Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said his team was too one-dimensional. The Razorbacks had just been drubbed by Alabama, 49-26.
KJ Jefferson has been a stalwart for the Razorbacks at quarterback the last season-and-a-half. But passing has never been strongest suit. He works in efficiency, with an air attack that works best set up by a strong running attack.
Arkansas has the running attack, but for whatever reason, the Hogs’ passing game has been underwhelming, thus Pittman’s remarks.
“Right now, we’re one-dimensional. We’ve got to be able to throw and catch and protect,” he said. “We can’t just turn around and hand the ball off and beat really good teams.”
Arkansas still has ninth-ranked rushing attack in FBS, averaging 232 yards per game. Even against the Crimson Tide, the Hogs went for 187 yards on the ground. It wasn’t enough.
Jefferson’s numbers are actually better through five this season than they were through five games last year. So what’s the problem? Let’s take a look at the numbers more closely.