HawgBeat - 6 thoughts from Arkansas' loss to Texas A&M
HawgBeat provides six quick thoughts, notes, observations, stats and more from Arkansas' loss to Texas A&M.
arkansas.rivals.com
The Arkansas Razorbacks (2-3, 0-2 SEC) fell below .500 courtesy of a 34-22 loss to Texas A&M (4-1, 2-0 SEC) on Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
On a day where the defense forced a pair of turnovers and did everything it could to hold the Bobby Petrino-led Aggies offense in the second half, the Arkansas offense provided zero (0) touchdowns in the whole game.
The Razorbacks recorded just 174 total yards in the game and they averaged 3.1 yards per play. Kicker Cam Little had to boot three field goals and a 20-yard pick-six from Lorando "Snaxx" Johnson was the only touchdown of the day for Arkansas until the fourth quarter.
Arkansas finally scored an offensive touchdown with 3:53 to play in the game on a 48-yard connection from KJ Jefferson to Andrew Armstrong, which was the first pass that resulted in positive yardage for the first time since the first quarter. Jefferson ended the game 9-of-17 through the air with 132 yards, one score and one pick.
Texas A&M totaled seven sacks and 15 tackles for loss as a team. The Aggies also benefited from a 16-yard pick-six in the third quarter that extended their lead to 11 on a play that seemingly ended the game with just over five minutes left in the third quarter.
Despite the return of Raheim "Rocket" Sanders from a knee injury, the Hogs lost star freshman tight end Luke Hasz on the first drive of the game. Cornerback Dwight McGlothern also went down in the second quarter and never returned, and the same happened with John Morgan III in the fourth quarter after he was carted off.
Here are my thoughts, observations, notes and much more from another rough loss for head coach Sam Pittman's squad.
Let's talk about 4th-and-1
For the third time in four games, Arkansas was unable to convert on 4th-and-inches. For the third time in four games, Arkansas handed off to the running back out of the shotgun on 4th-and-inches.
As was the case in the Kent State and BYU game, the Razorbacks were facing 4th-and-inches from near midfield against the Aggies. With the ball at the Arkansas 40-yard line courtesy of an offsides by Texas A&M on a Razorback punt, head coach Sam Pittman called a timeout to reconsider punting.
I thought to myself in real time that there was no way they'd come out and not be under center. Well, they came out in the shotgun and KJ Jefferson handed the ball off to Rocket Sanders, who tried kicking outside unsuccessfully to turn the ball over on downs.
Look, I'm not a football coach or expert. Sam Pittman and Dan Enos have both forgotten more football than I'll ever remember. But if everyone else can see it, why can't they? Why can't the Razorbacks run a quarterback sneak with Jefferson under center?
Maybe they aren't confident in the offensive line's ability to get a push. But that couldn't be the case because they still went with a run play and expected the line to be able to block for longer so the play could develop.
Maybe if Luke Hasz didn't go down on the first drive with a shoulder injury they would've thrown it to him there. But that's a call that should be second nature to this team. You should have a go-to 4th-and-short call just like you do a two-point conversion, and this team's 4th-and-short call stinks.
Offense, anyone?
Lorando "Snaxx" Johnson opened the second half with an interception that he returned 20 yards for a touchdown to make it a 20-13 game just one play into the third quarter. The Razorback defense then held the Aggies to a field goal on their next drive, but the offense countered with a three-and-out.
Once again, the defense forced a turnover courtesy of a forced fumble by Jordan Crook that was recovered by freshman linebacker Brad Spence. The offense took advantage of having the ball at the A&M 35-yard line by...having to kick their second 50-plus yard field goal of the game.
The defense forced Texas A&M's first fumble on the ensuing drive and, on the second play of the drive, KJ Jefferson was picked off by Chris Russell Jr., who trotted 16 yards into the end zone to make it a 27-16 game.
Down by 11 points with 10 minutes to go in the fourth quarter, the Arkansas offense took over after yet another defensive stop. The next three plays were as follows: 4-yard loss, 8-yard sack, 2-yard completion.
After the three-and-out, Ainias Smith took Max Fletchers punt 82 yards for a touchdown and the game was all but over at the point. To everyone's surprise, the Hogs went three-and-out on the ensuing drive and gave up their seventh sack and 15th tackle for loss on third down.
The Hogs finally showed like on the 48-yarder from Jefferson to Armstrong, but it was way too late for that. But hey, at least they ran an unsuccessful sweep to Isaiah Sategna on the two-point conversion with less than four minutes to go in the game.
