Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images
By Hunt Palmer
Sam Pittman was the first SEC head coach to get a pink slip this fall.
Billy Napier, Brian Kelly and Hugh Freeze followed. Pittman’s time in Fayetteville began with the promise, but that faded over the last three years. Bobby Petrino has stepped in as the interim head coach, and his side of the ball has hummed all season. The defense? Not so much.
The Razorbacks started 2-0 and are 0-7 since. They lost last time out to Mississippi State which was the Bulldogs’ first SEC win of the Jeff Lebby era. The Hogs will come to Baton Rouge off a bye week looking for their first win in more than two months.
A reminder that the smaller the ranking, the better the statistic.
Green: Top 25
Red: Bottom 50
OFFENSE
Scoring Offense: 21st, 35.4 points per game
Total Offense: 8th, 484.4 yards per game
Yards per play: 4th, 7.3 yards per play
Rushing Offense: 17th, 208.8 yards per game
Yards per carry: 4th, 6.0 yards per carry
Rushing Attempts per game: 74th, 38.9 attempts per game
Rushing Touchdowns: 35th, 20
Passing Offense: 25th, 275.7 yards per game
Passing Attempts: 56th, 31.4 attempts per game
Completion Percentage: 66th, 62.5%
Passing Touchdowns: 24th, 20
Interceptions Thrown: 88th, 8
First Downs: 13th, 24.2 per game
Third Down Conversions: 5th, 52.9%
Fourth Down Conversion attempts: 113th, 11
Red Zone Touchdown Percentage: 1st, 81.1%
20-plus yard plays: 4th, 63
10-plus yard runs: 4th, 68
20-plus yard passes: 12th, 40
Sacks Allowed: 92nd, 2.2 per game
Tackles For Loss Allowed: 38th, 4.7 per game
Time of Possession: 90th, 29:10:57 per game
Arkansas doesn’t win many football games, but it’s not because of the offense. Petrino and Taylen Green have produced one of the best offenses in the sport. They run it effectively, throw it explosively, and when they get into the red zone, they get touchdowns better than anyone in the country.
Despite Green’s athleticism, sacks have been a problem. He’s also turned the ball over. But the Hogs have as dynamic an offense as there is in the SEC. That’s the good news in Fayetteville…
DEFENSE
Scoring Defense: 125th, 33.3 points per game
Total Defense: 125th, 430.6 yards per game
Yards per Play Allowed: 124th, 6.3 yards per play
Run Defense: 117th, 184 yards per game
Yards per Carry Allowed: 113th, 4.7 yards per carry
Rushing Touchdowns Allowed: 116th, 19
Passing Defense: 110th, 246.4 yards per game
Completion Percentage Allowed: 81st, 62.7%
Yards per Passing Attempt Allowed: 122nd, 8.3 yards per attempt
Interceptions: 72nd, 6
Passing Touchdowns Allowed: 98th, 16
Sacks: 91st, 1.8 per game
Tackles for Loss: 64th, 5.6 per game
Third Down Defense: 108th, 43.3%
Red Zone Touchdown Percentage Allowed: 86th, 62.8%
20-plus yard plays allowed: 129th, 52
10-plus yard runs allowed: 131st, 62
20-plus yard passes allowed: 124th, 37
This is the worst statistical unit in the Southeastern Conference. The Razorback defense has been gashed all season. After reasonable efforts against Alabama A&M and Arkansas State to open the year, it’s been a disaster. Seven straight opponents have scored at least 32 points, and three have cracked 40.
The get gashed on the ground, shredded through the air and don’t generate much pressure. When you see the amount of “green” in the offensive breakdown above and realize the Razorbacks haven’t won a league game this year, you realize just how poorly this defense has played.
Will it be the elixir for LSU’s fledgling offense? We will see on Saturday.
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