Arkansas Coach Sam Pittman Calls Alabama Defensive Ends 'A Problem'

The Arkansas Razorbacks have their backs against the wall as they're currently enduring a four-game losing streak. Head coach Sam Pittman knows the criticism is mounting, but taking the Hogs into Tuscaloosa and winning this weekend would go a long way to silence the doubters.

"Well our team's excited to go to Alabama. They are playing extremely well. Defensively swarming to the football, really physical group up front," said Pittman on the SEC Coaches Teleconference call on Wednesday. "Defensive ends are outstanding. Offensively, I think Milroe is leading the team exceptionally well. They've got a couple running backs that are really, really good. O-Line is big, Burton's playing fantastic, it's a huge challenge for us, but our kids are excited to go to Alabama and see what happens."

The Alabama Crimson Tide football team has largely been carried by its defense throughout the 2023 season, holding opponents to just 15.17 points per game. While statistically it's not the best mark for a Nick Saban led defense, there is extreme talent at every level of this year's team.

"I think they're really good. I think they compare very well. They have, in my opinion, great defensive ends. They're a problem. It's a problem if somebody has one that can wreck your game plan, let alone three, maybe four," Pittman said. "Very, very big and physical inside. I love their linebacker group. Obviously Kool-Aid is one of the best players in the league and Caleb Downs, you just keep going with Amos and Key. They are really talented and as well coached on defense as anybody in the league, as anybody in the country. They play with passion and very physical. So I would say they matchup with a lot of teams that Coach [Saban] has had, you'd have to ask him. I don't want to speak for him. I would say they matchup, at least on tape, well with defenses he's had in the past."

Alabama has tallied 22 sacks throughout the season, good enough for fifth nationally, with 12 of those coming from edge rushers Dallas Turner, Chris Braswell and Quandarrius Robinson. The trio has forced three fumbles and notched 11 additional quarterback hurries, creating havoc for opposing offenses.

Arkansas must be supremely aware of the Tide's pass rush this weekend considering the Hogs have allowed 23 sacks this season and 47 tackles for loss, ranking 120th and 121st in the nation respectively.

Pittman has a little extra information to game plan off of as his Razorbacks recently played, and lost to Texas A&M. The common opponent gives the Hogs a small bit of insight as to how best to prepare for this weekend's game, but Pittman said when reviewing Alabama and A&M's game that it went almost as he personally predicted.

"It really was basically - a lot of times you go in thinking, 'this could happen, this could happen' but to be honest with you that game kind of went like what I thought it might. Texas A&M's really, really good on defense. Their front four is really good. That matchup would be difficult for anybody," Pittman said. "Certainly the difference to me was the way that Milroe threw the football. Burton got open several times, obviously they have more than him, they have Bond. They have a bunch of them. Probably if there was a surprise it was the way that Milroe threw the football. He was on, he threw the long ball great. Of course McClellan is a strong, strong runner and had a good game as well. It went about like how I thought it would. It was a slugfest. College Station's obviously hard to play at. For them to go in there and get that win I'm sure it was a big thing for their program, for Alabama to go in there and win. It kind of went how I thought it would, two really physical football teams."

No. 11 Alabama hosts Arkansas on Saturday, Oct. 14 at 11 a.m. for the University of Alabama's homecoming. The game will be televised on ESPN for those unable to make it to Bryant-Denny Stadium.

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