Gameday Extra

RUN GAME It was evident for all to see last Saturday, and Pittman said as much afterward, that the Razorbacks' offensive line was whipped by Liberty. According to Pro Football Focus, Arkansas posted its worst run-blocking grade of the season (54.6). For context, the Razorbacks have graded at 74.9 or better five times this season, including in their three other non-conference games. The Flames held Arkansas to a season-low 144 yards and limited SEC leader Raheim "Rocket" Sanders to a season- low 60 yards on the ground. Pittman on Wednesday gave Liberty its credit while also mentioning his veteran group did not perform to its standard. "I think you go back to work," Pittman said. "Hopefully you strain harder, your eyes are up better, the physicality part of it gets back to where we have been. I think if we get back to where we have been, there's going to be a hell of a battle on Saturday. But that's our offensive line. "They're not quitters. They're not pouters. They know they didn't play well." Despite last week's performance, the Razorbacks' front remains No. 1 in the SEC in run blocking, per PFF, and No. 4 nationally with a cumulative grade of 82.3. "I think they'll come out and play well on Saturday," Pittman said, "but they're going to have to because LSU's front seven is very, very talented and very, very physical." Right tackle Dalton Wagner, who has played in every game this season, experienced discomfort in his back against Liberty. Pittman said Wednesday he is banged up, but would practice in some capacity. Wagner holds Arkansas' No. 4 overall offense grade this season (80.2), per PFF. Ty'Kieast Crawford, a transfer from North Carolina- Charlotte, is No. 2 on the depth chart at right tackle. "I think he'll be a fine player for us in the future," Pittman said of Crawford, who has played 24 snaps this season, "and I think if we go with him on Saturday, I think he'll do a great job." SLUSHER'S REPLACEMENT Defensive backs Myles Slusher and Anthony Brown were suspended by Pittman this week for at least one game following their arrests early last Sunday in connection with disorderly conduct. For Slusher, a starter at nickel back when available, Saturday will mark the fifth game this season in which he has not played for various reasons. He left Arkansas' season opener against Cincinnati with an upper-body injury and did not play the next two weeks against South Carolina and Missouri State. The week after returning for the Razorbacks' loss to Texas A&M, Slusher injured his calf vs. Alabama and missed the team's 1-1 stretch against Mississippi State and BYU. He recorded 10 tackles during Arkansas' win at Auburn and loss to Liberty, and is No. 12 on the team with 20 tackles. Slusher has 4 tackles for loss and recorded 1 sack in each of the last 2 games. The Razorbacks, obviously, are familiar with formulating a game plan and snap-count diet for other players in Slusher's absence. According to the depth chart released by Arkansas ahead of this weekend, next up at nickel back is Jayden Johnson, then Trent Gordon and Jacorrei Turner. Johnson leads the group with 23 tackles, 2.5 tackles for lost yardage and 1.5 sacks. He has started in Slusher's stead three times. Khari Johnson, too, has received a starting nod twice in a Dime package with Slusher out. Gordon this season has made 14 stops. Turner has not recorded a defensive snap this season. LSU'S BJ OJULARI Arkansas' offense this season has faced a number of game-wrecker caliber players. Alabama's Will Anderson comes to mind, as does Auburn's Derick Hall. After last weekend's loss to Liberty, it is more than fair to throw in the Flames' Durrell Johnson, who finished with 3.5 tackles for loss, which tied the Razorbacks' Drew Sanders for a game high. Arkansas may be preparing to face its biggest challenge with an individual player yet in Ojulari, LSU's 6-3, 250-pound defensive end. During the Tigers' overtime victory over Alabama last Saturday, he finished with a career-high 11 tackles, 1.5 for lost yardage and 1 sack. Ojulari also hurried the Crimson Tide quarterback Young twice as a pass rusher. He will enter this weekend, according to PFF, with a pass-rush grade of 84.1. Rarely does a player wrap up a game against Alabama with an impressive grade in that category, but he received a mark of 70.5. It followed a grade of 80.0 in LSU's blowout win over Ole Miss. "He's a leader by example," first-year LSU coach Brian Kelly said. "He works hard, does the right things on and off the field, sets a great example. When you're talking about culture change, when you're talking about standards and doing things differently, you need a couple of guys early on that kind of set that example by the way they do things. "He was one of those guys for me who, early on, just was all in." He may very well be the heart and soul of the Tigers' defense. Ojulari has played the fourth-most snaps (486) on that side of the ball and has the unit's No. 5 overall defense grade, per PFF. After last weekend giving up the most tackles for loss since the 2002 Cotton Bowl against Oklahoma, Arkansas' offensive line needs to bounce back in a big way. Limiting the effectiveness and impact of Ojulari would be a good start for the Razorbacks. He has 37 tackles coming into the trophy game in Fayetteville and a team-best 6.5 tackles for loss. PFF numbers show he has missed only five tackles this season, so an element of shiftiness from Arkansas' skill players and tailbacks is essential. "He plays so hard, doesn't take plays off," Kelly said. "Go back to the Auburn game where he came up with a strip-sack that changed the momentum of the game. It was a leader's kind of play, where effort was needed in the time of the game where we needed a big play and he stepped up. "That's what he does. He leads by example, (gives) great