Arkansas Football Notebook: Offensive line turnover continues

FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said after further review that the offensive team will likely stick with redshirt sophomore E’Marion Harris at right tackle and redshirt junior Keyshawn Blackstock at left guard after they lost the two before the 34-10 loss moved to No. 8 LSU on Saturday.

Pittman said Saturday he thought the 6-5, 319-pound Blackstock would be better at dealing with bull rushes from 330-pound defensive tackles and the 6-7, 300-pound Harris might be more agile to handle the speed of edge rushers to control.

“That’s why we did it, just because of the scale [Harris]…he’s big and trying to block a 330-pound defensive tackle that we felt Blackstock could do,” Pittman said last Saturday. “We felt like [Harris] Might be a little more athletic outside against a smaller guy.”

The move came during the opener after Arkansas upset then-No. 4 Tennessee 19-14.

On Monday, Pittman said junior Patrick Kutas should be ready after missing the first seven games with a back injury. Although the coaching staff would like to secure Kutas a redshirt year, meaning he would play in four or fewer games, they believe he could compete with Blackstock for playing time at guard.

Asked Monday what the film review showed about the move, Pittman said: “We’ve got to do a lot better there.” We’re playing some good rush ends. Seems like someone has one every week [good] Defensive end, as good as we are.”

Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green said the moves made no difference for him.

“I have full confidence in both of them and the amount of work they put in this week and the bye-bye week with the position changes,” Green said. “It is not easy. I trust them 100% and they have complete confidence in me. I feel like they did a good job.”

Pittman concluded that moving Harris would ultimately help the Razorbacks.

“I thought he did a good job,” he said. “What he is, he’s athletic enough that if he gets out of position he can run him around the corner. Even where the guy hit Taylen’s arm, it was about 35 feet deep. Taylen will work for it.

“I think that helped us. With Blackstock moving inside, there was obviously a little bit of a transition there that I think he’ll be better this week and we’ll let him and Kutas fight it out a little bit.”

Trouble to take with you

The Razorbacks had a zero takeaway game against LSU, their third straight game without an interception or fumble recovery and their fourth in seven games without a takeaway.

Arkansas has recorded 7 takeaways this season, and 5 of them came in a 24-14 win at Auburn on September 21st.

Arkansas ranks 15th in the 16-team SEC with 7 takeaways, ahead of only Auburn, which has 6.

On the other hand, the Hogs are tied with South Carolina and Texas for 13th place in the conference with 12 turnovers, 6 interceptions and 6 lost fumbles, ahead of only Auburn (16).

The Razorbacks rank 15th in the SEC in turnover margin at minus-5 (minus-0.71 per game) and are tied for 109th of the 134 teams in the FBS.

Secondary depth

Arkansas’ secondary is a little deeper with the season debut of Miguel Mitchell and the continued return of Hudson Clark from a back injury.

Safety Mitchell, a junior transfer from Florida, played 15 snaps against LSU and had 3 tackles. Mitchell missed the first half of the season for unknown reasons.

“I was happy to see him out there and I thought he played well in his first outing,” Pittman said. “And I think he’s earned the right to play more.”

Mitchell played in 11 games at Florida last season, including 8 starts, and had 37 tackles, 2 pass breakups and 1 interception.

Clark is listed as a backup safety but can play any position in the secondary and worked as a cornerback against LSU. In his longest playing time since leaving with a back injury in Week 2 at Oklahoma State, he had 4 tackles in 31 snaps and 1 pass breakup.

As a sixth-year player, Clark has played in 48 games with 31 starts and has 187 career tackles and 5 interceptions.

“I think he earned the right to start for us,” Pittman said. “Played a lot of ball out there.

“He cares about the university and playing for the Razorbacks. He’s fast and I think he’s getting better and he’s tough. I think his back still hurts a little.”

Tube Talk

Arkansas’ home game against No. 18 Ole Miss (5-2, 1-2) has been selected for kickoff on Nov. 2 at 11 a.m. or 11:45 a.m., the SEC office announced Monday.

The 69th meeting between the border rivals will be broadcast on ABC, ESPN or SEC Network.

Braxton update

Pittman said he hopes cornerback Jaylon Braxton, who hasn’t played since the start of the first two games, can return later in the season.

“More like a leg injury, and I’ll leave it at that,” said Pittman, describing what kept Braxton out. Earlier in the season, Pittman said Braxton was dealing with tendinitis and a bone bruise.

Braxton is expected to miss Saturday’s games at Mississippi State and against Ole Miss. Pittman said it would be after the second bye week on Nov. 9 before Braxton could potentially return.

Arkansas’ final regular-season games are at home against No. 5 Texas and Louisiana Tech and No. 21 Missouri on Nov. 30.

Braxton, a true sophomore, could play two more games and still retain a redshirt.

I love Lebby

Before a reporter could even answer a question about what Pittman thinks about first-year Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby, Pittman intervened.

“I love the guy. “Great guy,” Pittman said.

After the reporter finished asking how well he knows Lebby, Pittman added that he got to know him through former Arkansas offensive coordinator Kendal Briles and his father, Art, and pointed out the direction he wants to take in rebuilding the Bulldogs sees.

“He’ll play against anyone who has 10 points or less or whatever,” Pittman said. “But I met him through Kendal and his father, through that of course. Wonderful, great guy.

“And you can see how well the team is trained and how well they are progressing. And they’re a scary team now when you go in there and play, the cowbells are ringing and everything. But I think Mississippi State hired the right guy and I think they’re going to be really, really good this Saturday and move on.”