We continue HawgBeat's series of analyzing Arkansas' games through the lens of Pro Football Focus after the Razorbacks' 39-31 (2OT) loss to No. 16 Oklahoma State.
The analytics from PFF keep track of grades for each player on a scale of 0-100. The website goes further into depth on specific grades, but for the purpose of this story, we will just look at offensive grades.
Here are the grades on the offensive side of the ball from the Oklahoma State game...
Team Grades
~Overall: 88.8
~Offense: 85.1
~Passing: 90.0
~Pass blocking: 64.4
~Receiving: 76.1
~Running: 78.2
~Run blocking: 75.0
Notes
~ After his stellar three-touchdown performance, running back Ja'Quinden Jackson finished with the team's best run grade (67.5) and best pass-block grade (81.0).
~ Four of Arkansas' starting offensive linemen finished with an overall grade below 60.0: Joshua Braun (41.2 PBLK, 58.8 RBLK), Addison Nichols (57.9 PBLK, 58.5 RBLK), E'Marion Harris (67.6 PBLK, 45.0 RBLK) and Keyshawn Blackstock (14.1 PBLK, 60.5 RBLK).
~ Wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa only played 12 snaps against the Cowboys after playing 29 against UAPB in Week 1.
~ After impressing against the Golden Lions with a 61.4 overall grade, wide receiver Jordan Anthony only managed a 53.3 in seven snaps against the Cowboys.
~ Pass catchers Andrew Armstrong (72.7), Isaiah Sategna (68.5) and TeSlaa (69.8) were the Hogs' three highest-scorers in pass grade, besides quarterback Taylen Green (79.5).
~ Tight ends Andreas Paaske (80.8) and Luke Hasz (81.5) had the team's lone run block grades higher than 70.0.
Arkansas Offense PFF Grades - Oklahoma State
| Player, position | PFF Grade - Oklahoma State | Snaps vs Oklahoma State |
|---|---|---|
| Taylen Green, QB | 78.3 | 93 |
| Andreas Paaske, TE | 77.5 | 11 |
| Andrew Armstrong, WR | 73.2 | 85 |
| Luke Hasz, TE | 70.9 | 78 |
| Isaiah Sategna, WR | 68.6 | 72 |
| Ja'Quinden Jackson, RB | 68.3 | 67 |
| Isaac TeSlaa, WR | 66.3 | 12 |
| Fernando Carmona, LT | 65.4 | 93 |
| Rodney Hill, RB | 64.2 | 29 |
| Tyrone Broden, WR | 62.2 | 84 |
| Monte Harrison, WR | 60.0 | 2 |
| Joshua Braun, RG | 56.9 | 93 |
| Addison Nichols, C | 56.1 | 93 |
| CJ Brown, WR | 55.7 | 7 |
| Ty Washington, TE | 54.3 | 11 |
| Jordan Anthony, WR | 53.3 | 7 |
| E'Marion Harris, LG | 51.5 | 93 |
| Keyshawn Blackstock, LT | 42.8 | 93 |
TAKEAWAYS
1. Concerns for the offensive line?
What a difference a week makes.
Against UAPB, not a single Arkansas offensive lineman finished with a PFF grade below 70.0. Following the Hogs' matchup against the Cowboys, however, only one — Carmona — graded above 60.0 (65.4).
The notable weakness of the unit came when Oklahoma State sent the house on blitzes against Arkansas' offense. Despite emphasizing it leading into the game, according to head coach Sam Pittman, the Razorbacks failed to keep Green's pocket consistently clean under pressure.
"We certainly prepared big time for that," Pittman said. "We missed a couple. We had Sategna open on the post once that we missed in that same situation. But the pressure got there a little bit faster than what we wanted to. But we worked extremely hard, whether we were in 11 personnel, 12 personnel or in 20, where we didn’t have a tight end to use as a blocker."
Arkansas will have another tune-up opportunity against UAB on Saturday, but blocking opposing edge rushers and linebackers will only get tougher as SEC play nears.
2. Taylen Green is talented, but...
Can he be the guy that leads Arkansas to the promised land in crunch-time situations? Will he have a killer mindset that flips close losses into victories during conference play?
On paper, Green had his way with Oklahoma State's defense. After all, the former Boise State transfer racked up 476 total yards of offense with a touchdown. He also threw an interception, but that was caused by a hit off the edge that led to a wobbler in the air that resulted in a pick-six.
Despite his seemingly impressive stat line, Green still completed just 26-of-45 passes (57.8%) and even some that were caught weren't the most accurate.
The most memorable misstep came in the second overtime period with Arkansas down eight points, as a wide open Rodney Hill on a wheel route couldn't grab a low-thrown pass from Green. Had the ball been placed better, it likely would have resulted in a touchdown.
Green's miscues are why he didn't crack an 80.0+ grade from PFF, and his ability to learn from his mistakes will determine Arkansas' success the rest of the season.
"He’s a warrior," Pittman said. "He works awful hard. It’s unfortunate, on the pick-six he got hit. He got hit and it wobbled out there and the kid, the young man made a nice interception and returned it. He’s our guy and obviously I’m sure he’d like to have some throws back, he’s like to have some decisions that he made back, but to have 500 yards against a good football team, I think we’ve got a good one there and he’ll continue to get better. And we’ve got to get better around him."
3. Arkansas needed Andrew Armstrong back badly
Armstrong was successful as Arkansas' leading receiver a year ago, but it's evident that the former FCS transfer is primed for a breakout season after his Week 2 performance.
In his first game of the 2024 season, Armstrong caught 10 passes for 164 yards and was the go-to target for Green throughout the game. As a result, he graded out as the offense's second-best contributor for players with a snap count over 15.
If Armstrong can continue this type of production in SEC play, it will take a good chunk of pressure off the rest of the Razorbacks' passing attack.
"I thought he was really good, had a lot of yards after he caught the football, made some guys miss, ran extremely hard, played hard, blocked well," Pittman said. "10 catches for 164 yards I thought he had a really good day. Of course protection and the thrower had something to do with it as well but he got open. I was pleased to get him back out there."
