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Wide Receivers Coach Michael Smith on Alabama’s secondary: “They have a lot of really good players. We played against a lot of those guys last year. I know Coach Nick Saban coaches the corners so I know those guys are going to be up for the challenge. They’re going to come in here and try to disrupt us so I’ve been challenging my guys. They’re going to be ready to play and we have to be ready to play.” Tight Ends Coach Barry Lunney Jr. on play-action passes: “The play-action pass is a compliment when you run the ball successfully. It’s not just about running it, it’s about running it successfully and we’ve been able to do that. Every game that we’ve played so far, to different degrees, it’s been successful. When that happens guys load the box and get concentrated on the run, get a little bit more downhill than they should, and it opens up some play-action.” Offensive Line Coach Sam Pittman on Alabama’s linebackers: “They read their keys really well. They play downhill. They tackle well and are very physical guys. They all can really run. They’re well coached and get their eyes where they’re supposed to be. They’ll come up and hit you. Sometimes you don’t block a guy and he doesn’t make the tackle, but that’s not the case with Alabama. If you don’t block him, he’s going to make the tackle. That’s just how it is.” Sophomore Tight End Hunter Henry on playing four quarters: “We’re working on that in practice. It’s definitely a big emphasis for us on the bye week. We’ve been working on having a perfect fourth quarter and finishing. That’s one of our big goals—to finish games. We’ve been so close and we’re not tying it up at the end.” Henry on Alabama’s defense having to transition from the spread to get ready for Arkansas: “I don’t think it’s a big advantage. They’re a great defense and they have a lot of great players over there that are big and fast. I think they’re going to adjust perfectly and we’re going to play a fourth quarter ballgame.”
7:23 p.m 13-7 Arkansas — Wow. I don’t believe what I just saw, to quote Jack Buck about a different sport.
Anyway, the Razorback defense that is channeling the 1964 Hogs defense forced another big three-and-out, and finally J.K. Scott didn’t hit a rocket off his foot, allowing Arkansas to start on its 43. On third down and 7, Brandon Allen found A.J. Derby at the sticks as the tight end was moving from left to right. It was what happened next that defies any explanation.
Derby hit the sideline with Alabama cornerback Eddie Jackson chasing, and Derby just pulled away down the sideline for the touchdown. Henson made the PAT.
Arkansas just missed recovering a fumble on the kickoff at the 30.
6:58 p.m. — Looks like Tide all-world receiver Amari Cooper is fine. He’s back in the game for Alabama.
6:45 p.m. 7-6 Alabama, halftime — This would go under the classification of “You’ve got to be kidding me” statistics. Alabama has ELEVEN yards rushing, and it’s not all because of the pressure being put on Tide quarterback Blake Sims, forcing lost yardage plays or sack. Alabama star back T.J. Yeldon has 15 yards rushing on 7 carries, a 2.1 yards per carry average. Derrick Henry has one carry for no yards.
Then, you would think that Sims would make up the difference with the Alabama passing game against the Arkansas defense that is susceptible to it, and since he passed for 400-plus yards against Florida. But Sims has completed just 6 of 12 for 108 yards, with 47 of that coming on one play to tight end O.J. Howard. Sims has a touchdown pass of 22 yards to Yeldon.
But Arkansas defensive backs have had their hands on nearly as many throws as the Tide. Two Sims passes have hit Razorbacks right in the numbers and not been picked. One came on the Alabama scoring drive after Arkansas’ Alex Collins fumbled.
Brandon Allen went through a period in the first half where he looked like he’d regressed to his freshman year, but he warmed up late to drive the Hogs 81 yards to their first TD in three years vs. Bama. Allen completed 12 of 19 passes for 111 yards.
Jonathan Williams is going a long way toward getting himself named All-SEC with 78 yards rushing on 16 carries. Alex Collins didn’t sniff the field in the first quarter and fumbled in the second.
Kody Walker left an Arkansas touchdown at the goal line with a fumble as well, the ball rolling through the end zone and out of bounds for a touchback. Arkansas recovered TWO fumbled punts by the Tide. The Hogs also botched their attempt at a 43-yard field goal on a bad snap. Alabama missed one from 22 yards.
By all reason, it’s one of the ugliest games either of these teams have played. Alabama has not looked this bad under Nick Saban since his first season, when the Tide went 7-6.
Arkansas has a 195-119 edge in total offense. Apparently the Hogs are channeling the greatness of the 1964 defense, that team being honored today.
6:32 p.m. — Amari Cooper was injured on Alabama’s drive just before halftime, after 16-yard catch at the right sideline in front of his teammates. He grabbed his knee and it didn’t look good.
Alabama punted the Hogs back to the 3, and had all its timeouts left with 52 seconds showing. With 31 second left, Jonathan Williams broke out for a nice gain to move the chains and Arkansas ran out the clock, taking one show down field that was well defended.
We’ll be back with stats.
6:17 7-6 Alabama — Arkansas’ long, awful nightmare of not scoring against Alabama has finally come to an end, as Jonathan Williams took a pitchout to the left side and plowed 3 yards for a touchdown. Arkansas had not scored against Alabama since the third quarter of the 2011 game in Tuscaloosa, absorbing back-to-back 52-0 losses.
Arkansas’s Brandon Allen regained his passing form following the Tide’s touchdown and marched Arkansas the distance mostly with his arm. A 20-yard toss across the field to Keon Hatcher started the drive, and then tight end Hunter Henry became the chief weapon as well, catching a pass at the Alabama 48, and then breaking open deep and being interfered with at the Bama 10 on the next play, a 15-yard penalty that moved Arkansas to the Tide 31.
The other tight end, A.J. Derby, stepped up wide open over the middle for a 15-yard catch, and Williams would power three plays later for a first down near the goal line.
Allen nearly got his head bashed in trying to run back into the flow after a wide-open bootleg run right, losing a yard to the 3. He smartly decided Williams was the guy to do the running for the TD.
But as if to quell any fan excitement for the touchdown, John Henson approached the PAT seemingly in slow motion. Nothing was slow about Alabama’s penetration, and the Tide got a finger on the kick (Alabama blocked one against Ole Miss last week).
