⚡ CFB Dashboard

The Arkansas Razorbacks (1-1, 0-0, SEC) have struggled to establish a consistent rushing attack in their first two games. Heading into their SEC opener vs. No. 2 Georgia (2-0, 0-0, SEC), the Hogs must find a way to establish consistency in the run game as conference play begins. So far, the Hogs have rushed for just 209 yards, the 18th-lowest total in the country. Arkansas is averaging only 2.7 yards on 77 carries, the sixth-worst mark among 138 FBS teams. After struggling to establish the run against North Alabama and Utah, the Razorbacks will face an even tougher challenge Saturday when Georgia, which allows just 60 rushing yards per game, visits Razorback Stadium. "That's one of the biggest pieces of our offensive game plan is being able to run the ball," Arkansas senior tight end Ty Lockwood said on Wednesday. "Obviously, the defense is trying to stop the run, and I think Utah does a great job. They're a good team, but we're a lot better than what we just put on tape. "We've got to be able to run the ball well. It's going to open up everything. It's going to open up the play action game. It's going to open up the deep game. We've just got to be better in that aspect for sure." "There's some real good programs in this country, and then there's some elite programs in this country," Arkansas defensive coordinator Tim Cramsey said. "Georgia has been an elite program in this country for a long time. "They've got good players. They've got good skill out there. They've got good size up front. So we've got all the problems that need to be fixed, better be fixed pretty dang quick. Because we've got probably one of the best defenses in the country coming into Fayetteville this weekend." None of Arkansas' running backs have over 100 yards on the season. Junior Braylen Russell is leading the way with 63 yards, and junior quarterback KJ Jackson is right behind him with 62 yards. Fifth-year Sutton Smith has 49 yards, sophomore Cam Settles has 25 yards, junior wide receiver Jelani Watkins logged 21 yards on a couple of jet sweep concepts, and sophomore Jasper Parker has 21 yards. Smith and Russell have most of the attempts for the Razorbacks, with 44 touches out of 77 attempts, but neither has emerged as a back the offense can rely on. Whether it's one of them or anybody else in the room, Arkansas needs someone to step up to get a rushing attack going. "As a play caller, as an offensive coach, and in general, as a head coach, you want to be able to say if this isn't working, what's the answer to this," Arkansas head coach Ryan Silverfield said. "If you know if a team is going to play a one-high safety look, Utah did that 98% of the time. I think they played a true one-high look. "Most of the time it was cover one, a lot of times it was a cover three type shell with some of their pressures. When they jumped into that bear front, and most of those times were even man-free. During those situations, they have the extra hat for the run game. "When you say, 'Okay, how do we be creative with some of the runs we did?' We implemented some runs that we had never really done in the past, just to see if we can gain that hat. Then does open up the passing lanes? Then you sit there and say, 'This is a true man-beating scheme, and we're not able to get open.' Is it the inability? "Those are the things you go back and you say, 'Where can we put ourselves in a better situation? How can we find different route concepts? Is there something different we need to do? Is it more motions, more shifts? Is it find different ways?' That's our job. We've made some adjustments in-game, but clearly not enough to have this success." The Razorbacks begin SEC play on Saturday vs. the No. 2-ranked Georgia Bulldogs. Kickoff from Razorback Stadium is at 11 a.m. (CDT), and the game will be televised by ABC.