FAYETTEVILLE - Arkansas has grown accustomed to playing difficult schedules laced with top 25 opponents since joining the SEC.
But the Razorbacks have never faced a brutal stretch of games like they are on now. For the first time since the Razorbacks joined the SEC for the 1992 season, they will face a fifth-consecutive ranked opponent when they host Auburn, which is No. 11 in the BCS rankings and The Associated Press poll, on Saturday.
Arkansas has lost five consecutive games, including setbacks against No. 10 Texas A&M, No. 18 Florida, No. 14 South Carolina and No. 1 Alabama, heading into its SEC West battle with Auburn.
The 2008 team, led by first-year Coach Bobby Petrino, was whipped by No. 9 Alabama, No. 7 Texas and No. 12 Florida in succession before knocking off No. 20 Auburn, 25-22, at Auburn.
“We’ve definitely played some tough opponents,” quarterback Brandon Allen said. “I mean, that’s what you expect when you’re in the SEC.
“We haven’t been playing the way we want to be playing. That’s something we’re working on, we’re moving forward with it and we’re excited for Auburn coming in here.”Staying up
Bret Bielema said it was good to get out on the recruiting trail early last week to “get refreshed a little bit and hear some positive things.”
Bielema added at his Thursday news conference that he’s cranked up for the Auburn game on Saturday.
“Obviously a big game for us, a lot that goes into it, a team that is ranked, a team that has done some good things and obviously an opportunity to be here at home on what sounds like a sellout crowd, an evening game that everybody should be jacked up for,” he said. “It’ll be a tremendous environment. It’ll be a big weekend for us in recruiting as well.”Youth movement?
Bret Bielema has suggested the jobs of underperforming veterans could be in jeopardy for Arkansas’ final four-game swing, but no definitive changes have been revealed.
Offensive coordinator Jim Chaney said Tuesday “we’ll continue to evaluate that on a day-to-day basis.”
Defensive coordinator Chris Ash said true freshmen D.J. Dean and Brooks Ellis could be in position to take more game reps.
“Right now we’re trying to decide in what direction we’re going to go, but yeah, absolutely those two guys will be on the field in some capacity more than they have.”
Bielema said Thursday, “I’m not saying we’re just going with a full-scale youth movement, but on the same account, I think if we’re through eight games and you’re a player of senior status to junior status and you have not progressed the way we’d like, haven’t had the results that we would’ve liked at certain positions, you can expect someone to get an opportunity.”Punt returns
Senior Javontee Herndon has returned just six punts for 35 yards this season, and 20 of those yards came on a return on which he lost a fumble late in the first half of Arkansas’ 31-21 victory over Samford.
Herndon has appeared quick to call for a fair catch in recent games, which Bret Bielema said has not been at the directive of coaches.
“There was one [at Alabama] where we thought he maybe could’ve gotten it and gone,” Bielema said, “but if you remember back early on … there were a few plays that ball security was an issue and it affects people. It affects his ability to catch it and go.”
Bielema said sophomore D’Arthur Cowan had been the leading punt return candidate prior to his foot injury during camp.
“I appreciate everything Javontee has done,” Bielema said. “I’ve tried to give him a tremendous amount of encouragement, but we might have to go in some direction to make some other things happen.”Thomas’ plan
Defensive tackle Robert Thomas, who was lost for the season with a broken left tibia against South Carolina, said he plans to be off his crutches and walking under his own power for Saturday’s senior day festivities prior to the Auburn game.
“Just to give the fans, just like everybody, some kind of motivation just to keep pushing, like we’re going to be all right,” Thomas said in explaining why he held that goal.
Hines update
Coach Bret Bielema said cornerback Will Hines had his broken arm re-examined this week and the checkup was positive.
“[The X-ray] showed the development that we had hoped, so hopefully we’ll get him back for our two remaining final conference games after that second bye week,” Bielema said.
Knight pains
ESPNU’S Dari Nowkhah, in Fayetteville to speak at the Northwest Arkansas Touchdown Club last week, said the Hogs’ 28-24 loss at Rutgers was a painful one for Bret Bielema.
Nowkhah has had numerous conversations with Bielema this year, including Bielema’s weekly appearances on College Football Daily on Wednesdays.
“I think he wanted Rutgers,” Nowkhah said.
“That was the one, you know. I think it changed them. And I think part of him feels like it changed in the second half of that game.
“Because if you get out of New Jersey and you’re sitting at 4-0 going into conference play, I think it’s a different game. I’m not necessarily saying they would’ve beaten Texas A&M or Florida. But I think that 4-0 is 4-0 and now you’re two wins away from a bowl game.”
Arkansas led 24-7 in the third quarter at Rutgers before a punt return touchdown and the passing of Gary Nova led the Scarlet Knights to a comeback victory.
Top rookies
Bret Bielema has consistently touted the team’s young talent as the building blocks for future success.
Arkansas’ recruiting staff has put together a brochure featuring the 18 redshirt and true freshmen who are playing big roles for the Razorbacks.
“I was notified the other day, probably five, maybe six or seven guys, depending on how the next four games go, guys that could be either freshman All-Americans or for sure freshmen All-SEC players,” Bielema said. “It’s definitely something that encourages you and gets you excited about what we’re doing.”Quick six
Arkansas’ opponents have taken advantage of early turnovers in recent games, including interception returns for touchdowns by Texas A&M and Florida and a touchdown-producing interception return by South Carolina, to seize momentum away from the Razorbacks.
“I think we are a little fragile when it comes to that,” offensive coordinator Jim Chaney said. “We’ve made some mistakes and we’ve put our head down.
… The sideline at Alabama, I felt like it was completely different than the sideline [against] South Carolina. I thought our kids were into the game. I thought we were competing. We just weren’t executing plays.”
Sports, Pages 32 on 10/27/2013