FAYETTEVILLE — Alabama’s green-behind-the-ears defense looked lost at times against Arkansas in the first half Saturday.
Fortunately for the topranked Crimson Tide, the defense found itself in the second half and helped Alabama escape with a 24-20 victory against No. 10 Arkansas at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
“That was really not a good half of football, and I really don’t want the players to put it behind them,” Alabama Coach Nick Saban said. “I want them to remember what it’s like to not play the way you’re capable of playing.”
The Crimson Tide have nine first-year starters on defense, including an inexperienced secondary, and were expected to be challenged by Razorbacks quarterback Ryan Mallett and a deep stable of receivers. It didn’t take long for the challenge to show.
The tone was set on the second play of the game when Mallett threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to a wide open Ronnie Wingo. Wingo was wide open because the wrong outside linebacker blitzed, leaving Wingo alone on the left side of the field.
“It was our inexperience in adjusting to motions and formations - all things we practiced, not something that’s new - and in the heat of battle, we make mistakes,” Saban said. “I’m talking about the most basic things. They have to understand the importance of being disciplined to do their job. Sometimes young guys don’t understand that.”
The Razorbacks rang up 17 points and 301 yards of total offense in the first half. The Crimson Tide allowed Arkansas three points and 120 yards in the second half and intercepted Mallett twice in the fourth quarter.
The first interception set up the game-winning touchdown, and the second allowed Alabama to run out the clock.
“It’s always good to learn from mistakes,” said Alabama free safety Robert Lester, who had two interceptions. “I’m glad the mistakes didn’t cost us the ‘W.’ ”
Strong safety Mark Barron said the coaches told the defense it needed to play “Alabama football” in the second half.
“To the team’s credit they responded at halftime and did a great job in the second half,” Saban said. “I think it says a lot about their competitive character. We have a standard that we want to play to, and we want to play to it all the time.
“We certainly didn’t get that done in the first half.”
Saban said the Crimson Tide played conservatively in the first half because of the mistakes. That allowed Mallett to have a field day, completing 15 of 21 passes for 250 yards and 1 touchdown.
Alabama turned up the heat in the second half and the younger defenders played cleaner. The added aggression paid off against Mallett, preventing him from putting up big numbers as he did in the first half.
“The team we have nowis not used to being down,” junior defensive end Marcell Dareus said. “Us being down so early, it really had an affect on our younger players. At halftime we were like, don’t get down, we still have 30 minutes.”
That was long enough for Alabama to find itself.
Sports, Pages 32 on 09/26/2010