LIKE IT IS Razorbacks' reality: They're 0-2 in SEC

— Alabama probably isn't quite as good as it was last year, and Arkansas is probably a little better, but there was no doubt Saturday which one was the better team.

It looked and felt like a 35-7 loss.

The Tide dominated almost every statistic because it controlled the line of scrimmage on offense and defense.

Aided by some dropped Alabama passes, the Razorbacks seemed to have hope after a scoreless first quarter. They trailed only 14-0 at the half and pulled to within 14-7 when Ryan Mallett hit Greg Childs for an 18-yard touchdown.

Momentarily, it appeared the Razorbacks were back in it, but that touchdown was more like someone knocking down a hornet's nest.

The Tide took all of 20 seconds to answer with an 80-yard touchdown pass, and after Alabama stopped the Hogs again, Arkansas punter Dylan Breeding tried one of those rugby roll-outs and got his kick blocked. Alabama then made it 28-7 by driving 35 yards on five plays.

The final score was a smash-mouth, 99-yard drive that took 13 plays and 6:28. It was indicative of the game.

If the Tide's defensive line had been hairs, Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett would have had a full beard by the time he was pulled so Tyler Wilson could close out the game.

Mallett was sacked only three times, but Alabama was on him like ugly on an ape.

Georgia was his introduction to SEC football, but Alabama was his baptism.

The Crimson Tide knew Mallett was the key for the Hogs, and they went after him with reckless abandon.

By intermission he had completed only 7 of 21 passes, and by the end when the crimson train finally stopped, he was 12 of 35.

The Razorbacks finished with 245 yards of total offense. That won't win many games, especially not when you give up 425 yards.

The Hogs defense was porous at best against Georgia, but it played a little better against Alabama with Jerry Franklin - who had a game-high 10 tackles - back in the mix. Still, a glaring problem for the Hogs was the inability to wrap up and tackle to the ground.

Shoulder tackling Missouri State and shoulder tackling an SEC team is a totally different thing.

It was really obvious midway in the second quarter when on a second-and-5 from the Tide 48, freshman running back Trent Richardson was hit behind the line, then again at the line, then again 2 yards beyond the line, and 52 yards later down the line he was in the end zone.

What should have been a loss of yards became a 7-0 lead.

On Alabama's next possession, Nick Saban let Bobby Petrino know that he knows a few offensive tricks, too. He had quarterback Greg McElroy line up wide, but after a hand-off and a lateral McElroy had the ball and Julio Jones was all alone 10 yards from the goal line.

No matter what is happening anywhere else on the field against Alabama, Jones should never, ever be left uncovered.

He made the catch and scored.

McElroy finished the day with 17 completions on 24 attempts for 291 yards and 3 touchdowns and should be a strong candidate for SEC offensive player of the week, just like Georgia's Joe Cox was this past week.

Saban had no trouble admitting that "we planned to go after their corners some and probably should have more."

The Razorbacks also shot themselves in the foot with penalties, several of which negated decent offensive gains.

The Hogs made their initial venture into a hostile environment, and it should have been a learning experience.

Time will tell whether Alabama is really No. 3 in the country, but it was the Razorbacks who woke up this morning 0-2 in SEC play. Now, they have to travel to Arlington, Texas, to take on Texas A&M this Saturday in a game that is critical when it comes to confidence and being bowl eligible.

Sports, Pages 25 on 09/27/2009

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