Coach's Corner

Arkansas vs. Eastern Illinois

NWA Democrat-Gazette/J.T. WAMPLER Razorback quarterback Ty Story tries to break away from Eastern Illinois defenders Saturday Sept. 1, 2018 at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.
NWA Democrat-Gazette/J.T. WAMPLER Razorback quarterback Ty Story tries to break away from Eastern Illinois defenders Saturday Sept. 1, 2018 at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The Sentinel-Record will follow up with a head football coach of a local high school after each regular season game this season for the Arkansas Razorbacks. The first installment features T.C. Shamel, head coach of the Cutter Morning Star Eagles.

The Arkansas Razorbacks opened their first season under new head coach Chad Morris Saturday with a convincing 55-20 victory at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville against the Eastern Illinois Panthers, a member of the Ohio Valley Conference in the Football Championship Subdivision.

Cutter Morning Star head coach T.C. Shamel, now in his ninth year coaching the Eagles, said fourth-year junior Ty Storey, of Charleston, gave the team a boost when he entered the game in the second quarter.

Arkansas (1-0) led, 10-0, midway through the second quarter on a field goal by Connor Limpert and a fumble recovery for a touchdown by defensive lineman Briston Guidry. Storey was 10-for-13 for 214 yards and three touchdowns in the second quarter to lead the Razorbacks to a 38-6 lead by halftime.

Third-year sophomore Cole Kelley was named the starting quarterback last week, but he was just 6-for-8 for 37 yards in the first half. The offense failed to score a touchdown until Storey took over.

"I said this when Morris took over, I think it is just the system in general," Shamel said. "I don't think this is Kelley's system. Morris is playing all of Bielema's players right now. He is trying to adapt, monitor and adjust with what he's got.

"I just think Storey is a better fit. They say Cole is a hard runner, but he is just a big guy. To run that system, you can't be that big. I just think Storey fits the system better."

Morris' spread offense focuses more on pace and space. Former Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino ran an offense described as a "power spread," which utilized pulling guards and the center in the running game.

Kelley and Storey each committed to Arkansas to play for Bret Bielema, who ran a pro style offense. Storey, unlike Kelley, played in an offense at Charleston similar to Morris' en route to the 2014 Class 3A state championship.

"If you think about the spot play Storey has gotten the last couple of years, now he actually got a chance to be out there with the No. 1's," Shamel said. "A lot of times when he was in mop-up duty, he was not with all of the No. 1's. I think that makes a big difference, confidence-wise.

"You've got the guys that have won their positions out there with you. I think that has something to do with it. When they won a state championship at Charleston, they beat Smackover. What is funny is Smackover had (Jordan) Jones, and now he is one of his big targets there."

Storey finished the game 12-for-17 for 261 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He also had 15 rushing yards and a touchdown on three carries.

Kelley was 9-for-12 for 92 yards and a touchdown after throwing to Austin Cantrell for a 42-yard score in the fourth quarter. He ran three times for four yards.

Jones made five catches for 132 yards and one touchdown. Junior La'Michael Pettway had five catches for 93 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Jonathan Nance, last year's leading receiver, and redshirt senior Jared Cornelius were both held without catches.

"We've got two go-to receivers right now, it seems," Shamel said. "Pettway and Jones stepped up. Where is Nance? Where are these other guys that had big games last year? We've got to get them involved."

Shamel said the 2.2 yards per carry for 80 yards rushing on 37 attempts was a disappointing performance in the running game. Storey and junior running back T.J. Hammonds had the longest runs of the day for the Razorbacks at 10 yards.

"We are going to have to be at 150 or pushing 200, I think, to help those quarterbacks a little bit or else they will bring the house and it will just get ugly," Shamel said.

Junior Devwah Whaley managed just 28 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries Saturday. Whaley is the team's top returning rusher from 2017.

"I think that unit that started just has not worked together a lot," Shamel said of the offensive line. "I think they are going to be a lot better. Obviously, they are going to have to be if they are going to get through the SEC."

The offensive line has been hit hard by injuries throughout the preseason. Morris announced on Monday Jalen Merrick had to medically retire from football.

Redshirt freshmen Kirby Adcock and Shane Clenin started at left guard and left tackle, respectively, on Saturday. Clenin graded out at better than 80 percent in his debut.

"I thought our pass blocking was really, really good, which kind of surprises you," Shamel said. "Usually they go hand in hand. Run blocking was kind of a disappointment.

"Defensively, we flew to the ball. We gave up a few big plays, but I thought, overall, we were really flying around and created a lot of turnovers, which is big."

Eastern Illinois (0-1) managed 357 yards of total offense, but receiver Alexander Hollins accounted for 127 yards on nine catches and all three scores for the Panthers. Arkansas' defense forced six fumbles, the team's most since joining the Southeastern Conference in 1992, and recovered five.

"John Chavis brings an emphasis on putting a helmet on the ball and keeping their eyes on the ball," Shamel said. "I noticed a few times they were swiping for it, reaching, punching and putting the helmet on the football.

"I could tell there was more emphasis, but it was a little bit of both. (Eastern Illinois) was a little bit sloppy at times. When you add those two together, things are going to be good for the defense, usually anyway."

The Razorbacks made two sacks and eight tackles behind the line of scrimmage, consistently pressuring Eastern Illinois' quarterbacks.

"I thought those guys did a good job," Shamel said of the defensive line. "I did not notice a lot of blitzing going on. I just thought the pressure from the guys up front. They did not let them outside.

"A couple of times, though, contain did kind of break down, but if you are going to preach 'fly to the football' and 'go get it,' sometimes you are going to miss some assignments. You are not going to see it when you are supposed to, but that is part of the system he is trying to put in."

Shamel said linebacker play will continue to be a focal point for the Arkansas defense. Senior Dre Greenlaw finished as the team leader in tackles with 10 despite leaving the game with an injury in the second quarter.

"A big concern for me was Dre Greenlaw, who had 10 tackles in the first half," Shamel said. "They're saying he had a high ankle sprain, but we've got to keep that kid healthy. Bumper Pool came in and gave them some good minutes, obviously, but that was not Alabama or LSU they were playing.

"We need Greenlaw on the field. He was on pace to have 32 tackles. He is a player. He is all over the place and he has had a history with that broken foot before."

Sports on 09/04/2018

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