Arkansas' comments after loss

[aubiefifty 17,487]

What Arkansas coach Bret Bielema, players said after lopsided loss to Auburn

 

Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn and Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema shake hands Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016, before the Arkansas game at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com) (JULIE BENNETT)

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By Tom Green | tgreen@al.com
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on October 22, 2016 at 11:30 PM

 

 

 

Auburn throttled Arkansas on Saturday night at Jordan-Hare Stadium as the No. 21 Tigers handed the No. 17 Razorbacks a 56-3 loss that was never in doubt.

The game marked the second most lopsided SEC win in Auburn history, and it dropped Arkansas to 5-3 and 1-3 in SEC play.

Below is what Arkansas coach Bret Bielema, wide receiver Keon Hatcher and defensive lineman Taiwan Johnson had to say following the game.

Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema

Opening statement...

"First, I give a lot of credit to Auburn. Obviously they came ready to play and executed their plan. They played very, very well. I thought our guys had a good week of preparation and I was excited to get in the game and I think they were as well, but obviously once that whistle started from that first play in the first quarter we didn't play well. Defensively, we definitely gave up too many free yards and too many things uncontested. The first play that goes to the house you knew they couldn't wait to get off that bus and run that play. We have to take a serious look at some of the things that we are doing, how we are making guys play and what we are asking them to do. The bye week comes at a very critical time for us. Obviously, we have to collect ourselves. Tomorrow will be a long day and it won't be a lot of fun, but it is one that definitely has to happen. Starting with me as a head coach and my assistants, we have to do a lot better of a job to put our guys in the position to have success. The position we have been putting them in can't be executed or called, then we have to make changes. We want to approach these last four weeks as an opportunity to get better. We are a 5-3 football team that can end on a high note, but we definitely have to make corrections moving forward. As far as injury wise, Austin (Allen) was injured. They did all the tests and whatever they could do on the field to allow him to come back in there. The reason we pulled him at the end was because it started to swell up on him and get a little more tight. I don't know the full extent on that. Brian Wallace felt something in his foot. It happened there at the end and we will probably have full answers on that tomorrow, but it was a foot injury."

On keeping Austin Allen out after injury occurred...

"I just made sure that he was cleared. Obviously I am not a doctor. We just go by what they say. When he was warming up, I asked if he was sure and he nodded his head. He is a tremendous competitor and it is going to take a lot to try to hold him out."

On allowing a school-record 543 rushing yards...

"On the very first one, we didn't have the edge set. We didn't spin down when that motion created the leverage on the play. For the most part, that was the story of the day. When we don't have an edge, we don't have a defense. If we have to look at personnel or if we have to look at the call or look at the scheme, that's really two types of starts to a play. That play was very similar to the Alabama play. As far as what's going on, we need to get it fixed or move our technique or scheme."

On blocking adjustments after averaging less than one yard per rush...

"When the game got a little bit out of hand and when the rushing numbers got a little bit more skewed, we have two third-and-shorts in the first half that had penalties that backed us up that made them third-and-longs. We definitely can't play that way. Our run game got really off schedule by multiple scores in that first half."

On defensive struggles...

"From what I saw, there was a play that broke around the left edge in third quarter where we have a defensive end that is in the right spot, and he gets nosy and sticks his nose in and all of a sudden the ball bounces out. Again it is an edge issue, but you have to call that you expect that guy to be the leverage of the defense and it doesn't happen. There was a third and short, and we ran McTelvin Agim inside to cancel A/B, and the ball bounces around the left edge and he goes for the first down. When you are playing against teams like this, especially teams that like to run the football as well as Auburn, it is as simple as being gap sound, edge sound and support sound. We unfortunately aren't that way at this point."

Senior receiver Keon Hatcher

On his expectations for the game...

"I expected to come in here and get a victory. I am just at a loss for words at what happened. I don't know what to tell you. We had a great week at practice. Everyone seemed prepared. You look in guys' eyes and it seemed like everyone was ready."

Thoughts after the first play by Auburn...

"As an offense we have to go out there and score. We have to go put it in the end zone. That was the mindset, but things just didn't go our way."

On Austin Allen's injury...

"That's one of the toughest guys I have ever met. Same goes for Brandon (Lewis), those guys will take a beating for you and get right back up and say 'Let's go.' My hat goes off to that guy. I just hope he is ready to get a break this week and then come back for Florida."

On the importance of the upcoming bye week...

"Going eight straight weeks and three SEC games back to back, it is going to be good for us to try to get back up and get our minds right. They put a spanking on us, and we have to come back and get our minds right and get ready for Florida and put this behind us."

On how tough it was to not get the offense going...

"It was very tough, and frustrating at times, but you have to keep your head up and keep your poise and try to do what you can to get those guys going and go out there and make a play for them, and that what I was trying to do. "

Senior defensive lineman Taiwan Johnson

On the first play of the game...

"It was a misfit. Guys weren't where they were supposed to be. I don't know exactly what happened. But that's the way our defense works. One guy is out of position, then it all falls apart. We have to get it corrected."

On the importance of having a bye week next week...

"It worked out good I guess. After a game like this we have the bye week to get healthy. Make the corrections we need to make. We have a lot of them. Not just guys on defense, but myself. We have to make those corrections, and bounce back."

On frustrations when losses like this happen...

"Very frustrating. It's something we have to get fixed, I know I keep saying that. But it's paramount. We have to get it fixed. I think once we can, then we can make steps in the right direction. Until we do, stuff like that can keep happening to us."

On whether it is realistic to think it can be fixed this year...

"I think so. I know the guys I work with every day. I know the locker room that I have. The guys aren't going to quit from this. We've been down before but we've always found a way to shake back. I think we will."

On Auburn's running game...

"The running back is very physical. He's running downhill, big strong guy, he's hard to tackle. They just ran him, you know, workhorse."

On the pregame confrontation at midfield...

"Every pregame we have a little captain's walk where we talk in the middle of the field. I guess Auburn didn't really like it, we were on their logo. We tried to diffuse the situation, but it just escalated. We just got out of the way."

On what he would tell underclassmen moving forward...

"Make the corrections. Understand that you can't point fingers at anyone. You have to look at yourself. Myself included, I'm going to do what I need to do to help this team. When the team runs for that many yards, there's something that I can do to help. Just keep your head up, we played a good team. If we let this loss affect the rest of the season, it won't turn out how we want it to."

[aubiefifty 17,487]

ok bert i apologize for being tough on you in another thread. you actually showed a little class with your comments..........

[auburntiger1987 759]

Decent comments but id like to see their players and bert admit that they got beat by a good team. On some plays it was the edge but on most we ran it down your throat. It wasnt a guy out of position, it wasnt a missed opportunity, it was a we out physicaled you at the point plain and simple. And the mid field thing was not a "walk through to talk" you had 110 other yards where you could have done it. You went where you were told not to and got called on it. And no you didn't defuse anything. Yall jumped up and down smacking your gums riling everyone up and being escorted back. Dont act like a punk and then act holy

[boisnumber1 2,844]

47 minutes ago, aubiefifty said:

ok bert i apologize for being tough on you in another thread. you actually showed a little class with your comments..........

What else could he say after that thumping? Still the same jerk he always was. Just got humbled. Suddenly thinking his seat is hot. Will be back to the same old self by tomorrow.

[Sully to Beasley 643]

The pregame "pig stomp" at midfield just ignited the flame that roasted the swine for 3+ hours. I invite the piggies to do it again in 2018! Man I love me some barbecued pork!