effort and shows it in the way he does things on a day-to-day basis." TREY KNOX The Arkansas tight end is the team's leader in touchdown receptions with five. Against Liberty, Knox had his second game this season with two touchdowns. Knox's five receiving scores lead all SEC players at the position. He has 3 catches for 13 yards in the last 2 weeks, but 2 have resulted in touchdowns as he served as something of a go-to weapon in Arkansas' red-zone trips against the Flames. Pittman this week said Knox is an unsung hero and ultra-valuable for the Razorbacks offensively. "Certainly (he is) catching the ball extremely well," Pittman said. " (He has made) some timely catches for us this year on third downs, obviously some touchdown situations, and he runs extremely well after the catch." Knox, according to PFF, is fourth on the team in yards after catch with 123, trailing Jadon Haselwood, Raheim Sanders and Matt Landers. While Knox had two touchdowns against Liberty, the play that has lingered a bit is the Jefferson pass into the end zone that bounced off his hands and resulted in an interception. It went down as his third drop of the season. Two of Jefferson's three interceptions in 2022 have first gone off the tight end's hands. "We had bad spacing on that play," Knox said. "I've still got to make that play or at least get the ball down and not let it fall in (the defensive back's) hands." Entering the weekend, LSU ranks 10th in the SEC in conference games in passing defense, allowing 265 yards per game. If the Razorbacks find harmony offensively, they can potentially hurt the Tigers through the air. And it could lead to targets and key plays for Knox. He has four catches for 19 yards in his career against LSU. "I've been really pleased with him," Pittman said. "He's taken going to tight end. I think he's taken his game to a new level, and I feel like he'll be a kid that will be draftable. "I think that's a real testament to him — very smart kid and (it is a) testament to him and his work ethic." Keys n Continued from Page 2 11.12.2022 BEST OF THE WEB Here are some selected comments from the message boards at wholehogsports.com. WHAT KIND OF COACH IS SAM PITTMAN? bayouhog: (Coach Sam Pittman) continually appears to go out of his way to not offend an assistant coach or player and shoulders the blame for everything himself. I think he publicly needs to call a spade a spade every once in a while. To me, being too nice as a college football coach is a recipe for trouble. Another poster mentioned CSP discussing offensive or defensive strategy and stating that, "we need to do this or that more." Come on Sam! Take control a little more! southpaw: I totally disagree with you. He should counsel and scold assistants behind closed doors, and he probably does. ClayHenry: His philosophy mirrors every great coach I've seen at Arkansas — Frank Broyles, Eddie Sutton, Nolan Richardson, John McDonnell, Dave Van Horn, Eric Musselman and others. None ever criticized their staff and took blame when things did not work. gashog: He hasn't just slammed his staff but he has been critical of them some. At halftime when asked (if) he gave a fire- and-brimstone talk, he said yes and for the coaches too! He's made statements along the way about defensive things he was tired of seeing, in discussions with Barry Odom, same with Kendal Briles. But then he is correct at the end of the day it's his decision. He also indicated we have some positions on both sides of the ball that need to get better. Could he be more clear and more assertive? Sure. But I think he has subtly thrown his coordinators under the bus even when he made it clear he kept them from doing what he was complaining about. I don't think he sees any point in constant loud public harsh comments about it. silverlakehog: I'd guess that after 40 years in the profession, seeing what has worked and what hasn't in dealing with players and coaches and how it has affected him and the people around him, CSP has decided that this is the kind of coach he wants to be. MattJones: If you throw your assistants under the bus in the media, you'll have a hard time getting the best assistants to come work for you in the future. RichardDavenport: I've always been a firm believer in keeping things in-house. Does no good whatsoever to air dirty laundry. jacksonreid: "If anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes semi-good, we did it. If anything goes really good, then you did it. That's all it takes to get people to win football games for you." — Bear Bryant WHAT DOES ARKANSAS' FOOTBALL TEAM NEED TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP? citgeauxhog: After thinking on this for a few weeks (here's) what I'd like to see take place with our football team. First, pride and the intensity that comes from reflecting that pride and representing that pride. Second, we need a better strength and conditioning program. Third, skill development, and I am not calling for coach's to be fired. Fourth, we have to literally look at the whole roster, and make the determination if they are quality SEC level players or have the potential to be. Fifth, no excuses in recruiting! hawgjawbend: I would try to find some way to plow some of the $40 million-plus a year they are making from the SEC back into Arkansas high school football — improving facilities, creating youth interest and that type of thing. You can only build so many facilities on campus and spend money in other ways on campus. What this program really needs is good Arkansas high school football, with development of big linemen, better quarterbacks and more physically gifted players. bushhog: Coach brought stability and he seems a great guy. Hopefully we can finish strong in year three and do well in recruiting. Hard to lose at home to Liberty and not want to