Time to embrace the hog
Texas A&M resumes SEC play this weekend against the Arkansas Razorbacks, which means it’s time for us to resume our “Know Thine Enemy” series, this time around with Jacob Davis of Hogs on SI. Thanks to Jacob for taking the time to give us a bit more insight on how the Arkansas side is feeling heading into this Saturday’s matchup.
Good Bull Hunting: 1. So Arkansas blew out an FCS team, had a disappointing non-conference loss, a frustrating G5 win and a win over what looks to be a lower run SEC team. This sounds familiar to A&M fans! I know Aggies still don’t quite know what to make of our team, so how are y’all feeling about the Hogs thus far?
Jacob Davis: The feeling around Arkansas is the Razorbacks aren’t a good team yet but not a bad team either. The Hogs can really get it done on the ground with a dominant rushing attack. However, inconsistencies in protection, dropped balls and a lack of pass rush are concerning matters so far. Right now, its bowl game or bust. A victory over the Aggies all but solidifies Arkansas having a few extra practices in December.
GBH: Bobby Petrino coming over from A&M was the talk of the offseason, and the offense certainly got off to a hot start, but what’s been the overall vibe of his offense over the first month?
JD: Petrino has been about as good as anyone could expect in what could be considered an experiment. Arkansas has benefitted from multiple looks offensively and his play calling seems to never fall off. A lot of folks are just glad to have him back on the sidelines. His attitude and winning mentality bleeds over to the team and fans in general.
GBH: Can you tell me the biggest strength and biggest weakness for Arkansas on each side of the ball?
JD: Arkansas’ weaknesses offensively have to be turning the ball over with a +1 in the turnover margin. Throwing the ball away last week was a key issue with Taylen Green’s two picks. The Aggies are no slouch when it comes to forcing interceptions which will test Green. On defense, the defensive line’s lack of pass rush has been noticeable. Once considered a strength throughout the offseason has become a concern the Hogs will need to address if it plans to continue winning ways. Obviously, the strength offensively is Arkansas run game punished Auburn in the fourth quarter last week to seal a 10-point victory. Defensively, the Hogs linebackers are my favorite unit on the team with their reckless abandon to tackle violently and fly to the ball.
GBH: Who are the three biggest impact players A&M fans should be watching out for on Saturday?
JD: Three impact players the Aggies faithful must keep an eye on are wide receiver Andrew Armstrong, running back Ja’Quinden Jackson and Green. Yep, all three are offensive choices but that’s what Arkansas is going to need to win the final Southwest Classic in Arlington. Armstrong quickly picked up where he left off in 2023 and is the SEC’s second leading receiver with 116 yards per game.
Jackson has been a dominant force leading the conference in rushing. His ability to run through tackles and fight for extra yardage challenges defenses down after down. Then, Green’s ability to scramble and run donwfield makes him one of the more dynamic passers in college football.
GBH: Even though A&M has dominated the W-L record in this game since joining the SEC, there’s been no shortage of close games/craziness. Do Hog fans feel like maybe they’re due for the ball to bounce their way in this series?
JD: It feels like the Razorbacks have an opportunity to breakthrough this week. After losing in every conceivable way possible over the past decade, it may be time for Arkansas to start winning the series it has dominated for 100 years. Now, that might not happen but the Hogs have plenty of momentum and are a single play from being undefeated right now. All it takes is one win against the right team, maybe a rival team, to get things turned around.
GBH: Both teams are likely circling this game as one of the more winnable ones on their remaining schedule. Tell me what it does for your season-long outlook, both if Arkansas wins or if Arkansas loses.
JD: If Arkansas wins this game the schedule sets up to have a memorable months of October and November. The Razorbacks play home games against Tennessee (next week), LSU (Oct. 19), Ole Miss (Nov. 2) and Texas (Nov. 16) with a road game against Mississippi State sandwiched in. Imagine having that many marquee matchups at home in such a stretch, if the Hogs take care of business this weekend a special type of season could be in-play.
Now, if the Razorbacks lose this game and a 3-2 going into the Tennessee game it could be more of a letdown experience in Fayetteville. Losing to the Aggies could spell disaster for a team with such great confidence and turn it into barely finishing .500. It’s happened before, we’ve all witnessed Arkansas fall apart immediately after losing to the Aggies.
GBH: If A&M does win, do you think the Sam Pittman hot seat talk fires up?
JD: I don’t really think the hot seat talk fires up for Coach Pittman unless his team is somehow 3-5 after the Mississippi State game. He seems to be in the good graces of fans right now.
GBH: Alright, give me your score prediction, as well as how you see this game playing out.
JD: I promised not to make score predictions but I do foresee this being another one possession game with Arkansas dominating the time of possession with its dominant rushing attack. Maybe some lightning quick scoring drives with Marcel Reed leading the Aggies down the field a couple of times in the fourth quarter keeps the score for both teams in the low 30’s. In typical Jerry’s World fashion, the game has to go into double overtime with some sort of wild play that helps decide the winner.