FAYETTEVILLE — In another time and place, Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino’s big-play offense hooked up against a defense coordinated by Manny Diaz.
Petrino’s Louisville Cardinals rolled up 526 yards in a 44-17 rout of Middle Tennessee State on Oct. 6, 2006. Diaz, then in his first year coordinating the Blue Raiders’ defense, recalls the lead-up to that game with clarity.
“That was probably the only game, going in, that I was afraid we were going to have 100 points scored on us,” said Diaz, whose Mississippi State defense must contend with quarterback Ryan Mallett and the Razorbacks on Saturday.
Diaz has no concern the Bulldogs will concede 100 to No. 13 Arkansas, which ranks 13th nationally in scoring average with 37.9 points per game.
“We can hold them to at least 99,” Diaz said. “I’m pretty confident of that.”
All kidding aside, Diaz and the Bulldogs are catching the Hogs in the midst of a major offensive wave. Arkansas is averaging 46.5 points and 510 yards per game during its four-game winning streak.
Tailback Knile Davis has rushed for 550 yards and nine touchdowns in that span. Mallett has hit 80 of 124 passes for1,123 yards, 10 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, for an efficiency rating of 163.98, during the streak.
Road games have been no obstacle for Arkansas either, as the Razorbacks have posted 115 points and 1,442 yards, an average of 38.3 points and 481 yards per game, while going 2-1 on the road.
“I’m getting in my rhythm right now,” Mallett said.
“I think we have core confidence now and what you’re seeing is we have confidence and we’re playing better,” Arkansas offensive coordinator Garrick McGee said.
The Hogs will face a confident defense In Mississippi State, which ranks 16th nationally in defensive scoring average, allowing 16.3 points per game.
That number was dented some last week when Alabama connected on three touchdown plays of 45 yards or longer in a 30-10 victory in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
The Bulldogs were plagued by missed tackles against Alabama, with receivers slipping away from defenders within a few yards of the line of scrimmage on each of the long touchdown plays.
Diaz said he understands the Razorbacks will test his secondary deep with a set of breakaway threats that includes Jarius Wright, Joe Adams, Chris Gragg, Ronnie Wingo and Cobi Hamilton, who had touchdown catches of 58 and 64 yards against the Bulldogs last year.
“They don’t have to catch it a bunch of times to beat you,” Diaz said. “If they throw it 10 times and they come down with it four, that will probably be enough for them to win.”
One area of the field that should be hotly contested is the red zone. Mississippi State ranks third in the SEC in red zone defense, allowing scores on 73.3 percent of opponent drives inside the 20. The Bulldogs have given up 12 touchdowns in the red zone, the second-best rate in the league.
However, Arkansas has converted 37 of 40 red-zone chances (.925) to rank fourth in the country. The Razorbacks have 30 touchdowns on those red-zone drives, a 75 percent rate.
“Eventually they have to get down to our red zone, and that’s where we do real good with our defense,” Mississippi State linebacker K.J. Wright said.
But the Hogs are as potent as anyone in striking for touchdowns beyond the red zone. Mallett has 56 completions of 30 yards or longer since 2009, the most in the country.
Sports, Pages 20 on 11/19/2010