Arkansas’ offense knows how to hold on to the ball. That’s a good thing.
Arkansas’ offense doesn’t score touchdowns. That’s a bad thing.
The Razorbacks’ offensive line has shouldered much of the blame for Arkansas’ 2-4 start in the 2023 season. But the Hogs’ ineffenciency on that side of the ball has been the biggest reason for the team’s struggles.
Arkansas ranks 18th in FBS in time of possesssion. The more you have the ball, the less your opponent does, meaning fewer minutes for the opposition offense to score against you. But at some point, just keeping the ball isn’t enough.
For all the possession, little is coming off it. Arkansas’ average of 18.8 first downs per game ranks 96th in FBS. Throw in Arkansas’ rank of 91st in number of offensive plays to go for 20 yards or more and the Razorbacks are neither moving the ball methodically nor with the big play.
“We’re just putting ourself in a hole all the time,” coach Sam Pittman said. “We’re not winning first downs. A gain of three would get us to 2nd-and-7. We’ve been playing a lot of 2nd-and-10, 2nd-and-12, 2nd-and-13. I think that would help us with more drives.”
As much as fans may not want to hear it, he’s right in that an adjustment here or there would likely have been enough to get Arkansas wins over BYU and LSU, at least. Maybe even Texas A&M. Had those happened, the conversation is more upbeat.
But they didn’t. And they may not against an Alabama team Saturday that has won 15 straight games in the meeting. If things don’t start fixing on those first-down and big-play fronts after that, though, things are going to go further south and greater speed.