FAYETTEVILLE -- With the Colorado State Rams giving up an average of 44 points and 606.5 yards of offense in their first two games, a Colorado-based member of the media asked if Arkansas head coach Chad Morris this week if he would be limiting the amount of defensive film shown to the Razorbacks.
The Razorbacks (1-0) will travel to Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins, Colo., to face the 0-2 Rams of the Mountain West Conference Saturday at 6:30 p.m. on the CBS Sports Network (Resort Channel 32). The Rams lost, 43-34, in Fort Collins to conference rival Hawai'i (2-0) before falling, 45-13, to in-state rival Colorado (1-0) of the Pac-12.
"No," Morris replied during the Southeastern Conference teleconference. "We're going to prepare as we would prepare for every opponent."
Besides, after netting but 80 yards rushing on 37 carries of its 55-20 victory over lower division Eastern Illinois (0-1) Saturday in Fayetteville, Morris said overconfidence seems the least of Arkansas' offensive worries.
"We're going to first take a look at ourselves and see the deficiencies," Morris said. "I think when you look at our inability to run the football last week, you have to start with yourself."
Morris explained what the Hogs must do and what they've worked on during their Tuesday and Wednesday practices.
"We've got to play with better pad level," Morris said. "We've got to come off the football and strike people. We've got to be able to move double-teams."
His Hogs had better take into account the prowess of the Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors and Colorado Buffaloes, Morris said.
"Knowing that they have played against two really good opponents, that's the message that you carry to your team," Morris said. "Colorado, with all the guys they have coming back and the speed they have and and the way Hawai'i did some things and then beat a sound Navy team. Two really good football teams that Colorado State's played this year."
Offensively, the Rams average 378 passing yards for their two games. Starting quarterback K.J. Carta-Samuels has thrown 52 of CSU's 53 completions for 713 yards and six touchdowns against two interceptions.
Receivers Preston Williams and Olabisi Johnson average over 100 receiving yards per game, 15 for 237 and two touchdowns and 12 for 239 yards and three touchdowns, respectively.
Arkansas sophomore receiver Jordan Jones, of Smackover, can expect a Rams entourage. He burned Eastern Illinois for five catches for 132 yards, including a 57-yard touchdown from quarterback Ty Storey and a 46-yarder from Storey setting up the first touchdown of Arkansas' 28-point second quarter.
Jones likely will not stay too marked for long as nine receivers caught passes from quarterbacks Storey and Cole Kelley last week despite two top receivers going without a catch. Senior Jonathan Nance, last year's leading receiver, caught a long pass from Kelley called back by a holding penalty. Senior Jared Cornelius, last year's leading returning receiver from 2016 until suffering a torn Achilles tendon, was not thrown to last week.
"The ball just finds one position more than the other sometimes," Jones said. "It just happened to be me and La'Michael (Pettway) showing speed. Anybody in this (receivers) room can make those type of plays."
Jones was asked if Storey's off-the-bench performance surprised him. Storey was 12 of 17 passing for 261 yards and three touchdowns and one rushing touchdown with zero turnovers.
"Ty surprised a lot of people, but he didn't surprise me at all," Jones said. "Ty is one of the hardest workers on this team. I played in the state championship game against Ty, so I know a lot about Ty, and I know he's a hard worker."
Storey's Charleston team beat Jones' Smackover squad for the 2014 state championship, though Jones was photographed tallying a touchdown with safety Storey pursuing in vain.
"He was playing defense, and the ball got tipped," Jones said. "I caught it on the sideline and just took off running, and I scored."
Of course the win gave Storey the last laugh.
"Yeah, we always joke about it," Jones said. "I always tell him I want my state ring back. That was the first time Smackover had been in the state championship game in a long time. It was a good game, though. I still have memories about that all the time."
Although neither practiced Wednesday, first-team senior weakside linebacker Dre Greenlaw and first-team senior defensive end Randy Ramsey will travel with the Razorbacks to Fort Collins, Morris said. Greenlaw sprained an ankle while making 10 tackles during the first quarter against Eastern Illinois.
Ramsey missed much of the August preseason with hamstring issues that withheld him from playing last Saturday. Morris continues to call both "day-to-day."
Junior Gabe Richardson, starting for Ramsey at end last week, and true freshman Bumper Pool, who had six tackles with a pass breakup and a 60-yard fumble return last Saturday after Greenlaw's exit, are groomed to start.
It appears redshirt freshman offensive linemen Kirby Adcock and Shane Clenin will not repeat in Fort Collins as the starting left guard and left tackle, respectively. Sophomore letterman Ty Clary and junior Austin Capps worked as the left guards this week.
Redshirt freshman Dalton Wagner, now apparently recovered from an August appendectomy, and true freshman Noah Gatlin practiced ahead of Clenin at least for the first 20 minutes of Wednesday's practice the media was allowed to view. Clenin injured an ankle during Saturday's game, but was dressed out for Wednesday's practice.
"Right now Ty Clary will get substantial reps at left guard, and so is Austin Capps," Morris said. "Noah Gatlin is going to get a lot of reps at left tackle."
Clary had to work some center Wednesday because senior starter Hjalte Froholdt came from class after the start of practice. Reserve sophomore center-guard Dylan Hays practiced again after missing the first game with an ailing back.
Morris was asked Wednesday about two-year starting left tackle Colton Jackson, of Conway, practicing in a limited practice green jersey Tuesday and Wednesday for the first time since undergoing back surgery in July.
"It was quite the cheering going on from the offensive line when you saw him down in a stance and hitting a sled," Morris said. "We anticipate getting him back pretty soon. Hopefully next week. Obviously, he's just a great leader for this team."
It was also revealed sixth-year senior nickel back Kevin Richardson, granted a sixth season by the NCAA because of previous injuries, is out of the walking boot from breaking his foot moving furniture in August.
"He got that removed and did a little bit of running," Morris said. "Again, kind of like Colton, we hope we can progress him out onto the field in the next couple of weeks. "
Pouncing on a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown caused by fellow backup defensive tackle Armon Watts now means Briston Guidry has tallied two touchdowns in his last three games. He recovered a fumble caused by defensive line teammate McTelvin "Sosa" Agim in the Mississippi State end zone in Arkansas second-to-last game of 2017.
"I never heard the end of it," Watts said. "He needs to be thanking me. He's the luckiest guy I know."
Regardless of 2018 future opponents and locales, the Razorbacks ascend new heights Saturday.
The Fort Collins altitude is 5,003 feet at Canvas Stadium. Morris, his assistants and the training staff have stressed since Sunday that the Razorbacks constantly hydrate because of the thin air's effects.
Sports on 09/07/2018