Mallett: Execution, not confidence at root of problems

FAYETTEVILLE — For all of the offensive numbers, records and improvement shown in the second game of the season, it was all erased Saturday at Alabama.

A 35-7 loss, being held to 254 yards of offense, again committing too many penalties and allowing three touchdowns of 50 yards or more on defense has the Hogs reeling and their head coach facing something he has never faced in his collegiate coaching career - a 1-2 record.

Now comes a game that could prove pivotal for how the remainder of the season shapes up for the Razorbacks. A trip south to Dallas to face Texas A&M on Saturday will give the Hogs a chance to get back to .500 in the win-loss column.

Or continue to head south in the win-loss column.

"We've got to go win the game, no doubt," Razorbacks head coach Bobby Petrino said.

To get there, the Hogs will have to sharpen their execution. Quarterback Ryan Mallett mentioned execution or a variation of the word nine times while speaking to the media for a little more than 2 minutes after the loss to the Crimson Tide on Saturday.

Mallett completed 12 of 35 passes for 160 yards and 1 touchdown with 1 interception. It was his worst performance in his short Razorbacks career, and his lowest passing total as a starting quarterback in six games at Michigan and Arkansas.

"They played great defense, and we didn't execute," Mallett said. "That's all it's about. I'm going to keep telling you it's execution. That's what we've got to do."

Arkansas receivers also dropped passes more often than in the first two games of the season. No receiver finished with more than 100 yards. Joe Adams led the way with 81 yards on six catches. He also came down with the Hogs' longest play from scrimmage, a 25-yard catch.

Sophomore Greg Childs, who caught the Hogs' lone touchdown, said it was a "lack of focus" that led to dropped balls. The Razorbacks dropped several passes during a rain-soaked warmup before the weather cleared and the game started Saturday afternoon.

"It was a lack of confidence by us not making the plays we usually make," Childs said.

For the first time all season, the Hogs' offense was shut down and looked inept during stretches of the game. Arkansas was in Alabama territory three times in the first half, but could never convert for a score. Third down problems also continued for Arkansas, which converted just two of 14 attempts.

"I think they played well, but things just didn't fall in their hands,"defensive tackle Malcolm Sheppard said of the Hogs' offense. "I know Mallett, and he's a confident guy, and he's going to respond to this and he's going to come back.

"Everybody on the team, the whole offense, is going to come back and be positive and work hard this week."

Mallett certainly wasn't about to admit a poor performance was hurting his confidence after the game Saturday.

"No, it's never going to hurt my confidence," the sophomore said. "I'm going to keep my head up and the rest of the team is the same way. We didn't play well, we know it, and we're going to come back ready to go."

Mallett's problems involved technique. Footwork was one area that suffered, Petrino said.

"He didn't see things like he saw in the previous two games," Petrino explained. "You can't take anything away from their defense, because they are very good. They do a nice job of disguising and hitting the blitzes when they're supposed to. But he's very capable of playing a lot better than that."

Mallett was sacked three times and was unable to properly step into several throws because of pressure from the Alabama defense.

Arkansas' running game showed signs of improvement against Alabama's rush defense, which allows 47 yards a game. The Hogs finished with 63 yards because of sacks, but their running backs did gain 100 yards before a few run losses.

Michael Smith finished with 61 yards on 12 carries. The Hogs' longest run was an 18-yard gain by the senior.

"... A couple of times we were one-on-one and we didn't make more yards after we were one-onone," Petrino said. "We need to do that. That's what running is about."

Arkansas (1-2) will get another chance against Texas A&M, which allows 145 yards on the ground per game. The Aggies (3-0) enter the week untested but certainly powerful with the nation's best offense, averaging 574 yards a game. They dismantled Alabama-Birmingham 56-19 on Saturday.

A win over the Big 12 team could get Arkansas back on course, Childs said.

"It's very important," Childs said. "We don't want to just keep losing. We are going to win games, and we're going to show everybody that we're fixing to come out and show we're a better team than we were the last couple of games."