Will The Real Arkansas Please Step Forward

Is the real Arkansas the one that put up over forty points against Missouri State, Georgia and Texas A&M or the team that managed seven against Alabama? The answer is both. A simple analysis of the three games tells the tale. Arkansas was able to control the offensive line enough against three teams to allow for the operation of the offense. When Alabama came to town with the most powerful defensive front in the SEC it was a horse of a different color. Pressure on the quarterback was the key to the difference. Not just common pressure, but direct pressure up the middle. This gave Arkansas fits and has been key in every Alabama win. Stop the defensive front line penetration and score on the Tide. This is much easier said than done. Texas A&M, Georgia and Missouri State had much less explosive and more finesse style defensive linemen. 

Florida, Mississippi, Troy are all teams coming up that have a less physical and more finesse and speed type of defensive line.  Auburn, South Carolina, Mississippi State and LSU are all physical up front to varying degrees. None are as strong as Alabama and it isn't close. When Arkansas 's Offensive Line is able to match the power with power it should equalize the effect. I expect the biggest effect to be against Auburn and LSU. They are strong enough up front to pressure the quarterback. Florida is the only speed front that might have success. They are much faster than any other front Arkansas faces. If any of the other teams are to beat Arkansas they will have to do like Georgia and score more than forty. South Carolina is not a known quantity in this. They are too close to call strength wise.

Going from this Mississippi, Troy, Directional Michigan, Mississippi State will all have to score more than forty to beat the Hogs. From what I have witnessed this season these should be wins.

Florida can score more than forty as well as defend well in every game against any team. Arkansas will have to out score Florida on the Florida defense. This is a monumental task. That leaves Auburn and LSU to access. LSU beat Georgia this week and is stronger up front on offense and defense than Arkansas. They have a multitude of talent at least three deep at every position. They also play down to their opponent almost every week. If Alabama, Florida and Auburn manage to put two losses on LSU they are not likely to show up for the last game and Arkansas has a 50-50 shot. If they are one loss or undefeated they will smash Arkansas in the same style as Alabama did. Auburn is another story. Arkansas can not defend Auburn. They might not even be able to slow them down. I am not sure Auburn will be able to pressure and sack the quarterback as much as Alabama did. If they can it will be a long game for Arkansas if not Arkansas can score and quickly. This could turn into the biggest offensive shoot out in the SEC for the last decade or more. It could be a hundred point combined game. If Auburn gets to the quarterback it will be bad. Can Arkansas get to Auburn's quarterback? This is not a likely scenario. Auburn is one of the least sacked teams in the country. Tennessee did not get one sack last week and they got to Florida on a regular basis. West Virginia and Mississippi State had little luck. Arkansas likely stands a better chance of slowing Auburn down playing position defense and going for the pick off and limiting yardage per play like Tennessee did. This yielded 450 yards of offense but only 26 points for the Tigers. Can the Arkansas defense match that performance? We will find out next Saturday. Auburn's defense is not Georgia's but it has given up points and yards. If Arkansas can score more than forty a win becomes likely in this game.