Razorbacks enact defensive reversal

Arkansas linebacker Dre Greenlaw makes a stop on Missouri running back Russell Hansbrough on Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, during the fourth quarter at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.
Arkansas linebacker Dre Greenlaw makes a stop on Missouri running back Russell Hansbrough on Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, during the fourth quarter at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema and defensive coordinator Robb Smith didn't panic or make wholesale changes after Mississippi State gained 631 yards in a 51-50 victory over Arkansas on Nov. 22 in Fayetteville.

"The biggest takeaway obviously is we've got to improve," Smith said before Arkansas' regular-season finale against Missouri. "It's a short week and the things that were issues, we've got to correct in a short amount of time and be ready to play."

Long and short of it

• Arkansas’ defense did a turnaround against Missouri on Friday, allowing 48 fewer points and 461 fewer yards than against Mississippi State. Following is a comparison of what Arkansas yielded against Mississippi State and Missouri:

MSU;;MIZZ

51;Points;3

631;Total yards;170

86;Offensive plays;52

7.3;Yards per play;3.3

508;Passing yards;83

10;Yards per attempt;3.0

123;Rushing yards;88

32;First downs;8

1;Punts forced;8

.615;3rd-down perc.;.076

The defense showed it was ready in the Razorbacks' 28-3 victory over Missouri last Friday that will send Arkansas to a bowl game with a 7-5 record, including 5-3 in SEC play.

"Huge, huge, huge, huge," Bielema said of the defense's performance. "I think we needed that. Robb needed that. Our defensive coaches, our players, probably our fans and everybody else needed to see that."

Missouri has struggled offensively all season, particularly with starting junior quarterback Maty Mauk missing the final eight games because of a disciplinary suspension, but the Razorbacks held the Tigers well below their season averages.

The three points matched Missouri's scoring low, along with losses to Florida 21-3 and Vanderbilt 10-3.

Missouri came into the game averaging 290.9 yards in total offense, but gained 171 -- the Tigers' second-lowest of the season after 164 in a 9-6 loss at Georgia.

The Tigers were 1 of 13 on third-down conversions, a 7.6 percent rate that was their third-lowest after 0 of 14 against Vanderbilt and 1 of 14 against Florida.

Arkansas sacked Missouri freshman quarterback Drew Lock three times and had eight tackles -- with eight Razorbacks in on those plays -- for 21 yards in losses.

"Mississippi State came in and they really put it on us on defense," Arkansas strong safety Rohan Gaines said. "We knew we had to bounce back and we did.

"It's very satisfying."

Razorbacks middle linebacker Brooks Ellis said the defensive players knew they couldn't dwell on the Mississippi State game.

"We worked on the simple things -- making tackles, getting to the ball and playing hard on every snap," Ellis said.

The simple approach couldn't have worked out much better.

"It feels really good to get that under our belt and let people know who we really are," Ellis said. "That game last week, that wasn't us. We're a lot better than how we played."

Missouri got a 35-yard field goal from Andrew Baggett in the second quarter to cut Arkansas' lead to 14-3, then in the second half gained 68 yards on 30 plays.

"I thought the defense played lights out," Arkansas quarterback Brandon Allen said.

Bielema said there was no unrest within the team after the Mississippi State game, which was the most points the Razorbacks ever scored in a loss.

"There ain't no pointing fingers, no one was looking around," Bielema said. "No one tried to reinvent the wheel."

Bielema said it was a matter of getting properly aligned and making tackles.

"Our three keys on defense were get the call, execute the call and make the next call," Bielema said. "Robb did a great job of putting that plan in and I think it really showed."

Sports on 11/30/2015

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