Five Keys to Beating Arkansas in the AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl
If Texas is going to beat the Arkansas Razorbacks in the AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl, these five things must happen.
- Make Brandon Allen throw the ball
Even though Allen has a very good 18:5 touchdown-to-interception ratio, Arkansas would prefer to run the ball in order to win. Texas, on the other hand, will probably sell out at stopping the run. If Texas can stop the Razorback ground game, it would put the game in Allen’s hands. The Texas secondary is more than capable of covering the Arkansas receivers. Allen is more of a game manager, so if Texas can get him to throw the ball 30+ times, there will be opportunities to make big plays. If he doesn’t have to throw the ball that many times, it means the ground attack is being effective and Arkansas is having its way with the Texas defense.
- Tackle
This sounds simple enough, but if Texas doesn’t wrap up the Arkansas running backs it will be a long day. The defense has done a better job of tackling this year. There have been occasions, however, when the defense has slipped back into 2013 mode and allowed offensive players to run free. If Mykkele Thompson and Dylan Haines are leading the team in tackles, it will spell disaster for Texas. Texas needs Jordan Hicks and Steve Edmond to stuff the run attack. If these two guys are leading the team in tackles, Texas has a chance.
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- Texas offensive line must control the line of scrimmage
The Arkansas defense is tough to run on. This group gives up just 124 yards a game. Texas is 85th in the country in rushing. On paper – and on film – this looks like a lopsided mismatch. How can Texas expect to establish the run against a formidable SEC defense? Texas will need to get some push from the middle of the line. Taylor Doyle and Kent Perkins must win the line of scrimmage and open up running lanes. The tackles will need to sustain their blocks just long enough for Malcolm Brown and Johnathan Gray to clear the defensive line. The Longhorns can take some momentum into the offseason by controlling the front seven of Arkansas and establishing the ground game.
- The OSU game Tyrone Swoopes shows up, not the TCU Swoopes
The Texas offense can ill-afford to have repeated three and outs. To save the defense, Swoopes and the offense need to stay on the field. That means sustained drives. More importantly, it means being smart with the football. Swoopes cannot stare down his receivers. He needs to protect the ball better. Swoopes also must throw the ball away when the play is not there. Taking the sack or running out of bounds puts Texas in second and third and long. This offense does not function well in long-distance downs. Bottom line: Swoopes cannot be the turnover-machine he was against TCU, or the Texas Bowl will be a rout.
Texas Longhorns
- Texas defense must control the line of scrimmage
It’s no secret Arkansas will want to run the ball. It is the type of offense Bret Bielema brought with him from Wisconsin. He has two capable running backs in Alex Collins and Johnathan Williams. Both had over 1,000 yards rushing this season. Arkansas has a behemoth offensive line with all five starters weighing in at over 300 pounds. Controlling the line of scrimmage will be a daunting task. Malcolm Brown and Hassan Ridgeway can wreak havoc, and the two will be counted on to tie up the middle of the line. The question is whether Cedric Reed and Caleb Bluiett can get off their blocks to make plays. The goal of the Texas defense should be to make the Razorback passing game beat you. Do that, and Texas has a realistic shot at winning the AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl.