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Arkansas must find run game vs. Texas Tech to avoid another upset

By Tommy Tabler

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For the Arkansas Razorbacks it has been a case of taking one step forward and two steps back so will the Hogs circle the wagons against Texas Tech?

The Arkansas Razorbacks received a wake-up call against the Toledo Rockets who upset the three-touchdown favorites in Little Rock and sent the No. 18 Hogs out of the Top 25.

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Bret Bielema’s Razorbacks failed to run the ball against Toledo, which would not be a concern if this team was built to be a passing team. The strategy has to be similar to last year’s game for Arkansas to defeat Texas Tech.

Arkansas has been impressive when it comes to passing the ball with quarterback Brandon Allen averaging 360 yards per game as the ground game struggles to get going. To many Arkansas fans and to Bielema, putting up those kind of passing numbers, means the offense is having problems. Arkansas is having problems running the football and maybe that should have been expected after losing leading rusher Jonathan Williams before the season started to a season-ending injury. As ESPN’s Sam Kahn Jr. explained, “the lack of running success hurt Arkansas in one of the game’s most important areas: the red zone.”

The Hogs should feel good about the game against the Red Raiders, however, because Texas Tech’s defense has been terrible. Arkansas’ rushing attack had a field day against the Red Raiders last season when they ran for 438 yards. It was an ugly game for the Texas Tech defense and set the course for the rest of the season.

Texas Tech wants to be able to score quickly and turn the game into a shootout. Arkansas put a blueprint out on how to defeat the Red Raiders last season. If Arkansas can run the ball and do so effectively, I expect to see a similar game from last season. Arkansas will either climb out of the hole they dug themselves in against Toledo or will continue to dig the hole a little deeper against the Red Raiders.

Both Arkansas and Texas Tech fans should learn a great deal about the teams come Saturday night. For Arkansas getting back to running the football and controlling the clock, should spell success.

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