LITTLE ROCK — OFFENSE
Quarterback
Gary Nova’s numbers (49 of 89 passing for 565 yards, 4 touchdowns, 2 interceptions) don’t stand out, but the 6-2 sophomore has been a solid game manager for Rutgers. Nova is averaging 188.3 passing yards per game and completing 55.1 percent of his passes, and his 118.72 efficiency rating is No. 88 nationally.
Nova has taken every significant offensive snap for the Scarlet Knights after beating out
Chas Dodd, an 8-game starter in 2011, in camp.
Tyler Wilson (concussion) is available for Arkansas. Wilson (30 of 47, 5 TDs, 1 int.) hasn’t played enough games to qualify in the NCAA stats, but he would rank No. 4 nationally with a 195.30 efficiency rating. He’s completing 63.8 percent of his passes. His ability to anticipate schemes and make checks at the line will be of great importance. The Razorbacks saw enough positives from their option package with
Brandon Mitchell last week for the scheme to get more looks. Redshirt freshman
Brandon Allen’s rude introduction to the elite level should pay dividends down the line.
Running back Jawan Jamison broke a Rutgers record with 41 carries last week, and with top reserve
Savon Huggins (lower body) questionable, the 5-8 sophomore Jamison could be looking at another workhorse assignment. Jamison (69 carries, 373 yards, 2 touchdowns), a tackle breaker who likes to run straight upfield, averages 5.4 yards per carry. The Florida native rushed for 200 yards on Cincinnati last year. If Huggins (21-70, 1 TD) can’t play, the top reserve is
Ben Martin (10-48). Arkansas looked committed to establishing
Knile Davis (54-191, 2 TDs) last week, and hopes to start seeing a payoff, which must include a halt to his fumbling problems. Davis is averaging 3.5 yards per carry, well below his career average of 6.3 entering 2012. He and the Hogs’ run game have been slow starters for the past few years.
Dennis Johnson (16-101, 1 TD, 6.3 ypc) needs more work, and
Ronnie Wingo (6-30, 1) is gifted enough to get more opportunities. A week without a fullback injury was welcome, and
Morgan Linton, Grady Ollison and tight end Austin Tate are the top options.
Receivers
The Scarlet Knights have one of the few receiving corps that can match Arkansas inch for inch, and Rutgers’ pass catchers are thicker.
Tim Wright, a 6-4 senior, is coming off a career-best 8-catch, 125-yard showing last week and he’s got a team-high 171 receiving yards.
Mark Harrison, 6-3, (13-78, 1 touchdown) has 1,264 career receiving yards and 13 TDs.
Brandon Coleman (6-118, 3) is a 6-6 big-play threat who has turned 23 career catches into 9 TDs and 29.1 yards per catch.
The group had a couple of notable drops last week. Tight end
D.C. Jefferson (7-69) and
Quron Pratt (3-29) are other options, while starting tight end
Paul Carrezola doesn’t have a catch in 2012. The production of Arkansas’ wideouts, led by
Cobi Hamilton (10-126, 1),
Javontee Herndon (4-96, 1), Mekale McKay (4-89, 1) and slot man
Brandon Mitchell (5-127) has not been up to Arkansas’ recent standards. To have success today, they’ll have to beat frequent man coverage. Tight end
Chris Gragg (17-226, 2) is on pace for nearly 70 catches.
Austin Tate (3-26) is the top tight end reserve.
Line
The Scarlet Knights are youngish here, with 1 senior starter in RT
R.J. Dill (6-7, 310 pounds), who made 33 starts at Maryland before transferring. They’ve allowed just 1 sack in 3 games. Junior LG
Antwan Lowery (6-4, 305) is a former defensive lineman. The other starters are sophomores in C
Betim Bujari (6-4, 290), RG Taj Alexander (6-4, 290) and LT
Kaleb Johnson (6-4, 300). The relatively conservative Scarlet Knights rank No. 93 in total offense (351.3 yards per game), No. 63 in rushing (163), No. 103 in passing (188.3) and No. 88 in scoring (24.3). Arkansas is hoping to break a six-quarter rut with improved play from its front. Center
Travis Swanson (6-5, 305) and G
Alvin Bailey (6-5, 312) performed well last week. The quick side features guard
Tyler Deacon (6-4, 300) and tackle David Hurd (6-6, 300), while
Brey Cook (6-7, 308) and
Jason Peacock (6-4, 305) rotate at strong tackle. Arkansas ranks No. 86 in total offense (359.3), No. 106 in rushing (106), No. 49 in passing (253.3) and No. 75 in scoring (26.7), all significantly below their four-year norms.
DEFENSE
Line
Rutgers runs a base 4-3 front, with each tackle,
Isaac Holmes (8 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack) and
Scott Vallone (5, 2, 2 hurries), weighing 275 pounds. Vallone bounced back last week from an inadvertent kick to the face.
