FAYETTEVILLE -- The University of Arkansas defense has performed like a unit on a contending team through two SEC games.
The Razorbacks (1-4 overall, 0-2 SEC) enter Saturday's 11 a.m. game against No. 1 Alabama (5-0, 2-0) with some of the best defensive numbers in league play under coordinator John Chavis and his staff.
Arkansas ranks No. 2 in total defense in SEC games, allowing an average of 301 yards per game in losses at No. 9 Auburn and against Texas A&M, which had the nation's No. 7 offense before facing the Hogs.
The Razorbacks are the No. 3 passing defense in conference play, allowing 167.5 yards per game, and the No. 5 rushing defense, allowing 133.5 yards per game.
Chavis pointed to the return from injury of key veterans in recent games -- such as linebacker Dre Greenlaw, end Randy Ramsey and defensive back Kevin Richardson -- to account for the solid defensive play.
"If you speak to it, we may be making some excuses and I'm never going to make excuses, OK?" Chavis said. "But I'll tell you some reasons.
"No. 1, we're continuing to grow fundamentally. No. 2, we've got a couple of players back that didn't play in those [non-conference] games. Again, that's no excuse, and I'm not here to make excuses. I won't ever make excuses. But we have a couple of players back. That's a big part of it."
Arkansas Coach Chad Morris said the play of linebackers Dre Greenlaw and De'Jon Harris is as good as he's ever seen, and the entire unit has improved week by week.
"Defensively, when you hold the SEC's No. 1-ranked offense -- one of the top offenses in the country -- to well below their average, this unit continues to play at a very high level," Morris said. "And they've gotten better over the last several weeks."
The Razorbacks will get a stiff test at Reynolds Razorback Stadium from Alabama, which leads the country with 54.2 points per game and in passing efficiency, and is No. 5 in total offense with 553.2 yards per game.
There's a bit of a disconnect between yardage allowed and the points scored by opponents in the Hogs' 34-3 loss at Auburn and 24-17 setback against Texas A&M last week.
Arkansas is allowing 29 points per game in the SEC to rank ninth. However, kickoff return touchdowns have accounted for 14 points in those games, and a pair of long punt returns, a blocked punt and a fumble return deep into Arkansas territory set up 20 more points for Auburn.
While the Arkansas offense continues to search for stability and reliable ways of driving and scoring, the defense has been encouraging since the Razorbacks blew an 18-point lead in their 34-27 loss at Colorado State.
Morris, Chavis and offensive coordinator Joe Craddock spoke Monday about there being more bonding than fracturing in the locker room.
"After the second game of the season, a heartbreaking loss, you saw it start to splinter a little bit, but ever since that day you've seen our team really come together and it's been really special to watch," Craddock said. "Even when we're not having success you see the love and the care, the tears being shed in the locker room after the game because nobody wants to let their teammates down."
The defensive players have been more supportive to than resentful of the younger offense.
"We're always saying positive things to the offense to try to help get those guys going," Harris said. "There's a difference in our offense and our defense, because we've played a lot of snaps together, and on offense they've got some new faces over there and a new scheme.
"So it's going to take those guys some time to get going and build more confidence. But we don't get frustrated as a defense. We just try to keep them motivated and stay positive."
Craddock said the veteran Chavis put his arm around him after the loss at Auburn and told him, "Hey, we're going to get this thing right."
Quarterback Ty Storey spoke Saturday about how uplifting the defense has been during the team's four-game losing streak, and how the players have not lost confidence in the face of adversity.
"We're confident," Storey said. "We go in every game feeling like we can win these games. We were right here with these guys. We have the same talent. We've got great coaches. We've got to go execute when it matters the most. It's on me.
"We always believe. We've got the guys. We've got the coaches. We've got everything we need."
Morris said he understood the frustration of fans and appreciated the applause and cheering the fans delivered as the Razorbacks left AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Saturday.
"Everybody wants to win," he said. "Everybody wants to have success. We get it and we understand that.
"To see our fans come out and support and cheer these young men on and the love they have for the Hogs and this university, that's always encouraging. Our players see it and they feel it and they know the love.
"They know the disappointment about where we're at, but they also see that there is growth and they see that there is progress being made. That is very important for those guys to see that."
Sports on 10/02/2018