What the Hogs Need to Do at Memphis

Arkansas will head to Memphis for a showdown with the Tigers after a one-possession loss at Ole Miss. The Razorbacks’ defense had no answer for the Rebels’ attack and now must shift their focus to stopping Memphis.

Hogs Need to Stop the Pass

Memphis has started the season 3-0 behind quarterback Brendon Lewis. Who has thrown for nearly 200 yards in each of the Tigers’ first three games. Last week, the Hogs were torched through the air, allowing 357 passing yards. Improvement will need to come from every level of the defense the line, linebackers, and secondary. Head coach Sam Pittman was not pleased with the performance in Oxford and expects corrections to be made.

The Tigers have two wide receivers with more than 150 receiving yards this season in Cortez Braham Jr. and Jamari Hawkins. That means Arkansas’ secondary cannot simply key on one target but must provide consistent coverage across the field.

Hogs Need More Consistent Kicking

Freshman kicker Scott Starzyk entered the season highly touted as one of the best prospects in the country. He has been perfect on extra points at 20-for-20, but in his first true road test at Ole Miss, he missed two field goals from 49 and 51 yards. Both attempts would have tied the game. While those are difficult kicks for any player, the misses proved costly. The Razorbacks hope it was simply part of Starzyk’s adjustment to the college level and not a recurring issue.

Hogs Need to Win the Turnover Battle

The final blow in last week’s loss was a late turnover on a drive that could have given Arkansas the lead. It was the first lost fumble of the season, but it underscored the challenge of winning on the road without protecting the football. Memphis is a scrappy opponent that went 11-2 last season and should not be overlooked.

What It Means

For the Hogs, the formula is simple cleaner play on defense, more reliability in special teams, and a commitment to protecting the football. Memphis will test Arkansas in all three phases, but if the Razorbacks can respond to last week’s shortcomings, they will give themselves a strong chance to bounce back before diving deeper into the season.