Arkansas at Alabama Complete Game Preview
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — University of Alabama coach Nick Saban waited until near the end of his Monday press conference before he let loose, after fielding a question about what he tells his players about the perception of his team.
"Well, I'll say the same thing as when you all buried us last week,” he said. “It really doesn't matter what you think. It really doesn't matter what you say. And I'm hoping that nobody on our team is playing for you. I hope they're playing for each other and their team and what they want to accomplish and not what you think. But that's certainly not what I'm doing.
"I'm coaching and working for our players and our team to be as good as it can be, and if that's not pleasing to someone else it's not pleasing to somebody else. I said before, I believe in our team. I do believe in our team, and we're going to work hard to make our team better and I hope the players respond the right way. And it's not going to be for you. The fans, yes. Because if it was up to you, we were six foot under already. We're dead and buried and gone. Gone.
"So if that was the case, we'd have to get some respirators out or something there to put the life back in people."
Although Saban had a point because a lot of people did write off No. 8 Alabama (4-1 overall, 1-1 SEC) after the narrow 43-37 loss to Ole Miss on Sept. 19, his real message was to his players.
With Arkansas (2-3 overall, 1-1 SEC) getting off to a slow start and a trip to face No. 9 Texas A&M looming, the coach doesn’t want Saturday to turn into a trap game. The Razorbacks began the season ranked and played the Crimson Tide tough at home last year before losing 14-13.
Last week Arkansas snapped two important 10-game losing streaks with a 24-20 victory at Tennessee: games decided by seven points or less and consecutive SEC road games.
However, this will also be the Razorbacks’ third tough Saturday on the road, all against teams ranked in the preseason polls, before they enjoy their bye.
Here’s everything you need to know for Saturday’s game
Date: Saturday, October 10
Time: 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT)
Place: Bryant-Denny Stadium
TV: ESPN
Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network, IMG Razorbacks Sports Network, Compass Media Networks, Sirius 83, XM 190
Spread: Alabama -16 according to OddsShark.com.
Alabama Keys to Victory
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Turnovers
Alabama has already lost four fumbles and has thrown six interceptions, which puts it in a tie for 95th in the nation for turnovers lost. It had five in the loss to Ole Miss, which was probably the difference in the game. The good news for Crimson Tide fans is that the Razorbacks aren’t good at creating turnover; they're tied for 84th with six (three fumble recoveries and three interceptions).
Make Arkansas one-dimensional
Arkansas has passed more than most people expected, but the running game is still the key to the offense. Alex Collins has reached 150 rushing yards in each of the last three games, during which he’s had 15 carries of 10-plus yards. Meanwhile, Alabama’s defense has had 21 three-and-outs (out of 34 possessions) during the past two weeks to move into third nationally by averaging 6.8 per game.
"I think he’s one of the best backs in the SEC," Alabama defensive end Jonathan Allen said. "He may not get the recognition of the other people, but he’s definitely a physical guy. Likes to run the ball. Speed. He does a good job. It takes 11 hats getting to the ball to tackle him."
Out-physical the Razorbacks
Arkansas makes a big deal of having an offensive line that weighs 1,600 pounds and is supposedly bigger than any line in college or pro football. The more impressive stat is that the five starters played 3,411 snaps together last year and all returned. As for the Razorbacks’ defensive line, JUCO transfer Jeremiah Ledbetter has been a nice fit at defensive end and is third among SEC defensive linemen in total tackles with 27.
"We want to run the ball, there’s no doubt. Any time you play an SEC team they’re going to have a great defense," Alabama senior center Ryan Kelly said. "We’re going to rise up to the challenge and prepare all week for it."
Arkansas Keys to Victory
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Don’t fall behind
Arkansas’ defense has limited four of its five opponents to their lowest scoring outputs all season, but the key to Ole Miss' victory at Bryant-Denny Stadium was jumping out to an early lead that it wouldn’t relinquish. With the variety of ways Alabama can attack and a stifling defense, it’s not an opponent that most teams will be able to come back against.
Alex Collins must outgain Derrick Henry
Even though Jonathan Williams is out for the season, Alex Collins has 656 rushing yard, and last week both he and Rawleigh Williams III had 100-yard games against Tennessee. That’s something that Williams and Collins never did together. Statistically, Nick Chubb kept up with Derrick Henry last week, but more than half of his yards came on an 83-yard touchdown after the game’s outcome had long been decided. Collins will need to have more success if Arkansas is going to stay in the game.
Give Brandon Allen a chance to win the game
The senior quarterback will be making his 27th consecutive start and ranks second in the SEC this season with 1,371 passing yards. He’s also in the top five in all of the major passing stats. His ratio of attempts to interceptions last year was the fifth in SEC history (1-to-67.8). Last year when the game was on the line against Alabama, Crimson Tide safety Landon Collins picked him off. It was motivation for Allen all offseason.
