Hogs keep big plays in check

FAYETTEVILLE — Paul Rhoads pointed to the reduction of chunk plays as a primary focus for the Arkansas Razorbacks defense after he took over as coordinator last winter.

Through two games, the Razorbacks have made huge strides in that area.

Arkansas is the only team in the country that has not allowed an offensive play of 30 or more yards. The longest play given up by the Hogs has been a 26-yard run with a muffed punt by Florida A&M’s Chris Faddoul.

“When you don’t give up the big plays, then you have an opportunity at the end of the game, much like we did last year, to pull it out at the end,” linebackers coach Vernon Hargreaves said. “When you’re giving up big plays and long runs, it does a couple of things. Obviously they’re scoring and also it kind of deflates you.

“If you just keep playing, keep them in front of you, at some point we’ve got a feeling they’ll screw it up.”

The longest offensive play against Arkansas has been a 23-yard pass by Florida A&M, while TCU’s longest gain was a 22-yard Kenny Hill pass to Shaun Nixon.

“That’s one of our main goals for every game, eliminating big plays, limiting them to two or less,” end McTelvin Agim said.

“The stats, they don’t lie,” linebacker De’Jon Harris said. “The less big plays we give up, 25 yards or less, and less missed tackles in games, then we most likely won the game last year.”

The Razorbacks are fourth in the country with only three plays of 20-plus yards allowed. Miami (Fla.) and Central Florida — who have only played one game — and Michigan State have allowed two gains of 20plus yards.

The Razorbacks are tied for sixth in the country in allowing only 16 plays of 10-plus yards.