Hogs offense looking to turn the corner

By By Noah Trister, The Associated Press

Eleven months ago, Alex Tejada kicked a 31-yard field goal at Tennessee, getting Arkansas on the scoreboard after the Volunteers had opened the game with a touchdown.

The Razorbacks haven't scored in the first quarter since.

Arkansas has moved the ball effectively on occasion this season, but the Razorbacks' inability to score early has forced them to play from behind. They've also had trouble finishing drives in opposing territory.

Coach Bobby Petrino is being careful, trying not to ask too much of his inexperienced team, which plays at No. 20 Auburn on Saturday.

"We're young and we haven't grasped all the concepts yet," said Petrino, who was hired in December.

The Razorbacks haven't scored a first-quarter point in eight games, including the first five this season. They almost snapped that streak last weekend in a 38-7 loss to Florida. On its first possession, Arkansas drove to the Florida 32-yard line, but Casey Dick was sacked on fourth down. Later in the first quarter, the Hogs faced fourth-and-7 at the Florida 28. Dick completed a pass to D.J. Williams, who was stopped short of the marker.

"We opened up the game executing on offense to about the 30-yard line but then we couldn't get the ball in the end zone," Petrino said. "Because of the wind we didn't try field goals."

Arkansas has lost three straight blowouts to Alabama, Texas and Florida. The offense has shown promise at times, but that hasn't necessarily translated into points. The Razorbacks are seventh in the Southeastern Conference in total offense, but only 11th in scoring offense.

In a 49-14 loss to Alabama last month, the Razorbacks had the ball the vast majority of the first half but trailed 35-7 at intermission. Turnovers and a failed fourth-down play near the goal line kept Arkansas from making a game of it.

Against Florida, those fourth-down stops hurt early, and Dick was intercepted at the Florida goal line right before halftime.

"We just didn't execute when the field got shorter," Petrino said. "That's why you need big-play scores, big plays to get touchdowns. A lot of defenses play this way. They try to make you earn it, make you drive."

Last year, running backs Darren McFadden and Felix Jones gave Arkansas two of the nation's top big-play threats. Either could break free for a long run at any time. They're both in the NFL now, and although Michael Smith has filled in admirably, his longest run of the season is 30 yards.

Williams, a sophomore, contributed a 76-yard catch against Louisiana-Monroe, helping the Razorbacks rally for a 28-27 win in that game, but the downfield passing game is still a work in progress. Freshman Joe Adams might be Arkansas' next offensive star. He chose the Razorbacks over Southern California and already has 18 catches for 225 yards and a touchdown.

"I pride myself in being a big-play guy," Adams said. "When I get the ball, if I get a couple blocks, I think I can bust one."

He might have to, because right now Arkansas isn't having much success kicking field goals. Tejada, who was impressive as a freshman last year, has missed all three of his field goal attempts this season. Shay Haddock had a 29-yarder blocked against Florida.

This weekend, the Razorbacks face an Auburn team that just fired its offensive coordinator, but the Tigers are allowing only 11 points a game.

"It definitely has been overshadowed by our lack of consistent offense," Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville said. "But defensively, we knew we were going to have a good football team."

Arkansas expects to be better on offense - but it might take some time.

"We came in thinking it was going to work right off the bat, but as you can see, progressively, things are starting to come together," Williams said. "As far as Auburn goes, I haven't seen much of their offense, but I know they have a really good defense, so it will be a good challenge for us this week."