evaluate everything. To me, well beyond Liberty, if we want to compete in high levels of the SEC, we need improve much further beyond the talent we have and that's recruiting. We seem deficient in several areas this year. armyhog: Big picture don't forget where we were when Coach Sam Pittman took this job! There's plenty to complain about for sure. The bottom line our Hogs are in much better shape now. It takes time! We as fans need patience. That's something we lack. The one thing I would like to see is more effort to come up with plays down near the goal line to get TDs and two-point … redpig: A schedule that recognizes the physical limits of players and stops scheduling mid-season games like BYU and Liberty when the demands of a SEC schedule are going leave you needing breathers. Playing Cincy or some other national power first is great but no more mid season Power 5 foes. We have a team now spent with three SEC opponents coming up and even with a win Saturday this team is emotionally drained and we all know carrying multiple injuries. lovemyhogsforever: Unfortunately, some fans and local sport show hosts demand a murderer's row non-conference schedule. As if playing one of the toughest schedules in the country year after year wasn't good enough. Jeremy: Man, y'all kill me. Were you in a coma during the Chad Morris years? We are a slightly above average football program. That is reality, and has been borne out repeatedly since 1964. Nobody but Sam wanted this job. PREDICTING THE OUTCOME OF SATURDAY'S GAME AGAINST LSU jmetsrule: This game has nasty written all over it. Hogs are pissed; LSU is smelling blood in the SEC West's waters. I don't think there is as much scoring in this one as we might think. Hogs 20, LSU 17. In overtime. HogDoctor: Tigers 42, Hogs 24. It will be a beat down, IMO. LSU's team and program are going in a good direction but we are going the other way. I hate thinking this way, but it's what I see with my own eyes. cody: Man, I would love to see an upset, but I don't think we see a win here. LSU- 42, Hogs- 24. hawgindaslough: Cannot count how many times Hogs have pulled off a shocking upset in this situation. And against teams better than this LSU team. Hogs will have to play up to their potential for 60 minutes. I expect LSU to play well. But Hogs will be playing out of their minds. Key as some have observed will be jumping on LSU early on a cold morning, like they did A&M. Hogs 28-17. SWHog: Tigers score early and often. Hogs struggle to make first downs, let alone score points. Tigers 41, Hogs 13. lovemyhogsforever: Too many injuries, not enough depth or talent. Tigers 35, Hawgs 14. neastarkie: LSU has gotten much better since the start of the year. We learned Saturday that we can't have any let ups against even mediocre teams, much less very good ones. …I'll say LSU by 15 points. LSU 42, Hogs 27. harleyhawgidson: Well there are posters in this thread that should be making a lot of money on Saturday since LSU opened as just a 3.5 point favorite and it has stayed in the 3 to 3.5 point range. LDhog: Corndogs never get thawed. Hogs 36, LSwho 24. marcm: 48-10, not us. white25: LSU is flying high and ripe for an upset —-Not! LSU 36, Ark 22. lilhawg: Can't realistically pick the Hawgs. Frankly, I've lost confidence in them for many reasons that have been discussed on here for the last couple of days. There's always hope, but it's LSU 31-21… redpig: Arkansas' inconsistency is troubling. Who shows up Saturday? What coach has his players ready and who does not? If Arkansas is firing on all cylinders for three or possibly even four quarters they can stay with the Tigers. If not the Tigers are ready to finish out their season without another lost. They have something to play for and we seems lost looking for the season to end. LSU 54, Arkansas 17. planohog: you just have to trust the process even when things are not going your way. Hogs 41, LSU 27. Free $ 20 Promo Card when you purchase $ 115 in a gift card * *Offer available only in-location through 12/31/22. Promotional card must be used between 1/1/23 and 3/31/23. Promotional card may NOT be used for monthly payments under Membership/Wellness Agreements, gratuities, or to purchase gift cards. OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY TO PROMOTIONAL CARDS AND THIS OFFER. See MassageEnvy.com/Holiday. 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Each location is an independently owned and operated franchise. ©2022 ME SPE Franchising, LLC._ME-DNLD-2044-00-002-8x11 Interested In a great career as a massage therapIst? please gIve the clInIc a call to help start your career! FAYETTEVILLE 3557 N 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 Best of Northwest Arkansas the Free $ 20 Promo Card when you purchase $ 115 in a gift card * *Offer available only in-location through 12/31/22. Promotional card must be used between 1/1/23 and 3/31/23. Promotional card may NOT be used for monthly payments under Membership/Wellness Agreements, gratuities, or to purchase gift cards. OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY TO PROMOTIONAL CARDS AND THIS OFFER. See MassageEnvy.com/Holiday. Each location is an independently owned and operated franchise. ©2022 ME SPE Franchising, LLC._ME-DNLD-2044-00-002-8x11 Interested In a great career as a massage therapIst? please gIve the clInIc a call to help start your career! FAYETTEVILLE 3557 N 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 Best of Northwest Arkansas the FREE $ 20 Promo Card when you purchase a $115 gift card* www.innisfreeseniorliving.com "Treating you like family" NOBODY'S PRICES OR CARE CAN COMPARE IN NWA! Innisfree Senior Living We are cheering on our College Team this season! GO TEAM! 300 Innisfree Circle • Rogers, AR • 479-636-7363

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