FAYETTEVILLE -- Bret Bielema's vision for Arkansas has been to turn the Razorbacks into the roughest, toughest college football team in the land.
That desire permeates the program's culture, from putting the starting offensive linemen on the cover of the media guide to printing "Front Force" T-shirts for the defensive linemen.
Bielema says it's in the Hogs' DNA, but it couldn't be found last Saturday as Arkansas failed to dominate the trenches in a stunning loss to Toledo that knocked the Razorbacks out of The Associated Press Top 25 rankings.
Now Arkansas (1-1) faces a growing concern heading into today's 6 p.m. game against Texas Tech (2-0) at Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Can the Razorbacks reclaim their tough-guy credentials before it's too late?
"If there's one element that was missing from us on Saturday, it was physicality in all phases," Bielema said. "It's been the challenge that I've thrown forward to our players, to our coaches and to myself."
"This is definitely a turning-point game for us," Arkansas defensive tackle Taiwan Johnson said.
Offensive guard Sebastian Tretola delivered a tough talk to the team Tuesday, saying the Razorbacks have to return to their core philosophy of pushing people around.
"We want to be the most physical 11 on the field every single time, no questions asked," Tretola said.
Bielema said his practice notes from last week didn't include the word "physical," but he's clearly circled back to the concept, which is apt considering tonight's opponent.
The Red Raiders' defense was no match for Arkansas last season in the Razorbacks' 49-28 victory in Lubbock, Texas.
The numbers told the story:
• 438 and 7: Arkansas' rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.
• 212 and 145: Rushing yards for Arkansas' tailback tandem of Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams.
• 30 The number of consecutive running plays for Arkansas to close out the game.
• 40:39: Arkansas' possession time, which more than doubled Texas Tech's 19:21.
"I'm pretty sure after how they played us last year they feel they have a certain level of confidence," Texas Tech tailback DeAndre Washington said. "So regardless of how they played last week, I'm sure they're feeling pretty confident about us."
Texas Tech Coach Kliff Kingsbury, whose long-term contract with a massive buyout structure came under criticism after the lopsided victory and a 4-8 season, said overblowing last year's outcome with his players wasn't in his plan.
"You don't forget a beating like that," Kingsbury said. "So there are not a bunch of rah-rahs about last year."
The coming-out party for Arkansas' offensive front was seen as the first clear indication Bielema's power play could work at Arkansas. Yet one year later, that run game is under pressure to deliver after mounting only 103 yards against Toledo, which used frequent movement on the defensive front to mess up the blocking schemes and lead to numerous holding calls.
"Everybody we're playing is going sideways and we're basically trying to catch them right now," Pittman said. "What we've got to do is get up the field to break a crease in all this movement. ... We're a running football team. That's what we do, that's who we are, and that is what we're going to get back to."
Arkansas is tied for No. 89 nationally with an average of 142.5 rushing yards per game, but the Razorbacks' average of 502.5 total yards per game ranks No. 25 thanks to its average of 360 passing yards per game by quarterback Brandon Allen.
First-year Texas Tech defensive coordinator David Gibbs, a longtime friend of Bielema, said the Red Raiders will have to trust their technique and schemes against Arkansas' linemen, who average 327.6 pounds per man.
"You can't control that their offensive line is ginormous and they're bigger than all the NFL teams too," Gibbs said. "If you go up there and try to do crazy things against a 6-8, 350-pound guy, he's obviously going to kill you and knock you into somebody else. ... We're going to get a crazy shot from them, which they usually don't have to do this early in the season. But after just getting beat, I know the head coach. I know what's coming."
Arkansas' defense has faced quick-release passing games by Texas-El Paso and Toledo, which hasn't allowed the Razorbacks much opportunity to dictate tempo with their defensive front. Texas Tech's fast-paced attack, with Patrick Mahomes at quarterback, is quicker than Toledo's, with Bielema saying Texas Tech's goal is to snap the ball every 14 seconds.
Mahomes has not been sacked.
"The biggest thing is you've got to keep him in the pocket," Arkansas defensive coordinator Robb Smith said. "If you can keep him in the pocket and you can keep pushing the middle of the pocket and eliminate those escape lines, that gives you an opportunity to sack him."
The Red Raiders have taken less than two minutes on 11 of their 16 scoring drives and less than one minute on the five others. Texas Tech ranks No. 123 in time of possession, but are No. 3 nationally with 64 points per game and No. 2 with an average of 642.5 yards per game.
The teams may have contrasting styles, but Bielema said the key hasn't changed for the Razorbacks.
"Whether it's coming off the football on the line of scrimmage, whether it's creating turnovers with physicality on defense, whether it's a turnover or big play on special teams ... that has to show up all over the field in all phases for us to win here at Arkansas," Bielema said.
"We have to be physical, no matter if they're a Spread team or they're quicker than us," Arkansas linebacker Brooks Ellis said. "They're probably not used to the physicality that we bring."
Sports on 09/19/2015