"He can throw the ball; he’s really progressed since last year,” Alabama defensive end Jonathan Allen said (no relation). So we’re going to have to really do a good job of focusing and trying to keep him in the pocket and make his throws from the pocket, instead of us scrambling out after him, because that’s where big plays usually are made."
Alabama Players to Watch
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Kenyan Drake
Last year Derrick Henry didn’t do a whole lot against Arkansas, finishing with seven carries for 25 yards, and last week he had a career-high 26 carries for 148 yards. But this week might be better suited for Drake to have a breakout performance. So far he has 215 rushing yards and 141 receiving.
"Kenyan Drake needs to focus on what he needs to do to be a good player in his preparation; can’t make a home run every time he gets the ball," coach Nick Saban said. "He’s got to trust and believe in the plays the way they’re designed and go run those plays and understand that a three- or four-yard gain is a good play. And if you do that, then you’re going to have a chance to make big plays. He’s a good player, and we obviously need to get him to do those things, so he has a chance to have the kind of production he’s capable of."
Alabama’s speed-rushers
Arkansas’ offensive tackles are 6’10” Dan Skipper and 6’5” Denver Kirkland, who weighs 340 pounds. Look for Alabama to try to mix it up with its edge-rushers including Tim Williams and Rashaan Evans. For the season, Alabama had notched 13 sacks while giving up just five.
Tight end O.J. Howard
Last year’s game was one of the few times that Amari Cooper didn’t run free, as he finished with two receptions for 22 yards. Instead, Howard had the biggest gain with a 47-yard reception, and the player who would normally defend him is out with an injury. Look for offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin to test that matchup and go to No. 88 early.
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Arkansas Players to Watch
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Running back Alex Collins
For the second straight week, Alabama will face one of the SEC’s top running backs, as Collins is eighth in the nation with 656 rushing yards in five games, and his 131.2 average is third in the league. He’s just one of six players in the nation with a rushing touchdown in each of the first five games of the season. However, last year he only had six carries for 13 yards against the Crimson Tide.
Wide receiver Drew Morgan
Coach Bret Bielema joked during his press conference on Monday that according to Morgan he’s open on every play. Regardless, he’s off to an impressive start and had 17 receptions for 310 yards and two touchdowns over the past three games. Of those, 13 were for first downs.
"Love his confidence," Bielema said.
The strong-side linebacker
Starting linebacker Josh Williams broke his leg last week and had surgery to insert a rod on Sunday. He’s out for the rest of season and is just the latest in a long line of injuries this season for the Razorbacks, including running back Jonathan Williams (foot), wide receiver Keon Hatcher (foot), wide receiver Cody Hollister (foot), and fullback Kody Walker (hand).
Sophomore Dwayne Eugene is listed ahead of sophomore Khalia Hackett on the Arkansas depth chart, but keep in mind that last week freshman weak-side linebacker Dre Greenlaw led the Razorbacks in tackles with 10, ahead of redshirt freshman safety Santos Ramirez (seven)—who was making his first career start after taking over for Josh Liddell.
What They’re Saying
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Alabama coach Nick Saban
"Arkansas, to me, has a really, really good team. Everybody knows what a physical game it was last year and they have 16 starters back. They have a couple of receivers that are injured but four of the offensive linemen and a really good running back in Alex Collins. Quarterback Brandon Allen has been starting now for three years and is a very, very good player. Their defense is one of the tops against the run in the SEC, and overall they have played better and better each week.
"Bret has done a really, really good job there of creating a lot of toughness and physical team that you really have to have your jaws set to play well against the type things they do. They have been a very efficient, effective passing game to go with the great running game. This is going to be a really challenging game."
Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema on facing Alabama, a team he has "a lot of respect for"
"To me, they’re the staple of what college football is, not just the SEC. They have a phenomenal head coach. Their environment, I know a number of you have been there, I hadn’t been there before until two years ago. In the Big Ten and the Big 12 I’ve been to every part of this country and it’s probably as good as there is for a home-game environment week after week after week after week.
"We all know their draft selections and their history of first-round draft picks, where they rank in recruiting, they just have an endless supply of everything that you need. I think that’s what makes this game so fun and intriguing, and it makes all of our guys’ juices flow a little bit more."
Prediction
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Arkansas was able to stop its season from spinning out of control with the 24-20 victory at Tennessee, and the Razorbacks always seem to gear up for the Crimson Tide, but this is their third straight Saturday on the road.
No. 8 Alabama is probably due for a bit of a letdown following the impressive 38-10 victory at Georgia, but the Tide just have too much for Arkansas, which has yet to beat them under Nick Saban. Just don't expect another 52-0 score like in 2012 and 2013.
Prediction: Alabama 27, Arkansas 17
Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.
Christopher Walsh is a lead SEC college football writer. Follow Christopher on Twitter @WritingWalsh.
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