
The regular season comes to a conclusion with Senior Day vs Arkansas in the Battle Line Rivalry. We previewed Tigers vs Razorbacks with Anthony Kristensen of Whole Hog Sports.
The Missouri Tigers (9-3, 4-3 SEC) end the regular season on Senior Day at Faurot Field vs the Arkansas Razorbacks (6-5, 3-4 SEC) in the latest edition of the “Battle Line Rivalry”.
Kick-off on Saturday is set for 2:30 p.m. CST on the SEC Network as Mizzou will look for their third consecutive win over Arkansas.
To get some perspective on the bowl-eligible Razorbacks under head coach Sam Pittman, we talked it over with Mizzou J-School alum Anthony Kristensen, who covers the Arkansas beat for Whole Hog Sports.
Here’s the Q&A to get you ready.
Sammy Stava: Arkansas comes in with a 6-5 record following a 35-14 win over Louisiana Tech that clinched bowl eligibility. The Razorbacks were picked to finish 14th in the SEC preseason poll but now find themselves in the middle of the pack of this league. Considering the expectations and a very tough schedule, has this been a good season for Sam Pittman’s team?
Anthony Kristensen: I think there’s a couple ways to look at it.
In preseason, when just looking at the schedule and the teams on it, I think most fans would have taken a 6-6 or 7-5 record if it were offered to them. Now, looking at a lot of missed opportunities against the likes of Oklahoma State and Texas A&M, there’s some who have a feeling of it being a little bit of a letdown. So I think perception plays a big role in it.
Me personally, I would say it has been a good season for Sam Pittman’s team for the most part. Obviously, getting beaten as badly as they did against Ole Miss and LSU at home are stains for any team and any season. But looking at the preseason perceptions and what has come to fruition, I think it’s been, if nothing else, a mostly adequate season for Arkansas to this point.
SS: Overall, what is the identity of this Arkansas team? What are their strengths and what are their weaknesses?
AK: Most of the time when Bobby Petrino is the offensive coordinator, there’s going to be some offensive strengths. I think Arkansas is at its best when the ball is on the ground, be that when Taylen Green gets moving with a keeper or when Ja’Quinden Jackson, Rashod Dubinion, Braylen Russell or whoever is in the backfield gets moving.
On the other side, the defensive line is really strong with guys like Landon Jackson and Cam Ball leading the way.
In terms of weaknesses, the most glaring is special teams. Arkansas’ kicking game has lacked consistency for large swaths of the season and there’s been some big plays on the other side. There’s been some consistency issues on the offense, and there’s always a little bit of a big-play threat on defense.
SS: Boise State transfer quarterback Taylen Green has put up some big numbers for the Razorbacks this season, ranking fourth in the SEC with 2,584 passing yards. He has thrown 13 touchdowns in 11 games along with nine interceptions. How would you grade Green’s performance for Arkansas this year?
AK: When Green is good, he’s a lot of fun to watch. He’s had some games this season and has delivered some good passes. He’s electric when he starts running and has an open field in front of him.
However, he can be a bit inconsistent. His ability to scramble has gotten him out of a lot of dicey situations but has also led to a lot of big losses when he gets caught. His passes can be on the money or straight to an opponent. His decision making can sometimes lead receivers into tough positions.
You never really know which version of Taylen Green you’re going to get.
With Arkansas overachieving a bit, at least on paper in regard to preseason expectations, I think I would give him a potentially-generous B- for the season so far. There’s certainly been some good moments, but some of the bad times bring the grade down a bit.
SS: Besides the quarterback position, who are some other names to watch on this Arkansas offense? Who on the defensive side has made a big impact this season?
AK: I think Ja’Quinden Jackson is the most obvious answer here. The running back has dealt with some injuries but has been Arkansas’ best option when he’s been healthy. He’s a strong, skilled runner who can break off for huge gains and punch the ball into the end zone. If the offensive line gives him the same chances South Carolina gave Rocket Sanders, then he might have a big game against Mizzou.
On the receiving end, Andrew Armstrong is Taylen Green’s top target. It may not appear so with him having just the one touchdown, but Armstrong has been the go-to man. A lot of Green’s big-yard passes have gone to him and he can pick up yards after the catch.
Defensively, Landon Jackson is the obvious answer. There’s a reason he’s on every NFL Draft board. He’s a pro and is extremely hard to block. Cam Ball falls into the same category, though maybe not quite the same level of a professional prospect. In the secondary, TJ Metcalf has been huge with his pass breakups, interceptions and tackles.
SS: Missouri comes in as 3.5-point favorites in this game. How do you see this game going on Saturday. Have a final score prediction?
AK: You’re making me pick between upsetting my alma mater and my readers here.
In the end, I think I’m going to pick Missouri. I think Mizzou has the big-play threats on offense that have caused Arkansas issues throughout the season to get the job done. I think the Tigers win 34-27.
A big thanks to Anthony for answering some questions for our site today. Be sure to follow him and Whole Hog Sports on X for all things Arkansas coverage leading up to Saturday’s game.
0 Comments