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Arkansas coach Bret Bielema spoke to the media during his weekly press conference on Monday. Here are the highlights:
Last week, the Razorbacks were idle. In its last game, Arkansas lost 27-14 to Alabama on Oct. 10. Bielema was very impressed with the Crimson Tide’s defensive line and linebackers.
Bielema: Alabama came rolling. In all my years in the profession, that’s one of the most dominant front sevens I’ve been around.
— Thomas Murphy (@TomMurphyADG) October 19, 2015
Bielema said the Razorbacks’ defense had no trouble with communication and alignment against the Crimson Tide.
Bielema: (w/Ellis at MLB) We had zero alignment issues in the Alabama game. We had zero communication issues from the back end to the front.
— Thomas Murphy (@TomMurphyADG) October 19, 2015
This week, the Razorbacks take on Auburn. Bielema says the Tigers are different this year because there have been so many personnel changes. He also said Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn uses his good players well.
Bielema says that during the off week, the Razorbacks were able to get in some good developmental work.
The Razorbacks’ coach feels that his team is better than it was at this point last year. He also believes Arkansas will match up better against opposing offenses the rest of the season than it did the first six games.
Bielema said that Arkansas has to do a better job of getting the ball in the hands of running back Alex Collins and tight end Hunter Henry. Collins leads the team with 682 yards rushing and six touchdowns in six games. Henry, the Razorbacks’ second-leading receiver, has caught 21 passes for 286 yards and one touchdown.
Bielema believes Mitch Loewen has a possible future in the NFL, and says he knows the senior defensive end will get a shot in the pros. Loewen has 11 tackles and 1.5 sacks this season.
Josh Liddell may start ahead of Santos Ramirez at free safety for the Razorbacks on Saturday.
Bielema: Josh Liddell has responded very, very well to being taken out of the lineup. Looks like he’ll start vs. Auburn
— Thomas Murphy (@TomMurphyADG) October 19, 2015
Kody Walker will be in Arkansas’ game plan this week. The sixth-year senior has only gotten 10 carries in two games this year. Bielema indicated that it has been hard for Walker, who missed most of the last two seasons with injuries, to miss time again this year.
Bielema: With the way he has looked in practice and a smaller cast, this week Kody Walker will have his opportunity.
— Razorback Football (@RazorbackFB) October 19, 2015
Bielema says running back Juan Day, who is recovering from a torn ACL, is 100 percent cleared to play this week, but doesn’t know if he will see any action. However, wide receiver Jared Cornelius, who broke his arm against Texas Tech in September, won’t return this week.
Arkansas (2-4) will host Auburn (4-2) at noon Eastern time on Saturday. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network.
