Position-by position matchups
Posted on Saturday, October 11, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Sports/239901/
OFFENSE Quarterback Casey Dick has had his worst games this season against the stout defenses of Alabama and Texas, and Auburn is in that same mold. The Tigers have tough, agile pass rushers and great team speed, so quick decision-making will be critical. Dick is completing 59. 4 percent of his passes through five games and has an equal amount of touchdowns and interceptions with 5 each. Dick steadied himself with a much better effort against Florida last week, hitting key third-down passes and going 4 of 4 on the Hogs’ touchdown drive. He’ll need that same steady hand in adverse conditions today if the Razorbacks are to have any shot at the upset. Whom Auburn will start is a mystery. Chris Todd was fired offensive coordinator Tony Franklin’s special delivery recruit, and Todd’s struggles have reflected the offense’s ills in the Spread. Todd also has 5 touchdowns and 5 interceptions and has completed 56. 8 percent of his passes. Fort Smith Northside’s Kodi Burns might have an opening to get increased playing time with Franklin’s dismissal as Auburn likely recommits to its tried-and-true power running game. Burns’ passing stats, like his. 417 completion percentage, are unsightly. Running back Michael Smith is the Arkansas running game right now, as carries for reserves De’Anthony Curtis and Dennis Johnson have dwindled to almost none. The SEC’s leader for all-purpose yards per game had his first solid second-half last week, and has held up well with 25-30 touches per game. The 5-7, 170-pounder has bounced off a lot of first contact, has shown remarkable balance and has popped into the secondary on a good percentage of his runs. Smith has also been a big plus in the passing game. Auburn has the same array of talent who came to the Ozarks and outperformed Darren McFadden and Felix Jones last year. Ben Tate is the SEC’s fifthleading rusher at 83. 5 yards per game. Brad Lester isn’t getting the number of reps he received last season, but averages 37. 2 yards per game. Receivers The Razorbacks are hanging on to more passes than they did early. London Crawford and Joe Adams did a great job on crossing routes last week, which Auburn will have to honor, possibly opening up deeper stuff if the Hogs can protect long enough to throw long. D. J. Williams has delivered as expected at tight end, leading the club with 25 catches for 291 yards and 2 TDs. Lucas Miller had been playing well before his concussion against Alabama, and should be on the mend. Offensive coordinator Paul Petrino is expecting a solid game from Greg Childs, who was nicked up last week. Like the Hogs, Auburn has four receivers with at least 10 receptions each, led by Rodgeriqus Smith’s 19 grabs for 184 yards and 1 TD. Robert Dunn, sidelined by an ankle injury last week, has a teamhigh 2 TD receptions. Montez Billings (12 catches, 140 yards ) and Mario Fannin (11-109, 1 TD ) are capable wideouts, while Tommy Trott (7-71 ) has been underutilized at tight end. Line Arkansas is coming off what was certainly its best performance against a top-caliber team this season, and the Hogs did it with a shuffled line. Arkansas managed 20 first downs, 361 total yards and 5. 7 yards per play against a strong Florida unit. Ray Dominguez has likely regained his weakside tackle job, though Grant Freeman’s showing in a dire situation last week added competition and cast a better light on the future at that spot. DeMarcus Love (ankle ) and one-game starter Grant Cook are engaged in competition for a starting role at guard. Auburn has strength on its front, but it hasn’t parlayed that into a dominating offense. The Tigers convert third downs at just 29. 7 percent, last in the SEC. Their running attack ranks seventh in the conference at 148. 5 yards per game, and Arkansas expects a newfound reliance on the old-fashioned approach. The same five players — Jason Bosley, Tyronne Green, Byron Isom, Ryan Pugh and Lee Ziemba — have started every game up front along with tight end Tommy Trott, and they’re just looking for more consistency.
