, they will likely have to get the best of a former 5-star offensive lineman who Pittman recruited out of high school. It will be a tall task. BYU right tackle Kingsley Suamataia, a transfer from Oregon, is an essential part of a Cougars offensive line that is among the best in the country in pass protection. According to PFF, BYU's front is No. 2 in the FBS with a pass-blocking grade of 87.3. The metrics show that the Cougars' line has posted pass-blocking marks of 81.0 or better in 4 of 6 games this season, including 90.1 against Wyoming. However, Suamataia and left tackle Blake Freeland have allowed a team-high seven quarterback pressures apiece and 10 total hurries. Arkansas defensive ends Landon Jackson and Zach Williams become crucial in Arkansas' game plan, as does linebacker Drew Sanders, who often crashes the edge. The Razorbacks need a bounce-back effort from their pass rush. They did not record a sack last Saturday against Mississippi State, and Arkansas for the first time since 2016 went without a tackle for loss despite making 105 stops. "They're a veteran offensive line playing well together," Pittman said. "Very, very physical, play extremely hard, really good pass protectors for Hall. I think they're really well coached and play extremely hard, and (they're) talented." Just a few weeks ago, Arkansas led the country in sacks behind strong play from Sanders, Williams, Georgia Tech transfer Jordan Domineck and Jackson. But the Razorbacks have just four sacks during the three- game losing streak against Texas A&M, Alabama and Mississippi State. Domineck said this week that BYU's offensive line, physically, provides a big challenge. "They're a pretty big O-line, an SEC-sized O-line — 6-7, 6-8 across the board, 6-6, over 300 (pounds)," he said. "It's just going to be (about) us getting Hall off his spot as a D-line, so to speak, and just trying to dominate the line of scrimmage from the get-go. "We've got to be able to start fast." SECONDARY HEALTH Will Myles Slusher, Jayden Johnson or Khari Johnson be able to play for the Razorbacks? Their availabilities loom large for the Razorbacks. Slusher did not travel to Mississippi State, and the Johnsons were injured during the first half of the game. It was a blow to an already- thin Arkansas secondary that lost safety Jalen Catalon and cornerback LaDarrius Bishop to season-ending injuries in the first two games. The Razorbacks were down five front-line defensive backs by halftime against one of the sport's most pass- happy teams. Earlier this week, Pittman indicated Jayden Johnson might be more likely to play than Khari Johnson this week, and said Slusher's status was "up in the air." Pittman said three defensive backs had not practiced as of Wednesday morning, but did not specify which ones. Khari Johnson was off to a great start against Mississippi State with nine tackles through one-plus quarter. His 66.7 grade by PFF was virtually tied with Latavious Brini for the best score last week among Arkansas' defensive backs. Keys n Continued from Page 2 10.15.2022 BEST OF THE WEB Here are some selected comments from the message boards at wholehogsports.com. FANS EXPRESS THEIR FRUSTRATION AFTER ARKANSAS LOSES IS THIRD GAME IN A ROW. lovemyhawgsforever: … our defensives woes continue. Sure, we can catch lightening in a bottle like last year, but if we are to not only get consistent but to the next level in the conference, we need major upgrades on the defensive side of the ball. But poor defensive line play, a secondary that can't cover and poor tackling all around has been a constant for about a decade now. Nothing changes until these problems are addressed. … We should also be hitting the portal hard. There will be plenty of players out there looking for greener pastures and more playing time. eaglehog5: Playing a brutal schedule and making a ton of mistakes. That's where we find ourselves … Even after two quality wins to start the season, we knew were going to struggle to win two of the next four. Now just winning one looks a little iffy. Doesn't help to lose your best player on each side of the ball, but that's life in the SEC. There are still winnable games left on our schedule, but I worry about the psyche of our team. razorback339: Something not right here… dfarris: Our Hogs are trending in the wrong direction after six games. They have gone from being talked about possibly being the third best team in the SEC and over ranked at No. 10 to now being possibly one of the four worst teams in the SEC. It will be difficult for this team to get to six wins and bowl eligibility. AND THEN THERE ARE THOSE LOOKING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE hogmaestro: I am here to offer some optimism. God knows the world needs some. Yes, we are 3-3. We have fallen out of the top 25. And we should be 4-2 if not for a couple of bad mistakes and an improbable field goal miss. Yes, our secondary probably feels like they have been in an actual military battle. And we need a healthy KJ Jefferson. All that said, let's all remember we lost three last year and bounced back. …I think we can still win eight, maybe even nine. jmetsrule: 9-3 would indeed be a heck of a year at this point. I like the optimism. johndhogefeller: Cincinnati is 5-1 now. With our crazy schedule, 8-4 would be an awesome record. uncleham: I'll be happy with seven wins, ecstatic with eight. It appears that the rebuild is going to take a little bit longer. I believe in Coach Pittman! eaglehog5: I'm a perma 7-5 predictor. That seems to be what I predict for my Hogs every year, and that's what I see now. However, it's been awhile since we were last 7-5. I think 2015 was the last time we finished the regular season at 