Steve irvine’s five storylines for uab vs arkansas
By Steve Irvine
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - September 13, 2024
UAB vs. ARKANSAS
Site, kickoff time: Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, 3:15 p.m.
Record: UAB 1-1, 0-0 AAC; Arkansas 1-1 overall, 0-0 SEC
Five storylines
1. How effective can the UAB defense be against Bobby Petrino’s Arkansas offense? The Razorbacks have one of the most dynamic offenses in the country. After two weeks, Arkansas averages 667.5 yards, which is second best nationally, and 50.5 points per game. With Petrino pulling the strings and quarterback Taylen Green running the show, the Razorbacks average 412 passing yards and 255 rushing yards per game. They rank second in the country in passing offense and 15th in rushing offense. UAB’s defense is definitely improved in the second season under defensive coordinator Sione Ta’ufo’ou but that group hasn’t been tested like they will at Arkansas. The Blazers are third in the country in passing yards allowed per game (73.5) but they have faced one offense that could not throw the ball well and another content with winning the game on the ground. The first real test through the air for what looks to be a strong UAB secondary will come on Saturday.
2. Is Taylen Green the best quarterback UAB will see this season? It takes time to answer that question. Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman said in his weekly meeting with the media that he wouldn’t trade Green for any other quarterback in the country. That’s not coach speak. The 6-foot-6, 230-pound Boise State transfer is playing as well as anyone in the country early in the season. The scary thing is that Green is still getting adjusted to being at Arkansas. He will get even better, even though his numbers suggest he’s really good right now. Through two games, Green is 42 of 68 for 645 yards with three touchowns and an interception. He ran for 149 yards on 24 carries with two touchdowns.
3. Will the UAB offense take a step forward in a difficult place to play? Quarterback Jacob Zeno and the offense is coming off a miserable evening in Monroe. Moving forward, it’s all about the response. Arkansas is good on defense but they haven’t been opportunistic thus far. The Razorbacks forced just one turnover in two games – an interception against Arkansas-Pine Bluff – and have just four sacks. The Blazers are not taking care of the football, committing three turnovers in each of the first two games, and Zeno was sacked five times against ULM. Arkansas is third in the country in rush defense, allowing 33 yards per game over the first two games. Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon II, who was the 2023 Doak Walker Award winner, managed just 49 yards on 17 carries against the Razorbacks. UAB needs to find a way for some success on the ground or replace that with production in the short passing game.
4. Will anything short of a win be enough for UAB to leave with confidence? Obviously, winning this game will be difficult for UAB. But the Blazers didn’t win at Georgia last season and still added some confidence with the way they played in that game. Can the same thing happen in Fayetteville? The answer to that probably varies. But, the Blazers do need something good to happen after last week’s disappointment in Monroe.
5. What will the offensive game plan look like for UAB? The approach has been different in each of the first two weeks. Look for Trent Dilfer and Alex Mortensen to possibly introduce some different wrinkles into the plan. Will the Blazers try to move the football with the short passing game or attempt to establish the run? Is this the first time this season that we see Zeno throwing more downfield passes? Does it really matter if the offense is not cohesive and operating more efficiently than last week?