Three Things Tennessee Needs to Accomplish to Beat Arkansas

Credit: Auburn University Athletics

By Tucker Harlin

#4 Tennessee (4-0, 1-0) takes on Arkansas (3-2, 1-1) in Fayetteville Saturday in its second SEC battle.

In honor of kickoff in Fayetteville quickly approach, I’ve decided to give you three important things Tennessee needs to accomplish in order to beat Arkansas.

Let’s get straight to it.

FORCE TAYLEN GREEN INTO PRECARIOUS SITUATIONS

Taylen Green presents a challenge unlike any other quarterback the Vols have faced in 2024.

The Vols have seen dual-threat quarterbacks in both Jackson Arnold and Michael Hawkins Jr, but neither of them opt for the ground as often as Green. Additionally, Green is stands at a towering 6-6 while possessing a cannon of an arm.

But like several quarterbacks who have cannons for arms, the cannon isn’t an accurate one. Green has turned the ball over seven times over the course of the last four games, five of which are interceptions.

The Tennessee defensive front swarmed opposing quarterbacks at every turn in the first four games, something in needs to replicate Saturday in order to prevail in Fayetteville. The Vols forced a pair of fumbles against both NC State and Oklahoma, and Green lost a pair of fumbles to Texas A&M last weekend.

AVOID SURRENDERING THE 3-7 YARD PLAYS

If Arkansas isn’t chucking the ball downfield, there’s a strong chance it’s running the ball with Ja’Quinden Jackson.

Jackson is a bruiser of a running back, right there with Dylan Sampson with ground protection through the first month of the year. Run-centric teams don’t live for the big play; they want long, drawn out possessions to drain clock and wear down a defense.

Again, Tennessee has lived in opposing backfields to start the season, so it hasn’t let the medium plays affect it. This is a paramount task for the Vols against a heavy rush offense.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A BATTERED SECONDARY

This final piece is something Tennessee may or may not need to do, but it could absolutely air the ball out against Arkansas if it wants to.

It’s no secret the Vols are going to center their offense around the run.

The Razorbacks defended the run well against each of their first three power four foes, but they haven’t seen a rush attack like what they’re going to see against the Vols. Oklahoma State hasn’t gotten the run game going with Ollie Gordon for some reason, and neither Auburn nor Texas A&M are exactly what you’d call “potent offenses.”

Anyway, back to the pass attack. Tennessee didn’t need a strong passing performance from Nico Iamaleava to defeat NC State or Oklahoma.

On the Arkansas side, it’s been down three important pieces in the secondary all season. One of those pieces returns this week in senior corner Hudson Clark. The Vols are familiar with Doneiko Slaughter and his flaws, something they could expose with ease.

This feels like an opportunity for Nico to showcase his skills as a passer if the Josh Heupel plans to play less conservative.