7-5. Then we won the Liberty Bowl. I see some similarities developing between those seasons. MattJones: Of the last six teams Arkansas will play, Ole Miss is the only one that I don't feel good about the Razorbacks' chances of beating. I wouldn't predict Arkansas to go 5-0 in the other games, but I wouldn't be surprised by it either. All of those teams have flaws, too. dfarris: As a lifelong Hog fan I like the optimism. Looking at the remaining schedule one would think we should be able to compete … Having said that, I'm quite certain that most if not all the opponents except for Liberty feel confident that they can compete and have a chance to defeat the Hogs as well. bikehog23: We have lost all three games to teams that were ranked when we played them. BYU was ranked last week, but fell out of the rankings after the loss this weekend to Notre Dame. The only other team on our schedule that is ranked this week is Ole Miss. In other words, we have lost to good teams. Alabama and Miss State were solid losses. A&M was a travesty of errors as others have said. The teams we beat were also decent teams. Cincinnati is ranked again. South Carolina is coming back with votes. BYU is going to be a tough nut to crack on the road, but is winnable. After that, a much-needed rest should prepare the Hogs for a strong finish. Ole Miss at home might even be possible if we can figure out the pass defense. FANS PREDICT THE SCORE OF ARKANSAS' GAME VS. BYU gentryrzrbk: BYU 38, Hogs 24. gashog: With KJ performing in a dual threat QB offense, as he should be, Hogs 44-28. With Hornsby in the backfield with KJ and at WR as well and playing for the majority of the game, Hogs 55-30. With KJ running a ball control offense, BYU 31- Hogs 28. lilhawg: I must admit that … I have lost some confidence in this team. This will be a tough game for us. My heart says Hawgs 31 BYU 28. But like I said, I don't have much confidence in my pick… Pavlovhog1: From Fourth Nephi: "Thy swine shall kill thee and eat thy cats." Hogs big in this one. jacksonreid: Arkansas 41, BYU 34. neastarkie: My feel is never very accurate, but I have a better feeling about this game than I did the MSU game. Maybe it's because KJ will play. Maybe it's because I don't think BYU's offense is as good as MSU's. Regardless, I'll go Arkansas 42, BYU 32. georgiahawg: We get back on track this week. KJ is rested up and will be back to playing the way we know he can. Both players named Sanders have career best games. Larry comes rolling out after the next three games. Hogs 34, BYU 30. stillgreghog: I have no clue. No outcome will surprise me. Hogs win big; Hogs win close one; BYU wins close one; BYU wins big. If I have to guess? BYU 42, Hogs 28. SWHog: BYU 41, Hogs 31. dghog: BYU 38, Hogs 24. sdhog: Hogs 38, BYU 35. ScottieBordelon: BYU 31-27. I have concerns about Arkansas' secondary depth, obviously, as well as the team's playmaking on the perimeter at receiver, and red-zone efficiency. The Razorbacks should be able to run the ball on BYU. The Cougars have given up 200+ on the ground three times this season, including to Utah State. But can Arkansas be more than one-dimensional? Not entirely sold right now, which I wasn't expecting at this point in the season. white25: Recovery. Ark. 43, BYU 37. hogbacker: We're not as good as we had hoped, we're not nearly as bad as many think, will be great to get this road win. Hogs 38 - BYU 21. Think we will see a steady run mixed with some slant passes and Hornsby mixed in different than what we've seen in the past. Hope they coach up Hornsby on sliding tasks he can't absorb those hits KJ does. bikehog23: It's not just poor pass defense, it's also penalties. Gotta clean that up, too. Play a clean game and I think Hogs win by two TDs. Penalties or turnovers, not so sure. HogDoctor: BYU 42, Hogs 35. Our secondary gets picked on and we run it down their throats. I think altitude is a difference maker this Saturday for the home team… armyhog: I will defer making a prediction until our Hogs play a complete four quarters of average football. I hope they win. It don't matter who starts at QB. The defense has to play better and I hope to never see the three-man front again. marcm: We did miss four interceptions last game. Hopefully will win the turnover margin. That makes a difference in the game. 38-24, Hogs. I'm concerned about the air and how it'll affect the big guys for us. borehog: Hogs 41, BYU 28. armyhog: The big boys better be hydrated and able to get off the field on defense and our offensive line needs to be able to rotate some. This game could pose a real scary situation with a short and depleted defense. lovemyhawgsforever: Even with KJ back, no deep threat at receiver. BYU stacks the box. Defense still the weakest link. BYU-35, Hogs-24. ncschwartz3650: No deep threat at receiver? Tell Mississippi State that. Arkansas 35, BYU 28. youdaman: BYU, 34 -27. I just don't see this defense being able to stop anybody that has a good running game and a quarterback that can throw the ball as well as theirs… hope I'm wrong because we need to win going into an off week. stewdaddy: 45-27, Hogs over BYU. NOW HIRING QUALIFIED THERAPISTS & ESTHETICIANS Thanks for voting us the Best of the Best! FAYETTEVILLE 3557 North Shiloh Drive 479-571-3689 ROGERS 2603 W Pleasant Grove Rd 479-633-8340 Monday-Saturday 8 am-8 pm | Sunday 10 am-8 pm *Offer valid for first-time guests only. All session times include a total of 10 minutes of time for consultation and dressing, which occurs pre and post-service. Additional taxes and fees may apply. Each location is independently owned and operated. ©2021 ME SPE Franchising, LLC. All rights reserved. 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