Hogs look to counter screens against LSU
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas will be back at home Saturday at 6:30 p.m. to face No. 7 LSU after an open week of practices.
Vanderbilt (4-5, 1-4 Southeastern Conference) repeatedly made the Razorbacks (2-7, 0-5) pay for their defensive aggression two weeks ago with screen passes to running backs and tight ends en route to a 45-31 SEC success. Arkansas hopes to have used the week to seal the screen door that coach Chad Morris said he knows LSU (7-2, 4-2) likes to open.
“You have to be sound and not get outflanked, outleveraged; no motions,” Morris said before the Razorbacks practiced Wednesday. “And you’ve got to retrace. That’s something we didn’t do a very good job of, and we’ve got to make sure of that this week. I’m sure they’ve seen film. They understand what was a big deficiency for us a week ago, so we anticipate them throwing a lot of screen passes on us. I would.”
The game before the Commodores sailed for 45 points on the Razorbacks, Arkansas’ John Chavis-coordinated defense pitched a shutout, 23-0, over Tulsa (2-7, 1-4 American Athletic Conference) in Fayetteville.
“On defense, obviously they’re hit and miss,” LSU coach Ed Orgeron said. “But I know they’re going to play their best game against us.
“They have some good rushers, can put some pressure on the quarterback. Chavis likes to blitz. I know the type of athletes they have at Arkansas; I know the type of crowd they’re going to have. So we’re expecting their best shot.”
Orgeron knows about Arkansas crowds as a Razorbacks grad assistant to Ken Hatfield in 1986-87 and coaching against the Hogs as the head coach at Ole Miss and both as LSU’s defensive line coach and then head coach.
As for touting Arkansas’ offense, Orgeron is quick to compare Alabama scores. Alabama outscored Arkansas, 65-31. LSU whiffed as the Tide rolled on the Tigers, 29-0, Saturday at LSU’s Death Valley in Baton Rouge, La.
“They put 31 points on Alabama; we didn’t put any,” Orgeron said. “Obviously, we have to respect their football team.”
He cited Arkansas starting quarterback Ty Storey and Arkansas running back Rakeem Boyd.
“They’re progressing on offense,” Orgeron said. “I think Chad has a very good scheme, good quarterback. I know No. 5 (Boyd) is an excellent running back. He hits the hole fast. They have some athletes like they always have, very strong offensive line.”
The Razorbacks held an entirely closed practice Thursday before their last home game of the season.
They finish their 2018 campaign on the road against SEC opponents, traveling to Starkville, Miss., for an 11 a.m. kickoff against Mississippi State before facing Missouri at 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 23, the day after Thanksgiving, in Columbia, Mo.
After weeks practicing in a green restricted jersey so his ailing body could play on Saturdays, Arkansas senior right offensive guard Johnny Gibson especially relished last week’s off week.
“For one thing, it got me out of my green jersey,” Gibson said of this game week. “I could wear my actual practice jersey. A lot of recovery. A lot of recovery. Got to get away from the game a little bit. Getting away (last weekend) from the facility and recharging with the last three games.”
Gibson is unsure how many from Dumas will make the trip to Fayetteville for his senior night farewell.
“I know a lot of people said, ‘If it was going to be a late game they could make it,’” Gibson said. “I know my family will be here. I wish my grandma could come to the game, but she said it’s too many people for her. But she’s coming up to my apartment to stay. So, she’ll be here after the game. It will be the first time she’s come to Fayetteville. So, that’s something I will be looking forward to.”