LITTLE ROCK — OFFENSE Quarterback
The pressures on Tyler Wilson to carry the Arkansas offense continue to grow. Wilson passed for 419 yards, completing 20 of 40 passes last week, but threw 2 interceptions as his efficiency rating fell to No. 13 nationally and No. 3 in the SEC (177.78). Wilson leads the country with an average of 19.6 yards per completion and 10.8 yards of total offense per play. His 15 passes of 25 yards or more are also tops in the nation. Wilson leads the SEC and is 7th nationally with 327.3 passing yards per game. Wilson must improve the Hogs’ 28.9 percent third down conversion rate, which ranks No. 113.
Redshirt freshman Johnny Manziel has taken the Texas A&M reins and run with them since being named over Jameill Showers in fall camp. Manziel’s 38 carries are the most on the team by 16, and his 262 rushing yards and 6.9-yard average are best among regulars. Manziel is 58 of 86 passing for 641 yards, with 7 TDs and no ints., and his 156.91 efficiency rating is No. 27 in the nation. The freshman hasn’t turned the ball over. The Aggies are converting 50 percent on third downs, tied for 21st in the nation.
Running back Dennis Johnson (22 carries, 148 yards, 1 touchdown, 6.7 yards per carry) has run hard every week and might get more opportunities against the Aggies with Knile Davis (64-208, 2, 3.2) struggling to get back in his 2010 groove.
The Razorbacks understand they must generate an effective run game to keep pressure off Wilson and give the overworked Arkansas defense rest. Johnson has fumbling problems, and Davis has been afflicted with them this year, so ball security looms large. The Hogs rank No. 112 in rushing with 97.8 yards per game. Where have the Arkansas backs been in the passing game?
Coming off knee surgery, Texas A&M star Christine Michael (20-59, 2, 3.0) has yet to hit his stride, and he ranks behind Manziel and backs Ben Malena (22-145, 2, 6.6) and Trey Williams (20-69, 1, 3.5). Malena (5-8, 195) had a strong spring and Williams, a transfer from Oklahoma, is a smaller speedster (5-8, 175 pounds). The Aggies rank No. 33 with 208 rushing yards per game.
Receiver Cobi Hamilton will draw loads of attention after his 10-catch, 303-yard, 3-touchdown performance that broke Jarius Wright’s Arkansas record of 281 yards vs. the Aggies last year.
Hamilton (20-429, 4 TDs, 21.5 yards per catch) leads all active players with an average of 18.6 yards per catch and his streak of 26 consecutive games with a catch is the 10th-longest streak in the nation. Tight end Chris Gragg (19-234, 2) is unavailable (bone bruise), taking away a key third-down option for Tyler Wilson and giving Austin Tate (4-30) a starting assignment.
Brandon Mitchell (9-169) should get passes over the middle and in the seams today.
Mekale McKay (5-121, 1) has emerged among the freshmen, though he had a key touchdown drop last week.
Mike Evans (18-224), a 6-5 redshirt freshman, leads the Aggies in receptions over veteran Ryan Swope (12-95, 1), whose skills are a perfect fit for the quick-passing game. Freshman Thomas Johnson (10-100) is off to a good start, while Kenric McNeal (5-96, 2) is a solid veteran, as is Uzoma Nwachukwa(4-84, 4).
Nehemiah Hicks (4-27) is the top tight end.
Line
The Razorbacks are struggling to make their run blocks, though pass protection has been OK. Arkansas linemen are simply losing too many 1-on-1 match ups. Center Travis Swanson and guard Alvin Bailey, the unit’s veteran juniors, have played OK. Arkansas ranks No.
25 in passing (295 yards per game), but has fallen to No. 75 in total offense (393), which is unfamiliar territory for this offense. Lost yardage plays have been an issue, though sacks allowed (1.75 per game) haven’t been atrocious. How will the massive crowd noise affect their ability to hold stances and deal with checks? Texas A&M could have the best pair of tackles in the country in Luke Joeckel (6-6, 310 pounds) and Jake Matthews (6-5, 305), son of NFL Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews.
The other starters are senior center Patrick Lewis and sophomore guards Cedric Ogbuehi and Jarvis Harrison.
Texas A&M ranks No. 33 in rushing (208 ypg), No. 36 in total offense (462.3), No. 11 in scoring (45.0 ppg) and No. 86 in sacks allowed (2.3). The Aggies were No. 4 in sacks allowed with Ryan Tannehill under center in 2011.
DEFENSE Line
Arkansas’ large pool of tackles is paced by junior Byran Jones (20 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss), senior captain Alfred Davis (16, 0.5), D.D. Jones (12, 1.5), Robert Thomas (11, 3.5, 1 sack, 4 hurries) and Jared Green (8, 2, 1). The group must get pressure on Manziel to give Arkansas’ ailing secondary a chance.
Chris Smith (13, 2, 2, 4 hurries) started fast this season, but has cooled off.
Trey Flowers (9, 3.5, 1), Colton Miles-Nash
(9, 0.5) and Austin Flynn (5, 0.5 TFL) have been bolstered by the return of Tenarius Wright (25, 1 PBU, 2 hurries), who might move around on defense, to the end position.
