Thursday, December 30
Arkansas confident entering contest
Associated Press
DALLAS -- Mismatches between Arkansas' lanky receivers and
Texas' pint-sized cornerbacks begin with Mike Markuson's guys.
Markuson coaches the Razorbacks' offensive line that includes a
freshman and three sophomores. Texas tackles Casey Hampton and
Shaun Rogers were both All-Big 12 and Hampton was one of seven
semifinalists for the Outland Trophy.
"Their two inside guys are very disruptive," Markuson said.
"I know every O-line coach who has played them has has probably
said, 'Wow, what are we going to do to slow them down.' I feel like
we have a great plan going into the game."
No. 24 Arkansas (7-4) plays No. 14 Texas (9-4) Saturday in the
Cotton Bowl.
The Razorbacks gave up 14 sacks this year -- best in the
Southeastern Conference -- and the Longhorns recorded 43.
Markuson says the ability of skill players like Anthony Lucas
and senior quarterback Clint Stoerner to get out of a bad play
contributed a great deal to the low number of sacks.
On top of that, he said, coach Houston Nutt "really tries not
to put our line in a bad situation where, OK, we can't handle this
kind of protection against these people. We're going to try to do
this to give us the best chance to protect and get rid of the
football."
He said the Longhorns will probably start the game believing
they can pressure Stoerner with their front four.
"Then, we'll probably start seeing different combinations of
blitzes," he said. "They have shown a lot of different looks.
We've prepared as best we can to be ready for just a barrage of
blitzes and different fronts."
He said Texas' fondness for the blitz is similar to Mississippi
State of the Southeastern Conference.
"I think it really comes down to, 'We're going to blitz you and
we're going to put pressure on you and try to get some push up
front.' Now, can you hang on playing man coverage with our
receivers? It's gonna be jump ball.
"How we handle it up front and Clint, what kind of rhythm can
we get in?" Markuson said. "If we can establish some kind of
running game and be able to protect where Clint can get the
football off, then we're going to have a chance, because we'll have
some one-on-one matchups where they'll ... blitz and we'll have
some man coverages out there."
Arkansas' wide receivers include the 6-foot-3 Lucas and 6-foot-4
Boo Williams. The Texas cornerbacks are 5-foot-8 Ahmad Brooks and
5-foot-9 Ervis Hill, both sophomores.
"Even though they might have that size, they can all run and
they've got those animals up front," Markuson said. "If they're
getting pressure and they lock up playing man and staying with our
receivers, we're going to have trouble.
"I've seen some of those guys make plays this year -- just
watching the whole year on tape -- you've got to come ready to block
them because they are very disruptive," he said.
Markuson said there had been specific games in which the
Arkansas offensive line has looked like a veteran group and other
games in which the line didn't do so well.
"I really feel like we have a bright future with the offensive
linemen we have and some of the young kids we have coming," he
said. "Going into the season, that's all we heard, `Can we hold
up?' I feel like we have."
Saturday, Markuson's group will be on the spot once again.
