FAYETTEVILLE — To beat their unbeaten foe, the Arkansas Razorbacks must beat an unbeaten quarterback.
Dating to last year’s undefeated national championship season, the currently No. 1-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide (3-0) ride a 17-game winning streak into their SEC opener against 10th-ranked Arkansas (3-0, 1-0 SEC) at 2:30 p.m. today at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
That’s only about half the story for Alabama senior starting quarterback Greg McElroy.
The Alabama starter who went 14-0 in 2009 after three years either redshirting or understudying, McElroy paid high school dues, too. At Southlake (Texas) Carroll, McElroy was the understudy for eventual University of Missouri star Chase Daniel. McElroy finally started as a senior and went 16-0 with a state championship.
Prep and college, he’s 33-0 as a starter.
“He’s a proven winner,” Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said. “Heknows how to take care of the ball and make big plays. He executes their offense exactly the way they want him to.” McElroy works his way by not getting in the way. He complements great Alabama running backs Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson by finding All-SEC receiver Julio Jones with big passes.
The rare times things go awry, he willingly absorbs a short-term loss for long-term gain.
“He’s very choosy about what he does,” Arkansas junior linebacker Jerico Nelson said. “He’ll throw the ball away instead of throwing a pick, take a sack instead of throwing a pick. He makes the right decision.”
In contrast to McElroy working his way by not getting in the way, Ryan Mallett’s way is Arkansas’ way. So far bereft of a running game, Arkansas rides its junior quarterback’s big arm. His 40-yard touchdown pass to Greg Childs with 15 seconds left beat Georgia last week.
The Hogs are only seven-point underdogs to the Tide, who rolled them 35-7 last year in Tuscaloosa.
Mallett’s statistics in three games (70 of 100 for 1,081 yards and 9 touchdowns) command the attention of oddsmakers. They also command McElroy’s respect - “He is a great player.” - though not his envy.
McElroy has attempted 40 fewer passes.
“I think Ryan is asked to do a little bit more,” McElroy said. “Fortunately for me, I have a lot of weapons at my disposal. The fact that we do have such a capable running game means I am not asked to do as much.”
Supposedly in a perfect Arkansas world, the Hogs would run it well enough today that Mallett could do a little less, and their defense would stop the run well enough that it would compel McElroy to throw more.
Be careful what you wish for, advises junior Arkansas defensive end Jake Bequette.
McElroy completed 17 of 24 for 291 yards and 3 touchdowns vs. Arkansas last year. This year, he has completed 43 of 60 for 705 yards and 6 touchdowns.
“Everyone says he is the efficient game manager, but I don’t think he gets enough credit for his ability,” Bequette said. “You see him threading the ball into tight spots.”
So Arkansas’ objective is to put him in a tight spot that would prevent him from threading it into a tight spot.
“We have to pressure him,” Arkansas senior defensive end Damario Ambrose said. “It’s going to be tough because he knows the offense so well.”
Sports, Pages 20 on 09/25/2010