FAYETTEVILLE – There were a lot of positives for Arkansas’ offense in a 55-20 win over Eastern Illinois last week, but the Razorbacks still have a long way to go as they prepare for a trip to Colorado State this weekend.
The Hogs (1-0) are pleased with what they got from quarterback Ty Storey, who provided a spark off the bench and will be rewarded by taking the first-team reps this week.
Chad Morris’s staff is also happy about the big-play production it got from wide receivers La’Michael Pettway and Jordan Jones.
The running game, however, is a completely different story.
One would have expected Arkansas to run at will against FCS-level Eastern Illinois, but that wasn’t the case as the Hogs managed just 80 yards on 37 carries (2.16 YPC). Improving that category will be a primary focus this week as the Razorbacks prepare for the Rams (0-2), who currently rank 106th in the nation in stopping the run.
“Obviously we have to be able to run the football a bit better,” offensive coordinator Joe Craddock said. “It was not entirely on the offensive line – it’s a team game and everybody has got to do their job, but a lot of time we were playing with 10 guys doing their job and one guy wasn’t and that’s what was causing the issues. Which is fine, it’s the first game and we’ve got to iron out those issues and we will.
“We’ll get all 11 playing on the same page and we’ll be a much better offense.”
Colorado State allowed 258 yards and two touchdowns on the ground in last Friday’s 45-13 loss to in-state rival Colorado.
Morris was disappointed in his team’s effort in the rushing attack last week and will be looking for big improvements against the Rams.
“There’s times where we got these guys hatted up, but couldn’t get anything to break through,” Morris said. “We didn’t get much push on double-teams from up front. I thought we played too high. And I thought at times we played too soft.
“So we’ve got to be better at that. We’ve got to be better from a coaching standpoint. We’ve got to be better from a playing standpoint. But when we get on double teams, we’ve got to be able to move double-teams and get off to those backers. But that’s an area we’ll focus in on this week. Everybody takes accountability on that.”
Defensively, the first-year head coach was happy with John Chavis’s side of the ball.
The Razorbacks gave up a couple of big plays in the passing game but created five turnovers and could have had at least two more.
“From a defensive standpoint I was very proud of the relentless pursuit to the ball mentality. We talk about it all the time. It’s the most turnovers I’ve ever had as a head coach. Creating five turnovers, creating 24 points off those turnovers,” Morris said. “If we can continue to play that way, be aggressive and creating turnovers from a defensive standpoint, you’re going to win a lot of ballgames here.”
Arkansas will face a veteran quarterback this week in CSU’s K.J. Carta-Samuels, who has completed 63 percent of his passes for 713 yards and six touchdowns against two interceptions.
Carta-Samuels has a pair of top targets in Olabisi Johnson and Preston Williams, who have combined for 27 catches for 476 yards and five touchdowns.
The Razorbacks and the Rams get started at 6:30 p.m. central time on Saturday in a game that will be televised by CBS Sports Network.