N.J. - Arkansas vs. Rutgers is a rematch, but it has a brandnew look.
Arkansas’ schemes under first-year Coach Bret Bielema could hardly be any more different than the losing game plan the Razorbacks followed in a 35-26 loss to the Scarlet Knights 364 days ago.
Rutgers (2-1) also has undergone a transformation under second-year Coach Kyle Flood, who had to replace both of his coordinators and veered more into a heavy ground game starring tailback Paul James.
The 2012 Razorbacks unleashed quarterback Tyler Wilson, receiver Cobi Hamilton, who set an Arkansas record with 303 receiving yards,but little else in an attempt to keep up with Knights quarterback Gary Nova, who threw five touchdown passes against the Hogs.
Arkansas (3-0) intends to show a much stronger backbone in its first road game today at High Point Solutions Stadium. The game also will mark the first time Rutgers has played an SEC football team on campus.
“We think our players have learned to embrace things that they find difficult, whether it be a heat factor, whether it be an injury or whatever,” Bielema said. “If there’s a chance to be in adversity, we embrace it and try to accept it and make the most of it, and usually good things happen.”
Flood had a two-hour meeting with Bielema in Arizona in the offseason before his first year as a head coach in 2012, and he developed a fondness for the Razorbacks’ boss, noting their schemes are similar.
“I think with Coach Bielema now at Arkansas it’ll be an even more physical game,” Flood said. “It appears he has changed that culture in a very short amount of time.”
There are plenty of subplots to this game.
Both teams had their starting quarterbacks knocked out with injuries during victories last week, both rely on physical offensive lines and productive running backs, andboth have wreaked havoc with good defensive line play.
Arkansas quarterback Brandon Allen (bruised throwing shoulder) is not expected to play, which would give junior-college transfer AJ Derby his first start. Nova (concussion) is expected to start, which gives the Scarlet Knights an edge in experience.
Elite run blocking and three backs who rank among the top seven nationally in rushing yards are the star attractions as Arkansas plays its first opponent from the first-year American Athletic Conference, a hodgepodge of former Big East and Conference USA teams that formed last offseason.
Rutgers running back Paul James leads the nation with 493 rushing yards and is second in rushing average at 164.3 yards per game.
“This is our first true power running attack, other than what we face every day in practice,” Arkansas defensive line coach Charlie Partridge said. “So we’re excited about this challenge and anxious to see how we perform.”
Arkansas’ Alex Collins ranks fourth in yardage (418) and eighth in rushing average (139.3); Jonathan Williams is seventh in yardage (393) and 12th in average (131.0).
The Scarlet Knights expect repeated runs by the young backs behind a line that so far has undergone a successful transformation from a more finesse pass-blocking style.
“I think they’re just going to try to run the ball down our throats and that’s our job, to stop the run,” Rutgers linebacker Kevin Snyder said.
Scarlet Knights defensive lineman Isaac Holmes said the Razorbacks now pride themselves on the run.
“You can honestly say it’s a complete different style from last year,” Holmes said
Derby took most of the first-team repetitions this week, with Allen not throwing any passes through Thursday. If Allen cannot play, his brother Austin, a true freshman, would back up Derby.
Derby, who completed 4 of 6 passes last week for 36 yards, rose to No. 2 at quarterback when senior Brandon Mitchell transferred to North Carolina State after spring practice.
“He’s a competitive kid with good stature,” Arkansas offensive coordinator Jim Chaney said. “He can take a little hit, and I think more than anything else he has more experience than the other kids.”
Derby struggled with Shotgun snaps from preseason All-SEC center Travis Swanson last week, but he was not sacked and turned one bobble into a 10-yard, chain-moving scramble.
The Scarlet Knights hope Nova can bounce back after Rutgers struggled with senior quarterback Chas Dodd last week. Dodd completed his first pass to James for a 30-yard gain in the first quarter, then went 3 of 8 for 15 yards the rest of the way and was sacked three times.
Nova burned the Razorbacks last season when Rutgers came into Fayetteville known primarily as a running team, completing 25 of 35 passes for career highs of397 yards and 5 touchdowns. The Razorbacks sacked him just once on an intentional grounding call.
“Last year he was a good quarterback as far as getting the ball out quick and his awareness,” said Arkansas defensive end Chris Smith, who posted three sacks last week.
“They came in our house and they beat us,” Arkansas cornerback Tevin Mitchel said. “That’s in the past. Now we have to go in their house and beat them.”
Arkansas safety Rohan Gaines, who is expected to return from a hyper-extended knee, said Nova picked apart the Razorbacks’ secondary last season.
“They came in and took one from us, so we’re going to go over there and get it changed,” Gaines said.
Today’s game ARKANSAS AT RUTGERS WHEN 2:30 p.m. Central WHERE High Point Solutions Stadium (52,454), Piscataway, N.J., RECORDS Arkansas 3-0; Rutgers 2-1 RANKINGS Neither team is ranked BETTING LINE Rutgers by 2 COACHES Bret Bielema (3-0 at Arkansas, 71-24 in eighth year overall); Kyle Flood (11-5 in second year at Rutgers and overall) SERIES Rutgers leads 1-0 TELEVISION ESPNRADIO Razorbacks Sports Network, including KABZ-FM, 103.7, in Little Rock; and KQSM-FM, 92.1, KEZA-FM, 107.9, KUOA-AM, 1290 and KUOA-FM, 105.3, in Fayetteville. XM-Radio 192, Sirius 92
PISCATAWAY,
Sports, Pages 19 on 09/21/2013