LITTLE ROCK — OFFENSE
Quarterback
Tyler Wilson has an efficiency rating of 146.57, which is No. 37 in the country, No.
9 in the SEC and not far off his 148.35 from last year, but the Arkansas quarterback’s struggles in the red zone keep the number from being better. Wilson’s 338.8 passing yards per game are tops in the SEC and on course to break his mark of 3,638 last year for the second-best season in school history, but he would benefit from a stronger running game. He’s thrown 9 touchdown passes and 5 interceptions, which is subpar by his lofty standards after his 24 TDs and 6 ints.
in 2011.
Kiehl Frazier’s turnover problems have affected Auburn’s start. Frazier’s 96.03 efficiency rating (47 of 89, 546 yards, 2 TDs, 7 ints.) doesn’t make the top 100. Frazier, from Shiloh Christian, also hasn’t run as much as expected. He has 70 yards gained but 54 yards in sacks and other losses for a net of 16 yards and 0 TDs. The Tigers put in a Wildcat package for
Jonathan Wallace
against LSU and with its modest success (3 carries, 15 yards) the Razorbacks should expect it today. Auburn converts just 28 percent of its third downs and only 18.8 percent in the fourth quarter and overtime.
Running back
Just when it appeared Arkansas could be on the brink of establishing its running game, preseason All-SEC back
Knile Davis
(82 carries, 273 yards, 2 touchdowns, 3.3 yards per carry) picked up a fumbling habit. For the Razorbacks to have a chance, their turnover problems must be alleviated.
Dennis Johnson
(27-170, 1, 6.3) was on the verge of more significant reps when he broke his hand last week.
Jonathan Williams
(14-61, 0, 4.4) would be getting more notice if the Hogs were winning. Auburn’s top three backs all average 5.1 yards per carry or better, led by
Onterio McCaleb
(42-238, 2 TDs, 5.7 ypc), whose 6.37 career average ranks behind only Brent Fullwood (7.15) and Bo Jackson (6.62) at Auburn.
Tre Mason
(53-275, 1, 5.2 ypc) ran for 106 yards on Clemson in the opener.
Mike Blakeley
(15-76, 0, 5.1) has had limited chances.
Receivers
Texas A&M didn’t double-team Arkansas’
Cobi Hamilton
(31 catches, 591 yards, 4 TDs), but will Auburn? Hamilton is the SEC leader with 118.2 yards receiving per game.
Tight end
Chris Gragg
’s leg injury takes out a big part of the offense for the Hogs, who hope to compensate with
Brandon Mitchell
(13-202) in the slot and Austin Tate (4-30) at tight end.
Mekale McKay
(7-135, 1) has had a decent freshman year outside of his dropped touchdown pass against Rutgers.
Julian Horton
(4-65, 1) rose up last week to join
Javontee Herndon
(6-110, 1) as emerging wideouts, along with junior college transfer
Demetrius Wilson
(4-56). Auburn’s pass game has been tepid with Kiehl Frazier’s struggles, but
Emory Blake
(12-222, 1) is fast and capable.
Trovon Reed
(1-17) is expected to pick up more action with
Quan Bray
(11-82) suspended today. Multipurpose H-back
Philip Lutzenkirchen
(12-128) had five catches vs.
LSU, the most by a Tigers tight end since 2003.
Sammie Coates
(2-34, 1) has one of Auburn’s 3 TD receptions, as does Frazier, who caught a 33-yard scoring pass from Bray against Louisiana-Monroe.
Line
Too often 4 out of the 5 starters make their block for Arkansas, and the missed block ends up costing the Hogs. Veterans
Travis Swanson
and Alvin Bailey are playing OK for Arkansas, but they were supposed to be outstanding.
Swanson said this week that red zone woes are “microerrors” that can be corrected. Arkansas ranks 111th in rushing (106.6 yards per game) and 56th in total offense (417) after amassing 515 yards at Texas A&M. The Hogs are No. 50 in sacks allowed (1.6). Auburn starts two freshmen at tackle in redshirt LT
Greg Robinson
(6-5, 311 pounds) and true freshman RT
Patrick Miller
(6-7, 288). LG
John Sullen
(6-5, 313) and RG Chad
Slade
(6-5, 301) have started all 4 games along with Robinson, while C
Reese Dismukes
(6-3, 293) has started 3 after being suspended for the opener for a public intoxication arrest. Auburn is No. 87 in sacks allowed (2.25). The Tigers rank No. 75 in rushing (153.0) and No. 113 in total offense (297.8).
DEFENSE
Line
Deep fronts are in play for both teams.
Arkansas’ veteran front must somehow get pressure on Kiehl Frazier that could rattle him, but still seal his escape lanes. They’ll have to do it without end
Tenarius Wright
(shoulder).
