FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas will finally get to play a game in Razorback Stadium on Saturday when UAB comes to Fayetteville.
Sam Pittman's Hogs and UAB will both enter with 1-1 records. UAB defeated Alcorn State 42-3 and fell to Louisiana-Monroe 32-6. Arkansas defeated UAPB 70-0 and fell to Oklahoma State 38-31 in two overtimes Saturday.
"Yeah, we’re excited to get home," Pittman said. "First two were on the road and we’re excited to get back in front of our near-capacity crowd and listen to them Call the Hogs. UAB has a very good team and a great head coach in Coach (Trent) Dilfer. They bring back a coordinator who played here in Alex Mortensen. I have high respect for him and what he’s doing over there. But we’re excited to get home and play UAB."
Pittman then gave a small scouting report on UAB.
"UAB defensively is a quarters coverage team, a lot of single blitzes, four down line," Pittman said. "They have good linebackers. Michael Moore will be the one, him and (Everett) Roussaw. They’ve got a really good corner in (Colby) Dempsey. They have a couple of transfer D-tackles who have really good size on them defensively. Not complicated defensively. Like I said a lot of single blitzes, whether it be a corner or whether it be from the safety. They play extremely hard. Well coached.
"Offensively, Mortensen, a guy who I think he played here if I’m correct is their offensive coordinator. He does a really good job. They do a lot. They go from empty to 13 to kind of a reverse bone look in the backfield. They want to run the football I believe. They’ve got some transfers on the offensive line and have some returning starters, their center and left guard. The quarterback’s a good player, a transfer guy from Baylor. They like to throw it. He’s a pocket guy. And then they’ve got a really good wideout in Amare Thomas, No. 1, and then No. 8 (Kam Shanks) is their slot and he’s also a really good punt returner. He returned one for a touchdown this year, the first game. Their punter actually is Patrick Foley who was here as a Hog for two years. We know he’s outstanding there. Coach Dilfer does a wonderful job and we’re excited to play them."
UAB usually prefers a quick passing game, but ULM prevented them from getting into any rhythm. Pittman explained what he saw in the two games.
"Well, I think if you look at it, the first game, Alcorn, they were what I thought they were going to be from last year," Pittman said. "Three and four wides. Bunches. Jet sweeps. And then going against Monroe, they were more of a power running team. Big sets. Tight ends. Multiple tight ends. And then, after that didn’t seem to work as good, they went back to their dink-and-dunk, and screens and bubbles. I felt like, watching the game, it was almost two separate types of offenses. One from the first game, and one from the second game."
The only meeting between these two schools was Oct. 25, 2014, with the Hogs taking a 45-17 win in Razorback Stadium. Pittman was the offensive line coach for Bret Bielema at that time.
"Man, I’m so excited about the football team," Pittman said. "I just am. Excited, both sides, I mean the guys are coaching them so well. Yes, it feels a little bit like the UAB. Tretola. That was the old Tretola touchdown, and they did a little video of him, you know, for the Heisman. I thought it was really cool, but of course I was the O-line coach."
Dilfer is a former NFL quarterback. Pittman was asked if the two have crossed paths previously?
"Yeah, I obviously know who he is and all the success that he’s had," Pittman said. "I have spoken with him and talked to him just a couple of times over the phone. But that’s about the only thing I know about him except for his amazing playing career and certainly the fine job he’s doing as a coach."
The Hogs probably won't have left guard Patrick Kutas again. He has yet to play with back issues. Some members of the secondary are ailing as well.
"(Jaylen) Braxton hasn’t practiced much this week," Pittman said. "He’s got a bone bruise, and we’re going to check him out a little bit more today. Hud (Hudson Clark), he’s doubtful. I don’t know that he’ll be ready this week. Cuddie (Marquise Robinson), I think he’ll be fine. Braxton is probably still wait-and-see. I’ll probably know more about it after today’s practice to be honest with you. Then Cuddie will go, and Hud is very, very doubtful."
Wide receiver Andrew Armstrong returned from the injured list to catch 10 passes for 164 yards against Oklahoma State. He was asked what he has seen from the UAB defense on film?
"We focus on them, focus on ourselves too," Armstrong said. "Because, like I said, your worst enemy is yourself. You can go out there and play the best game. You can put up 800 yards of offense and have 4 turnovers, they put up 200 yards, and you lose the game. I feel like we’ve just got to go out there and focus."
After playing in Little Rock and Stillwater, Armstrong is ready to play in Fayetteville.
"I’m just ready to play football," Armstrong said. "I’m ready to get in there, see all that red and white. Just getting ready to go."
Armstrong didn't play in Little Rock, but did travel with the team there. Ja'Quinden Jackson transferred in from Utah and has heard great things about playing in Razorback Stadium.
"I’m just trying to see what the experience is all about," Jackson said. "I’ve heard it gets loud. The atmosphere is crazy. I’m just trying to see what the SEC is talking about. I’ve been in the Big 12, Pac-12. Gonna see."
"You gonna see Saturday buddy," Armstrong told Jackson laughing. "You gonna see Saturday."
Safety TJ Metcalf had 12 tackles on Saturday against OSU. He has seen the UAB offense on film.
"Really they’ve got a couple good quick guys," Metcalf said. "I don’t think they’re going to beat us on the perimeter. I know especially in the run game they’re not going to beat. We’re going to shut all that down on the edge with Nico (Davillier) and Landon (Jackson), Anton (Juncaj), all them guys, and especially on the interior. We’ve got Cam (Ball) and EG (Eric Gregory). I think we’re going to shut them out."
Arkansas and UAB will kickoff at 3:15 on Saturday with the game televised on the SEC Network.
Photos Courtesy of Craven Whitlow CW3 Sports Action
