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The Arkansas Razorbacks need to improve a number of things before the 2017 season comes to a close.
Most of these problems were highlighted before the season. Aspects of the football team were questionable to say the least. The Razorbacks have yet to fix many of those weaknesses.
Among a number of Arkansas’ deficiencies, a few key areas that stand out. These ghastly numbers jump off the page. This isn’t even including the Razorbacks’ 2-5 start or their 10-26 record in the SEC under Bret Bielema.
Here are five key stats which show why Arkansas has not been winning football games in 2017.
5. Only 29 20-plus yard plays
Last season, the Razorbacks offense kept them in football games. This year, that side of the ball lacks explosion. With injuries to Austin Allen, Jared Cornelius and others, Arkansas hasn’t found many ways to ignite a spark when controlling the football.
Cole Kelley is not the answer at quarterback this season, as much as Razorbacks fans want him to be. In the future, he has a chance to be a solid quarterback. Right now, he has been thrust into a dumpster fire that still burns. The team has 29 plays of 20-plus yards in 2017, tied for 90th in the country.
The Razorbacks have averaged only 4.26 yards per play and a mere 297 yards of total offense in their past three games. In October, Arkansas has managed only eight plays of 20 or more yards. The offensive line isn’t opening holes or giving Kelley time to throw downfield.
The running backs have floundered and the wide receivers haven’t stepped up. While Bielema deserves blame for how much of the season has gone, Arkansas offensive coordinator Dan Enos shouldn’t escape unscathed. His squad has taken a big step back from last season.
Bielema’s expression in the South Carolina game sums up the offense to this point.
4. Four sacks vs. SEC competition
Defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads was asked to change the dynamic of the Arkansas defense. I know it’s Year 1, but four sacks through four games of conference play is pathetic.
Arkansas is tied for 102nd in the FBS at 1.43 sacks per game overall.
Quarterbacks in the SEC aren’t world-beaters but can make plays if you give them all day to throw. The Razorbacks secondary actually has improved from last season. It’s hard to see that sometimes when opponents can carve them up with little pressure from the Arkansas defensive line.
This team should blitz more because the Razorbacks have nothing left to lose. With Shea Patterson out the rest of the season, Arkansas has three straight weeks against underwhelming quarterbacks before taking on Nick Fitzgerald and Drew Lock. Bring the heat or just stay on the bus.
Also, the Hogs should stop dropping eight men on third down.
3. Less than 30 minutes time of possession in losses
Bielema’s offense is one of the few left in the country that relies on dominating the football. In five losses this season, the Razorbacks have kept possession for a little more than 147 minutes, or about 29-1/2 minutes per game.
This season, Bielema hasn’t established his brand of football. In the past at Arkansas, his teams dominated time of possession and look good doing it, but 2017 has not been so kind.
The lack of offense has led to this problem. If Arkansas can’t follow the model it is trying to implement, don’t expect the team to turn its season around.
Remember the times when Arkansas used to at least win at time of possession? That was awesome. pic.twitter.com/5IPLfyBup9
— Damon Shaw (@DamonShawPhotos) October 22, 2017
2. The team has allowed 191 points in conference play
Some crucial injuries have hurt the defense. Still, giving up 47.8 points on average to SEC foes is atrocious. For the second consecutive season, Gus Malzahn and Auburn hung 50-plus points on the Razorbacks.
The offense shoulders some of this blame for not sustaining drives. The defense gets gassed in the fourth quarter and falls apart. This is how Rhoads’ group feels at the end of most games.
1. Allowing 24 sacks
Seriously, what is offensive line coach Kurt Anderson doing? SEC defenses are no joke, but his line seems to be getting worse. Arkansas has allowed 24 sacks, or 3.43 per game. Only five FBS teams have allowed more sacks per game and only two of those teams are in the Power 5. What an embarrassing stat.
Giving up 3.43 sacks per game is an easy way to have drives stalled. And 146 sack yards equates to more than 20 yards lost per game. Arkansas has given up 19 sacks in conference play, including Auburn’s season high of six.
Safe to say Anderson hasn’t achieved his goal.
MEN WANTED FOR HAZARDOUS JOURNEY pic.twitter.com/d1p4pIwB4N
— Kurt Anderson (@OLINEPRIDE) February 28, 2016
Most Arkansas fans miss former O-line coach Sam Pittman. It’s easy to understand why.
Tye is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He works on-air for ESPN Arkansas in Fort Smith. You can follow him on twitter @TyeSportsRadio.
