Chances are Mississippi State will continue to rely on its passing attack, where its 297.1 passing yards per game ranks 21st in the nation.
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Every component that can play a role in poor pass defense – such as an accurate passer, bad tackling, a lack of pass-rush pressure, shoddy coverage, a lack of eye discipline – contributed to Prescott’s field day Saturday.
Big kickoff returns and baffling coverage busts have been the norm – not the exception – this season. The senior threw six TDs without a pick two weeks ago against Ole Miss, and one-upped that effort on Saturday. However, this loss eliminates any hopes of the Citrus Bowl.
Mullen spoke of Prescott after that game saying, “He’s an wonderful young man beyond being a football player; a man that most parents would be proud if their kids grew up that way”.
The Razorbacks faithful were fantasizing about SEC titles and playoff berths this offseason but, after a lid-lifting win over Texas-El Paso, the Hogs dropped three straight home games.
Arkansas’ Bret Bielema yells on the sideline during the second half…
“I knew if we beat them what it meant to me”, Bielema said.
Dak Prescott became the first player in Southeastern Conference history to account for at least 550 yards and seven touchdowns last Saturday. Was it a coverage bust?
This week’s college football games jumbled the national playoff picture.
LSU has allowed 80 completions of 10 yards or more through nine games this season. “I thought Dak was very opportunistic on three or four, especially scoring plays, where everybody was doing their job and one guy wasn’t and he’d find that guy”.
Prescott proved again on Saturday that he should not only be in that discussion, but perhaps near the center of it.
Allen started his drive on the Bulldog 40 and finished in the endzone with his sixth touchdown pass of the game, tying Ryan Mallett’s career passing touchdown record. It didn’t stop him from lobbying the former 1,000-yard rusher a little.
“That was really a breakdown in protection, it wasn’t anything to do with the kick”, Bielema said. “It’s not anything they did”. Prescott his Brandon Calloway for a 38-yard touchdown to tie things up, then ran it in himself from four yards out to take the early lead.
So Kody Walker ran twice and Alex Collins ran once before Hedlund entered for his field goal try.
They’re tough to swallow right? “We take pride in our defense”.
“We’ve got to do a better job as coaches putting them in better positions”.
The passing numbers pale in comparison to what’s unfolded on special teams. Mississippi State scored two unanswered touchdowns to give them the 44-42 lead. This is the most talented team Bielema has had. Coaches have shuffled personnel on the kick coverage unit. Arkansas will end up in the Pool of Six with a win against Missouri next week, but a loss to the Tigers could have them in play for Birmingham or Shreveport with a 6-6 record.
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He’s done so in the SEC West, which arguably has more talented players than any other division in the country. “It’s always fun to see big explosive plays”.
