OFFENSE Quarterback Brandon Allen had a much better game last week, despite suffering a gash to his right leg after getting cleated by an Auburn player. Allen’s deep pass to Javontee Herndon on the Hogs’ first drive was right on the money. Allen (81 of 180, 1067 yards, 9 TDs, 7 INTs) ranks 13th in the SEC and 106 of 123 nationally with a 103.5 efficiency rating. His 45-percent completion rate doesn’t rank among the top 100 nationally.
He has resumed scrambling out of pressure the past two games, an indication his shoulder is better while providing another method of moving the ball. Arkansas backup AJ Derby (19 of 36, 178 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) had been good with ball security until last week when he mishandled a snap and threw an interception.
Ole Miss’ Bo Wallace (165 of 263, 1976 yards, 11 TDs, 3 INTs) ranks 5th in the SEC, 30th nationally with 266.2 total yards per game, and 9th in the SEC, 56th nationally with 137.4 efficiency. Wallace is seventh all-time at Ole Miss with 5,514 total yards. Barry Brunetti (15 of 27, 177 yards, 5 TDs) has thrown all of his touchdown passes in his past 13 attempts.
A strong runner, Brunetti scored on Arkansas last year and has 3 rushing TDs this year. The Rebels, who have thrown 5 INTs, are the No. 35 passing offense (272 ypg) and they rank No. 51 in pass efficiency.
Running backs Arkansas re-established its downhill running last week behind Jonathan Williams (115 carries, 716 yards, 4 TDs), who had his fourth 100-yard game, and Alex Collins (159-889, 4). Collins is expected to play after suffering a minor leg injury on his final carry, which resulted in a lost fumble, against Auburn.
Kiero Small (30-118, 1) took several Wildcat snaps last week and got his first rushing score.
Freshman Korliss Marshall (2-24) is the third teamer who has gotten few snaps. Arkansas ranks No. 3 in the SEC and No. 24 in the nation with 211 rushing yards per game. The Rebels began using sophomores Jaylen Walton (64-321, 5 TDs) and I’Tavius Mathers (48-326, 2) more often after a thigh injury slowed top rusher Jeff Scott (53-434, 2 TDs). Walton and Mathers are giving Ole Miss a more physical run presence. Scott, 5-7, 162 pounds, averages 8.2 yards per carry, but he has been limited to six games. He ranks sixth in career rushing (2,238 yards) at Ole Miss. The Rebels are 45th nationally with 190 rushing yards per game.
Receivers Both Javontee Herndon (24 catches, 377 yards, 4 TD) and Keon Hatcher (15-175, 2) had 4 receptions last week, representing a resurgence for Arkansas receivers, though Herndon could not complete the catch on a would-be 41-yard TD. True freshman Hunter Henry (18-328, 1) could be a prime weapon vs. the Rebels’ banged-up linebackers. D’Arthur Cowan (2-17) had a catch last week, but it’s been a while since Julian Horton (6-57) or Eric Hawkins (3-32) grabbed a pass. Ole Miss has one of the league’s best receiving corps, led by true freshman Laquon Treadwell (41-385, 2), junior Donte Moncrief (34-498, 4) and senior Ja-Mes Logan (30-386, 2). Moncrief leads the team with 32 career starts. Treadwell broke Moncrief’s school record (31) for catches by a freshman. The Rebels’ screens gave Arkansas trouble last season.
LineSenior center Travis Swanson is set for start No. 48, which is tied for the second-longest streak in the country. Arkansas is having tolive with a few errors from true freshman guards Dan Skipper and Denver Kirkland. If senior LT David Hurd (20 consecutive starts) and junior RG Brey Cook are in the opening lineup, it would make the fifth consecutive game with the same starters on Arkansas’ front. The Razorbacks have fallen to No. 100 nationally and 13th in the SEC in total offense (355.3) and No. 107 in scoring (20.0). Ole Miss freshman Laremy Tunsil (6-5, 315) plays the left tackle spot protecting his quarterback’s blind side edge. Center Evan Swindall (6-4, 301) and right side guard Jared Duke (6-7, 377) and tackle Pierce Burton (6-6, 290) are all seniors, while left guard Justin Bell (6-6, 345) is a sophomore. Ole Miss ranks No. 36 in total offense (462.3 ypg) and No. 46 in scoring (32.5).
DEFENSE Line Arkansas’ lack of pressure on the passer has problems on the back end, where speed is a concern. End Chris Smith (28 tackles, 7 sacks, 9 TFL, 5 hurries) added to his sack count for the first time in several games last week. Trey Flowers (29, 4, 9.5, 3) has forced a team-high two fumbles. Starting tackles Byran Jones (24, 1 TFL, 1 hurry) and Darius Philon (30, 3 sacks, 6 TFL, 2 hurries) have been backed competently by DeMarcus Hodge (15, 1.5 TFL), and redshirt freshman Horace Arkadie got a few snaps last week. Deatrich Wise (15, 2, 3, 2 hurries), Brandon Lewis (11, 2.5 TFL, 1 PBU) and JaMichael Winston (3, 1 INT) have promising futures. The Rebels are expected to get end Robert Nkemdiche back in a rotation where senior Cameron Whigham (23, 1.5 sacks. 3 TFL) and junior Byron Bennett (7, 1, 2) have played well. Sophomores Woodrow Hamilton (19, 1 sack) and Isaac Gross (15, 2.5 sacks, 4 TFL) are the top interior players.
