Arkansas vs. Alabama: Game Grades, Analysis for Razorbacks and Crimson Tide

The Alabama Crimson Tide showed their grit in battling back from a halftime deficit at home against the Arkansas Razorbacks, dominating the fourth quarter en route to a 27-14 victory.

Tide quarterback Jake Coker shook off two early interceptions to throw the game-winning score late in the third quarter, and Alabama never looked back. Leaning on a defense that didn't allow a drive over 30 yards until garbage time, the Crimson Tide flexed their muscle Saturday.

Take a look below for both teams' game grades.

Unit	First-Half Grade	Final Grade
Pass Offense	B-	B+
Run Offense	C+	B
Pass Defense	B+	B+
Run Defense	A	A
Special Teams	A-	A-
Coaching	B+	A-

Pass Offense

With Arkansas selling out against the run, Coker had plenty of opportunity through the air. One of his two first-half interceptions led to the Hogs’ only score of the game, but he more than made up for it with an 81-yard go-ahead touchdown toss to Calvin Ridley—who finished with eight catches for 140 yards.

Ridley just continues to break out, as Aaron Suttles of TideSports.com noted:

Run Offense

Constantly running against eight-man boxes, Derrick Henry got stuffed more than he’s used to but still churned out a 27-carry, 95-yard performance and scored for the 11th straight game. A team average lower than 3.5 yards per carry is nevertheless un-Alabama-like.

Pass Defense

Save for a fluky 54-yard touchdown pass with less than two minutes left, the Tide secondary performed well and limited Brandon Allen all night long. Eddie Jackson snarled an interception and returned it 20 yards to set Alabama up for the win.

Run Defense

You won’t see a more dominant outing from one unit than Alabama’s defensive front produced. Arkansas couldn’t run the ball at all, having been manhandled up front as the Tide held them to just 44 rushing yards on 25 attempts.

The constant play of linebacker Reggie Ragland made a big difference, as Ben Jones of TideSports.com noted:

Special Teams

There are still obvious kicking issues to work out, but Adam Griffith did make two of his four attempts. Cyrus Jones' big punt return in the fourth quarter set up an Alabama touchdown, and a late onside kick recovery sealed the game.

Coaching

The offense went cold in the middle part of Saturday’s game after a hot start, but offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin drew up the right play at the right time on Ridley’s 81-yard go-ahead score. While coaching mishaps doomed the Hogs, Nick Saban and Co. had no such troubles.

Unit	First-Half Grade	Final Grade
Pass Offense	C	C+
Run Offense	D-	D-
Pass Defense	B	C+
Run Defense	B+	B-
Special Teams	B-	C-
Coaching	B-	C-

Pass Offense

When he looked downfield, Allen couldn’t find much going on as he finished 15-of-32 with 176 yards. He ended with two touchdowns, but one was pretty much in garbage time, and he threw a costly fourth-quarter interception.

Run Offense

After running the ball all over the yard a week ago at Tennessee, the Hogs’ rushing attack was nowhere to be found. Alex Collins produced all of 26 yards on 12 carries, while the rest of the team couldn’t muster much more against Alabama’s stiff defensive front.

Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

Pass Defense

For most of the night, Arkansas’ secondary did more than enough to stifle Coker and put pressure on Alabama’s offense. The Hogs forced two interceptions, one of which led to their only touchdown, but they eventually got burned by giving up two fourth-quarter passing scores.

Run Defense

Limiting Henry and the Alabama running game allowed the Razorbacks to hold a lead for the better part of this game, but it didn’t last. Arkansas’ defensive front eventually got gassed, allowing Henry and Drake to pound the game away.

Special Teams

A banner day from punter Toby Baker (10 punts for 402 yards, five inside the 20) had the Hogs winning the field-position battle for much of the night. But a questionable fake punt backfired with Arkansas trailing by just three, and it never recovered. 

Kevin Scarbinsky of AL.com had questions for Bielema after the decision:

Coaching

There’s a difference between having guts as a head coach and knowing when to use said guts. Head coach Bret Bielema failed in that regard, calling a fake punt that directly led to Alabama running away with the game.