FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ Bobby Petrino, an ardent believer in the one-game-at-a-time approach to coaching, doesn’t see his 19th-ranked Hogs as viewing lowly Vanderbilt as a respite after a difficult five-game stretch.
It doesn’t matter that the Hogs will be a three-touchdown favorite when the teams kick off at 6 p.m. today at Reynolds Razorback Stadium, or that homecoming festivities will be under way.
“I don’t see any signs that we’re going to let down,” Petrino said. “I think we’re very motivated to keep improving and have a good game on Saturday.”
The Razorbacks (5-2, 2-2 SEC), with losses only to SEC heavyweights Auburn (No. 1) and Alabama (No. 7), still have designs on a warm-weather bowl destination and can clinch bowl eligibility with a victory over Vanderbilt.
But recent history says Arkansas cannot relax against Vanderbilt. The Commodores,with quarterback Jay Cutler, beat Arkansas on their last trip to Fayetteville, 28-24 on Sept. 10, 2005.
This Vanderbilt team has been much tamer offensively, averaging 9.5 points in SEC games, but the Commodores beat Ole Miss 28-14 in Oxford, Miss., on Sept. 18. That’s the same margin of victory for Arkansas over the Rebels last week.
The Commodores are a team in transition under Robbie Caldwell, a longtime offensive line coach who replaced Bobby Johnson less than three weeks before the start of fall camp.
Caldwell entertained the media with his homespun humor at SEC media days, but he made a serious move this week, shifting the roles on his offensive staff, giving running backs coach Des Kitchings the title of coordinator while taking that designation away from quarterbacks coach Jimmy Kiser.
“We’ve been struggling there obviously,” Caldwell said in reference to Vanderbilt’s seven points the past two weeks. “I decided it’s time to rejuvenate a little bit and see if we can’t get some offense put together.”
The Razorbacks stayed in the news with injury and off the-field issues. Quarterback Ryan Mallett (shoulder) and receiver Greg Childs (ankle)are expected to start, but receiver Joe Adams (shoulder) and defensive tackle D.D. Jones (suspension) have been ruled out by Petrino.
That Caldwell addressed the Commodores’ offensive woes is not surprising. Vanderbilt hit an uninspiring statistical trifecta this week, ranking 105th in the country in passing, scoring and total offense.
Quarterback Larry Smith directs a spread-option package that is comparable to the systems at Auburn and Ole Miss that hit the Razorbacks for 982 yards and 89 points the past two weeks.
“It’s a lot like the Mississippi State and Florida stuff was last year, with the same formations, same type running schemes,” Arkansas defensive coordinator Willy Robinson said.
The Razorbacks don’t think Vanderbilt will make drastic alterations with the change of offensive coordinators.
“From what we’re hearing they’re going to run the ball a little bit more, and off that we know they’ll have their play action passes, which have been really good for them,” Robinson said.
The Commodores are led by running back Warren Norman, who has 395 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns and averages 6.0 yards per carry.
Arkansas finally unleashed a potent ground game last week as sophomore Knile Davis churned out 176 yards and three touchdowns to lead a 197-yard effort on the ground.
The Razorbacks rank second nationally in passing (352.1 ypg), 12th in total offense (477.7 ypg) and 33rd in scoring (33 ppg).
“It’s going to be a very difficult task to slow them down,” Caldwell said. “I’ve been impressed with both their running back and the quarterback, but I think the unsung group there is the offensive line. Man, they’re nice-looking and do a good job.”
Vanderbilt is getting healthy on defense, with tackles A.J. Greenstone (ankle) and Adam Smotherman (knee) expected to start. Middle linebacker Chris Marve anchors the Commodores, who possess one of the best sets of cornerbacks around in NCAA interception leader Casey Hayward and Eddie Foster. Hayward has five interceptions.
“Whenever you have two really good corners it allows you to do a lot of things pressurewise because you can play man coverage,” Arkansas offensive coordinator Garrick McGee said.
“They don’t sit around and read,” Petrino said. “They’re usually moving them one way or the other and running line games. ...
“So we have to do a good job of being able to mix it up, run and pass.”
Sports, Pages 23 on 10/30/2010