DEFENSE Line The Razorbacks have begun to make strides with their front four, despite losing tackle Ernest Mitchell for a few weeks. End Adrian Davis has had several strong games and is second on the team with 31 tackles. Malcolm Sheppard continues to provide leadership and solid results for an undersized tackle. He sacked Tim Tebow last week and has 4 hurries to go along with 21 tackles. Antwain Robinson scored on a fumble return two weeks ago, but he and fellow ends Jake Bequette and Damario Ambrose need to step it up on a play-to-play basis. Freshmen Zach Stadther and Lavunce Askew are getting increased reps in Mitchell’s absence. Auburn end Antonio Coleman ranks third in the SEC with. 67 sacks per game, while tackle Sen’Derrick Marks is the league leader with 8 tackles for loss. Marks sat out the second half at Vandy last week with an ankle injury. End Michael Goggans (ankle ) was limited to 18 snaps last week. Reserve end Gabe McKenzie has been disruptive, as evidenced by his athletic interception and touchdown return vs. LSU. Tez Doolittle (14 tackles, 3 1 / 2 for loss ) has taken over at nose guard, and backup tackle Zach Clayton has 2 sacks. Linebackers As the Razorbacks have gotten healthier here, their production has increased. Wendel Davis had 12 tackles and Jerry Franklin 10 last week as the Hogs ran mostly from a 4-2-5 scheme to combat Florida’s Spread. That probably won’t be the case against the Tigers, so look for more Freddy Burton (24 tackles, 1 for loss ) and Elston Forte (13 tackles ) today as the Hogs try to match up with Auburn’s strength in the run game. Franklin leads the Hogs with 43 tackles,
1 and he’s also got 2 / 2 tackles for loss and one of the team’s 2 interceptions. Davis has posted 19 tackles in two games to rank eighth on the team. Auburn’s linebacking corps is one of the best in the nation, though it isn’t 100 percent healthy. Five rank among the Tigers’ top 10 tacklers, led by Merrill Johnson (23, 5 TFLs ), Josh Bynes (22 ) and Chris Evans (21, 3 pass breakups ). The most gifted of the bunch is probably Tray Blackmon, who has 2 sacks, 2 TFLs and 2 hurries. Blackmon has an hurt wrist, and fellow linebacker Craig Stevens (20 tackles ) has been battling turf toe. Secondary The loss of cornerback Jamar Love hurts the Razorbacks not only in experience and leadership, but also in physical run support. Ramon Broadway will get his first start at boundary corner. The sophomore has the ability to read and jump routes, which is a potential blessing or curse. How will he and CB Isaac Madison play against the run ? Arkansas’ safeties have been learning on the job all year, sometimes to the team’s detriment (a series of home run plays on the ground ). Yet Elton Ford and Jerico Nelson are eager hitters and this trial by fire should make them better in the years to come. Those two, plus reserves Matt Harris, Dallas Washington and Rashaad Johnson better be braced for a rugged day’s work. The Tigers have four interceptions from their defensive backs, half of them from cornerback Jerraud Powers (hamstring ), who is doubtful for today. Safeties Zac Etheridge and Mike McNeil are the team tackles leaders, with 31 and 30, respectively, though Etheridge has the only breakup between the two. Powers is strong against the run, so he’ll be missed if he’s unavailable. Corners Neiko Thorpe and Walter McFadden have four pass breakups apiece. Special teams Both of these teams have suffered through placekicking woes. The Razorbacks have missed fieldgoal attempts and an extra-point attempt and had a field goal blocked last week to go 1 for 5 in that department. Punting has been a much better story this year, with Jeremy Davis (42. 8 yards per punt ) picking it up the past few weeks and becoming a weapon. Dennis Johnson has been on the verge of breaking kickoffs for long returns the past several games. His play has been a bright spot, and has set up a couple of medium-distance touchdown drives. Auburn has a dangerous return man in Robert Dunn, who has a punt return touchdown and 21. 4-yard average, but he’s coming off that ankle injury. Wes Byrum kicked the game-winning field goal at Arkansas last year, but his confidence has been shaken with misses on his past three attempts, all from medium range or closer, and he’s 5 of 9 on the year. Punter Clinton Durst (42. 9 ) is a good one, and the Tigers rank third in the SEC in net punting to Arkansas’ fifth. Auburn’s kickoff coverage has been 4. 9 yards per kick better than the Hogs. Intangibles The midweek firing of Auburn offensive coordinator Tony Franklin looks like an advantage for the Tigers. The players and other offensive assistants should be happier with the expected return to their more traditional approach, and without Franklin, Coach Tommy Tuberville cuts off the risk of headphone discord during the game. Plus, the Auburn fans will be less likely to boo the offense if it starts slowly while not relying heavy on Franklin’s Spread. Arkansas is trying to stay afloat, trying to show the new Bobby Petrino schemes can and will be successful sooner rather than later. The Razorbacks see opportunity against a team that is suffering its own confidence problems. On the downside for the Hogs, they looked deflated early after Texas’ fast start in their only other road game. They have to stay in the action mentally no matter the circumstances today.