The Razorbacks rank No. 58 (146.5 yards per game) in rushing defense. Texas A&M’s
Damontre Moore
(22, 8 TFL, 6 sacks) leads the country with 2.0 sacks per game and has made the transition from outside linebacker in the 3-4 to a 4-3 end.
Spencer Nealy (8, 2.5, 2) is a returning starter at tackle. Backup end
Gavin Stansbury
(7) and nose guard Kirby Ennis (4) are effective at tying up blockers. The Aggies rank No. 18 in rush defense (94 ypg) and with Moore leading the way, they are the nation’s No. 1 sack team with 5.3 per game.
Linebackers
Arkansas is hurting for depth here, behind senior captain Alonzo Highsmith (40 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1 sack), though Terrell Williams (14, 1 TFL) was productive in his first start of the season last week. Freshmen Otha Peters (1) and A.J. Turner (1) add key depth in a very thin corps, while Tenarius Wright might see a few snaps at linebacker. Playing faster and being more forceful tacklers are key steps in the unit’s improvement. Arkansas is No. 99 in total defense (458.7 yards per game) and No. 107 in scoring defense (36.3). It seems like Aggies linebackers Jonathan Stewart (26, 0.5 sacks, 1 pass breakup) and Sean Porter (13, 0.5 TFL) have been around for more than half a decade, but they’re both returning senior starters.
Junior Steven Jenkins (17, 1 sack) joins Stewart on the inside, while Porter, coming off a 9 1/2-sack season, mans the outside. Texas A&M has the nation’s No. 12 total defense (279.7) and its No. 12 scoring defense (12.3).
SecondaryThe Arkansas defensive backs have struggled to maintain good eye focus, haven’t held up well in coverage and have suffered in run support with corner Tevin Mitchel out and safety Eric Bennett slowed with a hamstring and out this week. Senior Kaelon Kelleybrew
(21, 4 pass breakups) had been playing solid at corner until giving up a 60-yard touchdown catch in man coverage in the fourth quarter last week.
Freshman Will Hines (6, 1 PBU) is on a rapid learning curve at the other corner spot, with senior Darius Winston (4, 1 PBU) also vying for time. Senior Ross Rasner (32, 2 tackles for loss, 1 interception) has been active, while freshman Rohan Gaines (30, 1 forced fumble) has been forced into a lot of snaps. Sophomore Alan Turner (3) gets a big test in Bennett’s slot today.
The Hogs rank No. 111 in pass defense (312.3 yards per game) in pass defense and 108 in pass efficiency. Looking to get more physical against 6-3 Cobi Hamilton, 6-0 DeShazor Everett (6, 1.5 TFL) moved to corner this week along with De’Vante Harris (11, 1 TFL). Veterans populate the Aggies backfield, led by Steven Campbell (9), Steven Terrell (7), and 5-9 ToneyHurd Jr. (13, 2 TFL, 1 PBU) is a physical safety for his size. Texas A&M is No. 20 in pass efficiency and No. 29 in pass defense (185.7).
Special teams Arkansas punter Dylan Breeding had a 72-yard punt last week and has risen to 19th nationally with a 44.9-yard average. The Hogs are No. 16 in net punting (41.1), but below average at No.
77 in punt returns (6.4) and No. 71 on kickoff returns (20.4).
Zach Hocker has gone 3 of 4 on field-goal attempts, with a long of 37 yards, and 13 of 13 on extra-point attempts. Hocker has 16 touchbacks on 20 kickoffs, and the Razorbacks are No. 43 in allowing a 19.3-yard kickoff return average. Arkansas’ blocking on kickoff and punt returns has been bad. Freshman punt returner Nate Holmes muffed 2 last week, and was lucky to have 1 carom out of bounds. The Aggies boast the nation’s No. 8 punt returner in Dustin Harris, whose 246 return yards last week set an SEC record. Harris averages 20.4 yards to lead the SEC, and had a 96-yard punt return for a touchdown last week. Punter Ryan Epperson leads the SEC and ranks No. 3 nationally at 47.6 yards per punt. Kicker
Tyler Bertolet is 1 of 2 on field-goal attempts, having made a 27-yarder and missed a 23-yard attempt.
Intangibles Arkansas, facing its first hostile crowd of the year, has to find a way to reinstill confidence, and a road date at a former Southwest Conference rival who has been lying in wait after insisting the series be moved to campus sites, won’t be an easy place to find it. It’s hard to assign a value to the impact of the Razorbacks’ three game losing streak, but for a team that ranked in the top 10 to open the season, it has to be a shocker. The Razorbacks’ run of tough injuries has surely taken some toll as well, particularly the losses of Kiero Small, Tevin Mitchel and Chris Gragg. Arkansas must be quicker to adapt to in-game situations. Texas A&M, losers of three in a row to the Razorbacks, will be amped to have the Hogs at home and in a vulnerable state. The Aggies would love nothing more than to post their first SEC victory against their former conference rival, and they’ll be loaded with confidence against a hurting opponent. The 12th man is a factor.
Sports, Pages 22 on 09/29/2012