Byran Jones
(23 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss),
Alfred Davis
(20, 0.5), D.D. Jones (13, 1.5, 3 sacks) make up the tackle corps. The ends
Chris Smith
(18, 3, 2, 5 hurries), Robert Thomas (12, 3.5, 1 sack, 4 hurries),
Jared Green
(9, 2, 1),
Trey Flowers
(10, 3.5, 1, 3), Colton Miles-Nash (10, 0.5, 1 hurry) and
Austin Flynn
(6, 0.5) will be under pressure to hold the edges. Ends
Corey Lemonier
(19, 5 sacks, 5 hurries) and
Dee Ford
(17, 2, 5) are two of the best in the SEC and team with
Nosa Eguae
(6, 1 hurry).
The tackle rotation, led by
Jeffrey Whitaker
(7, 2 hurries),
Angelo Blackson
(9, 1.5 TFL) and
Kenneth Carter
(9, 1 TFL), is a little thin.
Linebackers
Perhaps the combination of seniors Alonzo
Highsmith
(51, 3 tackles for loss, 1 sack) and
Terrell Williams
(20, 1 TFL) can begin to stabilize the linebacker corps for the Razorbacks, along with “star”
Ross Rasner
(37, 2 TFL, 1 interception). This group will be counted on to stop Kiehl Frazier on scrambles today. Freshmen
A.J. Turner
(8) and Otha Peters (1) have gotten a few more snaps in recent games for a unit that does not substitute often. Auburn WLB
Daren Bates
is the SEC leader with 11.75 tackles per game. Bates (47, 3 TFL, 1 int., 3 hurries) is a 39-game starter. Middle linebacker
Jake Holland
(37, 2 pass breakups, 3 hurries) and slightly undersized 5-11, 231-pound
Jonathan Evans
(5, 2 hurries) are the other starters. The Tigers do not substitute with great frequency in this corps, either, as
Justin Garrett
(6) and Ashton
Richardson
(1) are the top two tacklers in reserve. The Tigers are No. 76 in total defense (419.3 yards per game), but No. 58 in scoring defense (23.5), meaning they’ve clamped down well near their goal line.
Secondary
These backfields have 1 interception combined, by the Hogs’ Ross Rasner. Arkansas should get a boost this week with the return of
Eric Bennett
(19, 2 pass breakups), whose leg injury has been one of the more overlooked factors in the Hogs’ start.
Rohan Gaines
(37, 1 PBU) is gaining key experience as a redshirt freshman and showing improvement from a rough Week 2.
Alan Turner
(10) is a willing tackler, who was beaten on a double-move last week. Freshmen
Will Hines
(12, 1 PBU) and Davyon McKinney (1) are likely to get the start today at corner, with backup help from seniors
Kaelon Kelleybrew
(23, 1 tackles for loss, 4 PBU) and
Darius Winston
(5, 1 PBU) as
Tevin Mitchel
is probably one more week away from returning. Auburn’s
Demetruce McNeal
(40, 4 TFL,1 PBU) and Jermaine Whitehead (35, 1 sack, 3 PBU) are active safeties. The starting cornerbacks are
Jonathan Mincy
(19, 1 PBU) and
T’Sharvan Bell
(16, 2 PBU).
Special teams
Dennis Johnson is the SEC’s all-time kickoff return yardage leader with 2,755, surpassing Florida’s Brandon James (2,718). Johnson’s 21.5-yard average this season is well below his career mark.
Zach Hocker
(4 of 6 FG attempts, 14 of 14 extra-point attempts) leads Arkansas with 26 points.
Dylan Breeding
has moved up to No. 9 nationally with a 45.52-yard punting average, and the Hogs are No. 15 nationally in net punting (41.2). Auburn leads the SEC in kickoff return average (31.5), sparked by
Onterio McCaleb, whose 36.8-yard average is best in the SEC and No. 3 nationally. McCalebb’s 29.4-yard career average is best in Auburn history.
The Tigers have blocked 3 field-goal attempts in 4 games, 2 by
Angelo Blackson
and 1 by Corey Lemonier. Punter Steven Clark averages 40.5 yards to rank No. 69 nationally, but the Tigers are No. 24 in net punting (40.4) so the returns have been few. Auburn is No. 95 with a 4.6-yard punt return average. Kicker
Cody Parkey
(7 of 7 FG attempts, 7 of 7 extra-point attempts) has converted 9 consecutive kicks dating to last year.
The Tigers rank No. 2 nationally in kickoff return coverage, allowing just 13.5 yards per return.
Auburn opponents have missed 4 of their last 5 field-goal attempts and are 5 of 11 on the year.
Intangibles
A combination of injuries, turnovers, bad luck and bad weather has seemed to hound Arkansas this season, and could take a toll on the Razorbacks’ psyche and morale. This game has emerged as their most likely road victory of the season, and a potential key to qualifying for a bowl berth. Auburn had an open week to reassess and prepare for a month of winnable games. Jordan-Hare Stadium will still be rocking, despite the Tigers’ 1-3 record. Even though Kiehl Frazier
and the offense have struggled, they’ll enter with enthusiasm and confidence they can move the ball against the beleaguered Arkansas defense.
Sports, Pages 22 on 10/06/2012