Inside the matchups
Posted on Sunday, September 30, 2007
QUARTERBACKS The game was a good confidence boost for Arkansas junior Casey Dick, who hit 12 of 21 passes for 210 yards and 3 touchdowns after having a completion rate of 49. 3 percent in the first three games. North Texas’ Daniel Meager and Giovanni Vizza were under a lot of pressure.
ADVANTAGE Arkansas
RUNNING BACKS Arkansas junior tailbacks Darren McFadden and Felix Jones each had 100-yard rushing efforts in the same game for the seventh time and rushed for a combined 270 yards in the first half. They didn’t play in the second half. The Mean Green keyed on McFadden early — helping Jones run 35 yards for a touchdown on an end-around — but couldn’t keep him contained. McFadden broke free for a 51-yard run to set up his second rushing touchdown on the next play and Jones had a 71-yard touchdown run that included some nifty footwork on the sideline to stay inbounds. North Texas junior Jamario Thomas had a 33-yard gain to help set up a touchdown on the Mean Green’s lone scoring drive of the first half.
ADVANTAGE Arkansas
RECEIVERS Arkansas senior flanker Robert Johnson, who last season moved from quarterback, caught the first touchdown pass of his career and sophomore split end London Crawford hauled in a 61-yard touchdown pass from Casey Dick for Crawford’s first score this season. Sophomore walk-on Lucas Miller caught his first career touchdown pass in the third quarter. North Texas senior Brandon Jackson had three receptions on the Mean Green’s first-half touchdown drive and consistently got open and caught the ball. ADVANTAGE Arkansas
OFFENSIVE LINE The Razorbacks’ line was dominant, opening holes for the running game and providing good pass protection. Junior center Jonathan Luigs showed his athleticism by quickly getting upfield and throwing a key block on Felix Jones’ 35-yard touchdown run for the game’s first score.
ADVANTAGE Arkansas
DEFENSIVE LINE Arkansas sophomore end Adrian Davis returned to the starting lineup and got his first sack of the season. The Razorbacks got good pressure on North Texas’ quarterbacks and tackles Malcolm Sheppard and Ernest Mitchell plugged the middle. North Texas was overmatched by the Razorbacks’ offensive front.
ADVANTAGE Arkansas
LINEBACKERS Arkansas didn’t play more than one linebacker at a time for most of the game with Weston Dacus, Freddie Fairchild and Elston Forte rotating. They did a solid job blitzing and against the run. Fairchild got one sack. The Mean Green linebackers were no match for Arkansas ’ running game.
ADVANTAGE Arkansas
DEFENSIVE BACKS The Razorbacks went with a dime package featuring six defensive backs. They gave up a couple of long passes, but were solid for the most part. Senior cornerback Michael Grant had an interception in the third quarter to set up a touchdown. Jerell Norton also made an interception and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown. North Texas struggled in coverage much of the game.
ADVANTAGE Arkansas
SPECIAL TEAMS Arkansas freshman Alex Tejada hit 1 of 2 field-goal attempts. After making a 39-yarder for his eighth consecutive field goal of the season, he missed from 44 on the last play of the first half. The Razorbacks did a good job on kickoff coverage, and got a lot of chances to do it.
ADVANTAGE Arkansas
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