FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas will host Notre Dame on Saturday and looking to end a two-game losing skid.
While the defense has drawn plenty of criticism in the two losses, and rightfully so, but the offense has struggled in the second half as well. They have scored 28 points in the first half of all four games. Against Ole Miss, the Hogs scored seven points after intermission and that dropped to three against Memphis.
"Well, last week I can," Pittman said. "We obviously had drives there, especially the last three. We had drives right down the field, where everybody feels like we’re going to score, we’re moving the ball well. This past week was because we didn’t run the ball — when we ran the ball well on first down, we kept rolling. But we didn’t run the ball as well as normal on first down and then we had a turnover, we had a sack and we had a fumble in the last three. In between all of that, we’re really moving the ball. So obviously that’s two out of three possessions that we had a turnover and the other one we had a sack that we were well in field goal position and we’re 41 out. I don’t think we’re ready for 59 or 60, especially at that point in the game."
Braylen Russell had four carries for 47 yards and a touchdown on Saturday. However, Russell only got one carry in second half. Is he hurt?
"No… No," Pittman said. "I mean, he ran the ball well and we’ve talked about it. We need to use him a little bit more. But I don’t want that to sound like when Mike’s in there, we’re not any good. I mean, I could ask the question, ‘How did Mike play when he was in there?’ And I thought he played really well, too. But you specifically asked about an injury and he’s not (hurt)."
Pittman was asked what he saw on Taylen Green's two interceptions?
"Well, one he went out of the pocket, tried to make a throw, a deep throw, on their sideline," Pittman said. "That was just ill-advised. It wasn’t there. On the second one down toward our locker room, he just didn’t see the linebacker and threw it right to him."
Was Green zeroing in on O'Mega Blake too much?
"No, I think Taylen’s going through his reads," Pittman said. "I think with O’Mega, at times we’re playing him too much. I think we’ve got to get somebody else in there and rest him a little bit. He may have played too many reps. He’s really effective when he’s rolling, when he’s not tired and those things. But your question was did I think Taylen was zeroing in on him, no I didn’t feel that way after watching the tape."
It was reported by Chris Low of On3 that your permanent opponents will be Texas, Missouri and LSU. Thoughts?
"Well, you gotta believe everything is reported," Pittman said. "By golly, that'll be it then."
Arkansas and Notre Dame will kickoff at 11 a.m. on Saturday from Razorback Stadium and televised on ABC.
photos: Craven Whitlow