Ole Miss has the nation’s 66th rushing defense (165.1).
LinebackersTrue freshman Brooks Ellis (9, 0.5 sacks), whose pre-snap calls and reads were well done last week, according to the coaches, will try to halt the revolving door at middle linebacker. Senior Jarrett Lake (58, 1 TFL, 2 PBU, 2 hurries) returned to outside linebacker last week opposite junior Braylon Mitchell (63, 3 PBU, 2 hurries), who is ninth in the SEC in tackles. Martrell Spaight (22, 1 sack, 1 hurry) has been slowed by off-field issues, and sophomore Otha Peters (9, 2 PBU) has been bothered by his wrist injury. The Razorbacks rank No. 54th in total defense (385.8) andNo. 90 in scoring (31.1). Senior Mike Marry (29, 2 TFL, 2 FF, 1 FR), a 6-3, 250, mans the middle for Ole Miss. Marry is this year’s Chucky Mullins Courage Award winner, meaning he wears the honorary No. 38 jersey. Marry is flanked by the “Stinger” outside linebacker at which junior Serderius Bryant (57, 1 sack, 6 TFL) and sophomore Denzel Nkemdiche (26, 1 FF, 1 FR), who have split time while battling injuries. D.T. Shackleford (18, 1 TFL), once a rising SEC star before he was slowed by injuries, is the backup to Marry. The Rebels are No. 47 in total defense (379.4) and tied for 58th in scoring (25.6).
Secondary Arkansas will have to contend with Ole Miss’ myriad of screens and slants that open things up for longer throws. Safety Alan Turner (62, 3 PBU, 1 hurry) has been active all season.
Turner and Eric Bennett (53, 3 PBU) will have to play better to give the Hogs a chance.
Corner Tevin Mitchel (46, 3 TFL, 5 PBU, 1 INT) appeared to have position on a deep pass last week, but mistimed his jump, leading to an 88-yard Auburn touchdown. Carroll Washington (16, 2 PBU) and Jared Collins (14, 1 TFL, 1 forced fumble) have filled in relatively well for injured Will Hines. Arkansas has allowed 207 passing yards per game to rank 24th, but is No. 101 in pass defense efficiency, which takes big plays and touchdowns allowed as well as interceptions into account. Ole Miss free safety Cody Prewitt (48, 3 TFL, 5 PBU, 4 INT) is one of 15 semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award. Trae Elston (42, 1.5 TFL, 5 PBU, 1 FR) is a big hitter at rover. Corner Charles Sawyer (10, 1 INT) has been injured. Sawyer or Senquez Golson (23, 1 TFL, 2 PBU) would start opposite sophomore Mike Hilton (29, 5 TFL) or true freshman Derrick Jones (15, 1 TFL). Nickel back Tony Conner (40, 1 sack, 4 PBU, 2 hurries, 1 INT) is also a true freshman.
The Rebels are No. 31 in passing yards allowed (214.3) and No. 61 in pass-efficiency defense.
Special teams Zach Hocker is 9 of 10 on field goals, with a long of 53 yards, and is 20 of 20 on PATs, but he wasn’t included on the Lou Groza Award list of 20 semifinalists. Hocker leads the nation in kickoff distance (64.94) and is 6th in touchback percentage (69.4). He had one kickoff go out of bounds last week. Sam Irwin-Hill ranks 3rd in the SEC, 18th in the nation in punting (43.4) and he’s been a part of three fake punts, two of them successful. Korliss Marshall’s 87-yard kickoff return vs. Auburn spiced up the return game. D’Arthur Cowan was on the brink of returning punts, but the coaches opted for the security of Javontee Herndon, who fair catches most of them. Rebels senior Tyler Campbell of Little Rock ranks fifth nationally and third in the SEC with a 45.3-yard punting average. Andrew Ritter has six field goals of 40 yards or longer and he’s 10 of 13 overall with a long kick of 52 yards. Ole Miss is No. 1 in the SEC and No.
11 nationally in punt returns (15.0).Jeff Scott (19.6)would lead the league if he had enough attempts. The Rebels are No. 29 in net punting (38.8) and No. 99 in kickoff returns (19.1). Ole Miss has allowed two blocked kicks.
Intangibles Arkansas’ nine-game SEC losing streak started with a last-second defeat last year against Ole Miss in Little Rock. The Razorbacks have been outscored by 30.3 points during a four-game SEC road losing streak, dating back to a 24-7 victory at Auburn. Arkansas must improve on its minus-1.0 turnover margin, which ranks 113th in the nation. The Rebels should be refreshed coming off an open date after a lopsided victory over Idaho the week before, following a last-second victory over LSU. Ole Miss ranks No. 41 in turnover margin (plus 0.4) and is eyeing a jump in that category against the sloppy Razorbacks.
Sports, Pages 24 on 11/09/2013