Can Arkansas tighten up tackling against Ollie Gordon, Cowboys?

There are many factors at play in Saturday’s showdown in Stillwater, but the biggest question for Arkansas is whether or not it can tighten up its tackling against Ollie Gordon and the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

Tackling was one of very few areas for the Razorbacks that Sam Pittman was semi-critical of in last Thursday’s 70-0 season-opening win over UAPB, probably because he was keenly aware of the challenge that lies ahead.

Gordon, the reigning Doak Walker Award winner, rushed for 1,732 yards and 21 touchdowns a season ago and is a large part of the reason Oklahoma State entered the preseason ranked inside the top 20 nationally.

The star running back had a pedestrian game, by his standards, in the Cowboys’ opener against South Dakota State with 28 carries for 126 yards and three touchdowns, while racking up a nation’s best 13 missed tackles against, according to Pro Football Focus.

“Our tackling is something that we needed to get better just from our Thursday night game,” Pittman said. “On Saturday, we had a tackling circuit. So, we’re trying to address that.

“If they get him 2-3 yards, he’s going to get 6-7 or more. We’re going to have to tackle him 1-on-1, but we’re going to have to get a lot of guys around the ball. We definitely understand how good he is.

“The other thing, too is they have some dynamic skill that are difficult to get on the ground as well. So, our tackling is going to have to be better, and we’re making a big emphasis on that this week.”

While South Dakota State is unquestionably superior competition to UAPB, it was a bit surprising to see the Cowboys average fewer than four yards per carry against its FCS opponent.

Still, Oklahoma State boasts the same offensive line that paved the way for Gordon’s award-winning season with the group averaging five years of experience from left to right with a pair of transfer tackles adding quality depth.

“They have a really good coach, too. I like their coach,” Pittman said. “They play well together, and they’re playing seven guys. They got a couple tackles in the portal that are giving them some depth and possibly might start for them.

“It’s kind of what they do that they do very well. You just don’t see mistakes. They are a very physical group. Movement doesn’t seem to bother them, which it would an experienced line or player. But these guys have been playing together for a long time.

“They have a lot of confidence in them, and they should because they are really good players. I think this game, more than surprising somebody or schematics, you’re going to have to go whip somebody physically to win. There aren’t going to be a whole lot of mistakes. It’s going to be a slobber-knocker.”