The starting ends are
Ka’Lial Glaud (11, 1.5, 2) and
Marcus Thompson (1), with Jamil Merrell (9, 1.5, 1) and
Myles Jackson (4, 1.5) solid reserves. Backup tackle
Darius Hamilton (4) is the son of former New York Giant Keith Hamilton. Rutgers ranks No. 9 in rushing defense (59.0 yards per game). Arkansas would like to start dictating tempo more with its veteran front, led by tackles
Byran Jones (16, 1 TFL), Alfred Davis (9),
Jared Green (7, 2, 1 sack), Robert Thomas (7, 3.5 1) and
D.D. Jones (6). It appears end
Chris Smith (13, 2, 2) might be joined more this week by former end
Tenarius Wright (25, 1 hurry), with
Trey Flowers (6, 2.5 TFL, 2 hurries) still in the mix along with
Colton Miles-Nash (8, 1 hurry) and
Austin Flynn (4). The Hogs are No. 62 in rush defense (152.7).
Linebackers
Rutgers senior Khaseem Greene (34 tackles,2 sacks, 2 hurries) made the Big East honor roll last week and the 6-1, 230-pounder has 285 career tackles and 22.5 tackles for loss.
Greene leads Rutgers in tackles by 12. Steve Beauharnais (12, 2 TFL) and
Jamal Merrell (22, 4.5 TFL), the twin of defensive lineman Jamil, are the other starters. Merrell had a diving interception last week.
Kevin Snyder (9, 2, TFL, 1 sack) and
Nick DePaola (4) are the leading reserves. Arkansas might be tweaking its scheme, with
Alonzo Highsmith (25, 1 sack) taking more reps in the middle. A door of opportunity is opening for
Terrell Williams (2),
Jarrett Lake and freshmen Otha Peters and
A.J. Turner. The Razorbacks must get more forceful play and more secure tackling from this group.
Secondary
A calm veteran presence, backed by production, has helped Rutgers to a No. 19 ranking in pass efficiency defense. The Knights trust junior
Logan Ryan (20, 5 pass breakups) and senior cornerbacks
Marcus Cooper (8, 1 fumble recovery) and
Brandon Jones (5, 2 interceptions, 3 PBU) in man coverage, giving more flexibility to safeties
Lorenzo Waters (11, 1 sack),
Duron Harmon (2, 2 PBU) and Wayne Warren (3, 1 int.). The Hogs are led in tackling by freshman safety
Rohan Gaines (26, 1 forced fumble). Arkansas allows 284 passing yards per game, 102nd in the nation, and ranks No. 71 in pass efficiency defense.
Ross Rasner (24, 2 TFL, 1 int.) and
Eric Bennett (16, 1 PBU) must help create more turnovers. With corner
Tevin Mitchel (concussion) still out, the starting corners look to be
Kaelon Kelleybrew (14, 3 PBU) and freshman
Will Hines (4, 1 PBU), who has been more aggressive in run support than senior
Darius Winston(4, 1 PBU).
Special teams
Rutgers kicker Kyle Federico made a career best 52-yard field goal just before halftime last week, and he’s 4 of 6 on FG attempts, with misses from 34 and 42 yards. Punter
Justin Doerner ranks No. 74 with a 38.65-yard average, and Rutgers’ net punting (34.24) is sub par. Punt cover man
Marcus Cooper ripped a ball away from a South Florida returner last week. Arkansas’ net punting (39.4) ranks No. 30 and has been one of the few bright spots, behind senior
Dylan Breeding (43.07), who ranks 32nd. Junior
Zach Hocker (1-2 FG attempts, 11-11 extra-point attempts) was hurt by a high snap in the rain on a 41-yard FG miss last week. The Hogs have yet to get kick returner
Dennis Johnson (19.8) in the open,and he fumbled last week. Freshman
Nate Holmes (3.0) hasn’t had much room for punt returns, and sophomore
Keante Minor (17.0) needs more opportunities.
Intangibles
Opponents have been impressed with Rutgers’ ruggedness, a trait capably passed on from former coach Greg Schiano to
Kyle Flood.
The Scarlet Knights aren’t flashy, but they are physical. Penalties have been a problem, with lots of holding calls last week, so that could be an impediment. Arkansas is having to cope with the early season end of its national championship hopes and a spate of serious injuries. The return of quarterback
Tyler Wilson
is expected to provide a huge lift, but Arkansas’ woes cannot be completely tied to key injuries to Wilson, fullbacks
Kiero Small and
Kody Walker
and cornerback Tevin Mitchell. Having 10 turnovers to 2 for their opponents hasn’t helped. The Hogs’ pride factor will come into play today, particularly if its crowd is below standard.
Sports, Pages 22 on 09/22/2012