Defending Hurricane tough task
Posted on Saturday, November 1, 2008
FAYETTEVILLE — Asked if his Arkansas cornerbacks were facing their toughest challenge of the season against Tulsa today, position coach Lorenzo Ward first made an interesting point.
“People look at Tulsa and say they throw the football a lot,” Ward said. “Well, they do. But our offense has thrown the ball more times than Tulsa has.”
Ward is correct. Arkansas has thrown 287 passes to Tulsa’s 241 through eight games each.
However, the Golden Hurricane have completed five more passes than the Razorbacks, have thrown for 906 more yards and 23 more touchdowns, and have compiled a 200. 46 efficiency rating, best in the nation and more than 87 points better than Arkansas ’ rating of 112. 69.
Tulsa sports the nation’s No. 7 passing offense at 346 yards per game, but its running attack, which generates 255 yards per game, is ranked even higher at No. 5 nationally.
Add it all up and Tulsa, with former Arkansas offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn calling the plays, blows into Reynolds Razorback Stadium as the topscoring team in the country (55. 6 points a game ) with the top-rated offense (601. 1 yards per game ).
“I saw them [defeat Central Florida 49-14 on ESPN ] Sunday night and the film doesn’t simulate the pace that they have,” Arkansas defensive coordinator Willy Robinson said. “Sunday night was amazing. A lot of our players saw it. The hardest thing about it is giving them that look. We’ve tried our best the last [few ] days.”
That “look” would be a nohuddle Spread, with a battalion of receivers ready to run a go route or a tunnel screen at a moment’s notice and quarterback David Johnson (155 of 277 for 2, 661 yards, with 32 touchdowns and 9 interceptions ) deftly working the trigger.
“The quarterback’s ability to throw the ball deep is something that really impresses you and the receivers’ ability to make catches sometimes even when they are covered,” Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said.
“We all know they’re playing a fast-paced tempo, without a huddle, ASAP run the next play,” Arkansas linebacker Jerry Franklin said. “We have to look quick to the sideline, get the plays, and everybody’s got to stay focused. Everybody’s got to be in tune.”
Said Petrino: “They just do a great job of executing and putting pressure on you to get lined up and defend their formations and motions.”
The Razorbacks’ secondary is doing some shuffling with freshman safety Elton Ford lost for the season and senior cornerback Jamar Love returning from a thumb injury, but they sound eager to defend the Hurricane attack.
“We’re not intimidated by someone passing the ball on us,” safety Matt Harris said. “We’re defensive backs, that’s our job. We welcome the challenge when someone wants to come in and throw the ball 60 times on us.
“ We don’t care about that. That means more opportunities for us. When the ball’s in the air, it’s not their ball, it’s everyone’s ball. We’re going to go up there and get it as much as they are.”
Tulsa’s overall offensive numbers are reminiscent of the bloated, but balanced, statistics Petrino’s Louisville teams posted from 2003-2006, when the Cardinals ranked in the top 5 nationally in total offense for five out of four seasons.
“It’s a different style in the fact they don’t ever huddle and they run a lot more motion and receiver runs,” Petrino said. “A little more misdirection.
“ They try and spread the field and get guys in space and get the guy that can make plays in space. But when they’re running the ball, they run the zone play and block the backside edge and run the power play. It’s kind of a combination of spreading the field and being able to have some power runs.”
The Golden Hurricane have seven players with at least 13 receptions and have three runners who average 40 or more rushing yards per game.
Brennan Marion is Tulsa’s best deep-play threat, with 31 catches for 827 yards and 7 touchdowns, an average of 26. 7 yards per catch. Tulsa averages 17 yards per reception.
“What Tulsa does is they’re a big-play team,” Ward said. “We’ve got to eliminate the big plays, and they’re going to take their shots. They’re more of a shot team than they are a control, 10-yard, possession, outroute kind of deal.”
All of which sounds like a wicked combination for Arkansas and its No. 67-ranked defense to be up against.
“They’re fast-paced, they execute very well,” Franklin said. “I could say they’re one of the most dangerous teams we’ve played because of the things they do.”
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